How to remove dust from basketball shoes

How To Clean & Care For Your Basketball Shoes

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You know that feeling you get when you open up a box of new basketball shoes? You lift the lid and remove the paper barrier to reveal the fresh footwear lying inside. They are crisp and perfect with stuffing that evokes the way they’ll look on your feet. They even have a certain smell of newness. Don’t you wish they could stay that way?

Players wear their shoes to practice, to games and even around town, but how can you keep them looking and feeling the way they did on day one?

Consider the following tips to keep your basketball shoes clean and in shape longer.

After a game, you might be stuffing your shoes deep into your gym bag, in a hurry to head out for some fun with your teammates and friends.

But leaving them in your gym bag for an extended time can cause them to lose their shape, putting a lot of pressure on the seams. It can also lead to a buildup of odor, since they can’t air out properly.

Instead, you should store your shoes in an open room or closet with plenty of airflow after wearing them. This will allow them to dry out before your next use. Once they’ve had time to dry out, store your shoes in their original box, rather than on your bedroom floor where they are easily vulnerable to getting kicked around or tripped over.

To help keep your footwear even more fresh, try using a shoe deodorizer, which can come in solid form or an easy-to-use spray.

You may also consider having a couple pairs of basketball shoes and rotate them between games, giving each pair more time to dry and less time in active use.

The cardinal rule is to never wear your indoor shoes outside.

Doing so can cause your basketball shoes to lose both grip and color faster. If you avoid exposing them to the elements, they will likely last much longer.

By only wearing your shoes on the court, you can keep them cleaner as well. That means less wear and tear and less work for you to maintain them.

If you want to keep your shoes in tip-top shape, regular cleanings are essential.

You should, at the very least, clean them after every game. Why? It can reduce general odor, help prevent loss of traction by removing debris from your tread, and keep your basketball shoes from deteriorating by reducing grime that can wear down your tread.

First, as general warning, don’t put your shoes in a washer or dryer. You should also avoid completely immersing them in water. Use these steps as a guide to properly wash your basketball shoes:

1. Remove excess dirt using a soft-bristled shoe brush or tooth brush to clean the sole on the outside of your shoe.
2. Mix warm water with just a drop of laundry detergent (or, if leather, a specialty leather cleaner). Apply a small amount to a sponge or soft cloth to clean dirty areas of the shoe.
3. Remove your insole and clean using a water/detergent mix.
4. Rinse excess soap off of the shoe and insole using just water on a second sponge.
5. Air dry your shoes at room temperature. You shouldn’t leave your shoes to dry in the sunlight or use direct heat (like a hair dryer).

Basketball shoes are one of the most important pieces of equipment you own, so it’s important to take care of them. If you keep your shoes clean and in good shape, it should help keep your footing firm and your appearance crisp and sharp.

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4 Quick Ways to Get Grip on Your Basketball Shoes

Grip is an incredibly important part of any basketball shoes. No matter what surface you play on, being able to stick to the floor allows you to run, move, and cut to the best of your ability.

Soles wear down quickly. They also collect quite a bit of dirt. Both of those setbacks cause you to slip and slide while on the court. That then greatly hinders your ability to stop and go, which then makes it much harder to drive to the lane or play defense.

Even shoes with only slightly worn down grip can cause you to be one second too early or one second too late. In basketball, that makes all the difference.

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1. The Cleaning Method

Though grip wears down over time, there are quite a few ways to keep your shoes in good shape. The first, and perhaps most effective, is by cleaning them.

Many basketball shoes start to lose their traction as a result of the dirt and dust they pick up from the floor. That layer, even if barely noticeable, causes shoes to easily slide across the hardwood.

There are two different cleaning methods that will help eliminate that layer and reliably give you more grip no matter how much you play.

First, you can wet a washcloth and use it to wipe down the bottom of your shoe. Just make sure to get into the grooves. You don’t need to do a deep scrub, but you need to do enough to lift off the dirt particles.

If you want to go bigger, you can also clean your soles with a stiff bristle brush and soapy water. Scrubbing down your shoe in this manner gives a deeper clean. However, I find that it is quite comparable to using a rag. It comes down to personal preference and the amount of dirt on your shoes.


2. Utilizing Enhancers

If cleaning isn’t working, or if you want to take an extra measure on the top of cleaning, you can always turn to special grip enhancers.


Grip lotions are easily available sprays that coat your shoe to add more tackiness to the sole. A quick spritz will be more than enough to give you the extra grip you need.

