How to make athletic shoes look like new again

With nine children and acres of dirt, I learned long ago how to keep athletic shoes looking like new. Very easy...and it will save you $$$$$$.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dishwasher
• Liquid dishwasher soap
• Scrub brush
• Dirty athletic shoes

1. Remove the laces from the shoes. Remove any inserts or loose padding in the bottom of the shoes.

2. Prewash the shoes by scrubbing with the liquid dishwasher soap and a stiff scrub brush. I have also used the white micro cleaner pads that are now available in the cleaning section of discount stores. These work well on the smooth part of the leather, but for fabric shoes and for getting into the tread and seams, the scrub brush works better.

3. Open the shoes as far as they can be opened with the tongue out and place them upside down in the dishwasher rack. You can wash many pair at once. I wash them on a sanitizing cycle without additional soap in the dishwasher.

4. When the shoes are done washing....I dont leave them on the hot drying cycle....I set them outdoors in the shade to dry. I have also set them over the forced air registers of the furnace or air conditioner in damp weather. It will take a while to dry....depending on how much padding inside, fabric vs leather, etc.

5. I wash the laces and inserts, pads, etc which were previously removed from the shoes in the same load of the dishwasher. First scrub them with the dishwasher detergent. You can use a little bleach to brighten and disinfect them, but make sure that you rinse the bleach out before washing the load so that the bleach doesn't get on your colored shoes. Tie the laces to the upper rack or place them in an old nylon stocking tied to the rack so that the laces don't get tangled.

Tips & Warnings

• Washing things in your dishwasher gets them as clean as the clothes washer without the damage caused by tumbling and agitating. I have also washed hundreds of ball caps in the dishwasher....they get very clean without bending up the bills. When you remove them from the dryer, shape them over a gallon can or an ice cream pail.....good as new.
• Test the dishwasher liquid on your fabric if you are afraid of fading...I have never had a problem with bleeding on shoes, If the bleeding does not occur with the pre scrub I have never had a problem with the rest of the process.