Footnotes

How to Clean your Hokas

CLEANING HOKA FOOTWEAR

General cleaning and care guidelines for HOKA footwear are to hand wash with cold water using a mild soap or detergent and allow them to dry naturally away from direct heat or sunlight.

Cleaning and care instructions for HOKA apparel vary from product to product, with proper care outlined on the tag for each piece of clothing.

For more specific guidance, consult the following guide:

How to Clean and Dry Wet Running Shoes

You can clean and maintain your running shoes just fine with everyday household items, even if they’re drenched or muddy. The process can be a bit labor-intensive, but your shoes will last significantly longer with proper cleaning.

Remember that using a washing machine or dryer for your running shoes will age them rapidly, and take the following steps:

1. Disassemble Your Shoes: Removing liners, insoles and laces will speed up the process.

2. Wash Your Laces: You can throw laces into the laundry with your running clothes, and wash on the cold setting with your regular detergent (Pro Tip: stuff them into a sock so they don’t get lost or tangled). Just remember to remove them from the load before you transfer to the dryer.

3. Remove Excess Mud and Dirt from the Shoe Outers: First with a dry paper towel then with a dry toothbrush for greater detail, remove mud and dirt from all outer areas of your shoes; if your shoes are exceptionally muddy, you might want to let the mud dry before wiping, as caked mud comes off easier in clumps (skip to step 6 to see how best to dry your shoes).

4. Scrub Clean With Non-Abrasive Solution: Mix a small dab of your chosen soaping agent (natural dye-free detergent, dish soap, or even dandruff shampoo can all work fine) into cool water, and gently work into dirty areas of the shoes and insoles with the toothbrush until there’s a lather; keep going until the dirt is gone, and remove dirty water with a dry towel or rag as you go.

5. Wipe With Damp Rag: Now wipe off all remaining soap lather with a towel or rag dampened with cold water.

6. Blot and Stuff to Dry: Your shoes (including insoles) should now be dirt-free, if somewhat wet; blot them with a dry cloth until they’re no longer sopping and stuff your shoes with newsprint to let them dry overnight (tip: keep your insoles separate, and don’t leave your shoes to dry outdoors or try to speed the process with a heat source - both sunlight and direct heat can warp them); for added odor protection, include a dryer sheet or a light dusting of baking soda with your wadding.

If for some reason you absolutely have to fully clean and dry your shoes in less than 12 hours, follow the above steps to clean them, but use the final “spin” setting on your washing machine a few times to dry your shoes using centrifugal force. Brief, selective uses of “air dry” or “gentle” setting on a dryer can work in a pinch as well.

Cleaning Tips for Different Shoe Materials

Not all HOKA running shoes are made of the same material.

While the above “how to” works well enough with nearly all shoe materials, you might want to introduce a few modifications based on the materials your HOKA shoes are made of.

How to Clean Mesh: Mesh is light, breathable, and quick-drying, but also vulnerable to fraying under harsh scrubbing. To avoid this, apply minimal force (think repetitive dabbing rather than wiping), and use a softer-bristle toothbrush if possible.

How to Clean Suede or Nubuck: Suede and nubuck are durable premium “untreated” leather types vulnerable to moisture. For this reason, suede and nubuck areas are best cleaned once the shoe is fully dried. Blot aggressively with a dry towel or rag, then after the suede or nubuck dries fully, use a dry brush to remove dirt, followed by a direct stain treatment application, followed by another round of blotting. You may also want to buy suede- or nubuck-specific cleaning solutions or waterproofing agents.

How to Clean Leather: Standard leather is a durable material option that’s great at keeping water out of running shoes and boots and is a breeze to clean. Just follow the above-listed method, wipe your shoes down when you’re done, and make sure to introduce an odor-fighting agent like baking soda or a dryer sheet to the dry wadding you stuff into them.

How to Clean GORE-TEX® Product Technology: Use lukewarm rather than cold water along with your mild detergent option, with enough held in a large bowl or basin to submerge your shoes or boots if you want to clean the inners as well as the outers. After cleaning, lie both shoes upside down with tongue out over an absorbent cloth to air dry. Once fully dry, test the waterproofing and reapply DWR if water does not bead up and run off of each shoe’s outer.

How to Clean Canvas and Natural Fabric: Most running shoes are made with synthetic fabrics to avoid the danger of shrinking, but if areas of your shoes have natural fabric, you can scrub them clean with a soft bristle brush. Dip it into warm water and baking soda mixture (1:1 is fine, it won’t take much).

In all cases, remember that the wadding you use to help dry your shoes has more than one purpose - not only does it dry the fabric and soak up odor, but it also helps your shoes maintain their shape as they dry.

HOKA Shoe Care and Weatherproofing

Preventative care options such as weatherproofing can extend the life of your HOKA footwear.

Waterproofing Spray Solutions: Once your shoes are fully dry, spray them with a trusted waterproofing solution. You’ll need to let the spray itself dry before your shoes can be regarded as weatherproofed, but once you do, water and mud should be a lot easier to clean. Repeat as necessary. If you live in an area such as the Pacific Northwest where it rains often, you might want to rotate two pairs into a run-clean-spray cycle.

