How To Clean Your Skate Shoes and Make Them Last Longer
Skate shoes are a funny thing—they're made of high-quality materials, have great cushioning to protect your feet, are usually expensive—yet at the end of the day, they're made to be destroyed. As skaters, we know this is going to happen eventually, but, like most of us, if you don't have an endless supply of money, you should consider taking these basic steps to make them last longer. We've included basic skate shoe cleaning tips, too, because, as they say, "Look good, feel good, skate good." And as always, support your local skateshop when it is time for new shoes!
Shoo Goo 'Em Up
Shoo Goo is a skate shoe's best friend. Maybe you've seen people patch holes in shoes with it, but a wise man hits the laces in crucial areas before you even start skating. If and when you do eventually get a hole clean through to your sock, here's an easy patch recipe: Take a skate sticker, cut or tear it big enough to cover the hole. Stick the sticker on the inside of the shoe, sticky side out. Then, put the Shoo Goo on the outside of the shoe, covering the now-sticker-filled hole. Use enough Shoo Goo to fully cover all the torn edges of the hole. The Shoo Goo will dry as almost a new layer of rubber—skate-ready!
Superglue the Seams
Another preventative measure: Put Superglue on the seems anywhere you'll be flicking or Ollieing. Some skate shoe brands might triple-stitch, multi-layer material and/or glue the upper in these areas, but continuous skating will eventually rip these seams. Once a seam peels, your shoe is on a one-way trip to looking dumpy and getting a big hole. So Superglue those seams straight out the box and have that Shoo Goo ready at the first sign of daylight (through the shoe).
Glue down those seems. Photo: blog.buyskateshoes.com
Keep 'Em Clean
Your skate shoes are going to take you to all kinds of dirty corners of the city, dusty ditches and more. Clean 'em up every once in a while with these basic techniques.
Take out the laces and insoles if possible and give them a good shaking, smacking and dust off outdoors. Set them aside. You can wash the laces by themselves in a washing machine.
Whether your shoes are canvas, suede, or leather, the cleaning recipe is the same: Warm water and laundry detergent. Mix it up in the sink, get a sponge or brush, and get to work. Clean 'em best you can, then dry them outdoors, out of the sun. We're not guaranteeing they're going to look skateshop-new, but it will give you something a bit nicer to look down at on your next session. This Youtuber below has a pretty good tutorial—he got those Half Cabs lookin' damn near brand new!
Avoid washing machines and driers: Having your skate shoes clunk around in the washer might damage your machine and could alter the shape of your shoes. Do it by hand. Same with the insoles if you choose to wash those, too.
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