5 reasons why you shouldn’t dry your sneakers on the radiator. Here’s what will happen to them

Sportmaster-PRO expert, track and field champion

Footwear care is not only regular washing and treatment with special products, but also proper drying. Especially in our latitudes, when snow, rain and slush are not rare phenomena. The most logical seems to dry shoes on the radiator. But you can not do this. Why?

What are the dangers?

1. Deforms the material of the upper

If we are talking about rubber boots, they are not afraid of a sharp temperature drop. However, in everyday life we still more often use shoes made of capricious materials: leather, suede, nubuck, textile.

Drying on the radiator leads to the fact that the different layers of the top lose moisture and heat up unevenly. Because of this, unwanted creases, cracks, etc. appear.

In the course of further use, moisture will penetrate more strongly into the damaged areas, and after a few outings the shoes will completely spoil. Especially in this sense, leather products are capricious: it is enough to dry your shoes incorrectly once – and the destruction process is started.

2. Diverging seams

When the material is deformed, it unevenly stretches the threads that make up the seam. Because of this, the boots can come apart in the most vulnerable places. Even if the defect is not noticeable on a cursory inspection, moisture will get into the damaged areas during wear, and the process of destruction will accelerate. Seams are already a weak point in most popular pairs. This applies not only to the budget, but also to the high price segment.

3. The glue deteriorates

The sole is often attached to the shoe solely with glue – without additional seams. Temperature fluctuations and uneven heating on the radiator disrupt the structure of the adhesive layer. As a result, the sole may simply fall off after a while.

4. The protective layer is destroyed

This point applies mainly to natural materials like leather or suede. They are initially covered with a greasy layer that secures the material and protects it from moisture. Under the influence of high temperatures, this layer is destroyed, and the material begins to crack.

All this also applies to various impregnations, which are used to treat shoes made of textiles and artificial materials. The layer of the applied product is already getting thinner over time, and drying on the radiator only accelerates this process.

5. Germs multiply

Heat and moisture are the perfect breeding ground for harmful microbes like bacteria and fungus. And when soaked shoes hit the radiator, they literally turn into a laboratory incubator. In addition to the fact that this may not be too healthy, such an outcome is fraught with unpleasant odor and rapid wear and tear of the pair.

How to dry shoes correctly?

First, you need to reduce the need for drying as such. To do this, once in a couple of months a day before the expected exit on the shoes you need to apply special water-repellent means. Impregnation sprays are suitable for shoes made of fabric and nubuck, and special creams based on wax – for leather and suede boots. They will protect from getting wet and caustic reagents.

Before drying shoes should be cleaned of plaque and dirt – otherwise they will not let the material dry evenly and the effect will be comparable to drying on the radiator. Special shampoos and soft brushes can be used for cleaning. In addition, after each wear, the pair should be wiped with wet wipes for shoe care.

For direct drying, it is best to use ultraviolet dryers with mold holders. They evenly affect the material, do not let the shoes deform and kill harmful microorganisms.

If you do not have a special dryer at hand, you can use folk remedies. The most obvious option is to stuff a pair of newspapers or napkins, which will absorb moisture. A slightly more advanced solution – sachets with silica gel. The material absorbs moisture faster and is suitable for repeated use, and you can find it in any shoe box or buy it in shoe stores.

Finally, the easiest option is to leave your shoes standing at room temperature. Yes, drying will take some time, but the pair will remain intact, especially if you use mold holders. To speed up the process a bit, you can put the shoes on a warm floor or a heated mat. Their temperature is lower than that of a radiator, and the material will be able to warm up and dry evenly.