How to Clean Wrestling Shoes (And Make Them Last Longer)

Wrestling shoes take a serious beating. Every practice means mat contact, sweat, body oils, rubber friction, and in some gyms, a whole lot of grime. If you are not cleaning them regularly, you are not just dealing with a smell problem. You are shortening the life of your shoes, degrading the grip, and walking into practice with bacteria-covered footwear. This guide tells you exactly how to clean wrestling shoes the right way and how to make them last as long as possible.

[IMAGE: wrestling shoes being cleaned with a soft brush and soapy water on a clean surface]

Quick Answer: How Do You Clean Wrestling Shoes?

To clean wrestling shoes properly:

1. Remove loose dirt with a dry soft brush or dry cloth.
2. Mix a small amount of mild soap or dish soap with warm water.
3. Use a soft brush or damp cloth to gently scrub the upper, sole, and laces.
4. Wipe away soap residue with a clean damp cloth.
5. Stuff them with newspaper or paper towels and air dry at room temperature.
6. Never put them in a dryer or leave them in direct sunlight.

That process takes less than ten minutes and can add months to the life of your shoes when done regularly.

Why Cleaning Your Wrestling Shoes Matters More Than You Think

Most wrestlers wait until their shoes smell unbearable before doing anything about it. By that point, significant damage has already been done.

Here is what actually happens when you skip cleaning:

• Grip degrades: mat dust, rubber residue, and sweat build up on the outsole and reduce the traction that makes wrestling shoes effective.
• Materials break down faster: sweat is acidic and breaks down mesh, synthetic uppers, and adhesives over time. Regular cleaning neutralizes this damage.
• Bacteria and fungus grow: a warm, moist shoe is a perfect environment for foot fungus, athlete's foot, and staph-friendly bacteria that can cause serious health issues in a wrestling room.
• Odor becomes permanent: once odor-causing bacteria fully colonize the interior foam and lining, it is very difficult to fully remove the smell even with aggressive cleaning.

Cleaning your wrestling shoes is not optional maintenance. It is part of keeping yourself and your training partners safe on the mat.

What You Will Need to Clean Wrestling Shoes

• Soft-bristle brush (an old toothbrush works well for tight areas)
• Mild dish soap or gentle laundry detergent
• Warm water in a small bowl or sink
• Clean cloth or microfiber towel
• Newspaper or paper towels for drying
• Optional: baking soda or odor-eliminating spray for the interior

You do not need specialized products. The basics work well when used consistently.

Step-by-Step: How to Clean Wrestling Shoes

Step 1: Remove Laces and Brush Off Dry Dirt

Take the laces out first. This lets you clean the tongue and the lace area properly without working around them. Use a dry brush or cloth to knock off any loose dirt or mat debris from the upper and sole before introducing any moisture. Dry brushing first prevents you from grinding dirt deeper into the material when you wet it.

Step 2: Clean the Outsole

The sole is where grip lives, and it is the first thing to suffer from buildup. Use a slightly stiffer brush and your soapy water mixture to scrub the rubber sole in all directions, getting into the tread pattern. Rinse the brush and go over it again with clean water to remove all soap. A clean sole is a grippy sole.

Step 3: Clean the Upper

Dip your soft cloth or soft brush into the soapy water and gently scrub the entire upper in circular motions. Pay extra attention to high-contact zones like the toe area, the sides, and the ankle collar where sweat and friction concentrate. For mesh panels, use a lighter touch to avoid distorting the weave. For synthetic panels, you can scrub with a little more pressure.

Step 4: Clean the Laces

Soak the laces in your soapy water, rub them together between your fingers, and rinse thoroughly. Laces carry a surprising amount of bacteria and body oil. Clean laces also help the lacing system hold tension better.

Step 5: Wipe Away Soap Residue

Use a clean damp cloth to wipe down the entire exterior of the shoe and remove any remaining soap. Leaving soap residue on the upper or sole can actually attract more dirt and cause material breakdown over time.

Step 6: Treat the Interior

The inside of the shoe is where bacteria and odor live. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda inside and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before shaking it out. Alternatively, use a sports-specific antimicrobial spray designed for shoe interiors. Do not soak the inside of the shoe with water, as this makes drying much harder and can cause the interior foam to break down faster.

