cleaning shoes

[baseballfan]

I have the New Balance All-black plate shoes, and the New Balance Black/Silver/White base shoes. What's the best way to clean these? I've heard some different things such as Scrubbing bubbles and Armor All.

[iankelleyumpire]

I get really, really into cleaning shoes. I have both of those pairs as well, along with others. Scrubbing bubbles, Armor All, Saddle Soap, Shoe Polish, Hairspray, Water - The list goes on and on. There are so many different ways to clean shoes (in general), and too many different products to use, so it's really just about finding the best way personally to do it. I'm very efficient and thorough, and can make the shoes look brand new practically. I might over-do it sometimes, but oh well. Here are my methods for each:

 

After a game, of course they are dusty/dirty. Initially, I spray them down and all around with a Lysol All-purpose Oxy spray (Walmart, like $2.50) instead of scrubbing bubbles, just a preference. Then I kinda let them sit while some of it runs off, taking a lot of the dirt with it. Then I wipe them down pretty good. Next, I spray the "Original" Armor All spray all around and rub that in, to moisten and start the shining process. If I'm really feeling it, before this I will saddle soap them with a sponge and then rub it all off with a rag, then apply the Armor All. - From there, (For the NB460 plate shoes) I will take black shoe polish or parade gloss with a toothbrush and go over the "N" threading on the plate, to keep it black and not dirt-colored. This is key to keeping it like that, as sometimes the cleaners don't fully do the job. Then I'll buff it all off with a horsehair shoe brush. - By now, the shoe is pretty dry, but I'll go over it again with a rag to dry off. Then I'll apply a light layer of black shoe polish cream all around, until it's good and in, then let it dry. I make sure I don't get it on the white or on the silver N logo, if so, wipe it off good, just don't let it sit and stain. Here Is when I usually stop, and let them rest until dressing before a game. Then I'll polish them down with a standard black shoe sponge and you're good to go.

 

The white sole on the base shoes just takes more elbow grease and scrubbing, and generally you can keep them very white. I've heard of using toothpaste, but I haven't tried that yet. Another thing, for either shoes, it to use shoe bags. I use the Honig's shoe bags for my plate shoes (each) when they are clean, helps keep off dust and other dirt form your bag. Also, cedar shoe trees do wonders. They can soak in moisture after you've worn them, keep good shape, and keep out smell. 

 

Like say, I'm very thorough, and probably over do most of it, but it works and it's just how I do my shoes. Take what you want of it, but no matter what, keep our shoes clean! It makes a good first impression when walking on to the field, and just overall completes a professional look as an umpire. 

 

Questions, comments, or any ideas and input are always welcome. 

[Texas Manny]

On a brand new pair of shoes, I'd try to seal the white sections to prevent future staining by dirt/clay. I guess Armor All would work. Never heard of using it on shoes, but it may provide the sheilding. Anyone's thoughts?

[iankelleyumpire]

Well there's a big difference in what armor all you use. The tire armor all, or the car interior stuff. Any sort of leather care/shiner/etc product out there can be used on shoes (leather shoes). Tire shine products can be tricky and corrosive. Then can make your shoes look great, like almost patent leather or like the material is covered with hardened leather luster, but when it sits and soaks in, after time it can corrode logos, thread, and other little things on shoes sometimes. I try to stay away from it, because it is made for tires, not shoes. Armor All "Original" leather spray is really good. The most common bottle is a tall skinny bottle, that's like $3 at Walmart. It seems to be very popular amongst umpires. 

[iankelleyumpire]

As far as "sealing" shoes, I wouldn't know. I know with other shoes, it only lasts for so long, just like waterproofing spray or suede sealer. You have to realize, no matter now hard we clean our shoes, or what we clean them with, when we walk off the field they're going to be dirty either way. (Unless you're on turf, which even then they tend to still get kind of dusty) 

[Texas Manny]

By sealing the white while still new gives them a chance of protection against staining by most common baseball field clays. I know they will get dirty, dusty, whatever. My focal point is to protect them in new state as long as possible so that the dirt, dust, etc., will just clean off without staining. Like a car, they will probably need to be waxed frequently to maintain the luster of new. I'm not saying to use car wax though.

[baseballfan]

this is very helpful! Thanks guys!

[Thunderheads]

this is very helpful! Thanks guys!

do a search in the equipment forum on shoe cleaning in general and you'll be reading forever!

[BigUmpire]

Stop by a tack store. Get a few horse brushes

[JaxRolo]

Do not use armour all for shoes.

[maineump]

Do not use armour all for shoes.

