How to Clean Climbing Shoes
Whether you’ve just begun your climbing journey and are dipping your toes into the world of climbing shoes or are an avid climber onto their fourth pair of new shoes, you will have experienced the delightful smell that wafts out of your climbing shoes post-climb session. Or worse if you have left them in an enclosed room or car for prolonged periods!
While there are many quick ways to stop your climbing shoes smelling (which we’ll dive into later), one of the best things you can do to ensure longevity from your climbing shoes and keep them spick and span is to regularly wash them.
So, if you’re a rock climber, boulderer, lead climber, sport climber or trad climber – listen up!
In this guide we’ll dive into how we clean our climbing shoes to correctly retain their shape, integral structure and avoid the erosion of shoe’s rubber or other adhesives.
Let’s (dyno) jump into it:
What you’ll need:
Soft bristled brush or toothbrush
Microfibre cloth or towel
Paper towel
Mild detergent (optional)
Regular cleaning process:
1) Air climbing shoes out
The first step of the climbing shoe cleaning process is to air your shoes out. Place them out of direct sunlight in a well-ventilated space or fresh air for at least an hour or so if you’re running short on time. However, typically we would recommend airing your climbing shoes out for a whole day or overnight to reduce odour while cleaning.
Airing out your climbing shoes is also a great practice to get into regularly post-climbing session, or whenever you get a chance. Climbing shoes are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, so periodically cleaning your shoes can limit odour, ensure they dry correctly and reduce the risk of bacterial growth and mould.
We like to clip them on the outside of our chalk bags or climbing gear after a climbing session to remind us to air them out when we get home and avoid leaving them in the hot car!
2) Rinse & brush climbing shoes clean
After airing out your shoes, it’s time to get cleaning. First with your dry climbing shoes give them a soft brush to remove any debris, dirt or chalk. This can avoid them forming a paste once wet and removes residue clinging to the soles of your shoes. Be sure to turn your climbing shoes upside down and also shake out any extra debris that may be stuck inside your climbing shoes from previous adventures.
3) Wash Climbing Shoes
Next, using either a bucker with warm water or running water from a sink or bath, rinse your climbing shoes under the water. Then, gently scrub the interior and exterior of the climbing shoe. Repeat this process until the water begins to run clear.
If your climbing shoes have laces or a padded tongue, be sure to give these a wash too!
It is important to mention some climbing shoe manufacturers mention their shoes are okay to machine wash, however we would recommend using a gentler method such as a handwash to preserve the shape of your climbing shoe. Also, using a warm machine wash, rubbing alcohol, extreme heat, or hot water can break down the adhesive glue used to keep your shoe together.
However, if you’re finding that a regular scrub and rinse isn’t doing the best job at removing sweat and dirt from your climbing shoes, you can use a mild detergent with the warm water to clean them.
4) Dry the shoes
Once your shoes are looking fresh and are smelling great too, it’s time to try them out. Using a dry towel or microfibre clothing wipe any excess water from the inside and outside of the wet climbing shoes. Pressing down on dense areas such as the inside of your shoe with a cloth can assist them in drying much quicker.
5) Stuff the climbing shoes to retain shape
After thoroughly drying your climbing shoes, place towels or paper towel into your shoe. This can help retain the shape of your shoe as it dries. After all, there’s nothing worse than losing the perfectly moulded shape of your climbing shoe so it doesn’t fit your foot.
6) Air dry in a ventilated room out of direct sunlight
Once towel-dried and stuffed, place your climbing shoes to air dry in a room or space with ventilation or a nice draft. Ensure they are not exposed to direct sunlight or placed in a drying machine as this can melt the glue, misshape your climbing shoes and break down the rubber soles.
After a couple of hours your climbing shoes should be dry and ready to hit the walls! If you feel as though they are still damp, you can use a hairdryer on cool heat setting and dry them from a distance to add some extra airflow.
And there you have it! Your shoes should be looking (almost) as good as new climbing shoes and smelling a whole lot better.
How To Clean Climbing Shoes Quickly
Now, if you don’t have the time in your busy schedule to do a full climbing shoe clean, there are some simple and quick steps you can take to at least reduce the odour and enhance grip in preparation for your next climbing session:
Enhancing Climbing Shoe Grip:
Now if you’ve been climbing for a while, you may have noticed your climbing shoes have begun to slip more on the wall and lose the grip they once had when they were new out of the box. This is completely normal as the soles wear and is expected to happen over time as your shoes get chalky or exposed to the elements outdoor climbing.
Stop Smelly Climbing Shoes:
To avoid the dreaded climbing shoe smell emitted post-climbing sesh, be sure to not only regularly air out your shoes, but also use an odour-neutraliser. This can keep that freshly cleaned shoe scent around for longer!
We like to use boot bananas which are a moisture absorbing insert you place into your climbing shoes when not in use. They aim to neutralise bacteria and aid in masking smelly climbing shoes.
Clean Your Climbing Shoes FAQs
Should you wash climbing shoes?
The answer to this question is twofold. First, it really depends on the type of climbing you are doing. If you are climbing in a gym or indoors, then you probably don't need to wash your shoes as often since they aren't coming into contact with as much dirt and debris. However, if you are climbing outdoors on dirtier routes, then you will want to wash your shoes more frequently.
The second part of the answer has to do with the material of your climbing shoes. If your climbing shoes are leather climbing shoes, then you definitely don't want to get them wet since this can cause the leather to shrink and deform. Instead, you should hand wash by wiping them down with a damp cloth after climbing and let them air dry. If your shoes are synthetic climbing shoes, then you can wash them with soap and water without any problems.
In general, you should only wash climbing shoes when they are starting to smell bad or look dirty. Washing them too often can break down the material and shorten the lifespan of your shoes.
How do you get the stink out of climbing shoes?
There are a few different ways that you can de-stink your climbing shoes. One way is to sprinkle baking soda inside of them and let it sit overnight. You can also put them in the freezer for a few hours, which will kill the bacteria that cause the bad smell.
Another option is to use a shoe deodoriser to neutralise the smell. You can also wash them with soap and water if they are made of synthetic materials. If your climbing shoes are leather shoes, then you should avoid getting them wet.
Finally, to reduce the smell altogether you can also wear socks while you climb which is a great option for those who have sweaty feet and can reduce sweat being absorbed into your shoe as you climb.
Can I hand wash my climbing shoes?
Yes, you can hand wash climbing shoes as long as they are synthetic shoe materials. If your climbing shoes are leather shoes, then you should avoid getting them wet. Instead, you can wipe them down with a damp cloth after climbing and let them air dry.