Football boots on the shelf of a sports store look immaculate, but after a breathtaking game they are instantly covered with dust, particles of dirt, and stuck blades of grass.
Getting rid of dirt on sports shoes is quite difficult - without experience, it is easy to deform the upper part and damage the sole. To avoid unpleasant disappointment after the first wash, it is recommended that you carefully familiarize yourself with the features of washing boots.
Bleaching has its own tricks and rules, which are also better to understand in advance. Strict adherence to the requirements will quickly return your favorite accessory to its original appearance.
What are boots, the main differences from sneakers
Boots are special shoes designed for playing football, which have many differences from sneakers. One of the advantages is the presence of spikes that do not allow you to roll out on various synthetic or natural surfaces of the football field - grass, soil, special coatings.
When purchasing, be sure to take into account the type of surface you will play on. If it is difficult to make a choice on your own, it is better to seek the help of a specialist who will tell you in detail what to give preference to.
Models for children have a large number of spikes (24 pieces). For adults and teenagers who feel confident on the football field, it is recommended to choose a sports accessory that has a smaller number of spikes - 6 or 8.
The main difference from sneakers is that the pressure is distributed evenly on the foot, which significantly reduces the load on the lower limbs and increases the comfort of training, regardless of the hardness of the field surface. Another advantage is that the running speed increases significantly due to the spikes.
Types of boots
We wash it correctly
Some people believe that after washing, new things can shrink, fade, and lose their presentable appearance. To avoid such problems, you should always read the tag located on the product.
Products for adults
First of all, you should pay attention to the material from which the item is made:
- Clothes made from cashmere, wool or silk should only be washed by hand in cool water.
- Cotton products can be processed either by hand or by washing machine at a water temperature of 30-40 degrees.
- Synthetics are safely thrown into the machine and a machine spin is used.
In addition to the material from which the product is made, it is important to pay attention to the color scheme of the clothing. Basic recommendations:
Basic recommendations:
- Black clothes are washed at low temperatures (no more than 30 degrees) with a small amount of powder. For dark items, it is better to use liquid gels, since loose powders often contain bleaches, chlorine, etc.
- Colored items of similar shades can be washed together. Before throwing the product into the washing machine, you need to make sure that it will not stain too much. To do this, a small part of the product is immersed in hot water, after which the wet part is passed over a white cloth. If the material is stained, it is better to wash it manually and in cold water for the first time.
Mixing light-colored items with colored items is strictly not recommended, as there is a risk of staining white items.
For newborns
Washing new clothes for young children is a must. When processing things for the little ones, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- You need to wash things with a special detergent for babies. Also use baby or regular laundry soap. After this method of washing, you should rinse the items thoroughly;
- It is not recommended to use conditioners and rinses. The product with the safest composition can harm the baby: cause an allergic reaction or severe cough;
- After washing, all items should be thoroughly ironed and steamed.
You can find out how to wash clothes for babies here.
Underwear
Manufacturers often recommend washing this category of products by hand. If you don’t have enough time to process laundry by hand, you can use a machine. Delicate or hand wash mode is optimal.
It is best to place underwear in special bags so that the items do not become deformed and lose their beautiful appearance.
Liquid gels or capsules are suitable for washing such items. Grains of bulk product may not dissolve and get stuck in the lace trim.
It is not recommended to wash underwear of different colors together. White items will turn gray, and bright items may fade and lose their former attractiveness.
If you want to know how to wash a bra, then read this article.
Bed dress
Proper processing of a new set of linen will help achieve a positive result and maintain a fresh, beautiful appearance of the products.
Basic recommendations when washing bed linen:
- a new set is best processed by hand. The optimal water temperature is up to 40 degrees;
- It is prohibited to use bleaches, stain removers and conditioners;
- loose washing powder should be replaced with liquid gel;
- It is not recommended to wash several sets together at once;
- Duvet covers and pillowcases must be turned inside out.
