If you have played a sport such as basketball, volleyball, tennis or casually like to go to the gym, jog, or even want to style in rubber shoes casually, you've probably heard of sneakers. It is also commonly known as kicks, runners, athletic shoes, sports shoes, gym shoes, tennis shoes, trainers, canvas, sportek (in Greece), and tekkies( in South Africa). But what exactly is this shoe that we all use as a go-to for our athletic needs and for making impressive styles in casual linen? When and how did this, without a doubt, revolutionary invention turn up? Who made sneakers? Why are they so popular? What defines a sneaker? Have any of the above questions ever crossed your mind? Well, all your questions and others need to know facts about the beloved kicks or trainers that will be answered and provided below. 

So what exactly are sneakers?

 First of all, sneakers are rubber-soled shoes that are designed for sports or other forms of physical exercise like an early morning run or a simple set of squats. But these days, this is not the only reason why shoe companies are releasing sneakers after sneakers. The comfortable and increasingly stylish shoes have started to creep into casual wear. The main household name sneaker brands being Nike, Adidas, Jordans, fila, Under armor, Vans, Converse, Sketchers, etc. 

A brief history of the beloved sneakers: who made sports shoes?

The first appearance pre First World War period

Have you ever wondered where sneakers came from? Did they fall off the sky? Of, course not but sneakers do have a rather interesting origin. The closest ancestors to sneakers were given the name plimsolls in the 1870s due to the band that joined the rubber sole to the upper because it resembles the plimsoll line of a ship. What is a plimsoll line? Plimsoll line is also known as the water line or international load line in a boat. This line dictates and indicates the draft of a ship. It also tells one the maximum amount of load a ship can carry without the ship's buoyancy being affected. Alternatively, this was also because when water passed this Plimsoll line looking line, the wearer would get wet just like water surpassing a ship's plimsoll line. According to reviewer, feature writer, diarist, book-prize judge, and 2012, Eleanor Farjeon award shortlisted writer Nicolette jones. She documents this in her book The Plimsoll Sensation.  

Plimsolls were common among holiday goers. They were adapted for use among athletes to be worn, especially by tennis and croquet players in their respective courts. This was because they were comfier and lighter while still quite flexible when compared to other shoes at the time.

Later on, these shoes developed to have soles with an engraved surface to provide a better shoe grip. The addition of this feature was so impressive that the shoe was ordered in bulk quantities by the queen's army.

Plimsolls began gaining a lot of interest, especially among people who were athletes. It was also common among those using them for leisure and simple outdoor activities. They were so popular that a pair made its way to the ill-fated Terra Nona expedition to reach the geographic South Pole. Plimsolls were later in the mid-20th (the 1950s to 1970s) century common among school children in the United Kingdom, where they were used during physical education. 

The first shoes designed for running were made in 1895 by British company J.W. Foster and sons (athletic shoes) limited. They featured a spiked sole to provide traction for running. The founder of the company, Joseph William Foster, was born in 1881 and was subsequently trained as a cobbler in his earlier years. In the year 1895 local harriers member, he started to work on shoes in his bedroom above his father's sweet shop in Bolton and designed some of the first spiked running shoes. After his ideas progressed and materialized, he founded his business J.W. Foster in the year 1900. Later on, he joined businesses with his sons and changed his company's name to J.W. Foster and Sons in 1910. He sold his at the time high quality athletic shoes to athletes worldwide and eventually got the attention of the British athletics team and landed a contract to manufacture shoes for them. This was done in his factory, Olympic Works. This contract was for the 1924 Olympics. The 100m and 400m dash during those Olympics were won using joseph fosters shoes. Foster's shoes were commonly referred to as running pumps. The company continued to make athletic shoes and made boots for the British army during World War 1 and during the second war. In 1976, reebok took ownership of the company. 

