We’ve all been there, its few matches into the season, and your soccer cleats are looking dirty and a wet cloth just won’t get all of the scuffs and marks off them anymore. But have no fear, by following the tips in our “How To Clean Your Soccer Shoes” video below you can get all of that dirt and grime off and keep your boots looking new all year long. A few more tips to remember when you’re cleaning your soccer shoes can be found below the video, including what not to do, and make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Caring for Leather Soccer Shoes
The first thing to remember when caring for your leather soccer shoes is to get a leather care kit, or some leather food. These products are designed to be applied to the surface of the shoes with a cloth they usually include in the package. Leather is an organic material, and the chemicals in the leather treatment products will help keep it soft and flexible. This will help prevent any ripping or tearing as your boots get on in years. Its also important to let your leather soccer boots dry out all the way, and apply leather food between matches. Over time, the water will dry out the leather, making it more prone to tears. Other than that, try not to drag your toe when you’re shooting or passing and you should be able to get a few years out of a decent pair of leather soccer shoes.
Caring for Synthetic Soccer Shoes
Synthetic shoe care is pretty easy in comparison to looking after a leather pair. Synthetic layers are all made from some form a plastic and the majority of the dirt on them should rinse off with a bit of water and a cloth. However, for the stains and scuffs check out the video above to get some tips and see how to get them off. However, there are a few things you should never do when keeping your shoes looking good for longer.
How Not to Care for Your Soccer Shoes
A few things you should never do; don’t ever put your soccer cleats in the freezer. Many players stick their boots in the freezer to help get rid of the smell of wet feet, but the freezing and thawing of them shoes is really hard on the glue that holds the soleplate to the upper and will make you shoes wear out a lot faster. Also, never leave your shoes in a hot car all day as the same glue will melt from the heat and you’ll end up with four half shoes. Also, don’t dip your synthetic soccer cleats in hot water to try and make them fit better. Wearing Copa Mundials in the shower may give you a better fit, but dipping something that’s is glued together in hot water is going to dissolve some of the glue holding them together, leading to a short life span.
IF you have any shoe care questions, let us know in the comments.
Written by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
