Articles, tips, miscellany
Caring For Your Running Shoes
by Mike Wilensky, Frontrunners/Frontwalkers Chicago
It's entirely possible, in summer, to keep your running shoes clean, dry and odor-free. After running, remove the insoles and allow them to dry outside the shoes. Keep two pairs of shoes and alternate them. Finally, use "Cedar Socks," available at nominal costs from Road Runners Sports (800-551-5558); these cloth, cucumber-shaped inserts, stuffed with cedar chips, absorb moisture and odors from the outside in. Their life expectancy is about the same as a pair of shoes.
However, if your you're like me, you sweat heavily and drench your shoes in sweat, sooner or later -- probably sooner -- your shoes will become pretty rank. This can be useful if you want an entire el' car to yourself, but it's decidedly not appreciated in civilized places. Reaching this state of affairs calls for seriously cleaning your shoes.
After getting no help or advice from salespersons at local sporting goods stores or shoe companies, and after trial and error over a long time, I've found Dial Antibacterial Soap (the gold-colored, handwashing liquid in the pump bottle) my best discovery for cleaning running shoes. Remove the insoles and laces and immerse the shoes in lukewarm water. Apply the soap directly to the shoes and scrub, both inside and out, with a cellulose sponge; scrub the outside with a soft brush, but do not brush inside the shoes. Allow the soap to remain on the shoes for 15-20 minutes. Then again immerse the shoes in clear, cool water, swishing them vigorously; then rinse under running water. Finally, stuff the shoes with paper towels -- do not use newspaper because the ink will come off in the shoes. Putting the shoes in front of a fan will almost ensure that they'll dry overnight.
A few don'ts: Don't put running shoes in the washing machine or dryer; don't use regular laundry detergent; don't use bleach or ammonia; don't dry them in heat.
Anyone with additional comments or suggestions for shoe care is invited to submit them to the FRONTPAGES, PO Box 148313, Chicago IL 60614-8313.