A friend of mine used armour all and the leather broke down and cracked.

 

I tried a bees wax kind of concoction and it worked until you wanted to clean them. The stuff rolled up and actually held the dirt. I use simple things like water, soap and Clorox handi-wipes. Works great on the white and helps clean 'old polish' from the black, then I re polish them.

 

Of you want a big shine on the toes, try skate toe black (used by hockey officials to shine skates). Stuff is a mess to work with, but looks good and seems to hold up well (on my skates anyhow).

[flastyle727]

Why not just use Kiwi like we did for years in the military. You can create a light base on the shoe and rebuff or repolish after games...it works great.

[CodyLoe15]

I agree Kiwi works great.  I do use a liquid polish on the sole before a game, that's the best method I have found for keeping the sole looking brand new.  Anyone use something that they find works well on the sole of an all black shoe?  Also, has anyone used leather luster on the NB shoes?  I have noticed a photo on this site that has Reebok plate shoes with luster applied and it looks great!  Wanted to find out before I ordered a kit.

[noumpere]

I have used leather lustre before and it works but takes time and effort to apply.  Not on the NBs though.  I would use shape up (I think that's what its called) instead.  easier to apply.  Not as durable but even if you apply it 3x per season (and you wont) its still much less effort than the leather lustre.

[umpstu]

I use liquid dish washing detergent and a nylon scrub brush. I scrub everything including the soles. I also pick the gravel out of the soles. 

[bluejerred]

Stop by a tack store. Get a few horse brushes

 

BigUmpire is right on the money with the horse brushes.  Gets the loose dust off quickly and good for buffing as well. 

 

I have NB's for base and plate shoes as well (all black).  For the base shoes, aside from mild soap for cleaning, if you have corfram rubber for the shiny part of the toes and heels, windex will make it reflect like a mirror. 

 

For the plate shoes, once you get them dusted off and cleaned up with a mild soap, get the shine going right.  You'll need black and neutral shoe polish, a horsehair brush, and an old white t-shirt that you can cut up for the final polishing.  Don't use the thicker cloth in the shoe polish kit, it's junk.  Initially, apply a good coat of black polish on the shoe.  No need for the small circles with the t-shirt yet.  Once applied, take a heat gun and hold it far away from the plate shoe while it blows hot air on there (this goes a lot easier on the leather than a lighter and works about 10x as quick).  You will see the wax melt and look shiny - this allows the wax to get into the small pores of the leather.  Once you have gone over the shoe and have seen the wax melt, take the horsehair brush and buff out the shoe.  Perform this step two to three times.

 

Once that is done, go to the neutral shoe polish.  This acts as a clear coat/sealant if you will.  Just like before, apply liberally on the shoe.  Once applied, heat gun your shoe just like before and get the wax to melt in.  Buff out and repeat.  On the second coat of neutral, once you have melted it in, instead of buffing it out with the horsehair brush, take your t-shirt and get it SLIGHTLY damp.  You don't want too much water in the shirt, just enough so it doesn't create friction with the shoe.  Using the t-shirt and your pointer finger, put a SMALL AMOUNT of black shoe polish on the t-shirt and work it in using small circles.  With the coats you put on before and melted in, you should start seeing a mirror shine coming from the shoe. 

 

The first time around obviously takes a little longer but the good thing is that once you get the initial shine in, all it takes is a brush down and a good once or twice over with a small amount of polish and the heat gun to get the shoes right back to where they were.  I am a new umpire but I was also military and this method always got my boots in inspection-ready condition.  Hope this helps!

[Minnz]

I personally have the same shoes and for three years have used Armor All Leather Wipes and a good shoes brush as well.  The wipes make it quick and easy to clean the shoes and also give a nice shine.  My leather has no cracks or breakdown.  Love how easy and affordable this method is.

[Specks]

Walmart has a foaming window cleaner that works great! Don't use anything with ammonia, it's bad for leather.

[zm1283]

Guys, Armor All is about the worst thing you can use on baseball shoes.  It is a silicone-based product and will attract dust.  (Not to mention it sucks as an auto detail product anyway)

 

I use Murphy's Oil Soap diluted with water.  I dust my shoes off if they are dusty, spray with the soap, scrub with a hard bristled brush, then wipe with a rag.  Let them dry and then polish them with black shoe polish.  I use the liquid kind in the stick, not actual polish.  

[Marcus6]

There isnt an ounce of real leather on these shoes.  Its all synthetic.