In North America, the rubber shoe style of footwear became famous at the turn of the 20th century. They were given the name sneakers by North American boys in reference to rubber sole tennis shoes, as mentioned in the Boston journal of 1887. This was due to the sneaky, stealthy, or silent sound they made on the court compared to noisy standard leather sole dress shoes. In 1892, a nationwide introduction of rubber sole shoes was made by the U.S. Rubber Company. This sparked a continent wide boom, both in demand and production. The first rubber basketball shoes were then designed by Spalding as early as the year 1907. But the breakout for sneakers in the States was yet to come.

The inter-war period: the start of the sneaker craze

In post-World War 1 United States, sports and athletics became a way of judging and demonstrating moral fiber and patriotism. All-rounded students were handed the term All American boy. As a consequence, it created a massive demand for rubber soled shoes to be used to play sports. Endorsements of rubber shoes by stars such as American football player and Olympic gold medalist Jim Thorpe. Converse All Star shoes were also endorsed by basketball star Chuck Taylor. Such led to children lining up to buy shoes, creating a gradual increase in sneakers' popularity and use. 

With the growing market all over the world for sports shoes, many cobblers gained interest in rubber sole shoes. One specific example is German cobble Adolf Dassler nicknamed “Adi." He started off making running shoes in his mother's kitchen in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria. After Adolf's return from the First World War, he established the dominant up to date shoe company Adidas. His company earned its reputation in the 1936 Olympics after successful marketing to athletes prior to the event. Ironically, Dassler's older brother is the inventor ad establishment of Adidas competitor Puma, which is also a giant in the sports shoe industry. By the time World War 2 struck, Adidas was pushing sales of around 200,000 pairs of shoes each year.

The market for athletic shoes mainly grew during the inter-war period, with Olympic athletes wearing rubber shoes during competitions to advertise them. Additionally, a growing increase and sports promotion among the human populous created market for sneakers. The first canvas tennis shoes that had up to eight ventilations were actually invented during this period. Specifically in 1936 by the French brand Spring Court.

Post world wars period: the establishment of sneakers as leisure shoes

The 1950s sparked an interest in runners as leisure shoes. This was exceptionally relatively high among children and adolescents. Why? Partially if not mainly, it was because of the ease of school dress code regulations. The sales of sneakers skyrocketed, leading to a fearsome battle with leather shoe companies. 

Modern-day: the sneakerhead period

 In the 90s, sports endorsements by sneaker companies and sports teams tenfold. This led to the growth of sneakers as not only sportswear but as fashionably desired shoes. How? Endorsements led to change in sports shoes' design, as kicks started being modeled around players and teams. This resulted in sneakers gaining “personality and character." Making them extremely desirable among younger generations and being coined as stylish or swag shoes. This led to a generation obsessed with obtaining and collecting the fanciest, rarest, and coveted and stocking up sports shoes as collectibles. This kind of persons were labeled 'sneaker heads' for their obsessions with rubber shoes. Are you a sneakerhead? Or aspiring to be one? Or simply like rubber sports shoes? Whether or not you may be interested in finding out which sneakers are best for walking.

It is clear to see that sneakers did not just pop up out of the blue and into our stores, ready to be put on our feet. Sneakers are a culmination of the development and history of human beings, which has matured over the course of nearly 200 years that influenced the design and shape of sneakers that we all run to the stores to acquire.

What you should be wearing: type of sneakers

Are sneakers meant for walking? Are sneakers running shoes? You are just starting an interest in sneakers and aren't sure what kind of sneakers suit you. Worry not as we will try to summarize the different types of sneakers and help you choose what type of sneaker suits you best. 

The first thing that you need to know is the different types of sneakers and how to differentiate one from the other, and what kind of sneaker you should use for what type of situation. 

