TL;DR
Let the mud dry completely, then knock it off and brush the studs before adding any water. Wash with mild soap on a cloth or soft brush, never in a washing machine, and air dry away from all heat. Heat is what cracks the upper and separates the sole.
Why you should let mud dry first
Attacking wet mud with a brush pushes it deeper into the mesh, the stitching, and the stud channels. Dried mud, by contrast, is brittle and falls off when you knock two shoes together.
Set the cleats somewhere with airflow and let them dry for a few hours. Then bang the soles together over a trash can or outside, and use a stiff dry brush to clear what remains. You will remove most of the dirt before a drop of water is involved, which makes the wash step far shorter.
The one exception is a mud that contains a lot of clay or manure, which is worth rinsing off sooner. Even then, rinse rather than scrub.
How do you clean muddy cleats?
Let the mud dry, then knock the cleats together and brush off the loose material. Remove the laces and insoles, wash the upper with mild soapy water on a soft brush, scrub the sole and stud channels, wipe with a clean damp cloth, and air dry away from heat.
1. Pull the laces and insoles. Both wash separately and both dry faster out of the shoe. Laces go in a mesh bag with laundry or in a bowl of soapy water. Insoles get scrubbed with soapy water and air dried.
2. Brush the sole. A stiff brush along the stud channels, around each stud base, and across the plate. A wooden skewer or an old toothbrush clears packed mud between studs.
3. Wash the upper gently. Warm water with a small amount of mild soap on a soft brush or cloth. Work in the direction of the material rather than in circles.
4. Watch the material. Synthetic uppers take a soapy scrub without complaint. Leather uppers should get a damp wipe rather than a soak, since soaking dries leather out and stiffens it. Knit and mesh uppers need a soft brush and light pressure.
5. Clean the seam line. Where the upper meets the sole is where mud packs in hardest and where glue fails first if it stays wet.
6. Wipe and dry. A clean damp cloth to remove soap, then a towel, then air dry.
Never put cleats in the washing machine or dryer
A washing machine soaks the glue joints, batters the shoe against the drum, and can separate the sole. A dryer is worse. Heat shrinks and cracks synthetic uppers, hardens leather, and softens the adhesive holding the sole on.
The same goes for radiators, heat vents, hair dryers, wood stoves, and the dashboard of a car in summer. Every one of them ruins more cleats than mud ever does.
Air dry at room temperature with air moving around the shoes. It takes longer, and it is the only method that does not shorten the life of the shoe.
Drying cleats properly, and fast
Stuff each shoe loosely with newspaper or paper towel, which pulls moisture out of the lining. Change the paper after an hour or two if the shoes were soaked.
Set them on their side with the tongue open so air reaches the inside. A fan on low cuts drying time considerably. For a pair that has to be ready the next morning, the answer is two sets of insoles and a fan, not heat.
Dry the shoes fully before storing them. A damp cleat in a closed sports bag is how the whole bag starts to smell, the same problem that hits shin guards and a school backpack carrying wet gear.
Handling odor inside cleats
Odor comes from sweat residue in the lining and insole, not from the outside of the shoe. Wash the insoles separately, dry them completely, and let the shoes air out fully between uses. Removing insoles after every use makes a bigger difference than any spray.
Baking soda left in a shoe overnight absorbs some odor, but it does not replace washing the insole and drying the shoe. If odor persists through cleaning and drying, replacing the insoles usually fixes it.
Cleaning reduces odor and soil. It does not treat, prevent, or cure any foot condition, and a persistent skin problem is a question for a doctor.
Leather cleats need one extra step
Leather uppers lose their oils when they get wet and dry repeatedly, which is what causes cracking across the flex point at the toe.
After a leather cleat is clean and fully dry, work in a small amount of a leather conditioner or cream made for footwear, then buff off the excess. Do this every few weeks during a heavy season.
Never dry leather with heat, and never soak it. Wipe rather than submerge, and let it dry slowly. Different materials really do need different handling, which is the same logic behind cleaning dance shoes and ballet slippers by material.
What to inspect while they are clean
- Stud wear. Rounded or shortened studs mean less grip. On removable-stud models, replace worn studs.
- Sole separation. A gap at the toe or heel means the glue is failing.
- Cracks across the flex point. These do not get better.
- Fit. Kids outgrow cleats mid-season regularly, and cleats that are too small cause more problems than dirty ones do.
Our overall guide on how to clean baby gear and kids equipment safely has the rest of the kids gear list in one place. Cleats bring the field indoors with them, so the entryway and floors they cross are the other half of this job, and that half is what house cleaning on a schedule is for.
FAQ
Can you put cleats in the washing machine?
No. A washing machine soaks the glue joints and slams the shoes against the drum, which separates soles and damages uppers. Clean cleats by hand with mild soapy water and a soft brush, and never use a dryer, since heat cracks synthetic uppers and softens the sole adhesive.
How do you get dried mud off cleats?
Let the mud dry completely, then knock the soles together over a trash can and brush the loose material off with a stiff dry brush. Clear packed mud from between the studs with an old toothbrush or a wooden skewer. Only then wash with mild soapy water.
How do you dry cleats fast without ruining them?
Remove the insoles and laces, stuff the shoes loosely with paper to draw moisture out, and set a fan on low nearby. Change the paper after an hour or two. Avoid all heat sources, including dryers, radiators, and hot cars, because heat cracks and shrinks the material.
How do you get the smell out of cleats?
Wash the insoles separately with soapy water, dry them completely, and let the shoes air out fully with the insoles removed. Odor lives in the lining and insole rather than on the outside. If the smell persists after cleaning and drying, replacing the insoles usually resolves it.
Can you clean leather cleats with soap and water?
Wipe leather with a damp soapy cloth rather than soaking or scrubbing it, then wipe with a clean damp cloth and dry slowly at room temperature. After they are fully dry, apply a small amount of leather conditioner and buff off the excess to prevent cracking.
Muddy season is hard on a house, not just on shoes. If you want the tracked-in part handled, Otesse is local, sends background-checked crews, and gives you upfront pricing with no hidden fees. Every home is different, so the real number depends on size, condition, and what you want covered. Get a quote and we will walk you through it.