How do you clean used shoes? - Page 2

Dries it out. Bad to use.

Nuke it from orbit.

It's the only way to be sure.

You add moisture with each wear , sorry to say. On the other hand, if it is about a pair of shoes that was worn by an unknown person, I just prefer to be on the safe side - if totally obsessed you can add a silica pouch to absorb moisture. And use for a time a anti fungal talcum powder ....

But using a cloth with alcohol/sanitizer once to get a "fresh start" should not hurt too much. I have done it and I can´t see any damage. When using them you add new sweat that should soften the presumed dry leather. It all depends on the shoe and the value of it.

 

One idea I have is to use a steamer. I have one for cleaning and steaming clothes with exchangable heads. I have been thinking of steaming the inside of shoes. Sure you add some moisture but at least germs and other nasty things will die.

 

 

My golf shoes had some odor 'issues' (probably resulting from walking through some swampish ground) that I couldn't quite shake - even with Lysol.

I stumbled across this Kiwi deodorizer product at Dick's Sporting Goods:

http://www.kiwicare.com/kiwimcmssite/us/products/sport/fresh-force.html

It's done an amazing job at eliminating the odeur de swamp.