How You Should Clean and Take Care of Volleyball Shoes
The best volleyball shoes don’t come cheap with some costing close to or even over $100. It is therefore important to take as good care of them as possible to ensure they last for a long, long time, regardless if you’re playing daily or just once a week.
How to Clean Volleyball Shoes
Keeping your volleyball shoes clean is thankfully an easy task. One thing you should know, though, is that it is never a good idea to put them in the washing machine. Doing this can lead to tears and will drastically reduce the life of your shoes. Now, we’ve got that out of the way, what is the best way of keeping your shoes clean?
The best thing to do is to not allow them to get dirty in the first place. This means wearing them anywhere other than the volleyball court is a big no. Even though the court you play on should be relatively clean, it’s inevitable that there will still be some dirt and dust that will stick to your shoes. It’s a good idea to not let this dust and dirt set in. Many players will therefore find that keeping a damp towel or rag nearby and then giving their shoes a quick wipe down when the opportunity presents itself, such as between time-outs and sets, is a good method.
If it’s too late for this or you forgot to keep a damp towel nearby, get some tissue paper as soon as you are able to and wipe them down that way. If the dirt has already settled a damp towel or tissue may not be able to get the job done. In this case, a used toothbrush can come in handy. A toothbrush can really get to work on those tough to clean areas, especially in between all the grooves. Rubbing the toothbrush with detergent first can also be helpful.
How to Make Your Volleyball Shoes Last
While one of the reasons you shouldn’t wear your volleyball shoes outside the court is to keep them clean, just as importantly is not to do so to maximize their longevity as much as possible. The less you wear your shoes the longer they will last. That’s just good common sense! It’s okay to wear them every once in a while, especially if in a similar environment like the gym, but try to avoid doing this as much possible.
A big no-no is to wear them when playing any other sports, especially a sport like soccer where the impact of a ball repeatedly striking your shoes will be too much for them to handle, or tennis as it is primarily played outdoors.
It’s also often better to pay a little more for a pair of shoes that are better designed and will last longer. Doing this can save you money in the long run, even though the initial cost will be higher. A couple of things to look out for include a shoe that has a stiffer sole and is made from more durable materials.
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