Step 7: Dry Properly

This step is critical and often done wrong. Stuff the shoes loosely with crumpled newspaper or paper towels to absorb internal moisture and help the shoe hold its shape while drying. Place them in a well-ventilated area at room temperature. Do not use a dryer, a radiator, direct sunlight, or any concentrated heat source. Heat is the fastest way to warp the sole, delaminate the upper from the midsole, and degrade the adhesives that hold the shoe together.

[IMAGE: wrestling shoes stuffed with newspaper drying in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight]

Can You Put Wrestling Shoes in the Washing Machine?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended and here is why: the agitation cycle and heat from machine washing can warp the sole, separate glued seams, distort the shoe's shape, and cause the lining to bunch up inside. If you are in a pinch and the shoes are extremely dirty, a cold, delicate cycle in a mesh laundry bag is the least damaging machine wash option. Always air dry afterward, never use the dryer.

Hand washing takes ten minutes and does not risk damaging the shoe. It is almost always the better choice.

How Often Should You Clean Wrestling Shoes?

• After every practice: wipe down the sole and upper with a damp cloth to remove fresh sweat and mat dust. This takes two minutes and prevents buildup from hardening.
• Once a week (active training): do the full cleaning process described above.
• After every tournament: always do a full clean after tournament days. Your shoes pick up mat residue from multiple different venues and surfaces.

Consistent light maintenance beats infrequent heavy cleaning every time. A two-minute wipe-down after every session will extend the life of your shoes significantly.

How to Make Wrestling Shoes Last Longer: Extra Tips

• Only wear them on the mat. Street use is the fastest way to destroy wrestling shoe grip. The rubber compound on wrestling shoe soles is designed for mat surfaces, not concrete or asphalt.
• Rotate between two pairs. If you train daily, rotating between two pairs gives each pair time to fully dry and decompress between sessions, which extends the life of both pairs.
• Store them properly. Keep them in an open, ventilated area rather than a sealed bag or the bottom of a gym bag. Sealed storage traps moisture and accelerates bacteria growth.
• Check seams regularly. Inspect the toe seam and sole bond after every few practices. Catching a small separation early means you can use shoe glue to fix it before it becomes a full tear.
• Use insoles. Replacing or adding a quality insole absorbs a large portion of the moisture and impact that would otherwise go directly into the shoe structure. Swap insoles every few months.

[IMAGE: close-up of the bottom of a clean wrestling shoe sole showing the tread pattern clearly with no debris buildup]

FAQ: How to Clean Wrestling Shoes

Can I machine wash wrestling shoes?

You can, but it is not recommended. Machine washing risks warping the sole, separating seams, and distorting the shoe's shape. If you must machine wash, use cold water, a delicate cycle, and a mesh bag. Always air dry afterward and never use the dryer.

How do I get the smell out of wrestling shoes?

Baking soda is the most effective and cheapest method. Pack the inside with baking soda, leave it overnight, then shake it out. Repeating this a few times will significantly reduce odor. Prevention matters more than treatment: air shoes out after every practice and never store them in a sealed bag.

How do I clean the sole of my wrestling shoes to restore grip?

Use a slightly stiff brush with soapy warm water and scrub the sole thoroughly in all directions to remove buildup from the tread pattern. Rinse completely. Clean rubber grips significantly better than dirty rubber, and this one step alone can noticeably restore traction on older shoes.

Can I use bleach or harsh cleaners on wrestling shoes?

No. Bleach and harsh chemical cleaners will degrade the mesh, synthetic materials, and adhesives in your wrestling shoes. Stick to mild soap, warm water, and baking soda for interior treatment. Harsh cleaners may clean the surface but will cost you shoe lifespan.

How long do wrestling shoes last if I take care of them?

With regular cleaning, proper drying, and mat-only use, a mid to high-range pair of wrestling shoes can last a full competitive season for frequent trainers, and multiple seasons for lighter-use wrestlers. Neglected shoes can fail in just a few months. Maintenance is the difference between a three-month shoe and a twelve-month shoe.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning your wrestling shoes is a small habit with a big return. Ten minutes of regular maintenance keeps your grip sharp, your shoes structurally sound, and your training environment healthier for everyone on the mat.

If your current pair has seen better days and no amount of cleaning is going to bring them back, browse our wrestling shoe collection and find a durable, performance-ready replacement built to last.