Taking Care of Your Running Shoes
Proper care of your running shoes is essential to keep them in top condition and to avoid any build-up of bacteria and subsequent odor.
First of all make sure to wear proper running socks. The new high performance synthetic sports fibers are superior to cotton because they have the ability to wick away moisture. Unfortunately cotton holds moisture and takes a long time to dry. So the clear choice is the synthetic socks of acrylic or polyester, often with some percentage of nylon content. You can easily find then in your local running shop, sporting goods store or online. In the winter for added warmth, socks with wool content are ideal.
Be sure to store the running shoes properly; in a cool, dry place. Remove the sole inserts from the shoes to allow them to dry more thoroughly after your workouts.
Ideally you should have more than one pair of shoes and in so doing you can alternate them. This allows at least 24 hours between wearings so that the shoes have the chance to dry thoroughly. This will also extend the life of the shoe.
Additionally, letting the shoes dry out decreases the likelihood of your developing athlete’s foot, which is caused by a fungus which will grow rampantly in moist places. Obviously the interior of a running shoe now allowed to dry completely would be a perfect habitat. This is a condition you will want to avoid, as the unpleasant symptoms include itchiness, particularly between the toes. In addition to drying out the shoes, make certain your feet are dry before putting on your socks and running shoes.
Baking soda is great for controlling odor as well as absorbing moisture, so be sure to keep it in your tool kit for taking care of your running shoes.