It’s that time of year again – basketball season! Even if you’re not on the basketball team, watching the games and supporting your favorite players is still a lot of fun. If you’re like me, you want to do everything you can to make sure your basketball experience is the best it can be. One thing that can help has sticky basketball shoes. This article will teach you how to get your basketball shoes damp.
There’s nothing worse than having your basketball shoes become slippery during a game. Not only is it frustrating, but it can also be dangerous. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to help your shoes stay sticky.
Things You’ll Need
- Baking Soda
- Paper Towel
- Dish Soap
- Shoe Spray
- Shoelaces to tie up your shoes
- A cup of water
A Detailed Guide on How to Get Your Basketball Shoes Sticky
Step 1: Clean Up Sole
First, you must clean up the sole of your shoe by using baking soda and a paper towel. Make sure to get all of the dirt off before moving on to the next step. Failure to do so may result in the stickiness not lasting very long. You can skip this step if it is already relatively clean.
Step 2: Clean Up Shoe Laces
The second is taking away any oil or dirt stuck onto your shoelaces; for this, use dish soap and water, then dry with a paper towel after washing is complete. If you roller bladed recently or went jogging with them, there might be some oil stains, which will eventually cause one of the most common problems people have while wearing basketball shoes- the stickiness at the bottom.
Step 3: Get Shoe Spray
Shoe spray is essential in this process due to its stickiness. The baking soda and water you used in step 2 should remove most of the dirt, but it will not leave them feeling the same as when they were brand new. There are many brands, so try each one until you find your perfect match.
If you want something quick and easy, any cheap shoe deodorizer works fine (you can buy this at Walmart or Amazon). It’s like Febreze for shoes- almost foolproof. The above link takes you straight to Amazon, where you can check current prices on certain products; if that doesn’t work for you, then Google it.
Step 4: Mix the Ingredients Together
Mix two parts of water with one part baking soda, dish soap, and shoelace together in a cup. This will clean up any other dirt on your shoe without drying out your shoe spray at all. This should be mixed well, so there aren’t any clumps or chunks of debris left behind, but you should also not mix too much to waste it- just enough to cover the bottom of your shoes should be good enough.
If you’re looking at 10 ounces (1/4 gallon) of water, then about 8 ounces (a little less than 1/3rd) works well enough. There is too much if it is very sticky and thick; if the solution isn’t thick enough, there is too little. A good idea would be to mix around half a cup (4 ounces) of water with 4 ounces of baking soda and one drop of dish soap- that’s about how much you should use per shoe.
Step 5: Pour the Solution Onto Your Shoes
Now fill up a cup with about 8 ounces of water and add one drop of dish soap. This will cover the bottom of your shoe, but it should not be dripping off after being poured on. The solution is so thick that it doesn’t spread around before drying. This is a crucial step in how to get your basketball shoes sticky.
Step 6: Let the Soles Sit in the Solution for a Few Minutes
This is an essential step because it allows all of that sticky stuff to soak into your shoes and laces. How long you leave them in depends on how moist they are- usually three minutes works well enough, but some people like to leave them in overnight (12 hours). Make sure there is still some liquid on them when you take them out to move to the next step.
Step 7: Let Dry For 30 Minutes to An Hour
Whether you leave them in for three minutes or overnight, let them dry for half an hour before applying shoe spray. Keep this solution on your shoelaces as well- it will ensure that they are nice and sticky! After an hour of waiting, the lingering smell should be gone completely, so you can spray your shoes however much you want after this amount of time has passed.
Of course, how long your shoes last depends on how much is sprayed onto them; if done correctly, you’ll never have to repurchase new basketball shoes!
Step 8: Spray It On & Enjoy!
Once all steps mentioned above are completed, allow 30 minutes to 1 hour for the solution to dry completely. Afterward, spray anything from a light layer of your shoe deodorizer to a full coat on top of your shoes and laces. Allow time for it to soak in and enjoy. How often you do this depends on how often you use your basketball shoes, but after one or two washes, they should feel pleasant and sticky again!
Step 9: Keep Shoe Soles Clean
If you want to wear your sneakers on the court but don’t want them to be slippery, try cleaning the soles. When shoes are new, their soles are covered by a protective coating that prevents them from being too sticky or greasy. How long before this coating wears off depends on how much you play.
If dirt is building up, it can cause slippage, so clean your basketball shoe’s rubber bottom before playing in them. First, spit on the sole of your sneaker, then use a dry rag or paper towel to wipe it down and remove any excess spit. These steps will help in how to get your basketball shoes sticky.
Tips and Warnings
- If you place a tissue inside your basketball shoes, it will help them gain more traction.
- If the bottom of your shoe is too slick to gain traction, try placing strips of athletic tape from one end to another on the bottom of your shoe. This will increase the amount of grip that you have on the court.
- To avoid having to clean off your shoes after each game, wear dark-colored uniforms to make it less noticeable if white specks appear on them from the powdery substance. Also, try using a lighter color shoe to make stains easier to see and deal with accordingly.
- Cleaning powders may stain floors or other surfaces in which they’re used, so be sure to use them carefully and take appropriate measures to address any messes.
- Clean your shoes regularly with water and cleaning supplies, as the dirtier they become, the less effective athletic powders will be.
Which Type of Shoe Glue Should I Use and How Much Should I Use on Each Pair of Shoes?
There are many different types of shoe glue for sale at sporting goods stores, but you’ll notice that the majority of them are made specifically for rubber or leather.
The first thing to consider is the material your shoes are made out of. Yes, there is a difference between a pair of sneakers and a pair of high top basketball shoes in this case. Sneakers typically have a breathable mesh on the side and thick rubber soles, while high tops may be all rubber with no mesh panels.
The latter will benefit from extra stickiness because it can’t “breathe,” as well as sneakers or running shoes. So if you’re going to buy some sneaker glue, make sure it’s designed for a rubber if you’re looking to repair a Nike air max 90.
What Is the Best Way to Get My Basketball Shoes Sticky?
The best way to get your basketball shoes sticky is to spray either water or diluted alcohol solution on the bottoms of your athletic shoes. How much you should apply depends on the situation. Suppose you’re practicing, about 1 oz. It should be enough; if you play in games, however, make sure to spray enough to cover up the entire sole. To put it simply, 1 ounce (30 milliliters) can cover a whole basketball court by spraying over 20 times (on average).
If you just applied three sprays before playing and one of them went terrible halfway through your game because it got wet after stepping in a puddle, you would have to reapply five sprays. How much you should spray varies from shoe to shoe, depending on its size and build. If your shoes get dirty after just one use, it might be the wrong choice for you.
Conclusion
I hope you have gone through the article on how to get your basketball shoes sticky. It’s essential to keep your shoes sticky so that you get the most out of them. The best way to do this is by cleaning and conditioning them regularly and applying a special kind of spray for maximum stickiness. We recommend using our shoe cleaner or conditioner combo if you want shiny, clean basketball shoes in no time at all!