 There are several different kinds of sneakers. The main types of sneakers that you need to be knowing being: Converse shoes, Hiking Shoes, Plimsoll Sneakers, Court Sneakers, Soccer Shoes, Old School, Sneaker Boots, and High Top Basketball Sneakers. Additionally, there is Slip-on Sneakers Athletic Kicks, Authentic Sneakers, Climbing Shoes, Canvas Sneakers, Textile Blend Sneakers, Leather Sneakers, and Football Cleats. Others include Designer Sneakers, Synthetic Sneakers, Knitted Sneakers, and Baseball Spikes. What is more, you may also come across Velcro Sneakers, Denim Sneakers, Cross Trainers, Printed Sneakers, Tennis Sneakers, and Trail Shoes. Furthermore, Golf Shoes, Minimalist Shoes, Walking Shoes, and Running Shoes are also types of sneakers. 

These are not all types of sneakers that are there in existence. We may have forgotten to insert a few. You are probably wondering, those are so many different types of shoes. So, which shoe is for what? Worry not as below, we categorized some of the sneakers and highlighted the features that separate them from the rest. This is based according to what we think is unique about each kind of shoe. What you Also, on what you should be looking to see from a shoe before buying one. Before we dive into that, we need to know what exactly makes or breaks a sports shoe.

So what exactly makes a kickstand out from the rest?

Sports shoes are mainly made to act like an orthosis for strenuous activities. The main parts you should be looking at are the shoe's sole, the insole of the shoe, the upper of the shoe, and the shape, design, and size of your feet. It is also essential for you to know what you intend to use the shoe for. So what exactly do you need to know about the stated parts?

The sole

The shoe's sole is the first important aspect one needs to look at when choosing a sports shoe. Why? Because the sole of the shoe offers the first layer of protection from the ground. The sole, in this case, refers to the outer sole and midsole. There are different types of soles, but we will mainly be looking for shoes with rubber soles when it comes to sports shoes.

Dangers of a bad sole

How does the sole offer protection? Well, the outer sole and midsole work together to protect your feet in several ways. Lack of a good sole leads to specific health effects on your feet. The result of the impact of a lousy sole includes plantar fascia strain. This is basically a pain felt on the bottom side of your foot. It is caused by a continuous hard impact on the ground. It can also be due to the outer and midsole that does not stretch enough when you undergo plantar and dorsiflexion of the foot. Another effect of a bad sole is constant blisters on the feet. If you experience blisters after using your sneakers for a basketball game or simply from just walking, you may be wearing the wrong sole. A bad sole will also lead to stress on your ankle, knee joint and hip, followed by extreme fatigue. This is especially when you use your sneakers for activities that are rather strenuous on the body. Such action may include running, playing tennis, golf, among other activities. You need to be extremely cautious about this as an athlete. It has a significant impact on performance, such as speed and endurance. 

A good sole

From our effects of bad soles, we can pick out what a good sole should be doing. The stress on your ankle, knee joint, and hip are probably due to your foot's impact with the ground when you are walking. Therefore, a good sole should cushion your foot from the impact on the ground. This is achieved best by a sole which has a rigid but still flexible outer sole. To protect your feet from objects on the ground such as pebbles and thorns. As for the midsole, it should be light, airy, and spongy. This is so as to cushion your foot's impact with the ground by absorbing the force generated by the ground as your walk etc. the sole should also thicken towards the heel. The size or thickness of your sole varies according to what activity the shoe is meant for. This will be highlighted in the features of certain shoes below.

It is important to note that there are different types of rubber soles. These are carbon black rubber soles and blown rubber sole. A good shoe should have a carbon black rubber sole for its outer sole and a midsole made of blown rubber. This can be easily identified as carbon black soles are black in color, and blown rubber is white.

The insole

The insole of your sneaker is another important aspect that you should be looking at when choosing a sports shoe. So why is it important for you to have a good insole? Well, the insole is meant to provide that final cushion from the impact on the ground while still providing a much-needed comfort. The lack of or a bad insole or simply just the wrong insole may cause your feet to move too much inside the shoe. It may also make your feet feel squeezed within the shoe.