Washed items should be ironed promptly. You should not store wrinkled linen on shelves, as the fabric will wear out and stretch faster.
You can find out more about washing bedding here.
Basic rules for washing boots
If sports shoes were purchased in a specialized store, information about washing must certainly be provided on the packaging. A mandatory rule is to carefully study all the manufacturers’ recommendations. When washing, you should take into account the temperature of the water, detergents, which process, manual or machine, should be chosen.
Experiments are not encouraged - it is quite easy to ruin the appearance of the boots. Even careful handling does not guarantee the absence of unpleasant consequences after getting rid of dirt.
You need to wash your boots and socks especially carefully. Incorrectly selected temperature conditions and aggressive detergents can irreversibly damage a sports accessory.
For white sports shoes, you will have to take care of a bleaching agent in advance. Powerful agents that can cause tissue damage are not recommended. Despite high-quality materials, even the famous brands Adidas and Nike are not immune to stains and thinning fibers.
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Regardless of the washing method chosen, it is recommended to first clean the soles - they are the ones that accumulate dirt and dust. Start with a simple process - shake off any remaining soil by tapping the surfaces. You should not rub - spikes, especially those with metal tips, can damage the sole.
To clean the sole, use a soft brush and carefully remove dirt between the studs. It is better to use a toothbrush in the front part - thanks to its small size, it will be easy to remove dirt.
It is forbidden to use sharp devices - even a wooden stick can damage the surface. Only after removing the dirt is it recommended to begin the main process - washing the product.
Ways to wash football shoes
Depending on the degree of contamination, different types of washing are used. There are only two of them:
- Partial;
- Full.
Partial wash
This wash should be carried out when the shoes are not very dirty. Usually, to clean it, it will be enough to remove any remaining dirt deposits. This can be done by rinsing the boots under water pressure or using a wet rag. It is worth noting that with this type of washing, only the upper part of the shoe is cleaned. Here are some more methods for washing shoes:
- Remove dirt residues with a brush or sponge under a stream of water. After washing, the shoes should be wiped with a dry cloth and left to dry.
- Pour water into a bowl and use a brush to remove all dirt. After cleaning, sports shoes need to be dried.
- If there is very little dirt on the shoes, then it will be enough to wipe the surface with a damp cloth or sponge. After this, the boots need to be allowed to dry.
Washing temperature from +10 to +40 °C. It is strictly forbidden to wash boots with hot water (over 60 °C).
Full wash
This type of washing should be carried out in case of significant contamination of the product. In addition, depending on the level of use of the boots, it is recommended to wash them at least several times a month. However, you should not overdo it, since too frequent procedures can damage sports shoes. A full wash is also suitable when exchanging boots or taking them to a repair shop.
Full washing is done in 2 ways:
- In the washing machine;
- In manual mode.
Hand washing - rules, recommendations
The most gentle, gentle way to get rid of dirt, dust particles, and stains is hand washing. Another advantage of not using a washing machine is that deformation of the product is completely eliminated.
Before washing your boots, you should prepare a soap solution. Do not use ordinary laundry soap - gel, dishwashing detergent, good powder will quickly remove stains without harming the material of the sports accessory.
Step-by-step washing of sports shoes with spikes:
- Unlace your shoes, soak the laces, apply a concentrated soap solution (for white laces that are stained with yellow, it is recommended to use a bleach or soda solution).
- Using a brush, a soap solution whose temperature does not exceed 40 degrees, walk over the surface of the boots, be sure to move from the holes for the laces to the sole - this will allow the liquid to naturally flow down without accumulating in the fabric, without causing stains.
- If there are stains on the surface, rub with a toothbrush, being careful not to damage the material. Keep your hand inside the shoe.
- The last thing to clean is the tongue; after removing the laces, access to it is completely open.
- For light stains, it is better to use a stiff dishwashing sponge.
- Rinse the surface with clean water and water the shoes until a clear liquid without soap suds begins to drain.
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Finish washing by removing residual moisture with a napkin or soft towel.
