Oh, the joys of summertime! Warm weather, swimming, picnics, and – sand everywhere. If you’re like me, you probably hate getting sand in your shoes. But don’t worry, I will teach you how to get sand out of shoes. Keep reading to learn more!
There is nothing worse than walking around with sand in your shoes. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it can also damage your shoes over time. So if you find yourself with sand in your shoes often, follow these steps to get rid of it quickly and easily.
A Stepwise Guide on How to Get Sand Out of Shoes
Step 1: Shake Out Your Shoes
Shake out your shoes to remove loose sand. If needed, use a soft brush such as a toothbrush or makeup brush to brush the remaining sand from the shoe gently.
Step 2: Fill a Bucket With Water
Fill a bucket with cool water and several drops of laundry detergent. Place each shoe in the bucket and move them around, allowing the shoes to soak for 10-15 minutes. Bicarbonate soda also works great as an alternative to laundry soap.
Step 3: Remove Sand From Shoe’s Interior
Unbuckle all fastenings and remove your shoes from the water. Next, use a cloth or sponge to push out any remaining sand trapped within the shoe’s interior. Any stubborn sand can be removed using fine-grit sandpaper (i.e., 240 grit) or steel wool. You can then use a toothbrush or makeup brush to clean off any stuck on the sand. This is a crucial step in how to get sand out of shoes.
Step 4: Clean the Shoes’ Exterior
Use a cloth or sponge to wipe off any sand on the exterior of your shoes. If working with leather shoes, use a soft brush instead to avoid rubbing away the grain surface. Apply a coat of leather conditioner to help restore any lost moisture and elasticity in your shoes. You can also sprinkle an ample amount of baking soda into your shoes before shaking it out over a trashcan or sink.
This will help absorb any remaining moisture left behind that may lead to odors laterNext, let dry completely for 24 hours before wearing. These steps should get rid of most of the sand from your shoe; however, if some remain, repeat the process. If your shoes are white, make sure to clean them using a bleach-free detergent or look for cleaners made specifically for white shoes.
Step 5: Use a Blow Dryer
If the previous steps still don’t remove all of the sand from your shoe, you can use a blow dryer to help finish up. Use a low setting and hold the dryer several inches away from your shoe as you blow off any remaining sand. Please make sure not to keep it too close, or you may damage the material! Any leftover sand particles should be considerably smaller and lighter, so they should come off with just a few puffs from the dryer.
Step 6: Using Vacuum Cleaner
If you are short of time, using a vacuum cleaner can be very helpful in removing sand from shoes. Place the wand end inside the shoe and suck out any remaining sand. You may have to do this several times to remove all particles.
Step 7: Wipe Off Shoes
Wet the exterior of your shoes with water and wipe off with a cloth or towel. This should remove any residual sand particles that you could not pick off by hand previously. Selecting Sandals and Beach Shoes
Leather Sandals
- Leather sandals need to be treated with extra care. You must use products free of harsh chemicals like bleach or alcohol, as these substances can damage the leather’s color and shape over time.
- Harsh chemicals can also dry out your shoes, causing them to crack over time. This will result in sand entering quickly, so clean them thoroughly before putting them away.
Fabric Sandals
- Fabric sandals are generally made with mesh material which allows for quick drainage of water, so they don’t take long to air dry once you’ve returned home from the beach.
- However, care should still be taken when cleaning these shoes because certain cleaners may cause discoloring, so read the label carefully!
Rubber Sandals
- Rubber sandals are by far the easiest to clean. All you need is a rag and some mild soap, warm water, and elbow grease. This type of shoe also tends to be relatively cheap, making them perfect for someone who wants to try out wearing shoes on the beach but doesn’t want to spend more than $20.00.
We hope these steps will help in how to get sand out of shoes. So now you are ready for your day at the beach, park, amusement park, or any other place where there will be sand! How to get sand out of shoes has been explained here in detail. So have a happy summer vacation with lots of fun at the beach without having to worry about getting that irritating sand into your shoe!
How To Keep Sand Out of Running Shoes?
Keeping sand out of your running shoes can be very difficult. If you are participating in an event where your shoes will fill with sand (i.e., beach run), the best way to avoid this is to lube up your feet with Vaseline or something similar, and then pull on a pair of tight-fitting latex gloves, which you have cut up the fingers of. Then, smear petroleum jelly all over your feet, doing one foot at a time (leave an air bubble to form between foot and glove).
After both feet are covered with petroleum jelly, slip on some baggy pants like sweatpants or sweatshirts followed by snug-fitting Capri tights or tights made out of material like Spandex or Lycra tights. Be sure to pull the socks up past your waist and leave them untucked from your shirt.
If you’re wearing bikini running shorts with a built-in liner, wear those under some baggy pants or tights as well. Now put on a pair of light cotton socks over your petroleum jelly-covered feet, followed by windproof windbreaker pants. If you feel extra cautious about sand getting into your shoes, drape a small towel over each shoulder before putting on the windbreakers. Make sure that the towels are long enough to cover most of the length of both arms.
Next, slip into a pair of shoes that have ample room for your toes within the toe box (i.e., not flip flops). Now just put on some running shorts over the windbreaker pants and a long sleeve shirt, and you’re ready to head out for that beach run.
After completing your beach run, remove the socks from your feet and wipe off as much sand as possible using paper towels or a towel. Now place both of your feet on top of clean paper towels at least two layers thick and sprinkle some baby powder on top of them. Then, take another four or five fresh paper towels and press them down onto the surface of each foot so that all the sand particles are forced into the paper towels beneath your feet.
Once this is finished, slip back into those latex gloves that you used earlier, forbearing petroleum jelly all over your feet again. The gloves will once again pick up all of the sand particles from inside your shoes, but this time you should also be able to scoop some of the excess sand off as well since it is stuck to your feet and trapped underneath them on top of those paper towels beneath you.
Remember that water shoes are for swimming, not running. If they get wet, they’ll absorb a lot of water and become heavy and sloppy and could even cause you to slip and fall on hard surfaces like concrete or rocks.
Will Running on the Beach Ruin My Shoes?
Running on the beach is a great way to enjoy the summer. Sand creates a soft cushion for your feet, helping you relax and take away some of the stress of daily life. Unfortunately, sand is known for getting into shoes when walking on the beach. There are several ways to do this, depending on how much time you have and what materials are available.
You can take a bag, fill it with sand, and put your shoes in the bag. Walking while the sand circulates your shoes will help get rid of any unwanted particles. You can also try taking a hose to your shoe while wearing it, but be sure that the nozzle is set on a gentle spray, so you don’t damage your shoe or cause water damage to other things near you. How you remove the sand from your shoes depends on personal preference and what’s available at the time.
Conclusion
This is where I would offer a solution on how to get sand out of shoes, but it depends on the type of shoe. For athletic shoes that are mesh or have open toes, I recommend soaking them in water with dish soap for 30 minutes before removing any visible sand particles by hand. Let us know if you’re unsure how to get sand out of your closed-toe leather boots. We will try our best to help you and make sure your feet stay happy this summer.