There are also special sticky pads, also called sticky mats, that improve grip. These are primarily used in a gym setting, where they sit off to the side of the court. You then step on them before the game or during breaks to get a bit of extra adhesion.

Both of the above methods improve your shoe’s grip. Though they both work on their own, I often use them in combination with the washing method to get the best of both worlds.

Just remember to never use your basketball shoes outside. The traction is specifically made for hardwood. Using it on any other surface can quickly break down the rubber grooves and cause you to slip.

3. Fixing Grip in Game

Sometimes you’ll find your traction steadily breaking down in the middle of the game. If that occurs, you want to moisten your soles right away to ensure you don’t lose your edge.

That can be done through either quickly wiping them down with a damp rag (which some teams or gyms may have on the sideline) or by wetting your shoe with saliva.

Rinsing your hand in a drinking fountain and then wiping it across the bottom of your shoe can help your footwear stick. However, if there’s no time for that maneuver, licking your hand and wiping it on the bottom of your shoe works just as well.

I know the idea of licking your hand mid-game is not the most appealing idea, but it does work. I’ve done it more times than I care to admit, and it always leads to better traction.

4. A More Permanent Fix

No matter how much you use the above methods, there will be times where your shoe grip wears down past the point of no return. If that happens, you can have your soles fixed by a shoe repair service.

Getting your old sole replaced can make your pair feel brand new. It may not be as easy as cleaning the sole or buying spray, but it’s typically much cheaper than going out and buying a new pair.

Of course, if the tread is worn through and shoe repair isn’t an option, the only way to fix the grip is going to be purchasing new shoes.

Final Words

Many people give up on their basketball shoes too quickly. The traction doesn’t feel right, or they find themselves slipping on the court, and they try a new pair. However, there are many easy methods you can utilize to keep your grip strong.

Make sure to try different methods and figure out which one works best for you. Some shoes respond better to cleaning, while others do well with general moisture of sticky pads.

What’s your favorite method for improving your grip? Do you have your own tricks? Let us know in the comments below!

How to get rid of an unpleasant smell in sneakers?

With daily wear, and even more so after long workouts, sneakers will definitely have an unpleasant smell, so sooner or later each of us will have to find the right way to deal with this problem. And since the questions “how to get rid of the unpleasant smell in sneakers?” and “why do sneakers smell bad?” excite every third (and even every second), today I will try to give answers to them.

The smell of sneakers is a problem that is not usually talked about, but this does not stop the sneakers from smelling bad. And even new shoes after the first wear can be “fragrant”, so let's figure out how to eliminate the unpleasant smell by all possible methods.

Unpleasant smell is a problem that is noticed not only by you, but also by others, and the reasons for this can be different:

1. The temperature regime is not respected - if you walk in winter or basketball sneakers in the summer, then even without a warm sock your feet will sweat and, accordingly, they will start to smell. Choose sneakers strictly for the season: winter or demi-season sneakers - for cold / cool weather, textile sneakers and mesh sneakers - for the summer.

2. Foot hygiene is not observed - if you do not change socks, do not wash insoles, rarely wash your feet - an unpleasant smell will definitely appear in sneakers.

3. Diseases of the feet - the fungus causes the foot to sweat more and becomes a catalyst for the appearance of unpleasant odors. Moreover, the feet affected by the fungus sweat even in sandals.

4. Active training - running shoes are most at risk of odor, so preventive refreshing measures should be taken between workouts.

5. The sneaker's own smell - honestly, this happens quite rarely, but if you come across exactly such sneakers, then you need to remove the laces, unscrew the tongue and ventilate them well in the fresh air.

And now let's look at the most popular ways to get rid of unpleasant odors in sneakers.

#1 way: foot hygiene

If your feet sweat a lot for no apparent reason, there is an unpleasant smell and severe itching in the area of ​​​​the feet and fingers - consult a dermatologist. This is how the fungus works. Unfortunately, the disease is common. The good news is that it is relatively easy to get rid of.

Remember the main thing: it is much easier to prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor and other manifestations of foot disease than to deal with its consequences.

Wash your feet regularly after training and especially in summer. Optimal: morning and evening, and it is also desirable to change socks more than once a day. You can additionally treat your feet with special talcum powder or foot deodorant in the form of a cream or spray. It is especially important to maintain proper hygiene if you are running or exercising actively, as at such moments the legs are under severe stress.