Wet cleaning of boots
Proper drying after washing
Proper drying is another important step in cleaning sports shoes. Immediately after washing the boots, wipe them well with a napkin or dry cloth. Then they must be placed on a horizontal surface so that the remaining water drains from them. After drying, it is recommended to insert white paper into the inside of the shoe. Newspaper should not be used as it may leave ink stains on the boots.
Shoes should be dried on the balcony or directly in the living room. It is important that the boots are not exposed to direct sunlight, as they can destroy their color and damage the adhesive layer. At high temperatures, the product may become deformed, so you should not leave it near a stove, radiator or heater.
You can also use an electric dryer for drying. This is a convenient and simple tool that will help speed up the processing process. However, before using the device on shoes, you need to study the instructions that come with it.
In order to clean the boots from stains after all the procedures described above, you should use a cleaning foam. It will be enough to lightly spray the foam in the right place. After 2-5 minutes, you will need to wipe the surface of the shoe with a dry cloth.
After drying, you need to insert insoles and laces into the shoes and after that, feel free to use them for their intended purpose. Now you know how to properly wash your boots. If you are not lazy and follow the above rules every time you wash them, sports shoes will last a long time and will retain their original appearance even with regular wear.
Can I use a washing machine to wash my boots?
Using a washing machine to remove dirt from sports shoes with spikes is not only not recommended, but also strictly prohibited. The first trouble that can arise when washing is damage inside the drum of the machine, especially if the spikes have steel tips.
The second undesirable consequence of such experiments is deformation of the shoes. Even high-quality expensive material from which sports accessories are made is easily damaged by the rapid rotation of the drum.
Preliminary stage
Manufacturers do not recommend machine washing football boots. Firstly, intense rotation in the washing machine can damage the pair of shoes themselves. Secondly, there is a possibility of damage to the drum, especially if the sole of the cross is “studded” with steel spikes.
Poor quality boots will most likely fall apart after the first machine treatment. Even good shoes made from first-class materials can lose their shape. However, despite warnings from manufacturers about possible troubles, many people prefer washing their football sneakers in a machine.
When you decide to throw your boots in the washing machine, it is advisable to purchase a mesh bag for washing shoes.
The bag is sold in regular hypermarkets or hardware stores. The mesh will secure a pair of shoes and relieve the pressure of the sneakers on the drum of the washing machine. You can put football boots in a pillowcase, the effect will be the same. If you neglect this rule, the crosses will “fly” inside the machine, constantly hitting the metal walls.
Before throwing your boots into the washing machine, be sure to:
- wipe their surface with a damp cloth to “brush off” dust;
- clean the sole from dirt;
- remove the laces and insoles.
The sole accumulates a lot of debris, so it is so important to clean it separately before washing. First, tap one shoe against the other to shake off any stuck soil. You should not rub your boots against each other forcefully - metal inserts on the spikes can damage the shoes.
Afterwards, it is better to take a soft brush and carefully remove the stuck dirt. If small pebbles are stuck in the tread, you can clean them out with a match. It is forbidden to “pick” the sole with sharp devices - they can “injure” the rubber.
When a pair of shoes is prepared, you can start machine washing. Let's figure out which mode is best to clean football boots.
Dry cleaning – how to do it correctly?
If the dirt is not too strong, it is recommended to resort to dry cleaning. Dust and grass particles can be washed off with a toothbrush and soda.
The process is simple:
- Shake off the dirt, rub the shoes with the soles using a brush, remove the grass.
- Use a soft brush to brush over the entire surface.
- Treat especially stubborn stains with a toothbrush, wipe with a damp sponge if necessary, wait until dry, and clean again.
- If the sports shoes are made of waterproof dense fabric, it is recommended to clean them with a cloth soaked in soapy water and remove any remaining foam with a clean napkin.
Dry cleaning of boots
Even before dry cleaning, be sure to remove the laces - put them back after cleaning.