Odor Prevention: Rainwater and mud puddles will accelerate the mold, mildew, and stink caused by bacteria. Your own foot sweat can also cause odor. Try an occasional light dusting of baking soda even on dry shoes.

Storage Considerations: Flinging your running shoe into a pile by the door can put premature wear on them. Simply placing your shoes sole-down after each run can add to their lifespan by reducing the stress placed on the join points between differing shoe materials and features. It can also help to loosen your laces and pull out the tongue overnight to avoid having separate sections touch. Bad things happen when shoe materials dry more slowly due to the fact that they’re touching.

Don’t Start Wet: While not at all necessary, rotating multiple pairs of running shoes with proper care can help prolong the use you get out of each. If at all possible, avoid running in shoes that are still wet from the last use.

March 25, 2024 — rebecca monarch

Footwear etc. and Sustainability

We are a family at Footwear etc. and we feel it is important for any family to provide for future generations. Footwear etc. is proud to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever we can.

Our stores utilize a recycling program. This goes beyond making sure paper and recyclable materials are separated from waste. We are proud to reuse boxes and packaging materials. Our shopping bags are 100% recyclable. When available, we provide our customers with non-woven, reusable bags which have proven to be great for groceries and beyond.

It is important to us to partner with brands who are environmentally friendly as well. One of our newest brands, Saola, uses recycled plastic bottles or PET in their uppers, as well as recycled Algae Foam in their outsoles to reduce harmful algae due to rising temperatures and excess chemicals. Saola, like footwear from other brands like Naot and Birkenstock, utilize cork from sustainable methods without compromising quality and durability of the footwear. Many brands, like Pikolinos for example, are utilizing sustainable methods for obtaining leather and providing other renewable materials to reduce overall environmental impact.

Recently, Naot has released a plant-based leather, which is comparable in strength and durability to animal-based leathers they have used in the past. We are proud to carry many brands who, through constant innovation, are finding new uses for environmentally friendly and sustainable materials.

You can shop with confidence knowing that Footwear etc. is doing our part to help save our planet.

May 10, 2023 — rebecca monarch

How to put on compression socks

Compression socks are snug-fitting socks that softly squeeze your leg. They are worn to encourage blood flow, reduce swelling, help minimize problematic varicose veins, and add extra comfort to your daily life.

These socks have graduated compression, meaning the compression is tighter at the foot and ankle and slightly lessens as the sock moves up your leg.

Since compression socks are meant to gently squeeze your legs, they can be hard to put on. Knowing how to properly put on compression socks will make your daily routine easier.

In this guide, we will show you the best way to put on compression socks so you can take advantage of all their benefits.

The Easy Way to Put on Compression Socks

Putting on graduated compression socks doesn't have to be hard. In fact, we bet you’ll master the process in one sitting with our clear and simple steps on the easiest way to put on compression socks. We recommend trying this first with moderate compression socks and building your way up to firm compression.

Before learning how to put on a compression sock, make sure you are sitting down and in a comfortable position.

Step 1

The first step when learning how to put on compression socks easily is to slide your hand and wrist into the sock with your palm and the sole of the sock facing upward until the heel of your hand meets the heel of the sock.

Step 2

Pull the leg of the sock inside out and away from you, leaving just the foot of the sock on your hand.

Step 3

Flip your hand over so that your palm and the sole of the sock are facing downward, then slide your foot into the foot of the sock, sole to sole. The gentler you are, the easier it will be to put on your compression socks.

Step 4

Peel the leg of the sock up and over your heel and calf. Always smooth out any wrinkles, and don’t pull it up too far. This step is key in learning how to put on compression socks to ensure they are placed properly.

For a demonstration, watch our step-by-step video tutorial on how to put on your compression socks.

Follow these tips to help form smarter habits when putting on compression socks. What was once a difficult task can soon become a quick and easy part of your everyday routine.

Put on compression socks in the morning.
Before working your way up your leg, put the sock over your toes first.
Smooth out all wrinkles.
Practice and go slow.

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Whether you've worn knee high compression socks for years or you're taking a crash course in compression socks 101, learning how to put on compression socks the right way will save you from a lot of stretching, pulling, and wondering why your heel didn't make it into the heel pocket.

Now that you know how to properly put on compression socks, let’s take a further look at how compression socks can improve your quality of life. Many customers swear by compression socks, and for good reason. Graduated compression socks can:

Energize your legs
Alleviate achiness
Support muscle recovery
Improve performance
Improve sleep
Improve circulation
Support leg health
Relieve symptoms from chronic health conditions

Not only will Sockwell compression socks enhance your comfort and well-being, but they will also make you feel better in style. Stand out in Sockwell’s compression socks made with custom blended merino wool yarns and knit into vibrant, unique designs and colors.

March 14, 2023 — rebecca monarch

New Encinitas Location NOW OPEN

July 05, 2022 — rebecca monarch

Lacing Techniques

Before attempting these lacing options, be sure to visit a Footwear etc. to be properly fitted for the right kind of shoe and expertly measured for the right size and width. You should have your foot measured every year as part of proper foot health. These lacing techniques can help fine tune the fit of a shoe. New Balance has compiled a step by step guide of the five most common lacing techniques. If you are having foot problems, please first consult a medical professional.