Dangers of a destructive or wrong insole

In terms of foot health, what does this risk? A wrong insole can lead to adverse effects such as athlete's foot. Athlete's foot is caused by fungi that are often naturally found in your feet' nail, skin, and hairs. This fungi blooms or instead grows out of proportion due to the kind of environment the inside of your sneaker provides. A warm and moist environment often found in a tight shoe offers such a variety of environments. Leading not only to smell feet but the growth of the fungi in your feet, athlete's foot.

Another effect of a lousy insole or the wrong one is plantar fascia strain. This will be caused by too much movement of the foot inside the shoe, thus resulting in a lot of strain on the sole of your feet as you walk, run, swerve or jump. It may also be caused by an inflexible or stiff insole.

The wrong insole or lack thereof may also result in the formation of calluses and blisters on one's feet. This may be due to an insole that makes the shoe too small or big for and or also an insole that is tiff. All of this affects the shoe by causing a lot of friction on your feet's soles and toes. This results in the formation of blisters and or calluses that are often referred to as corn.

Just like the sole a bad or wrong insole, it will lead to strain on your joints and ligaments. This is mainly for those running with the shoe or jumping or walking for long distances. Why? If good, the insole is also made of a light, airy, and flexibly rubber to provide a final layer of cushion.

A good insole

The right insole for your foot should be modeled around your foot. The reason for this is that there are several kinds and different types of feet. The main kind of categories of feet to consider when choosing your insole is whether your foot is a low arc, high arc, and medium arc.

A low arc foot is that which is often referred to as a flat foot. So what kind of insole should accompany this type of foot? Well, the insole should have a minimal difference between the thickness at the hip and that at the toe. Also, the change in thickness should gradually reduce with space at the midfoot to allow for flexion and extension of the plantar side of your feet. 

For high arc and medium arc shoes, you want an insole that is significantly thick at the back. It should also still be thick at the front with a larger space in the midfoot area. Therefore the insole should have an arc-like shape.

It is important to note that these are only rough general features and not entirely accurate. Therefore, one needs to go out and fit a good insole modeled around their feet. Such should be available in any good footwear shop. You can also take your measurements and order online, but you would rather let the experts decide what suits you.

The upper of the sport shoe

The upper of the sneakers is simply the parts of the sneaker that are above the shoe. The upper of the sports shoe may be made of full leather or woven material that is often made from suede, nylon, or both. Other materials that may be used to make the upper of running shoes are canvas and satin, just to name a few. A good upper is one that softly wraps around the middle part of your foot.

The upper of the foot is often the most forgot about the part of the shoe when people are trying to choose the shoe that they like. Forgetting to consider the upper of the shoe when choosing a shoe is a hugely crucial mistake because it is as important as the other elements in a shoe.

Knowing which activity requires low top or high top sneakers is also quite important. This will be clearly explained and differentiated further below.

Health effects of having an upper that does not match your foot

One of the things the wrong upper of a sneaker can cause you to experience is extensor tendonitis. This is as a result of overuse or tight-fitting shoes, especially if it is tight on the upper of your foot. The tendons that run at the top of the foot and pull the foot upwards become inflamed and painful. This can also be due to use the wrong shoe for the wrong activity, for example, jumping and running in sneakers that have a hard canvas upper. 

Another effect of using the wrong sports shoe with the wrong upper is Sinus tarsi syndrome. This is not a common issue, so be wary but worry not. It is mainly characterized by inflammation of the sinus tarsi, which is a channel found at the junction of your leg and foot. This can also be explained us the channel found between the heel and the bone of the ankle.

Both of these syndromes are extremely aggravated when one uses the shoes for a long period or for a vigorous time period. Old worn-out sneakers can also lead one to experience the above stated syndromes.

So what exactly should be found in a good upper?

A good upper of a sports shoe or sneaker should be one in accordance with the activity you wish to use the shoe. Yes, according to the activity, crossing activities of shoes is not good behavior. This will be tackled further down in the article.

