Shoe tricks

[NCASAUmp]

I just want to see what tricks you may have to help keep your shoes clean. I've heard Windex, I've heard Rain-X, and I've heard other interesting remedies.

Reason why I ask is because every few months, I rotate between a few things to improve upon during games. This time around, the shoes made the list (among other things, of course).

Plus, I'm sure there could be some pretty interesting discussion on this topic!

[Skahtboi]

I polish mine about once a week during the college/HS season. Then I spray them off with a spray bottle of water I keep with me, and wipe them dry with a terry cloth towel.

[outathm]

I have found that the Terry cloth towels that are provided in hotels work better than the towels at home.

It may not make a difference on the shoes, but it definately makes a difference on the home life.

[MGKBLUE]

I polish my shoes about once every two weeks, using Kiwi Honor Guard. After games I have found that highly diluted Simple Green really cuts through the dust. I find this a better solution to plain water.

[BretMan]

"Highly diluted" might be the key with Simple Green. I once noticed the label on the bottle said "do not use on leather". Watering it down might make it safe.

I use a 50/50 mix of Murphy's Oil Soap and water in a spray bottle. This is totally safe for leather and is something I picked up from my hobby of restoring antique and vintage baseball gloves. It also makes a good safe general purpose cleaner for all my other gear.

(Off the subject, but you can see some of my vintage gloves here: The Glove Shop)

This mixture is used to clean/wipe down shoes after each game. Sometimes I'll use a small brush to get any gunk out of the nooks and crannies, in the seams, up under the tongue, around the laces, etc.

Besides that, I use plain old Kiwi black polish a few times a season, when needed. For touch-ups, and after each between game cleaning, I use one of those "quick shine" silicon sponges.

To keep the leather fresh and flexible, once or twice a year I completely clean the shoes with Lexol brand leather cleaner, then follow that up with an application of Lexol leather conditioner.

[wadeintothem]

Pledge works for a quick shineup between games.. I also use honor guard shine stuff typically, but pledge is great.

[DaveASA/FED]

Water then pledge. Water and the grunge rag to get the dirt off then a coat of pledge and the good rag to put a like new shine on them.

But I also had put the dreaded leather luster on them....I know how dare me.

[NCASAUmp]

Is there anything good out there that will repel dust (kinda like how Rain-X repels rain)? Something that a good stomp will knock off most of the dry dust that's oh-so-common on Carolina fields.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by BretMan

To keep the leather fresh and flexible, once or twice a year I completely clean the shoes with Lexol brand leather cleaner, then follow that up with an application of Lexol leather conditioner.

Oh. And I also do that, though I am not sure of the brand name that I have right now. Picked it up from a local shoe store/leather repair place. (You know, the kind that used to dot the downtowns of every town big or small? Yup, we are fortunate enough to still have one in business here.)

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by BretMan

"Highly diluted" might be the key with Simple Green... Sometimes I'll use a small brush to get any gunk out of the nooks and crannies, in the seams, up under the tongue...

I tried this with my teeth and just couldn't get past the taste...

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Penguin makes a very good shoe/sneaker cleaner...

[BretMan]

But didn't it feel good when you scrubbed your nook and cranny?

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by BretMan

But didn't it feel good when you scrubbed your nook and cranny?

Especially my cranny.

And the Simple Green made my teeth turn blue,
Simple Green tastes like Elmer's Glue...

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

Especially my cranny.

And the Simple Green made my teeth turn blue,
Simple Green tastes like Elmer's Glue...

John, I am starting to believe your signature line. How would you know how either of those taste?

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

John, I am starting to believe your signature line. How would you know how either of those taste?

And here, I always thought he was a smoker...