Cleaning Pee Shoes....

Steve West

Until this year at races I hadn't peed in my shoes.  While it is great to save bunches of time for every pee event, it does leave my shoes somewhat smelly.  What methods do you use to clean the urine stench from your shoes?

Marceloperod

Hello Steve, put them in a bucket with water and tide for a couple hours, then rinse them with a lot of water, dry them in the sun... it works for me.. my 2cents

Caltri

After my third IM a month ago, while I was rinsing out my cleats, I was informed by the boss (who happens to be the best Sherpa ever!) that I HAD to buy new cleats since those smelled SOOOO BAAAAD! So only rinsing them out probably doesn't work. Or did it work? I guess it depends on your motive as I begin my search to upgrade my cleats -

Brad Marcus

@Steve - remove insoles (if your shoes have them) and place shoes and insoles in a bucket of warm water with Oxiclean for 24 hours. Remove and let air dry outside. You'll be all set.

John Bayone

I might have to "clean" my shoes after this weekend with the inside of a garbage can, followed by closing the lid. I Typically have soaked in a bucket of water with some bleach then dried in the sun and that worked fine. I sprayed them with some cleaning spray that contained bleach thinking it would do the trick but by not drying them in the sun they developed a smell that would stop a grizzly bear.
I let them dry out in the back of the truck on the ride back to New Jersey today, and plan to let them soak tonight and dry in the sun tomorrow...will let you know if a second round actually works.

drjohnson08

I've soaked them in a bucket with laundry detergent and ammonia. It's worked for me.

Dave Tallo

Best Practice is going to Petsmart and buying a bottle of Enzymatic Cleaner designed for cat pee on floors or carpets. Spray on the shoes until damp, leave them outside to dry in the sun, and you're be good to go.

Steve West

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I think I will try the enzymatic approach to neutralize the urea first. If that doesn't work, I'll start going thru the other methods.

Process and results to follow.