The upper of a shoe should make the shoe breathable while still protecting the wearer's foot from external influences or, if I may say, outside elements. The upper should also be quite flexible. This can be tested by folding the shoe.

Also, when wearing the upper, the two opposite flaps where the laces go in can pass over each other when you tighten the shoe, then your shoe is too big. A walking shoe or rather a sneaker meant for leisure will often have an extremely low upper. This will be evident if the shoe keeps poking you at the leg and foot junction when you run.

Size of the shoe

This looks like quite an obvious fact and a rather simple fact at that, but a lot of people do not wear shoes that fit them. This may actually be the cause of your sneaker woes. There are a lot of myths about sneaker shoe sizes. Like fitting slightly bigger to make it breathable. Do not trust in these myths, although they do hold slight truth in them. Why? Any good shoe, let alone should be quite breathable if it is the right size in terms of width, height, and length.

 Another one of these diabolical rumors is that tight shoes are better for running. Tight shoes, as a matter of fact, are the worst shoes that you can use for running. They cause a lot of strain and sweating. Additionally, the wearer tends to fatigue faster due to the tightness of the shoe. 

So please, in all honesty, wear shoes that are the right size for your feet. This will help you avoid unnecessary and costly trips to the doctors and wasting money on foot treatment. All that you need to do is for you to wear the right shoe.

Age of the shoe: the sneaker shoe’s condition

Please do not misquote me. I am not telling you to buy sneakers that are in season. A shoe maybe 30 years old and still in better condition than a four month old shoe. What I am trying to say is that you shouldn't be rocking with absolutely worn-out sneakers. If it is actually in a not too bad condition, then you can actually go to the cobbler and get it fixed. A sneaker that is passed is good days is unable to provide the necessary parameters of flexibility, cushioning, among other things that protect the foot. 

Different types of sneakers: what kind of sneaker should you be using for what kind of activity

As we earlier saw they are countless types of sneakers. Just so to make your work easier, we have highlighted some certain types of sneakers. We have also highlighted what you should be looking for when in the quest for such kinds of sneakers.

Basketball kicks

Depending on what you wish to achieve with your shoe, the upper of the shoe may be high, medium, or low top. High tops provide an extra layer of support and stability as the wrap around your foot. However, they tend to result in a heavier shoe. Medium tops, they sit right at the ankle, providing coverage while offering comfort and stability. Low tops are built for speed and agility and have little ankle support.

The sole of a basketball shoe should have a foamy midsole that is way bigger than the outsole to cushion the force created when one jumps. The outer sole should have a wide base to provide much needed stability.

Leisure sneakers: athleisure sneakers

The features we discussed the general feature of a good sneaker largely apply to these types of sneakers. We also have to consider the style of an athleisure sneaker and how it suits the environment, you are going to. For example, waterproof sneakers are the best suit for wet weather conditions. Therefore you should have leisure sneakers suited for all conditions. 

When it comes to the style of the shoe, you have to consider your wardrobe. You do not want a sneaker that has too much style and overpowers the rest of your dress code. Therefore get a sneaker that sits in your Goldilocks zone. At the end of the day, this boils down to a matter of preference.

How to tell if your sneakers need a fix or are just outrightly done

If you have a pair of sports shoes that have been sitting around the corner and aren't sure if it is time to let them go, repair them, or they just need a repair.

If your sneaker makes a loud tapping sound when you walk with them, then the sole has lost its spongy cushioning characteristics. What does this mean? It means that your shoes will do a much poorer job at protecting you from hard impacts with the ground. To test this, try folding your shoe. If it is unable to fold as it did before.

Also, another major sign you should be looking for is if the material on the upper of your shoe is coming off or has already come off. Also, if you have a woven shoe, you should be looking to see if the threads are coming off.

If your shoes lie in any of the above categories, then go to your repair guy and see if you can save them. So you are probably wondering what the cobblers can do for my shoe.

