There are different price points for basketball shoes, and when you buy the ones that are quite expensive, you would have to do your best to take care of them so that they will last longer and still perform at their best even after months of use. If you are going to use a pair of basketball shoes on outdoor courts, then you will need to apply extra care to your shoes since outdoor courts can be quite unforgiving because of their rough cemented flooring.
Fortunately, there are easy ways to take care of your basketball shoes, although these methods would still require you to pay close attention to the areas of the shoes you should clean or take care of. To know more, here are the methods for taking care of your basketball shoes properly.
Store the Shoes Properly
After using the basketball shoes on the court, you would need to store them safely and securely in your duffel bag and at home. Before putting your basketball shoes inside your bag, you should carry them using your hands first for about 15 to 30 minutes so that the interior of the shoes can breathe for a while.
When you store the shoes in the bag immediately after playing basketball, there would be a lot of odor build-up in the shoes, which can then make your shoes smell worse. So, allow the shoes to breathe for a while so that the odor created by your feet’s sweat or moisture will dissipate.
Then, once you are at home, you should store the basketball shoes inside a plastic or metal shoe box, which can be stacked with other boxes to form a shoe organizer. You may also use a shoe deodorizer that comes in the form of a small ball or pill, and this deodorizer is effective in further eradicating the odor that forms inside the shoes while you are using them on the court.
A lot of people would usually store the basketball shoes back in their original cardboard box, but this is bad for your shoes since the cardboard absorbs moisture and dries up the midsoles and outsole of your shoe, causing them to crack or crumble over time. Store the shoes inside a plastic shoe box instead to prevent cracks on the midsole and outsole.
Wear Your Shoes Only on the Court
In order to increase the longevity of your basketball shoes, you should only wear them on the court. This means that you shouldn’t wear shoes to run errands, relax at the park, or do any other activities besides playing basketball. By only wearing your shoes on the court, you will be able to prolong the life of the shoes’ midsoles and outsoles.
The midsoles can easily bottom out when you constantly apply pressure on them using your feet, and once they bottom out, they wouldn’t provide the same level of cushioning and impact protection compared to when they were brand new. On the other hand, the outsole could also lose its effectiveness whenever you use the basketball shoes regularly outside the court, as the traction pattern on its bottom would fade very fast and lose its gripping ability. Use other shoes to run errands and perform other activities and reserve your basketball shoes only for in-court use.
Learn How to Clean Your Shoes
It is inevitable for your basketball shoes to get dirty after weeks and months of use. So, you will need to learn how to clean your shoes properly so that they will look fresh most of the time. There are cleaning items that you can use for your shoes that are usually already available at home, and these items include an old toothbrush, dishwashing soap, and hand soap.
All you have to do is to mix the hand soap into a bowl of water and then use the old toothbrush to scrub the upper of the shoes clean. Then, you can use a mixture of dishwashing soap and water to scrub the midsole and outsole of the shoes. If there are stubborn spots of dirt on the shoes, you can use a toothpick to pick on those spots to get rid of the dirt, and then use the toothbrush and soap/water mixture to clean the spots thoroughly.
But, if you want the cleaning process to be more effective in scrubbing away dirt and grime from your shoes, then you can buy products that are specifically made for cleaning shoes. These products are specially formulated to remove dirt, grime, and stains away from your shoes, unlike hand soap and dishwashing soap, which may not be strong enough to clean dirty uppers, midsoles, and outsoles. In addition, there are also brushes designed to scrub shoes, so you may have a much easier time cleaning your shoes using those brushes instead of an old toothbrush.
However, keep in mind that shoe-cleaning products can be quite expensive, but you can get discounts if you get these products as a set online. Be sure to read or watch instructional guides so that you will know exactly how to clean your shoes using different shoe-cleaning products and items.
And those are the best ways to take care of your basketball shoes and make them last longer. No matter the price of your basketball shoes, you should always take care of them, as well-maintained shoes can help you perform at your best without experiencing pain or discomfort on your feet.