How long your soccer cleat will last will depend on how well you clean and take care of it. When it comes to cleaning soccer cleats, there are tons of possibilities.
First things first, always check with the manufacturer of your soccer cleats to know what you can or cannot do. Using a cleaning method not recommended by your cleat manufacturer may damage them or void your warranty.
For example, Adidas recommends using a solution of water and mild detergent and a washcloth to clean your cleats and never washing in a washing machine. They only recommend washing the laces and insoles in a machine.
Nevertheless, some soccer cleats may endure being washed in a machine without any harm. How to clean soccer cleats will also vary depending on the material used in the manufacture of the soccer cleat.
Besides extending the lifespan, showing up to the pitch with clean and scented soccer cleats can boost your confidence. When it comes to playing well in soccer, the small preparations can make a big difference.
Whether you own a pair of leather or synthetic soccer cleats, we will tell you how to clean soccer cleats without causing damage to the material.
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How to clean soccer cleats?
Regardless of the type of soccer cleats that you own, the cleaning starts from the field. Once the referee has blown the final whistle, bang the soles of the cleats together to get rid of any soil clumps that may be stuck to the studs.
Doing this will also ensure that you don’t carry excessive dirt from the field to your home. What happens next will depend on the material your soccer cleat is made of. To avoid ambiguity, we shall look at how to clean leather and synthetic soccer cleats differently.
Leather soccer cleats
It is almost impossible to play soccer without getting your cleats dirty. The only exception to this is the goalkeepers because they don’t see much of the actions in some games.
Leather soccer cleats are usually tougher and more durable than synthetic soccer cleats. However, they are less resistant to chemicals compared to synthetic soccer cleats.
What this means is that you have to be picky with your cleaning agent whenever you are working with leather cleats. The wrong choice of cleaning agent or technique can cause irreparable damage to your leather cleat.
For a leather soccer cleat, we strongly advise that you clean it by hand rather than using a washing machine. To do this, you will need the following;
- Hard and soft bristle brushes
- Washcloth
- Mild detergent and water solution
Last update on 2023-11-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Step 1
After getting most of the dirt off by knocking the soles against each other, take the soccer cleats to a sink or cleaning table. Use a brush with hard bristles to dislodge any other dirt left on the soles.
Step 2
Dip a washcloth or microfiber cloth into your solution of mild detergent and water. Use it to wipe the soles of the soccer cleat clean. Any residual dirt after brushing should be wiped off at this point.
If you have soccer cleats made of expensive kangaroo leather, you may want to use leather cleaner rather than a regular detergent to prevent possible corrosion of the leather by the detergent.
Step 3
After cleaning, use a clean towel or paper towels to wipe the soles dry. Make sure the soapy solution doesn’t linger on the soles of the soccer cleats.
Step 4
Once you are done with cleaning the soles, it is time to clean the upper. Start by removing the laces of your leather soccer cleat.
Use a soft brush to brush off any dirt, grass, or debris that may be stuck to the upper. In the absence of a soft brush, you can use a toothbrush.
Make sure you brush every corner of the soccer cleats including the tongues.
Step 5
Once you are done, dip your washcloth or eraser sponge into your cleaning solution, wring out the excess moisture and use it to clean the entire upper.
Move your washcloth or eraser sponge around the length of the soccer cleat in a circular motion until you have covered the entire cleat.
Step 6
After cleaning, use a clean towel or rag to wipe off all the soapy water as well as dry the soccer cleats. If water got into the cleats in the cleaning process, stuff the inside with paper towels or newspaper to dry off the excess moisture.
Consider using other drying techniques to achieve total dryness before using the soccer cleats again. Improper dryness is the leading cause of a stinking soccer cleat.
Step 7
Wash the insole and the laces you removed earlier using your eraser sponge or a soft brush. Dry them separately too using a towel or paper towel.
Once they are all dry, replace the insoles and the laces and your leather soccer cleat should be as good as new.
Synthetic or knitted soccer cleats
Synthetic soccer cleats are usually more flexible compared to leather soccer cleats and are also often lighter.
If you own a synthetic soccer cleat where the manufacturer clearly stated that you can use a washing machine to clean them, then you can go ahead and follow the steps we will highlight below.
In the case of hand-cleaning your synthetic soccer cleats, just follow the same steps as the leather soccer cleats and you should get the same result. For washing your synthetic soccer cleats with a washing machine, what you would need are;
- Washing machine
- Set of hard and soft brushes
- Gentle detergent
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Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Step 1
You still have to do the cleaning of the soles from step with a brush and washcloth to get the dirt off the soles. Follow steps 1 and 2 as highlighted in the cleaning of leather soccer cleats.
Step 2
Once your soles are free of debris from the field, remove the insoles and laces from the soccer cleat. With the insoles and laces taken out, place everything in a pillowcase and load them into your washing machine.
Alternatively, you can load them into the washing machine with a few other clothes. The main aim of doing this is to reduce the banging of the soccer cleats on the walls of the washing machine, which is potentially unhealthy for both your cleats and the machine.
Step 3
Pour in your mild laundry detergent and set the machine to cold/delicate wash. Turn on the machine to the desired minutes and allow it to wash.
Step 4
Once the washing is completed, take them out of the machine and dry them. Remember that it is unhealthy to dry a soccer cleat using a dryer or placing them under direct sunlight.
Extreme heat will weaken the glue used to hold the different parts of the cleats. It is better to air dry them or use one of the other safe drying methods that we highlighted.
Remember to dry your shoelaces and insoles outside the soccer cleats and only replace them after they have dried.
Conclusion
The most important precaution to note when cleaning a soccer cleat is to make sure that you use a soft brush when cleaning the upper if the material is delicate like in the case of leather soccer cleats. Using a hard brush on leather cleats may rip the material apart and leave you with a pair of cleats with cracked uppers.
Just to reinstate what we already mentioned for those that may have missed the information, never wash a leather cleat in a washing machine. The material can’t handle it.
You can only wash a synthetic or knitted soccer cleat in a washing machine. Even when you do that, make sure that the water is not hot and that the washing is set at mild.
Another area where most people fumble is drying the soccer cleats. As we already mentioned, it is best to allow the soccer cleats to dry naturally.
The best you can do if you want them to dry faster is to stuff the inside with newspapers or paper towels which should soak up the water from the cleats and help them to dry faster. Always resist the urge to use a quick-dry technique regardless of whether you have leather or synthetic soccer cleats.
Make sure your soccer cleats are properly dried before wearing them again or you may have to deal with a pair of stinking soccer cleats. If you already have stinking soccer cleats, we have just the solution for you.
Hi there, I’m Jay.
Soccer is everything in my life! My friends and I have created this blog with all our enthusiasm, passion, and understanding after years of playing pro soccer. Hope you will enjoy it!