After a wet match, football boots come home caked in mud, and the temptation is to leave them in the bag until the next training session. By then the mud has hardened, the boots smell, and the laces are stiff. A few minutes of care straight after the match make all the difference.
Cleaning and drying properly
Start outside, if you can. Knock the boots together to shake off the worst of the mud, then use an old brush or a stick to scrape the soles and studs. Do not bang them hard against a wall, which can damage them. If you have no outdoor space, put newspaper on the floor of the hall or the bathroom, and work over that.
Next, wipe the boots with a damp cloth or sponge and lukewarm water. Take out the laces and wash them separately, and pull out the insoles so they can dry. Do not use very hot water or harsh cleaners, which can dry the material and make it crack. A soft toothbrush is useful for the seams and around the studs.
Drying is the most important step. Stuff the boots loosely with crumpled newspaper, which soaks up the damp from the inside, and change the paper after a few hours if it is very wet. Leave them somewhere warm and airy, but never directly on a radiator or next to a fire, because fierce heat can shrink or crack them. Overnight in a dry room is usually enough.
Once they are dry, brush off any last dirt and put the laces back. Keep the boots in a shoe bag or on a shelf, not squashed at the bottom of the kit bag. Let the child do the cleaning themselves as far as they are able, because looking after their own kit is a good habit, and a little help from you goes a long way.
Get into the routine of doing it on the same evening as the match, and next time the boots will be ready to go without a fuss. Shin pads and socks can be washed at the same time, so that the whole kit is clean and dry before the next training session.
