Barefoot sneakers have gained huge popularity recently due to health awareness, where people are becoming more aware of shoes’ impact on health. Also, all people who tried barefoot shoes noticed the difference in comfort, flexibility, and materials compared to traditional shoes. A common question in barefoot communities is how to clean barefoot shoes when most people wear their shoes for long hours and do different exercises such as hiking, running, or daily use. In this blog, we’ll cover all the details related to cleaning and caring for your barefoot shoes and the best practices to keep your shoes clean and as new.
Why is it important to care for your barefoot shoes?
Barefoot sneakers are designed to mimic the natural foot movement, using lightweight high-quality materials and thin cushioning for minimum support, so they require more care than traditional shoes. Here are some tips to keep your barefoot shoes clean and looking new:
-Regular Barefoot Cleaning Routine: Clean your barefoot shoes regularly to prevent dirt from building up, and keep the shoes hygienic and shiny. This process depends on the material of the shoes itself.
- Fabric and Mesh barefoot sneakers: All Barebarics barefoot shoes have removable insoles, so the first step is to remove the insole and laces if the model includes laces. Then, brush off the dirt from the shoes using a soft brush. Then, mix a detergent or shoe cleaner with warm water, dip the brush or a cloth in the mix, and scrub your shoes slowly without soaking them completely. After that, rinse the shoes by wiping them with a water cloth; don’t rinse under running water because this might affect the shoes’ materials. Finally, let the shoes air dry, and avoid putting them under direct sunlight or any heat source since this might affect the material, causing shrinkage.
- Leather barefoot sneakers: wipe the shoes using a wet piece of cloth, then add a suitable leather cleaner and apply through rubbing in circular motion. After that, apply a leather conditioner to prevent leather cracking and keep the shoes as new. Then, put the shoes out to air dry naturally in a well-ventilated place. Another way is to make a spray by mixing equal amounts of water and vinegar, this can remove odors when sprayed in the shoes and air dried.
– Removing Odors: Most people wear barefoot shoes without socks; this makes them prone to odors; even though Barebarics insoles are made of recycled PU material and microfiber, which provides breathability, some additional tips can be done to keep your shoes smelling fresh such as adding baking soda inside the shoes overnight, and remove in the morning; this absorbs moisture and odors.
-Waterproofing: Waterproofing can protect your barefoot shoes and may extend their life if you wear them in wet conditions or on rainy days. Apply a shoe waterproofing spray for mesh and fabric shoes, and use protective wax for leather shoes before wearing. In case your shoes get soaked with water, remove the insoles, stuff them with newspapers or dry pieces of cloth, and let them air dry.
-Proper Barefoot Shoes Storage: Storing your barefoot shoes correctly can keep them new for a long period by preventing material breakdown and shoe deformation. Make sure to keep it in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight or heat exposure; use a shoe box with paper or shoe tree to maintain the shoes’ shape.
-Take care of the barefoot shoe sole: Barefoot shoes’ soles are known to be thin, and Barebarics soles are ultra-thin with 4-mm thickness only to provide grip and flexibility at the same time. Although the soles are made from soft synthetic rubber with high wear-and-tear resistance, they still need regular maintenance to perform as they are required to. So the treads must always be checked and cleaned; small stones or dirt might affect the sole performance. So always clean using a soft brush, and check the sole thickness, noting that the shoes must be changed when the sole starts to thin out.
-Replace Barefoot Sneakers Eventually: Shoes have a lifetime, so even with the proper care, your shoes might give you signs that it’s time for a new pair after a certain period. So if you feel that the flexibility of your shoes has reduced and it’s not giving you barefoot feeling anymore, this is a sign. Also, in cases of tears, holes, material changes, and sole thickness reduction.
Finally, Barebarics barefoot shoes have a longer lifetime than traditional ones in general since they are made of high-quality materials, and the brands’ sustainability commitment is included in every suspect of the product, so the focus isn’t only on using vegan products and less-waste production techniques. But also, on elongating the product lifetime, this reduces demand in general, which reduces materials consumption. So, by taking care of your shoes, you are not only being tidy and good looking, but you are also being a part of Barebarics’ socially responsible community, trying to reduce humans’ impact on the earth.