How to Clean Altra Shoes

Cleaning and caring for your running shoes is a great way to ensure that they stay looking and feeling fresh for as long as possible. However, to preserve the quality and functionality, it’s important to learn how to clean Altra shoes without damaging the materials or structure.
To help you keep your running shoes looking and feeling great, here’s everything you need to know about cleaning shoes at home.
How to clean Altra shoes at home
Whether you want to give them a bit of a spruce after months of daily runs or need to remove mud, water residue, and more after a tough trail marathon, you can clean your Altra shoes at home using a few simple household items.
Before you start cleaning your Altra shoes, make sure you have a few key items set up and ready to go:
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Warm water
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Gentle soap
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A bucket
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A gentle brush
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A cloth
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A clean sponge
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Paper towels or newspaper
Can you wash Altra shoes in a machine?
No, we don’t recommend washing Altra shoes in a machine. To protect their structure, materials, support cushioning, and design features, it’s best to clean your shoes by hand using gentle soap.
How to clean Altra shoes: A step-by-step guide
You can clean your Altra running or hiking shoes in five simple steps.
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Remove and clean laces and insoles separately
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Brush off excess dirt
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Wash gently by hand
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Rinse thoroughly under clean water
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Leave in a well ventilated area to air dry
How to clean Altra shoe insoles and laces
To clean your insoles and laces, remove them from your Altra shoes. Soak them in warm and soapy water, then rinse and let them air dry before putting them back in your shoes.
Removing dirt from running shoes
If your shoes are covered in mud after an epic trail run, let the mud dry and then brush it off. You can use a dry shoe brush or a cloth to do this. An old toothbrush is also a great option if you need to get dirt out of small crevices and in between lugs on the bottom of your shoes.
You probably won’t be able to remove all the mud and dirt from your shoes this way, but the more you get rid of at this point, the easier the process will be at the next stage.
Once you’ve removed as much dirt as possible, it’s time to clean the shoes. Mix some warm water with mild soap and use a soft brush, sponge, or cloth to scrub the mixture onto the uppers, midsoles, and outsoles of the shoes. Try to avoid soaking the entire shoe.
Once you’ve cleaned your shoes with the soapy mixture, use clean water and a clean cloth to wipe away any soapy residue.
How to dry Altra shoes after cleaning
Make sure you thoroughly dry your running shoes after cleaning. Don’t use heat or put your shoes out in direct sunlight. Instead, allow plenty of time for them to air dry naturally at room temperature. This could take up to 48 hours, so make sure you allow plenty of extra time.
To protect the shape of your shoes, you can stuff them with paper towels or newspaper. This can also help to absorb moisture as they dry.
And there you have it. How to clean Altra shoes (and how NOT to clean Altra shoes) in five simple steps!