#2 way: shoe care

Proper care of your sneakers will not only get rid of unwanted odors, but will also help prolong the life of your shoes. In our last article, we looked in detail at caring for different types of sneaker materials, but here we focus on the points that will help prevent unpleasant odors.

Clean your shoes when they get dirty

Shoes can and should be cleaned regularly, maybe even washed, but remember: washing sneakers in the washing machine is a bad idea (the adhesive bonds loosen and the textiles fade). For cleaning nubuck, suede and textile sneakers, we recommend using professional products: Tarrago Nano Protector, Crep Protect or Jason Markk Repel.

From Tarrago, Crep and Jason Markk you can find complete sneaker care lines:

• Cleaning kits, consisting of cleaning fluid, soft brush, dry cloth wipes and water-repellent spray;

• Napkins and erasers for quick cleaning of shoes from dirt;

• Balms for protecting leather shoes, etc.

One bottle of cleaning fluid is enough for 100 uses. It gently removes dirt and foreign odors, does not eat away color, and protects the upper of the sneaker from premature wear.

Wash or replace insoles

Replaceable insoles allow you to wear the same pair of sneakers for a long time without attracting attention to yourself with extraneous odors. When choosing new insoles, we recommend giving preference to options made of cotton or genuine leather.

Insoles made from natural materials absorb microscopic particles of moisture, leaving the foot dry and preventing the growth of bacteria. This, in turn, will help to avoid the development of the same foot fungus and will prevent the appearance of a bad smell in your sneakers. Special deodorizing insoles are produced for sports shoes. They are impregnated with concentrated activated carbon, which provides protection against unpleasant odors.

Removable insoles should be washed as often as possible. They can be sent to the washing machine or cleaned by hand - as you prefer.

Preserve the upper

Preserving the upper is a way to keep the look and integrity of the sneakers you are storing for next season. Wash your sneakers with plain water or with professional Tarrago or Crep Protect shoe polish. Treat suede and nubuck with an eraser from dirt. After that, dry and ventilate your sneakers thoroughly. Place your sneakers in a dry, ventilated area.

To protect shoes from dust, place them in well-ventilated cloth bags beforehand. Polyethylene is categorically not suitable for storing sports shoes precisely because the air in such bags does not circulate, it becomes musty, and this aroma is then very difficult to remove.

Use shoe polish

Crep Protect Pills is recommended to be used after every wear. It needs to be untwisted and placed inside the shoe. The capsule quickly absorbs odors, disinfects and refreshes shoes. Among the analogues there are deodorizing balls from different manufacturers.

Tarrago Fresh Deo Spray is even easier to use: just spray it from a distance of 15 cm from the insole and let it dry for 15-20 minutes. It not only kills odors, but also has antibacterial properties. The manufacturer guarantees that the spray lasts for 48 hours, but for reliability it can be used daily.

Alternate shoes

If you work out often or wear the same pair of sneakers every day, consider getting one or more pairs and alternate them. This way you give each pair time to dry at normal room temperature.

#3 method: ultraviolet treatment

There is a special device - ultraviolet dryer (sterilizer) for shoes. This device is used to disinfect and deodorize shoes and is often used in fitness clubs, where they are usually allowed to use it for free. A similar device can be bought for home use.

#4 method: ozone dryer for shoes

This method allows you to get rid of various fungi, germs and bacteria from sneakers, as well as eliminate unpleasant odors. The design of ozone dryers allows you to get into the most secluded corners of the sneaker. Not a single microbe will go unnoticed.

Of course, store-bought odor control products work well, but there are alternatives for them. The resourcefulness and curiosity of people over the past decade has led to a number of "folk ways" to remove the smell in shoes, they are available to everyone, they can be easily found at home, and it is about them that we will talk next.

#5 way: tea bags

Tea bags absorb odors very well. In the evening, put a few bags of black tea (any kind you can find at home) in each sneaker. During the night, the bags will absorb the unpleasant odor and excess moisture, so in the morning your sneakers are ready to use again.

#6 way: baking soda

In addition to absorbing unpleasant odors, baking soda effectively fights bacteria and disinfects any surface. The disadvantage of the method is that the soda sticks to the inside of the shoes, and it is then problematic to remove it, unless you then clean them with a vacuum cleaner.

You can cheat and pour soda not directly into sneakers, but into a nylon or thin textile sock, and place it inside the sneaker.

#7 way: mixture of sage and lemon

Sage and Lemon Blend is a proven folk recipe for fighting bacteria and odor inside sneakers. Take a few lemons and scrape the zest from them (that's what we need) and dried sage (you can buy it at tea stalls, pharmacies or in the market). Mix these two ingredients. There is no formula or ratio, do as you wish.

