My shoes stink

Hobo Mikey

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May 22, 2020
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My five tens stink. I must admit to not looking after them just wear them rain or shine on the trails, put them under the bathroom heater or in the sun to dry and wear again but yesterday I was down Coed Y Brenin all morning in the rain and the trails were wet so got soaked. Has anybody with five tens put them in the washing machine and did they survive.
 

The EMF

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Nov 4, 2020
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I’ve a couple of pairs of 5tens and tend alternate every ride ,
I have thought of putting them through a 30 deg wash cycle but with no powder/pods etc……..
Too expensive to replaces if they drop to bits in the trial 😆
Let me know how you get on 😅
 

Hobo Mikey

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That’s what I was worried about, like you say to expensive to wreck when they still have lots of miles in them. Wife googled it( the smell) and it’s bacteria and one of the cures was to put them in a zip up plastic bag and put them in the freezer. That’s where they are now. It might work but my feet will be bloody cold. :D
 

The Hodge

Mystic Meg
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Sep 9, 2020
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I’ve a couple of pairs of 5tens and tend alternate every ride ,
I have thought of putting them through a 30 deg wash cycle but with no powder/pods etc……..
Too expensive to replaces if they drop to bits in the trial 😆
Let me know how you get on 😅
I don't know why you are worried ..they have survived a minus degree swim with you in them ..
 

Mikerb

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
May 16, 2019
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Wear good hiking socks that are anti bacterial.....e.g Bridgedales.......anti bacterial insole also helps. Machine wash should not hurt them. I machine wash Adidas trainers etc with no ill effect. Probably best not to spin ( for the sake of the machine not the shoe!!)
 

Snrbrtsn

Active member
Apr 7, 2021
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Uk - Scotland
I just put my Ride Concepts through the wash after a wet day on Sunday.
Sadly on Sunday morning they came to meet me and we’re howling, Sunday night they were covered in mud beyond recognition so had to be pressure washed and thrown in machine.
Came out like new! - Wore them today and super comfy! No detriment!

My son has the same shoes that never leave his feet, when they do, his mother washes, on their third/ fourth wash now
Still looking good!
 
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The EMF

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That’s what I was worried about, like you say to expensive to wreck when they still have lots of miles in them. Wife googled it( the smell) and it’s bacteria and one of the cures was to put them in a zip up plastic bag and put them in the freezer. That’s where they are now. It might work but my feet will be bloody cold. :D

Totally unrelated but this freezer thing I do with my Dakine bladder when not in use. I store it in the cold well of the freezer at -18 deg and it’s lasted me years with no bugs or nasties or after taste for that matter
 

R120

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Apr 13, 2018
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Totally unrelated but this freezer thing I do with my Dakine bladder when not in use. I store it in the cold well of the freezer at -18 deg and it’s lasted me years with no bugs or nasties or after taste for that matter
I do the same, works a treat
 

RustyIron

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Jun 5, 2021
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My five tens stink. I must admit to not looking after them just wear them rain or shine on the trails,

A couple times a year I take out the insoles, spray everything down with Simple Green, and scrub them with a brush. After rinsing them off with the hose, I leave them to sit out in the sun to dry.

Sometimes I'll wear my spare shoes, so the primary shoes can have a chance to properly dry out.

This last summer something happened, and my good shoes started smelling like Rosie O'Donnell's ass. I got this stuff from the running shoe store. The shoes still don't smell like fresh daisies, but they're better than before.

tempImage872sZP.png
 

Batch

Member
Oct 4, 2021
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Stevenage
Best thing I have found to prevent wiffs and one of the best things I have brought for biking is a shoe heater/blower. When shoes get sweaty or sodden I whack them on for anything from 25 mins to 99 (max it will go), this seems to work for me in preventing the stink! This is the one I have but plenty on Amazon:


Cheers
 

MrSimmo

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Apr 24, 2020
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The Trail.
From Adidas shoe care:

Cleaning instructions
When the time comes to clean your shoes, follow these dos and don’ts.


Do:

Remove excess dirt – Use a soft brush, like an old toothbrush, to wipe away surface dust, being careful not to further scuff the material.

Mix up soap & water – Add eco-friendly laundry detergent to a little warm water, and use a washing cloth to rub gently onto superficial stains in the fabric.

Rub off – Rinse the washing cloth in warm water, and apply to the same areas to remove the detergent.

Dry the shoes – Dry your shoes at room temperature, adding paper towels or newspaper on the inside to soak up the liquid.

Freshen Laces – Wash, or replace, your laces.

