Should you put your prized pair in to a washing machine?????
Well..... there is a lot of debate about this. Unlike clothes, trainers do not come with washing instructions on the labels. This is a good indication that they really should not be put in washing machines or washed at all. lol
Personally cleansing wipes do the job for most and even some hardy stains. But if you decide to wear your beloved kicks on a building site or to change the oil in you car.... Your asking for the obvious trouble.
I admit that I have washed trainers in the past and had no trouble. But even on low heat, this can cause structural issues with the glues that bond the fabrics together and the fabrics themselves can become brittle or damaged. The water penetrating the soles can cause the cushioning technology's to fail or become water logged. Neither is a good look.
I have heard of Air cushions expanding and destroying the trainers. Trainers themselves melting, shrinking or even falling apart in the machines. There are horror story's all over about this kind of thing.
My advice...
Don't wash them in a machine for these reasons...
1.The temperatures are not that accurate and can easily cause damage to Air soles, gel systems and even the specialist waffle sponges used in lots of soles.
2. The violent spins can damage the trainers and the machines.
3. The water penetration is not controlled and will saturate the shoe, combined with the heat, this could cause structural issues.
4. The soap used in machines can be harsh and corrosive to some fabrics used in trainer manufacture and this can cause structural issues.
5. Washing shoes will not always rid them of smell. The best policy for this is to remove the insole and place rolled up news paper or tissue paper into the shoe and leave them for a good few days or a week. If this does not work. Maybe use a fabric cleaner and a light/soft/tooth brush and scrub the inside of the shoe making sure you rinse the cleaner out by wiping with cleansing wipes or damp cloth.
then repeat above step.
if this don't work..........Id throw them away and seriously consider changing your feet. lol
There are many specialist fabric and shoe care product on the market. Unlike most clothes, trainers have can have many different specialist fabrics in their construction, so its best to check every product is suitable before use. this may seem excessive, but if your like me and very proud of you collection of vintage kicks, then this is no biggy if you want to keep them in tip top condition.
I have used products from footlockers range and was quite impressed. Although they were not great on every fabric they are good value for money.
http://www.footlocker.eu/en-gb/Accessories/Foot-Locker-Fl-Nylon-Foaming-Cleaner.aspx/9535047900
http://www.footlocker.eu/en-gb/Accessories/Foot-Locker-Suede-Foaming-Cleaner.aspx/9535045300
If you dont mind shelling out a bit of cash for a better more specialist product, Try this stuff....
http://www.urbanindustry.co.uk/brands/jason-markk.html
If you decide to ignore this advise and insist on putting your trainers in a machine. Please wrap them in a pillow case and tie it up. Only use a little washing soap, and put them on a short cool/cold delicate wash.
KKAS is against cruelty to trainers. any such ill treatment will be reported to the WSPCT. World Society of the Prevention of cruelty to Trainers and may result in confiscation of all trainers. LOL
Well..... there is a lot of debate about this. Unlike clothes, trainers do not come with washing instructions on the labels. This is a good indication that they really should not be put in washing machines or washed at all. lol
Personally cleansing wipes do the job for most and even some hardy stains. But if you decide to wear your beloved kicks on a building site or to change the oil in you car.... Your asking for the obvious trouble.
I admit that I have washed trainers in the past and had no trouble. But even on low heat, this can cause structural issues with the glues that bond the fabrics together and the fabrics themselves can become brittle or damaged. The water penetrating the soles can cause the cushioning technology's to fail or become water logged. Neither is a good look.
I have heard of Air cushions expanding and destroying the trainers. Trainers themselves melting, shrinking or even falling apart in the machines. There are horror story's all over about this kind of thing.
My advice...
Don't wash them in a machine for these reasons...
1.The temperatures are not that accurate and can easily cause damage to Air soles, gel systems and even the specialist waffle sponges used in lots of soles.
2. The violent spins can damage the trainers and the machines.
3. The water penetration is not controlled and will saturate the shoe, combined with the heat, this could cause structural issues.
4. The soap used in machines can be harsh and corrosive to some fabrics used in trainer manufacture and this can cause structural issues.
5. Washing shoes will not always rid them of smell. The best policy for this is to remove the insole and place rolled up news paper or tissue paper into the shoe and leave them for a good few days or a week. If this does not work. Maybe use a fabric cleaner and a light/soft/tooth brush and scrub the inside of the shoe making sure you rinse the cleaner out by wiping with cleansing wipes or damp cloth.
then repeat above step.
if this don't work..........Id throw them away and seriously consider changing your feet. lol
There are many specialist fabric and shoe care product on the market. Unlike most clothes, trainers have can have many different specialist fabrics in their construction, so its best to check every product is suitable before use. this may seem excessive, but if your like me and very proud of you collection of vintage kicks, then this is no biggy if you want to keep them in tip top condition.
I have used products from footlockers range and was quite impressed. Although they were not great on every fabric they are good value for money.
http://www.footlocker.eu/en-gb/Accessories/Foot-Locker-Fl-Nylon-Foaming-Cleaner.aspx/9535047900
http://www.footlocker.eu/en-gb/Accessories/Foot-Locker-Suede-Foaming-Cleaner.aspx/9535045300
If you dont mind shelling out a bit of cash for a better more specialist product, Try this stuff....
http://www.urbanindustry.co.uk/brands/jason-markk.html
If you decide to ignore this advise and insist on putting your trainers in a machine. Please wrap them in a pillow case and tie it up. Only use a little washing soap, and put them on a short cool/cold delicate wash.
KKAS is against cruelty to trainers. any such ill treatment will be reported to the WSPCT. World Society of the Prevention of cruelty to Trainers and may result in confiscation of all trainers. LOL
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