So what can the shoe guy do for you?

Disclaimer; the ability of your shoe guy to perform certain repairs and not being able to do others does not mean he is not good at what he does. Different cobblers target different repair markets; therefore, the range of repairs they can do is limited to what they hope to profit from. Personally, I love my shoe repair guy. I have brought some really messed up shoes that require an unimaginable amount of work to be done for the folks that work there. There is always a kind of tension when I walk into the shop, as they all wonder what I have in store for them this time. It’s actually quite outstanding how much they can do. Unfortunately, most of us don't realize how many repairs and modifications a shoe repair person can do. As I earlier mentioned, this varies from cobbler to cobbler. Even when it comes to the best cobbler in the universe, there are limits to what he or she may be able to do. Here is a list of a few major need to know repairs you should and shouldn't expect from your local shoe repair shop:

Sole fixing

The first thing one needs to do is to identify then need to fix your sole.

How to identify that my sole needs fixing

So when should you get the sole of your shoes fixed? At times, it is rather obvious, for example, if the soles are coming off, or they have developed holes in them. These are blatantly clear signs that the soles are worn out and need to be replaced. Other times it is not so black and white. Even if the soles look ok, it is possible the sole has been worn thin, providing less traction and shock absorbency. The midsole may also have lost its airiness and become hard hence having a hard impact on contact with the ground.

Worn out soles not only provide less traction when walking, jumping, or running, but they can also have adverse effects on your feet and joints. The less cushioning effect in the soles means that the hard impact of walking, jumping, or running is passed on to the ankles, knees, and even up to the hips. Normally this impact is absorbed by the sole of the shoe. These vibrating impacts can cause joint pain or discomfort leading to fatigue, especially when one walks long distances or does intense physical activities. 

Additionally, the sole can wear out unevenly, possibly as a result of pronation and or supination. Pronation is when your foot leans inward. As for supination, it occurs when your foot leans outwards. So basically, a combination of both is you leaning side to side as you walk or jog or even when you land from jumping. So how does this affect you? Well, it can affect your walking style, resulting in a major feeling of discomfort.

Traction is also a major indicator that soles need to be replaced. When the soles of your shoe wear out, the tread on the sole is worn smooth. The grooves that provided traction are no longer present. This will make you more likely to slip on wet, soft, or uneven surfaces and also on extremely smooth surfaces. 

If you notice that the soles of your shoe have been worn down, you have the perfect opportunity to give them new life through resoling them at your local repair shop. 

So what kind of sole can and cannot be fixed at your local repair shop

You are probably wondering if all kinds of shoe soles can be repaired. More accurately, you are wondering: can sneakers be resoled? Worry not. We will get to it in a few.

Re-soling of leather shoes: this is possible

The first step to resoling a leather shoe is to know what kind of sole you are working with. Is it a Blake stitch sole or a good year welt sole?

Blake stitch sole

What is a Blake stitch sole? The Blake stitch sole is actually quite the common sole among high-end leather shoes. It differs from other lesser kinds of the sole in that less glue and or adhesive is used to make the sole. It also contains fewer layers hence has a lighter sole. Instead, when constructing a Blake stitch sole, the sole of a Blake stitch sole undergoes stitching while still adding adhesive. Unlike a cement construction, the sole of the Blake stitch sole has the inner and outer soles woven together. This results in a shoe that is not only more durable but lighter and more comfortable. To know if your shoe is a Blake stitch sole, run your hands in the insole. Do you feel the threads stitched into the sole from the insole forming grooves on your hand?

Why is the Blake stitch sole preferred when making a high-end sole? The most crucial benefit of a Blake stitch sole is that it has a thinner sole construction. It, therefore, gives the shoe a slimmer profile. It enables designers to create shoes that are outrightly more elegant with the focus on style firmly on the upper part of the shoe. Why? This is because there are no exterior stitches used to join the upper and sole together. If you have quite the eyes for shoes, you will see that the sole can be cut very close to the shoe.

