Wash My Road Shoes

[Deleted member 35268]

Hello

My road shoes stink, they got wet and now smell like cat pee.
If I put them in a cloth bag, can I put them in the washing machine ?

thanks

 

[AndyRM]

Yeah, should be fine. Bag is a good idea, especially if they've got fancy straps.

Wouldn't want them to dry to quickly so airing cupboard or top of a boiler is probably best for that.

 

[S-Express]

washing machine, followed by stuffing them with newspaper.

 

[Paulus]

As both above.

 

[Drago]

washing machine, followed by stuffing them with newspaper.

And serve them with vegetables any gravy!

Short cool wash, goes without saying

 

[Smokin Joe]

Maybe it's his feet that smell like cat's pee?

 

[Globalti]

Don't stuff them with newspaper, this is nonsense. They are synthetic, leave them in a warm well-ventilated place and they'll dry fast. It's going to be sunny this weekend so hang them on the line where sterilising UV can get to them. The cat pee smell comes from the cardboard liner under the insole and is the result of bacteria growing in the damp cardboard because you haven't taken the insoles out after wearing them. Leaving damp newspaper in them will just re-start the bacterial growth.

 

[Saluki]

I was my road shoes and MTB shoes a couple of times a year. No harm as befallen them yet. I take the insoles out put the shoes in an old pillow case and zip tie it up. I have replaced my insoles a couple of times over the last 5 years.

 

[S-Express]

Don't stuff them with newspaper, this is nonsense. They are synthetic,

It's not nonsense and I'm not sure what being synthetic has got to do with it anyway. The insoles and insides of the synthetic uppers still retain water/moisture, which the newspaper draws out.

 

[adamhearn]

Cat litter may well take the smell out as will bicarbonate of soda. Sprinkle in the shoe and leave overnight.

 

[Globalti]

The old idea about stuffing shoes with newspaper came about when people wore leather boots and drying would cause them to shrink. With a synthetic shoe newspaper will just form a big wad of damp material and will delay drying and prolong the conditions that bacteria just love. Better to dry them quickly with plenty of fresh air and UV.

Cat litter is just an absorbant material, it doesn't have magical anti-malodour properties. It works by drying the poo and pee. All the perfumes do is mask malodour.

 

[Broadside]

I have read that the cat pee smell actually comes from one of the common glues used in trainers and cycling shoes, when it gets wet it releases that smell.

If the shoes aren't really dirty but just stink then I put them in a bucket of strong Milton for a few hours and then dry them on a radiator. They come out smelling really clean and the cat pee smell has gone.

 

[Crackle]

Charcoal inners. All synthetic shoes end up smelling, especially after a soaking.

 

[vickster]

Here's your answer

 

[Shut Up Legs]