Whitening
Use gentle preparations for whitening. Use white only on thick fabrics. Use products in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations.
Whitening boots with special means
You should not completely soak the products in the solution - apply the prepared mixture with a sponge to the surface and leave for an hour. Rinse off the bleach and do a normal wash.
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Is it possible, which ones are not?
It would seem, why not wash your slippers in a washing machine - it’s quick and effective.
Even if they fall apart, you can throw them away and buy others to replace them. In reality, it is the machine that may suffer the most, not the slippers themselves. If you spin low-quality cheap shoes, they will most likely fall apart during washing and all the fallen debris will remain in the tank or clog the drain hole.
It is not recommended to machine wash low-quality shoes with glued soles and other decor with poor fixation. The same rule applies to hand washing. Such shoes should be disinfected by treating with alcohol or vinegar.
The easiest way to wash slippers in an automatic machine is that they are not much different from socks (they do not have a clear shape). These include knitted wool slippers.
It is better to wash the following types of slippers by hand:
- with a hard sole so that it does not deform;
- having poorly glued decorative elements;
- heavily worn and torn, from which threads are already sticking out;
- made of faux fur, which frays a lot.
And in order not to be mistaken about how to wash your slippers, you must first look at the label, which contains the manufacturer’s care recommendations.
Getting rid of dirt inside shoes
The easiest and most effective way to remove dirt stains from inside is to use baking soda. First, moisten the surface with a spray bottle, then sprinkle generously with sodium bicarbonate. Leave for half an hour.
Shake out any wet baking soda that has collected dirt. Wipe with a damp sponge, blot with a napkin. Leave to dry.
Cleaning boots with a brush
How to store football uniforms?
The form should be stored in a dry, clean place, without folding it into an “envelope” that is too small. A large number of bends will leave creases on the form, which will be difficult to iron later. It is also important to keep the uniform away from strong-smelling substances, since the porous material of the equipment quickly absorbs and retains various odors for a long time.
If you plan not to use the mold for a long time, it should be thoroughly dried and placed in a fabric or plastic bag.
It is important to note that all of the above rules are also relevant for goalkeeper uniforms.
Boot care rules
Careful care of your sports accessory will help reduce the number of washes. It is recommended to use a brush immediately after training, completely remove dirt, and leave the shoes to dry.
Remove stains immediately - use a toothbrush, baking soda or bleaching agents. After solutions, be sure to wipe with a clean cloth to completely remove moisture.
Cleats are shoes that will last a long time if you take proper care of them. One of the care requirements is regular washing using recommended products. If you don't make a mistake, the sports accessory will certainly look like new, delighting you with its cleanliness and sparkling whiteness.
Measures aimed at preventing the washing process
In most cases, manufacturers do not recommend washing ballet flats. Therefore, you need to follow simple recommendations in order to postpone the washing process for as long as possible:
- Regular cleaning, drying and airing your ballet shoes after each lesson will keep your dance shoes in order until the next lesson, and the need for washing will disappear by itself. Wiping the outside and inside, replacing and timely washing (wiping with soap suds) the insoles are considered sufficient measures.
- It is recommended to rub newly purchased snow-white ballet shoes with white chalk. It is advisable to treat colored models with wax. A paraffin candle is ideal for this task.
- To maintain your shape in the future, you should learn the rules of putting on and taking off shoes. Typically, good ballet flats or slippers have specific gripping areas. It is forbidden to hold on and pull the elastic bands, step on the heel, or walk in a half-shod pair. The form will be lost. A special horn is the best assistant in putting on shoes.
- You can get rid of bad odors by preparing a special fabric bag (sachet) with baking soda, which is placed inside the ballet shoes for a while.
A properly washed pair will retain its qualities for more than one training session, and will also contribute to new achievements in your dancing career. After all, comfortable and clean shoes do not distract from the training process. The recommendations discussed in this review on how to wash ballet shoes will help keep them clean and tidy, regardless of the frequency of exercise and the time of year.
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