[boyinr]

Guys, Armor All is about the worst thing you can use on baseball shoes.  It is a silicone-based product and will attract dust.  (Not to mention it sucks as an auto detail product anyway)

 

I use Murphy's Oil Soap diluted with water.  I dust my shoes off if they are dusty, spray with the soap, scrub with a hard bristled brush, then wipe with a rag.  Let them dry and then polish them with black shoe polish.  I use the liquid kind in the stick, not actual polish.

I have done it this way for the past five years. Easy, inexpensive, quick, simple and keeps them looking great.

[Platejob29]

I have a pretty detailed cleaning process that involves, Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, hairspray, black shoe polish, clear shoe polish, rags, and a nail brush. All black shoes and shoes with white soles are slightly different but only by one step. I will note it when I get to it. First I take the Scrubbing Bubbles and spray down a nice even layer over the entire shoe. (with plate shoes I leave them laced up and with the tongue plate down for this first part.) Then after it sits for about 45 seconds on each shoe I wipe it down with a rag. Then I spray the whole shoe with Windex and scrub out as much dirt as I can with the nailbrush. After scrubbing the Windex around I wipe the shoe down with a rag again. Next comes a second coating of Scrubbing Bubbles but this time I use the nailbrush to scrub it in. Then wipe off with a rag. (for plate shoes at this point I lift the tongue plate and repeat the previous three steps on the part of the shoe covered by the tongue plate.) Next with all black shoes I use the black shoe polish and go over the entire shoe every exposed surface not including the bottom. I do this twice to ensure an even coating of polish. The same is done for shoes with white soles or accents only instead using the clear shoe polish. The last step after the polish dries is to spray on an even coat of hairspray covering the entire shoe. Typically I will do at least two coats of hairspray if I am in a rush, otherwise I will apply 3-4 coats. 

[Magic]

I use lemon pledge and a cloth. Works great.

[Thunderheads]

I have a pretty detailed cleaning process that involves, Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, hairspray, black shoe polish, clear shoe polish, rags, and a nail brush. All black shoes and shoes with white soles are slightly different but only by one step. I will note it when I get to it. First I take the Scrubbing Bubbles and spray down a nice even layer over the entire shoe. (with plate shoes I leave them laced up and with the tongue plate down for this first part.) Then after it sits for about 45 seconds on each shoe I wipe it down with a rag. Then I spray the whole shoe with Windex and scrub out as much dirt as I can with the nailbrush. After scrubbing the Windex around I wipe the shoe down with a rag again. Next comes a second coating of Scrubbing Bubbles but this time I use the nailbrush to scrub it in. Then wipe off with a rag. (for plate shoes at this point I lift the tongue plate and repeat the previous three steps on the part of the shoe covered by the tongue plate.) Next with all black shoes I use the black shoe polish and go over the entire shoe every exposed surface not including the bottom. I do this twice to ensure an even coating of polish. The same is done for shoes with white soles or accents only instead using the clear shoe polish. The last step after the polish dries is to spray on an even coat of hairspray covering the entire shoe. Typically I will do at least two coats of hairspray if I am in a rush, otherwise I will apply 3-4 coats. 

Scrubbing Bubbles is harsh and shouldn't be used on a daily basis, but only when your shoes are a mess ....

 

Guys, ....(not soley directed at platejob29); with leather products, you must also treat the leather properly or your shoes will fall apart

[JaxRolo]

I have a pretty detailed cleaning process that involves, Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, hairspray, black shoe polish, clear shoe polish, rags, and a nail brush. All black shoes and shoes with white soles are slightly different but only by one step. I will note it when I get to it. First I take the Scrubbing Bubbles and spray down a nice even layer over the entire shoe. (with plate shoes I leave them laced up and with the tongue plate down for this first part.) Then after it sits for about 45 seconds on each shoe I wipe it down with a rag. Then I spray the whole shoe with Windex and scrub out as much dirt as I can with the nailbrush. After scrubbing the Windex around I wipe the shoe down with a rag again. Next comes a second coating of Scrubbing Bubbles but this time I use the nailbrush to scrub it in. Then wipe off with a rag. (for plate shoes at this point I lift the tongue plate and repeat the previous three steps on the part of the shoe covered by the tongue plate.) Next with all black shoes I use the black shoe polish and go over the entire shoe every exposed surface not including the bottom. I do this twice to ensure an even coating of polish. The same is done for shoes with white soles or accents only instead using the clear shoe polish. The last step after the polish dries is to spray on an even coat of hairspray covering the entire shoe. Typically I will do at least two coats of hairspray if I am in a rush, otherwise I will apply 3-4 coats. 

 

WOW

 

I have better things to do with my time!