To fix a Blake stitch sole, one requires to use a Blake stitch machine. This machine is rather costly and technical to use, resulting in a more expensive and more difficult repair to your shoe.

Good year welt sole

What about the good year welt sole? Well, the good year welt sole is a sole made with a good year welt. A good year welt is a strip that can be made either of leather, rubber, or plastic, which is normally sewn around the bottom edge of a shoe and then attached to the upper and the insole of the shoe. It is quite a traditional shoemaking method that can be dated to around 1865. The main feature of a good year welt sole is that it can be detached from the shoe without damaging the shoe.

Due to the way good year welt soles are stitched, they are not only easy to remove, but it is also quite simple to resole them. Any decent cobbler should be able to fix you up in no time if you have good year welt soles.

Vibram sole

Vibram sole is also another type of upcoming shoe soles that need to be taken note of when it comes to dealing with leather soles. It is named after the Italian word for tanker tread. It is a sole made from rubber lag. Vibram sole is not only slip-resistant, but they are also long-lasting and quite.

Capping soles

This is the addition of rubber to the outer part of your sole. If your shoe has lost its grip but still has an intact insole, an addition of a rubber cap should fix it up easily. You should also avoid capping a new shoe as the cobbler pokes unnecessary holes that may be rather damaging to your shoes.

Re-soling of sneakers: practically impossible

Sneakers cannot be resoled as they are made through a cemented construction where the upper part is attached to the sole using a strong adhesive. Thus when one goes to remove the sole of the sneaker to resole, they end up destroying the sole of the sneaker entirely. If the soles of your sneakers are damaged, you are better off just buying new sneakers.

Washing your sneakers

Sometimes we mistakenly think that our sneakers are past their good old days when all they need is a good wash to make them look straight out of the shelf. At other times a tough stain can steer us away from wearing a perfectly mint pair of kicks. These can all be solved if you give your sports shoes a good wash.

With modern technological advancements and the difficulty of scrubbing away on a pair of shoes to get the dirt off, questions arise. Are sneakers machine washable? Can sneakers be washed in a washing machine? Your questions, along with some great tips and tricks on how to scrub them squeaky clean, are down below.

Washing sneakers: how to go about turning yesterday’s news to the new groove

With these simple tips and tricks, we will get your rusty shoes looking new and improved. The first method to go about when washing your sneakers is to use baking soda.

Cleaning sneakers with baking soda

If you have white sneakers that could use a resuscitation, first get a toothbrush. Then mix in a bowl or bucket 1 part baking soda to 1 part water with 1 part laundry detergent. The go-ahead to lightly work it into your shoes to get rid of any dirt, stains, and other marks on the upper of the shoe.  After your shoes have been completely coated by the mixture, let them sit overnight. In the morning or when ready, the mixture will be dry, and you can easily use the toothbrush and a little water to remove the mixture. Poof, and your shoes are back to being the bright white once again.

Using the washing machine

According to avid internet users, the washing machine is actually quite a handy tool when it comes to cleaning shoes. You just have to simply take off the laces from your shoe, then insert your shoes in a mesh sweater bag. Thereafter, using cold water and your normal detergent, insert the mesh bag, and start the washing process. Do not insert your shoes into the dryer. Just let them dry off the classic style. As for your laces, just wash them regularly. 

At the end of the day, even a classic brush and soap scrub can get your shoes looking like they are in tip-top shape. That is if you have the patience. Therefore feel free to choose whichever method suits you.

To summarize things up: the tip of the sneaker

The modern-day sneaker is part and parcel of our history as human beings as the course not only of our social but political anthropology have come to shape up the shoes that we all know and love. To find good sneakers the upper, sole, and insole must be considered before design. Lastly, washing a sneaker can be done quite simply, unlike sole repair.

We hope with our easy to follow details. We can get you to become quite the sneakerhead, rocking the right kicks and boosting your confidence.