Whether you're clocking miles around the city or battling that muddy terrain, we know that dirty running shoes are a testament to your grit and determination in the running game. 
Image Courtesy of Jakob Owens via Unsplash
But at the same time, slashing your PBs doesn’t always mean your shoes have to suffer.
That’s why, at Crep, we want to help increase the productivity of your performance through trusted and premium sneaker care, so your shoes can last the distance.
To whittle away your dirty running shoe woes, we’ve put together the Ultimate Guide to keep your running shoes looking their best.
Tip 1: Dry Brush Any Loose Dirt & Debris Before Hand Washing
As tempting as it sounds to quickly wipe over that fresh mud stain on your running joints, it’s doing more harm than good. With many running shoes comprised of mesh, lightweight Flyknit material, as well as TPU accents, wiping fresh mud off the shoe will riddle your netted overlays with particles of mud, seeping into the small gaps beneath the materials. This will make the cleaning process much trickier, as now you have to tackle those smaller, harder-to-reach areas.
If you’re faced with all the muddy elements, we recommend that you allow your shoes to dry for a maximum of 8 hours before you clean them with our Crep Protect Cure Kit.
How to Clean Mud Off Running Shoes:
Step 1: Brush Away The Dirt
Go in with the premium sneaker cleaning brush first, working the brush onto the shoe in circular motions to remove as much loose dirt as possible.
Once most of the dirt and debris have been removed, give the brush a quick clean by either tapping the loose dirt off against a hard surface or gently rinsing it out with warm water.
We also suggest that you remove the laces at this point to make it easier to target the shoe tongue.
Step 2: Cure Them Up
Once complete, you can now go in with our action-packed Cure solution. Gentle but tough on stains, our 100ml Cure Solution is designed to target dirt, stains and grime. Apply 3-4 drops of our cleaning solution to the brush and dip it in a bowl of warm water.
Work the brush in circular motions across your shoes, starting with the toe cap, gently making your way across the sides, tongue, heel, then the outsoles. Use the microfibre cloth provided to aid your cleans, wiping away any excess foam and dirt.
Repeat this process as many times as needed until the desired results are achieved. Leave your running shoes to dry overnight in a well-ventilated room.
Step 3: Don’t Neglect The Laces
To clean the laces, fill a bowl with fresh water and pour a few drops of Cure into the bowl; this should create a foam-like solution as you clean your laces.
Using your hands or the premium sneaker brush if preferred, work out all the dirt off your laces, using your palms to create circular motions to work out all the dirt off the laces. Give them a dip back into the water to wash off all the soap and leave them to dry overnight.
Tip 2: Touch Up Smaller Stains After Every Run
Picture this: you’re running across the city (solo or in your newly joined run club) and after running that 5K, you spot the smallest scuff or stain on your running shoes. Do you A, quickly wipe up the stain or B, let the stain marinate in, allowing it to build up over time?
Well, we believe that Crep Protect should be your plan A, as after all, your run is only as good as the shoes you wear, so why not take care of them?
How To Remove Smaller Stains From Your Running Shoes:
For leather, mesh, canvas, nylon & more, we recommend that you invest in our sneaker cleaning wipes. They are dual-sided, which means they tackle double the sneaker cleaning power.
Step 1: Open the sachet and remove the wipe.
Our sneaker cleaning wipes are individually sealed, which means they lock in our premium sneaker cleaning solution for longer. They also offer long-lasting freshness, so you’ll never have to worry about them drying out.
Step 2: Choose Your Texture
Use the smooth side of the wipe to tackle smaller stains like dust and smaller mud stains, whereas the textured side is perfect for those tougher stains. Work the wipe across the shoe in a circular motion until your shoes are clean.
Disclaimer: Our sneaker cleaning wipes are ideal for smaller cleans only. If you’re looking for a deeper shoe clean, please use our Crep Protect Cure kit.
For suede shoes:
Although not as many running shoes contain a suede upper, they may include elements of suede that can become dull and discoloured over time. When treating panels of suede, our suede reviver kit puts the work in so you don’t have to.
The 3-in-1 suede and brush combo is designed to enhance the colour as well as restore the original texture of your suede running shoes.
How to use the Crep Protect Suede Reviver:
Step 1: Prep The Suede
Clean your running shoes using the Crep Eraser/rubber brush before use. Make sure that the suede is free of dust and debris before treating.
Step 2: Apply The Suede Solution
Shake the bottle and apply generously to the targeted area. Once the affected area has been fully saturated, allow the solution to rest for 1 minute.
Disclaimer: Do not leave the suede solution to rest for longer than 1 minute, as this could result in the suede hardening, making the re-napping process more difficult to tackle.
Step 3: Brush The Nap
Brush the suede thoroughly to reset the nap. Choose from the hard brush and soft brush options. The hard brush restores thicker and textured suede, whereas the soft brush restores delicate, fine suede textures.
For more information on our Suede Reviver, take a look at How to Restore Your Suede Sneakers With Crep Protect
Tip 3: Liquid-proof Your Running Shoes
Mud, dirt, and now spells of rain - we know your running shoes go through it all, which is why we’ve got the perfect solution to keep stains at bay pre-run. All you have to do is invest in our Crep Protect Spray.
When applied to your shoes, it creates a hydrophobic barrier that helps repel liquid and stains. Thanks to Nanotechnology, the liquid remains on the surface of shoes without penetrating the materials, therefore making it easier to wash off your shoes with zero fuss.
Best Way to Protect Running Shoes from Rain
Step 1: Clean Shoes Before Use
Ensure running shoes are clean and dry before application. This will create a clean foundation for the spray to work effectively on your shoes.
Step 2: Apply The Spray
Shake the can, spray evenly from 20cm. Spraying too closely can cause a white film to build up on the shoes. If this happens, remove the white film by re-applying the spray straight after and rubbing in the two layers with a microfibre cloth.
Step 3: Leave To Dry
Leave your running shoes to dry for 10 minutes. This will allow the spray to bond with the shoe materials to keep them protected for longer.
For best results, repeat steps 2 & 3 and allow the shoe to dry completely.
Ready to give your runners the treatment they deserve? Shop the full Crep Protect range now.
