How to quickly dry sneakers after washing?
Sneakers require periodic cleaning, even if they are worn exclusively in the gym. It's not just about clean shoes, but also about hygiene. Increased sweating, which accompanies all physical activity, and the accompanying humidity, provide the prerequisites for the development of fungal infections and other harmful microorganisms in the material. Running pairs are often used daily, so the question arises of how to quickly dry sneakers after washing. Let's look at all the effective methods.
General recommendations
Without following the basic rules for drying sneakers, it is very easy to ruin your shoes. Moreover, it does not matter what quality the product is - from a well-known brand or a Chinese imitator. Therefore, if you do not plan to update your sneakers in the coming days, consider the following recommendations:
- Do not dry crosses on heat sources. We are talking about heating radiators and electric heaters. Of course, the temptation to quickly dry your shoes is great, but there is a high probability that the pair will deteriorate. Glue under the influence of high temperatures can crack and lose its properties, which will lead to deformation of products.;
- Do not dry sneakers in the drying chamber of the machine on the standard mode;
- Before drying, be sure to remove the insoles and completely unlace the sneakers;
- If you need to dry sneakers that have not been washed, but have gotten wet in the rain, first remove the dirt from the shoes;
- It is better to use special dirt-repellent and water-repellent liquids for outdoor sneakers. Such compositions will protect shoes and significantly increase their service life.
If you get your leather sneakers wet in the rain, you need to take them off quickly. Wet natural leather is very elastic and has excellent stretch, so stretching of the material when wearing a wet pair for a long time will be inevitable. If the sneakers are made of suede, first you need to dry the fabric and only then remove dirt from it with brushes or sponges.
The rules for caring for shoes are quite simple. By following general recommendations, you can keep your favorite sneakers for a long time. But how can you quickly dry steam at home if you can’t use heating radiators? There are several gentle ways to help speed up drying.
Paper napkins
A method that has been proven over the years is the use of paper towels. Blank album sheets will also help with this. You can “blind” a lump of toilet paper, wrap it in paper napkins and use it for drying. The algorithm of actions will be as follows:
- “stuff” the sneakers with paper balls. It is important to try not to stretch your shoes;
- wrap the “crosses” with paper towels on the outside in five or six layers, secure the structure with rubber bands;
- place the sneakers in a well-ventilated room;
- replace the paper “filling” after 20-30 minutes;
- Refill the block with balls.
The more often the paper “filler” of the sneakers is changed, the faster they will dry.
Therefore, check the degree of wetness of paper napkins every 40-60 minutes. This drying method is far from budget-friendly, but very effective. You should not “stuff” your sneakers with old newspaper sheets - printing ink can imprint on the fabric, ruining the look of the shoes.
“Salt” your sneakers
Rock salt will also help speed up the drying of athletic shoes.This method may be relevant, for example, on a hike, where the problem of drying sneakers sometimes becomes very acute. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- heat coarse salt in a frying pan;
- pour hot salt crystals into a nylon stocking, tie it, and pull a cotton sock on top;
- put homemade “warmers” in your sneakers, distributing the salt evenly over the shoe;
- After the salt has cooled, reheat it in the frying pan and repeat the manipulations.
There is no need to use finely ground salt for this purpose - particles through the sock will easily get onto the insole and inside the last, and will cause discomfort with further wear. Therefore, large salt crystals are needed. Sometimes it is possible to dry a couple at once, or you need to repeat the procedure 2-3 times.
Handy absorbents
At home, rice can help speed up the drying of sports shoes. This method is not super fast, but it can reduce the time it takes to absorb excess moisture. You should proceed as follows:
- pour rice into a shoebox, the layer should be about 3 centimeters;
- Place the sneakers inside, with the soles facing up.
The box of rice cereal should not be closed, otherwise the opposite effect may be achieved.
The average drying time for sneakers on a rice bed is 6-8 hours. The duration of moisture evaporation will depend on the sewing method, room temperature, and the presence or absence of insulation.
Everyone, when purchasing sneakers, saw small bags of balls in a shoe box. Some people throw away their finds without hesitation, not understanding what they are intended for. In fact, the manufacturer puts silica gel granules in the packaging - this is a good absorbent that absorbs water.You can save such bags and use them if necessary to quickly dry your shoes.
It is also possible to use modern cat litter. What is needed is silicone crystals, which are the silica gel described above. You need to fill a sock with granules, tie it, and put it in your sneakers. The water will be absorbed fairly quickly.
Artificial wind
You can quickly dry your sports sneakers using a fan. Although this device seems useless after installing the air conditioner, there is no need to rush to part with it. Its blades can create a constant flow of low-temperature air, which will undoubtedly help in getting rid of excess moisture.
Using a fan, do this:
- install the structure on the floor, spread towels at the base of the device to absorb water;
- remove the insoles and laces from the sneakers; these elements can be dried separately, on a radiator;
- “open” your sneakers as much as possible;
- hang the sneakers from the fan grill using a bent wire;
- make sure that “crosses” and homemade hooks do not interfere with the rotation of the blades;
- Start the device by selecting medium blowing speed.
You can put on dry sneakers after 2-3 hours. This is a fairly quick and harmless method for shoes that does not require much effort.
When drying shoes, it is better to do without a hairdryer. The device generates hot air. High temperature exposure can cause sneakers to deteriorate and become deformed. Some devices have a cold blow function; this technology can be useful when drying.
What can't you do?
Let's look at the main mistakes that often lead to damage to shoes.This will help housewives avoid unpleasant surprises after washing and drying a sports pair. As already mentioned, “crosses” may suffer from high temperature exposure.
Even slight heat from a heat source can cause the sneakers to warp and crack.
Therefore, you need to give up not only drying on radiators and near heaters, but also from using electric dryers, and do without a hair dryer. Of course, there is a chance that the sneakers will not get damaged, but why take the risk when there are many other ways to dry your shoes. It is also important to protect the “crosses” from sunlight. This can lead to fading and deformation of the products.
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