Air your insoles – Remove the insoles of your shoes while cleaning to get rid of the smell. In case of intense odor, sprinkle on a small amount of baking soda.


Don’t:

Put your shoes in the washing machine. This can discolor or damage the fabric.

Place them close to a radiator or use external heaters. To guarantee retaining the shape of the sneaker you should dry them at room temperature.

Use alternative cleaning products including chemicals and bleach.

Use a hard brush, or scrub harshly. This can particularly damage weave or mesh materials used in models including Pure Boost and Ultra Boost.


Here are some additional tips to keep your shoes clean:


Storage
To keep your running shoes in top condition, make sure you don’t leave them outside. The sun can wear the outer and make white soles go yellow.


Spot clean
After your run make sure to remove any stains as soon as possible. When leaving them for too long they will start to permeate into the fabric of your shoe, which can be damaging in the long-term.



———-

to be fair i dont do any of that; i put them in the washing machine at a slow speed, 30degrees c, no rinse. Then hang them out to dry over my oil radiator in the garage. Has worked fine for me with my five tens for 6 odd years or so…
 

jerry

Active member
Dec 22, 2018
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Belgium
I've put my 5Tens in the machine for several times - low temp, slow (800RPM) spin - and they come out as new (and fresh!), no damage,
 

Hobo Mikey

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Update with my stinking shoes. As I said I put them in the freezer in zip bags. Took them out yesterday because the wife wanted to put food in the freezer bloody cheek but she does the cooking etc and as I didn't want to starve I took them out. Frozen solid I let them thaw out in the bathroom and guess what. They still bloody stink. :eek:. Two days ago I painted the bathroom and it smelt of fresh paint …..no more so stinking shoes are now in garage. Out on bike tomorrow and it’s going to be wet and muddy so when I come back they are going in the washing machine and what ever happens to them happens. Will keep you informed.(y)
 

The EMF

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Nov 4, 2020
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South East Northumberland
Update with my stinking shoes. As I said I put them in the freezer in zip bags. Took them out yesterday because the wife wanted to put food in the freezer bloody cheek but she does the cooking etc and as I didn't want to starve I took them out. Frozen solid I let them thaw out in the bathroom and guess what. They still bloody stink. :eek:. Two days ago I painted the bathroom and it smelt of fresh paint …..no more so stinking shoes are now in garage. Out on bike tomorrow and it’s going to be wet and muddy so when I come back they are going in the washing machine and what ever happens to them happens. Will keep you informed.(y)

Be bold(or persil)……go for it man 🤙🤣
 

Sapientiea

Active member
Jul 12, 2019
296
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Netherlands
Such bacteria happily survive freezing. When they get warm again, its replication mayhem :cool: .
The freezing will form ice crystals that will puncture the cell-wall of the bacteria and they will die. Some species are indeed more resistant to freezing and thawing. Just freeze them, take them out to defrost then freeze them again. This usually will kill most bacteria.

I personally just take the shoes for a shower. I use some liquid soap for clothes and soak them for a while. The active enzymes in the washing liquid will cut the bacteria up and kill them. Rinse and dry...not on a heater otherwise rubber and such might crack or shrink!
 

Gary

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Mar 29, 2018
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If your shoes get drenched through always put them in the wash with the rest of your kit. (if not just brush the mud off them)
Not sure why anyone would pussy around with an 800 spin cycle though. A fast spin cycle means when they come out they'll be far drier and ready to wear again far sooner.
If your shoes can't cope with a 30deg 30min quick wash (with a little detergent) and 1800 spin cycle it's time to buy some de cent shoes.
While you're shopping also buy yourself a shoe drier
 

Stihldog

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Jun 10, 2020
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Shoes? Pff. How about gloves. If you’ve ever played hockey you know what I’m talking about. These things are an effective bacteria factory. 2 rides is about enough but I can live with 6 rides. In the washer with the rest of my muddy costume. Are the sweat glands on my hands more active than my feet? …and why?

I have several different pairs of gloves, winter to summer, but the ones I use/like the most are the worst. My collection of shoes are not a problem but my gloves are the first thing I isolate after a ride. Even a bunch of roses don’t survive after a ride so I stopped giving them to her. 😱
 

KnollyBro

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Dec 3, 2020
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Vancouver
Here in the Colonies, we use Tea Tree oil (25 drops to 500ml of water) in a spray bottle. It kills the bacteria on all our gear, shoes too. They will still need to be dried so we leave them on our heated floors or let the sun's UV add to bacteria killing power. I have sprayed down my hockey gear for 30 years with so much success that I can hang it in the laundry room which is right beside the kitchen. No complaints yet. Just 2 wives.
 

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