tips for cleaning shoes

[Elfordo]

I umpire in a pretty moist environment (Oregon). By the end of a game my shoes look aweful.

Any tips for a good inexpensive product for cleaning shoes? Also, you might have a tip for a technique that you like to do to get the dirt/clay/mud off.

[BrianC14]

[quote="Elfordo"]I umpire in a pretty moist environment (Oregon). By the end of a game my shoes look aweful.

Any tips for a good inexpensive product for cleaning shoes? Also, you might have a tip for a technique that you like to do to get the dirt/clay/mud off.


I got a set of 8 hand towels at Bed, Bath & Beyond - on sale - for about $6.00. You want a towel that has a nice heavy (100% cotton) nap to it; that'll allow you to get the towel into the nooks & crannies - AND they'll absorb lots of water.

Then stroll over to the kitchen equipment area and get an empty pray bottle - maybe $1.50 or $2.00 or so - and that's all you'll need. If the mud is really thick, then get a medium-stiff bristle brush. Those can be found in the kitchen equipment area as well.

Use clean water in the bottle, and have the towels ready. Don't let the mud dry - clean the shoes right away.

Cheap and effective.

After cleaning, let the shoes dry and get a coat of polish on them.

[caliump]

i go to the dollar store and buy the foaming bathroom cleaner and spray that on my shoes.... i think it works good... but i found that if you put polish on your shoes it might take it off...

[Elfordo]

Mine get so gunky that I have to take the garden hose to them on a hard spray. Then, I need to wipe them off real well with a wet cloth. Then, I still need something like Armourall to get the remaining brown off. It's a pain. Luckily, so far the Armourall hasn't taken the shoe-shine off, so I don't have to shine them every time.

Looking for other tricks of the trade. Anyone else?

Tim C? widac? You two are right down the road from me. How do you guys get the red/brown infield mud off?

[widac]

I of course will only work 6A varsity games on the new "nexturf" fields. I won't do any games where I have deal with ...what did you call it?...infield mud? I insist on a freshly vacumed carpet, I won't work on no stinking mud. :wink:

[TarheelUmp]

If its extra heavy I will wipe off as much as possible then I use Scrubbing Bubbles and just let them sit. When the bubbles have done their work I bring out the pledge to bring back the shine. Looks great every time, even the tougher spots on the sides of the soles.

Also, 2-3 times a year I break out an old toothbrush and give a little extra attention to the seams to get the stuff which gets caught up in them. Usually the scrubbing bubbles get the seems well but they will need the extra attention every now and then.

[BrianC14]

[quote="widac"]I of course will only work 6A varsity games on the new "nexturf" fields. I won't do any games where I have deal with ...what did you call it?...infield mud? I insist on a freshly vacumed carpet, I won't work on no stinking mud. :wink:

VACUUMED?

Feh. You guys in the NW must be slackers.

Down my way, we insist - and get - to work on freshly shampooed, conditioned, blow-dried and perfumed carpets. 8)

[caliump]

i found that when i used armour all or pledge onmy plate shoes that if i sprayed my shoe up near my ankle and hight that my leg guards would squeak.... i hate sounding like the tin man

[kylejt]

I've got an old toothbrush at my garage wash basin. Dried Tuface takes a bit to loosen up, so I'll wet the soles, and let them sit for a while. Everything comes off my soles with the toothbrush and running water in the sink.

A damp towel gets the uppers clean. Parade gloss for the +POS, Pledge for the GD patent leather, Son of a Gun on the 450s and leather cleaner on the 350s. Take out the removable insoles, and spray in some Lysol. Viola!

[Wharf_Rat]

A guy I know that works as a clubbie for a pro team, taught me this trick that works wonders: A can of Scrubbing Bubbles and a soft briste brush to clean. Once the shoes (plate and base) are dry, a light coat of hairspray. Before any of you start rolling your eyes, I rolled mine too when he told me of this method, but now I am a true believer!

[beetlecr]

Go to a hardware store and get a wire brush to clean the bottom of your shoes.

Use scrubbing bubbles to clean your shoes.

Then get a bottle of hair spray to polish your shoes. Works great give it a try.

[robbyrudd45]

I have a squirt bottle full of water and a towel in my trunk. Before every game, I squirt down my shoes and wipe them off before I go out. Every few games or so, I polish them with Kiwi leather cuir.

I have full grain leather shoes.