If you try to train how to clean baseball cleatsYou have come to the right place.
We’ve put together a set of simple step-by-step instructions to guide you through the cleaning process so you can make sure your best baseball cleats are ready for your next game.
In reality, adidas let’s just say that cleaning your cleats afterwards is just as important as playing the sport itself, as any buildup of mud and dirt can seriously reduce the traction needed for you to perform at your best.
With that in mind, we’re here to help you get your cleats looking like new again with our top tips here.
How to Clean Baseball Cleats
In many ways, cleaning baseball cleats is very similar to cleaning football boots in that you are sometimes faced with a range of different materials depending on the model.
However, since most cleats are made from some sort of synthetic material these days, we will mainly focus on that here.
Stick around, as we’ll also give you some tips on how to clean some of the alternative fabrics you might come across during the cleaning process.
That being said, let’s see exactly how to clean baseball cleats…
What you will need
Step 1: The cleaning process begins as soon as you leave the field. Remove your cleats and bang the soles together to get rid of any excess dirt and mud.
2nd step: Once home, remove the laces from your cleats and let them soak in a bowl of warm water and mild detergent while you continue with the rest of your cleats.
Trick : Adding a touch of baking soda to the water can help clean white shoelaces.
Step 3: If possible, remove the insoles and place them in a pillowcase, then put them in the washing machine on a cold, delicate cycle. If they’re not removable, check out our list of the best shoe deodorizers to get rid of bad odors from accumulated sweat.
Step 4: Use a soft bristled brush to gently dry scrub your cleats to remove any surface debris.
Step 5: Mix water with shoe cleaner, then dip your brush in the solution and use it to clean any remaining stains. We recommend something like Angelus Easy Cleanser which is designed for all types of materials.
Trick : You can also use an old toothbrush if you have trouble cleaning every inch of your cleats.
Step 6: Use a microfiber cloth to wipe up any excess liquid and begin the drying process.
Step 7: Remove the laces from their soaking and the insoles from your washing machine and let them air dry with your baseball cleats at room temperature.
Trick : Stuff your cleats first with old newspaper to help them hold their shape.
Step 8: Once your cleats are dry, remove the newspaper, retie them and insert the insoles. They should be ready to stash in your best gym bag for your next game.
What about other materials?
While most cleats are made from some type of synthetic material, you sometimes find cleats made from alternative fabrics such as leather.
Don’t worry, because we’ve put together some tips to help you clean some of these alternative materials.
Weaving / Mesh
Some crampons, like these New Balance FuelCell 4040 v6sare made from woven or mesh fabric to keep them as light as possible, but that means they require a slightly different approach to cleaning.
For example, if you come across something like Nike’s Flyknit or adidas’ Primeknit, we recommend using a little less water to minimize water retention and speed up the drying process.
We also do not recommend using harsh chemicals or soap as they may wear away any coating or finish applied to the mesh fabric. For more tips, check out our mesh shoe cleaning guide here.
Leather
Although most manufacturers are opting for the synthetic material over leather these days, there are still instances where fabric is used in modern gaming, as evidenced by these Nike Lunar Cortez crampons.
Luckily, you can clean leather in much the same way as synthetic materials, like plastic, because it’s known to be incredibly durable.
You can then take the cleaning process a step further by adding leather shoe polish or oil for a bit more shine. For example, something like this Kiwi shoe polish should work well for black cleats.
Things to Avoid When Cleaning Baseball Cleats
While it’s important to keep your baseball cleats clean, there are some things we recommend you avoid in order to prevent irreversible damage.
First, avoid putting your cleats in a washing machine or dryer. Although it may seem like a quick fix, sometimes the intensity of the spin, water, and heat can melt the adhesives, cause cracks, and even cause your cleats to fall off.
Likewise, we do not recommend placing your cleats in direct heat, including a hair dryer. Like letting your sneakers dry in the sun, the high heat can warp the rubber and distort the shape of your cleats.
Also, avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach. If not diluted properly, they can dry out fabrics and even leave permanent stains in some cases.
Finally, avoid using wire brushes or rough sponges as they may end up scratching the surface of your cleats while you clean them.
Read more: Best Baseball Bats – Our Top Picks
Comments are closed.