Being a pickleball player, you must realize the value of a good pair of shoes. Not only does it allow smooth movements, but it also minimizes the impact on the joints and muscles of your feet. Therefore, besides selecting the right footwear for this sport, you must also take care of them properly to maintain their overall structure and performance.
For proper maintenance, washing the pickleball shoes is a crucial step that you must do occasionally. Other than that, never forget to clean your footwear with a dry cloth after every game. That said, it’s time to dig deeper into the method of cleaning pickleball shoes, as explained in the below guide.
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How To Wash Pickleball Shoes In Washing Machine
When machine washing your pickleball shoes, be careful as even a minor mistake can damage your shoes completely. Thus, follow our outlined guide to prevent any such harm to your sports footwear. Before starting the process, you will need a few items including a soft brush, a mild detergent, a mesh laundry bag, etc.
Step-By-Step Pickleball Shoes Cleaning Procedure
After gathering the necessary items as stated above, follow this detailed guide that explains the procedure for cleaning pickleball shoes in the washing machine:
1- Arrange Everything
- Start off by removing the lace and insoles of the shoes. You must put both things aside safely to not lose them as you are busy with the shoe-washing task.
- Next, make use of a soft brush to remove all the dirt from the exteriors of the shoes including their mesh fiber and also soles. Never miss out on this step, as any pebble or sharp object can easily damage the material of the shoes if it goes in the machine.
2- Insert The Pickleball Shoes Into A Mesh Bag
- Find two separate mesh bags to place each shoe inside them before machine washing. This helps protect the delicate material of the pickleball footwear. If you are unable to find a mesh bag, other suitable options for this process include a pillowcase or a towel.
3- Opt For The Suitable Washing Machine Setting
- When adjusting the machine settings for washing your pickleball shoes, always go for a gentle cycle. Meanwhile, only cold water should be used for the process. You can also select lukewarm water, but never go with hot water as it can easily damage the material of your pickleball shoes.
- Finally, run the washing machine and wait for some time for the cycle to complete.
4- Rinse The Shoes Properly
- As the cycle completes, take the shoes out of the mesh bags and wash them with cold water. This step is just to ensure that no detergent residue is left behind on the shoes.
5- Let The Pickleball Shoes Air Dry
- Finally, keep your washed shoes in an area where there is proper ventilation to let them air dry. In case you are in a hurry, you can use a dryer machine but only at the mild settings. Too much heat from the machine can harm the material of your pickleball shoes, subjecting them to early wear and tea.
As the guide completes, we must mention that you avoid frequent washing of the shoes as it can impact their overall lifespan. Therefore, follow the above-mentioned process occasionally. In other instances, you can go with some gentle methods like spot-cleaning the shoes with a wet cloth.
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How To Clean Outsole Of Pickleball Shoes
If you happen to be in a pickle and find yourself with mud-caked soles on your shoes, don't worry. You can easily clean them without having to run the risk of machine washing them too often, which could damage these specialized sneakers. Here's what you should do:
- Start by unlacing those laces up and give the shoes a tap together against each other or even an outdoor surface like grass/concrete so that any debris lying loose comes off quickly.
- Now get a toothbrush, perhaps, and scrub all those crevices & tread patterns around the outsoles. Just make sure not to apply too much pressure as you go along, or else they'll end up leading to wear and tear. The back-and-forth motion is particularly great for this task.
- Next up, put the shoes in a bath or sink for further cleaning. Be sure to use an appropriate sneaker cleaner that doesn't contain any chemicals; alternatively, you can also mix some mild dish soap with water as well.
- Grab yourself a brush that has soft bristles, dip it into your choice of cleaner, and start scrubbing softly on the soles of your pickleball footwear. Do it twice or thrice until you can see all the debris is completely removed.
- Rinse the outsoles with clean tap water so soap residue and the remaining dirt are removed. You can also use a wet cloth for this purpose.
- Finally, with a dry cloth, pat the outsoles to absorb the moisture. Other than this, make sure to let the shoes dry for some time before re-lacing and wearing them again.
How To Remove Pebbles From Pickleball Shoes
With time, small pebbles can get stuck inside the soles of your pickleball shoes, which may make you uncomfortable if there are many. If you are facing this scenario, refer to the below guide that states the right way of removing pebbles from sports shoes without damaging the sole’s material. To start with, you will need a small screwdriver or any pointed object like a butter knife. Other than this, the process also requires a toothbrush for cleaning dirt from the sole. With that said, here’s a step-by-step guide to follow:
- Place a towel or a newspaper in a clean area to get started. This is necessary to avoid making a mess.
- Gently tap the soles of shoes against the hard floor to dislodge some of the loose debris.
- Use a toothbrush to brush the shoe soles in a back-and-forth motion. Focus more on the areas where pebbles are stuck. You should avoid doing so harshly as it can damage the material.
- While the above step will remove all the small stones, some might not be removed due to being stuck tightly. For that, you will need a small screwdriver or any other flat-edged tool. Get rid of the debris from the outsoles with the tool of your choice, and keep doing so until all the visible stones are removed.
- Once done, grab a towel and wipe off the remaining dirt from the soles properly. You can also use a wet cloth to get rid of debris from the crevices, if any.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can I Use To Clean My Pickleball Paddle?
You just need a lint-free cloth and water to clean the hitting side of your pickleball paddle. Many people make the mistake of using soapy solutions or household cleaners. However, you must avoid it as the sticky residue of these substances is quite difficult to remove from the paddle surface. Additionally, a pickleball paddle eraser is a good choice for cleaning this sports equipment.
How Do You Clean Skechers Pickleball Shoes?
To clean your Skechers pickleball shoes, hand-washing is a recommended way. You can use a mild soap and cold or lukewarm water for this purpose. Never wash your shoes with hot water, as it can damage them, leading to early wear and tear. For deep cleaning, scrubbing the shoe surface with a soft brush is also a good idea.
What Is The Difference Between A Tennis Shoe & A Pickleball Shoe?
Pickleball shoes are designed in such a way that they offer quick movements on the court as the sport demands. Their shape (wider base and supportive overlays) allows lateral footwork at its best. Also, they have a non-marking outsole for improved traction, combining herringbone and pivot points. On the other hand, tennis shoes are more inclined towards maintaining a balance between flexible and stable movements. The outsole of shoes for this sport comes with a modified herringbone pattern to facilitate quick changes in multiple directions.
Conclusion
So that was all about how to clean dirty pickleball shoes. We have explained the methods for both machine and hand washing in detail. Meanwhile, the guide also mentions a simple way of removing pebbles from the outsoles. Cleaning your sports shoes is necessary not just for hygiene but also for expanding their lifespan. So, how often do you clean your pickleball shoes - after every game or once in a week? Do let us know in the comment box below.
