Washing your cycling shoes

[jdubble]

We've been hosing them off after cross races, taking out the insoles, and then putting them on a chair in front of the dehumidifier in the basement. They dry overnight there. They're not spotless, but it's good enough.

[jolie]

I don't think cycling shoes can washed by washing machine. I just wash it by my hand. Most of time I think needn't clean the inside of the shoes, for a long term wearing.

[bcipam]

I hate to admit I do this cause die hards will think me crazy... but I love my leather Sidi's for road and mountain biking (I have two sets of the same shoe - one for each). For road riding what I do is spray the inside of the shoe with alittle alcohol and run over the outside with a clean cloth.

Now for mountain biking, my shoes, especially this time of year get all muddy and wet. I could (and have) let the shoes dry out and try and knock off the mud but i find the shoes get stinky if I do so what I do now is this:

I rinse the shoes off in the kitchen sink with luke warm water. I then take out the insoles and fill up the sink with enough warm water to cover the shoes. I put in two cupfuls of bleach and allow the shoes to soak a short period of time. I then rinse the shoes again and set them out to dry, preferable in the sun. The shoes are clean, smell fine and appear to be OK. I have been doing this with my shoes for about 3 years, they are OK.

Now tennis type shoes, I would have now problem soaking them or washing them. Just take out the insoles first.

[arielmoon]

I am assuming you have cleats on your shoes... they would probably damage a washing machine.

[WindingRoad]

I usually squirt a little WD40 on my cleats occasionally to keep them from rusting. Especially good after a good hose down.