How To Properly Care for Your Pickleball Shoes
July 07, 2023
Employing the best practices to care for your pickleball shoes properly ensures they look as good as the day you bought them and your feet remain comfortable.
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As pickleball continues to achieve mass appeal, shoe manufacturers are jumping in on the fun to make shoes specifically for the sport. But as with other court games akin to pickleball, wear and tear rapidly accumulates if you don’t take care of your footwear. Learn how to properly care for your pickleball shoes so you can play to the best of your ability.
Breaking Your Shoes In
As much as you’d like to keep your shoes pristine for your first tournament, breaking them in beforehand is more critical to your success. Regardless of the sport, many athletes make the mistake of wearing their new shoes on the field of play for the first time. However, this strategy will backfire because the shoes will be stiff and rigid, hampering your ability to dash across the court effectively.
You can do several things to loosen up your kicks in ways that don’t hurt your feet. For example, you could simply walk around your house. Doing so will acquaint your feet with the new shoes, loosening them to prevent blister-causing rubbing between your feet, socks, and shoes.
Once you feel comfortable, you should wear your shoes on a short walk around the neighborhood. Don’t make a habit of wearing them for your neighborhood stroll or walking your dog, but it is helpful to do so a few times before hitting the court.
Next up on the docket is a quick practice session. You don’t even necessarily have to go to the court for this task. All you need is a ball, a wall, and a wide-open area to mimic some of the game’s typical movements.
Once you put your shoes through their training program, you should give them a break. While you want them to feel loose, you don’t want them battered. Wear them just enough to break them in, then put them away for your big game!
Hand or Machine Cleaning
Now that you have broken your shoes in and had your first session, the next step in the caring process is cleaning them. You should clean them after every use. Your shoes will accumulate dirt and grime, and the longer you let contaminants stay on your pickleball shoes, the more difficult it will be to remove them. There are two cleaning options—handwashing and machine washing—and each has advantages and disadvantages.
By Hand
To clean your pickleball shoes by hand, first remove the shoelaces and immerse them in warm water with a little detergent for a few minutes. Then, take them out and give them a light scrape with a bristle-free brush.
Pickleball shoes need a special cleaning, so finding the appropriate cleaning materials that won’t destroy your shoes is crucial. Once you decide on a cleaning product, use it as directed. Typically, this means spraying the cleaner on a moist towel and wiping the shoes down with it.
Once the laces and shoes are clean, don’t put them in the dryer—let everything air-dry in a cool place. Also, don’t leave your shoes out in the sun—they will fade. You could also consider stuffing a towel inside each shoe to help them retain their shape as they dry.
By Machine
Canvas, nylon, cotton, and polyester make for machine washable footwear. If your pickleball shoes are made of these materials, then you should be able to machine wash them. However, you should check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions beforehand and select an appropriate detergent.
When selecting a detergent for your pickleball shoes, remember a few things. The detergent must be soft enough that it won’t ruin your shoes. Second, choose a detergent that effectively dissolves sweat, filth, and other forms of grime. The third thing to look for is a detergent that won’t leave a film or residue behind.
Once you’ve determined which detergent works best for your shoes, you must follow the directions on the container. Put your shoes in a mesh bag before loading them into the washing machine to prevent them from becoming entangled with other things. Finally, after washing your shoes, let them dry naturally—never dry them in a dryer.
Which Method Works Better?
While some pickleball footwear is machine washable, most shoes are better off with the gentle touch of your hand. If your shoes are fragile or decorated with beading, embroidery, sequins, or any other ornamentation, you should get them professionally repaired and cleaned.
And as we mentioned, if you want to wash your shoes in the washing machine, you should always double-check the care instructions beforehand. Machine washing may be more convenient, but it is tougher on the shoes and requires some caution.
Using a Shoe Tree
One extremely beneficial item for cleaning pickleball shoes is a shoe tree. A wooden shoe tree will absorb any excess moisture, keeping shoes odor-free. A shoe tree will also preserve the shoe’s shape as it dries, avoiding the formation of wrinkles. Since shoes can take up to 24 hours to dry completely in between wears, a shoe tree is helpful in facilitating the speedy progression of this process. Plus, shoe trees can act as an additional pair of hands while cleaning your shoes since they hold the shoes in place as you buff and brush.
When the Shoes Reach Their Expiration Date
If your footwear shows signs of excessive wear, you have two options: purchase a new pair of shoes or attempt to repair the ones you already have. There are a few options if you want to attempt mending your current footwear on your own. You could purchase a new insole or try gluing the old one back on. Polishing your shoes is another option if they are leather. Feel free to consult a cobbler if you need more clarification.
However, if you decide to purchase new shoes, make sure the pair you purchase fits properly and is comfy. For instance, a pair of men’s wide pickleball shoes may be in order if your previous pair lacked comfort.
Knowing how to properly care for your pickleball shoes after each use is essential for keeping them in good condition. If you follow these guidelines, you’ll get years of use out of your pickleball shoes. And once the years of play catch up to your shoes, you can either repair or replace them.
If you want shoes that can stand the test of time, Fromuth Pickleball has all you can ask for. Besides our fantastic selection of shoes, we offer paddles, balls, and other equipment that help you play pickleball like a pro! Check out our selection or contact us today for more information.