There are four methods that you can use to clean your cycling shoes. The first method is by using a soap, dish and brush which is the most recommended method of cleaning your cycling shoes. The second method involves cleaning your cycling shoes with toothpaste and a brush which is an ideal “quick- clean” for you. In addition to these two methods, you can also clean your cycling shoes using a magic eraser as it effectively removes scuffs and marks from shoes. Lastly, you can clean your cycling shoes by putting them inside your washing machine however, you have to be careful when using this method.
Cycling shoes come in a variety of sizes and color however, you have to admit that white cycling shoes always stand out. For sure, these shoes look great and stylish whenever you wear them which makes them highly sought after. In addition to this, they are also pretty comfortable which allows you to cycle for long distances without any problem. However, there are various cyclers who avoid buying white cycling shoes because they get dirty quickly. Well, the good news is that there is nothing to be worried about anymore as you can easily clean them nowadays when they get dirty.
Methods you can use to clean your cycling shoes
Using a soap, basin and brush
First of all, you are supposed to remove the inner soles of your cycling shoes and wash them separately. This is because your inner soles may not get cleaned properly if you wash your cycling shoes with them inside the shoes. After you have removed the inner soles, you should unscrew the metal clips of your shoes as you don’t really need to wash them. However, this is not necessary especially if you don’t have the tools required to remove them.
Once you do this, pre- wash your cycling shoes. Therefore, you should fill a small jar with water, pour some liquid detergent in it and mix it up. During this process, you are supposed to use a dish detergent or any other liquid detergent that you use for washing your dishes. After the water and the soap has mixed up, you should take a toothbrush, dip it inside the jar with the soap mixture and use it to gently brush your cycling shoes so that you don’t damage their fabric.
You should be keen when brushing your cycling shoes and ensure that you brush your laces and threads until they are clean and back to their original color. After you have completed brushing the outer part of your cycling shoes, you should now take your inner soles and brush them using your toothbrush. Normally, the outside part of your cycling shoes are more dirty than the inner sole. So it should take you fewer minutes to clean the inner soles.
Once you have gone through these two steps successfully, you should create a baking soda paste. At first this may sound complicated especially if it’s your first time doing it, but it really isn’t. All you have to do is mix baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and a little bit of water in a small bowl. This will create a thick white paste which is ideally what you should be making. Once you have done this, you should rub this paste on the fabric of your cycling shoes using your fingers.
After you have applied the paste on both shoes, put them under the sun for about two hours. You’ll probably notice that the shoes are pretty clean after being under the sun however, the cleaning process doesn’t end here. You should then soak the shoes inside soapy water so that you can remove all the baking soda paste powder off the shoes. After soaking them in water, rinse your cycling shoes and inner soles with clean water and let them dry under the sun. In addition to this, you can also hang your cycling shoes on a boot dryer if you are cleaning your shoes during seasons where there is little or no sun.
Using toothpaste and a toothbrush
This is one of the best methods to clean your shoes when you are in a hurry. This is because it takes very little time to clean your cycling shoes and restore them back to their original color. All you have to do is put some toothpaste on your toothbrush and gently scrub the fabric of your cycling shoes in circles. You should continue doing this until you cover all the areas of your cycling shoes.
After doing this, wipe off the toothpaste from your cycling shoes using a towel and they will be clean.
Using a magic eraser
You can also use this method to clean your cycling shoes if they are not too dirty. Basically, you should fill a basin with clean water and then take your magic eraser and dip it inside the water. After doing this, take the eraser and gently scrub the fabric off your cycling shoes until the dirt comes off.
Method |
Ideal for |
Using soap, basin and brush |
This method basically requires you to clean the cycling shoes by scrubbing them with a brush in soapy water. Then rub baking soda and rinse the shoes. It is ideal for removing tough stains such as mud. |
Using toothpaste and toothbrush |
This method requires you to clean your cycling shoes by scrubbing toothpaste on the fabric of the shoes until it is clean. It is ideal for cleaning your cycling shoes if they had light stains. |
Using a magic eraser |
This method requires you to clean your shoes by dipping the magic eraser in water and wiping off the dirt. It is ideal for wiping dusty cycling shoes. |
Conclusion
For sure, it is pretty easy to clean your cycling shoes using either of this three methods that we have provided for you. You should choose your preferred method based on the time you have, condition of your cycling shoes and the tools you have at home.
FAQs
Can I use a magic eraser to clean off mud from my cycling shoes?
No, you should not. You should wash them using soap, basin and a brush.
What type of soap should I use to clean my cycling shoes?
You should use liquid dish detergents to clean your cycling shoes.