Then put the sage-lemon mixture in paper bags and leave it in each of your sneakers overnight. During the night, the bags will absorb the smell of sweat and replace it with a pleasant freshness. Like baking soda, a mixture of lemon peel and sage has antibacterial properties.

#8 method: freezer

Yes, your wife will not like this method, but it's worth it. Place your sneakers in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer overnight. The low temperature will kill germs - the main source of odor in shoes.

In the morning it remains to take out the bag with sneakers from the freezer, wait until they come to room temperature, and after that - you can put on your shoes.

2 important “buts” for this method are as follows:

1. Excess moisture that has accumulated inside your sneakers will not go anywhere, it will freeze and thaw in the morning, which means it will become a catalyst for the appearance of an unpleasant smell again. To avoid this, let the shoes dry after the freezer during the day.

2. Such things will not work with patent leather shoes - the material will crack in the cold!

#9 way: cat litter

Cat litter eliminates odors worse than sweat, so it will work here. Just do not leave shoes within reach of pets - they may think that you have prepared such a gift for them.

General tips and a couple of final tricks

• Ventilate your shoe closet and sneakers regularly. Even if you take your unlaced sneakers out on the balcony for half an hour, this should help.
• To prevent the unpleasant smell from "cling" to sneakers right in the closet, hang in it aromatic bags with the smell of coffee, fruit, citrus. It is not necessary to buy such a bag - you can make it yourself.
• You can also use odor absorbers for cabinets. They are sold in shoe stores and pharmacies, they cost a penny, but they skillfully neutralize the smell of sweat and other stench due to the content of active carbon.

Now you know that odor inside sneakers can be fought. For our part, we recommend that you use Crep Protect Pills capsules, they are inexpensive, last a long time and they look just amazing.

How to quickly whiten white sneakers at home?

May 22, 2019

White color suits everyone without exception, giving the image elegance and freshness. White shoes look especially beautiful, however, unfortunately, they lose their original appearance in a short time. With proper care, you can easily restore its splendor with the help of both professional and homemade cleaning products.

White shoes are quite difficult to protect from pollution. Among the main causes of stains on sneakers are:

• contact with dust, dirt and water;
• the appearance of creases into which dirt and dust are clogged;
• street smoke from vehicles;
• darkening of the edging and white stitching threads due to dirt and even cleaning agents.




Tip: The amount of soiling can be minimized or completely avoided thanks to special products - a colorless nourishing cream, dirt-repellent and water-repellent impregnations.

To return the original appearance of white sneakers, you can resort to various methods, which are described in detail below.

Professional Services

Shoe shops and ateliers provide assistance in the fight against stubborn dirt in the form of the following services:

• dry cleaning with special cleaners;
• multi-step painting with professional paints that cannot be achieved at home.

Both options are quite expensive and not everyone can afford them. A large number of workshops, in principle, do not work with white shoes and, as a rule, they perform these manipulations exclusively with leather, nubuck and suede. Consider options for whitening shoes at home.

Do-it-yourself whitening of sneakers: necessary products

All available materials that can be used in conditions are divided into improvised and professional.

Shoe cosmetics

These substances and special brushes are sold in the relevant departments of supermarkets and shoe stores. There is a huge variety of shoe cosmetics and the choice is yours. The main thing is to read the information on the label before buying.




Items related to

• Tarrago Shoe Cleaner Sneakers Set, CLEAN & PROTECT
• Tarrago Shoe Whitener, SOLE RESTORER, 125ml.
• Solemate Basic Kit in tube 1 320 rubles



Household products

In addition to such common cleaning products as laundry soap and washing powder, the following are used:

• toothpaste;
• vinegar;
• lemon;
• soda;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• ammonia.



How to quickly restore the whiteness of sneakers?

