Washing glow-in-the-dark sneakers

Washing glow-in-the-dark sneakers Nowadays, almost every child has a pair of light-up sneakers. These shoes delight both children and adults. The LED elements in the soles are essential not only for aesthetics but also for safety—the "flashing lights" are clearly visible on the road at night. When buying them, few parents consider how to wash them. However, shoes get dirty quite quickly, and sooner or later, they'll need to be cleaned. Let's figure out whether it's safe to throw these "flashing lights" in the washing machine and how to avoid ruining a child's favorite item.

Ban on "washing machine"

Many parents think that if they select a hand or delicate cycle, they can throw shoes with glow-in-the-dark soles into the washing machine. This isn't true. Sneakers with LED lights cannot be washed in a washing machine.

Glowing shoes require careful care and can only be cleaned by hand.

Why can't you wash glow-in-the-dark sneakers in the washing machine? There's a logical explanation.

Hidden in the soles are microchips and other components that power the LEDs. After prolonged exposure to water, these components will fail, and the sneakers will no longer flash.
Glow-in-the-dark sneakers usually have intricately patterned soles. Large stones and other debris can become lodged in the tread. Therefore, washing them in a washing machine will damage not only the sneakers but also the machine itself.
Shoes with a phosphorescent coating should not be placed in an automatic washing machine. During the wash, the sneakers will hit the drum, damaging the coating. This will cause the shoes to stop glowing.

Some sneakers are rechargeable—they have a special port for connecting a cable. They should be cleaned very carefully, avoiding water getting into the holes. Needless to say, washing these shoes in the washing machine is definitely not recommended.

Recommendations from professionals

To avoid damaging your shoes, you need to know the intricacies of caring for sneakers with LED lights. There are several recommendations that will help preserve their appearance for a long time. Let's look at the basic rules for cleaning these "flashing lights."

Sneakers should be washed in cool water, but the temperature shouldn't exceed 40°C. Too much water can cause the shoes to become deformed.

Washing sneakers in hot water can cause them to lose their brightness and damage the adhesive backing.

Before wearing, it's recommended to treat the surface of your sneakers with a special protective agent. You can buy this product at a shoe store. This is especially important in cloudy weather—if it rains, the treatment will repel water and protect the LEDs.
It's best to clean glow-in-the-dark sneakers with a soft sponge or cloth. Hard bristles will scratch the material.
Always wear socks with your sneakers; don't wear them barefoot. This will prevent the insides of your sneakers from getting dirty.
Don't dry flashing sneakers on hot radiators or near heaters. This may cause the shoes to become deformed and the adhesive elements to fall off.
To dry the items, stuff them with clean sheets of paper and leave them in a well-ventilated area.

Whatever you say, light-up shoes require special care. Therefore, if you're not prepared to manually clean your child's sneakers after every outing, it's best to avoid buying them.

Manual cleaning technique

Sneakers with glow-in-the-dark soles can only be washed by hand. You'll need laundry detergent, a toothbrush, a soft sponge, a cloth, and laundry soap. Follow these steps:

Remove the insoles and laces from the sneakers. These items can be machine washed on a delicate cycle.
If the insoles are orthopedic, wash them by hand with a brush. When the insoles are glued to the sole, cleaning is done without removing them;
Pay attention to the sole - clean it with a toothbrush, removing all stones and debris stuck in the tread;
wipe dust off the surface of the sneakers with a dry cloth;
wet the sneakers with cool water;
let the sneaker material soak in moisture for a few minutes;
wet the sponge well and lather it;
Clean your sneakers one by one, paying attention to the dirtiest areas;
wash away dirty soap suds from the material;
wipe the surface with a clean, damp cloth;
stuff the items with paper and put them away for further drying.

Instead of powder and laundry soap, you can use special shoe cleaners. It is better to clean white fabric sneakers with toothpaste or baking soda. Leather and suede sneakers are not completely wetted; only their surface is wiped.

Removing unpleasant odors

Sometimes standard cleaning isn't enough to get rid of the unpleasant odor coming from your sneakers. So, you'll need to take additional measures. Luckily, there are products you can find in every home that can help combat the problem.

Hydrogen peroxide quickly eliminates unpleasant odors. Pour the solution into your sneakers and wait until it stops bubbling. Then drain the peroxide, stuff the sneakers with paper, and leave them to dry in a ventilated area.
The second solution is ammonia. Put on gloves, soak a cotton ball in ammonia, and apply it to the inside of your shoes. Then, wipe the sneakers with a dry cloth and take them outside or onto the balcony to air out.
Another effective odor-fighting solution is baking soda. Lightly dampen the inside of your sneakers and sprinkle some sodium bicarbonate inside. Leave the shoes in this solution overnight, then shake them out and vacuum them in the morning.
There's also a dry method for combating odors. Buy chamomile tea bags at the pharmacy. Place one bag in each sneaker and leave it overnight. The dried flowers will prevent the growth of bacteria and germs inside. This method can be used daily.

To prevent your glow-in-the-dark sneakers from smelling bad, wear them with clean socks. Avoid wearing them barefoot, as this will cause the inside of your shoes to get dirty much faster. Place your shoes on the balcony daily to air them out.

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