There are a number of universal recommendations suitable for sneakers made of any materials:

• After returning home, wipe the shoes systematically with a dry and then with a damp cloth, adding washing powder if necessary. After the procedure, it is necessary to wipe the surface dry, and if powder was used, then the first step is to clean it with a damp sponge.
• For heavier soiling, treat shoes with lemon. You must first dilute lemon juice in water with a ratio of two to one. In the future, we rub the sneakers previously cleaned with a solution and leave for a while. After we remove the remaining juice with a damp cloth and wipe dry.
• Commercial cleaners should be applied with a brush to avoid streaks.
Items related to
• Tarrago shoe cleaner Sneakers set for sneaker care, CLEAN & PROTECT
• Tarrago Shoe Whitener, SOLE RESTORER, 125ml.
• Solemate Basic Kit in tube 1 320 rubles




How to clean white sneakers at home

Since sneakers and sneakers are designed for sports, they are regularly subjected to serious tests in operation. The process of cleaning shoes at home has a number of nuances and is carried out as follows:

1. Remove and soak shoelaces in water, if heavily soiled use bleach or laundry soap. Wash them with detergent, rinse and dry. If this does not help, they will need to be replaced.
2. Wipe sneakers with a dry cloth to remove dust and dried dirt. Clean the sole of small stones, sand and other debris using an old toothbrush.
3. Dampen a cloth with a solution of water and detergent or soap and wipe the surface.
4. To restore the original shade, apply a small amount of toothpaste to an old brush and rub it on the surface. To enhance the whitening effect, you can add a couple of drops of lemon juice. After that, remove the paste with a cloth soaked in warm water. Wipe clean shoes dry.
5. As an alternative to toothpaste, you can make your own whitening paste. To do this, mix two tablespoons of laundry detergent, teaspoons of vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice. Apply the resulting mass to the brush, rub the sneakers and leave for ten minutes. Then remove it with a damp cloth and wipe the surface dry.
6. Cleaned and wet shoes should be stuffed with white paper and then dried at room temperature away from radiators and radiators.
7. As soon as the shoes are dry, treat them with nourishing and protective products.


Items related to
• Tarrago Shoe Cleaner Sneakers Set, CLEAN & PROTECT
• Tarrago Shoe Whitener, SOLE RESTORER, 125ml.
• Solemate Basic Kit in tube 1 320 rubles



Whitening suede sneakers

White suede will look flawless after following these procedures:

1. Use a brush to remove dust from the surface.
2. Apply foam cleaner, leaving it for a while, and then work the surface with the hard or soft side of the brush, depending on the degree of soiling.
3. Prepare a bleach solution: teaspoons of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, and a glass of water. Moisten a microfiber or flannel cloth with it to wipe the suede surface.

After that, the shoes will turn white, and if you make additional processing with a rubber brush, then it will acquire a fresh look.

Cleaning and drying a textile pair of shoes

1. Remove from the insoles and laces from the sneakers.
2. Using a grater, grate half a bar of laundry soap, churning it into foam with warm water. We immerse shoes in the resulting solution, which must be covered with a bag or film for forty minutes. Inexpensive shoes can stick out from such a procedure, and therefore, in this case, long soaking is not recommended.
3. Take 45 g of fine salt and 50 g each of soda and toothpaste, mixing everything to obtain a viscous homogeneous mass. Using a toothbrush, apply it to a couple washed under water and leave for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
4. If the result is unsatisfactory, stuff shoes with paper and dry at room temperature, changing the paper when wet.
5. If that doesn't work, soak the shoes in the soapy water again for fifteen minutes. Then send to the washing machine for half an hour without spinning, and at the end dry the shoes.




Tip: To clean white textile shoes, it is best to use a special impregnation emulsion of the corresponding color, applying it to a previously cleaned and dried pair.

Causes of yellowness

The appearance of snow-white shoes, in addition to the above factors, can also be affected by cleaning products. It may happen that you spend time and effort on cleaning using bleach powders, and the shoes become covered with an unpleasant yellowness during the drying process. There are several reasons for its occurrence:

• was washed with excessively hot water;
• during the rinsing process, the powder in one quantity or another remained on the shoe, reacting with the material;
• dry sneakers in direct sunlight or on a radiator, as a result of which the sneakers could shed.

Remove yellow stains with lemon, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide




If you notice yellow stains on your shoes, then you can easily fix the situation using ordinary hydrogen peroxide. The sequence of actions is as follows:

• Soak sneakers in cold water for several hours, then rinse thoroughly.
• Pour the liquid out of the shoes, blot the inside and outside with paper towels, then stuff the inside with white paper and dry in the shade outdoors or indoors at room temperature.
• If all the above steps were not enough to achieve the desired result, prepare a bleach solution from hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice and vinegar in equal proportions, also adding a tablespoon of washing powder. As a result, you should get a mass, in its consistency and in general in appearance similar to sour cream. You need to apply it to places with yellowness, using a toothbrush or a dish sponge, and then leave it for five or a little more minutes.

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