Okay guys, let me walk you through how I cleaned my trashed Nike Diamond Turf 2 cleats yesterday. These things were absolutely disgusting after muddy weekend games – seriously looked like I’d dug trenches with them.
First Things First: The Wreckage Assessment
Pulled both shoes outta my gym bag and cringed. Grass stains plastered the mesh, dried mud cemented around the cleat bottoms, and that funky post-game smell? Oh yeah. Knew regular wiping wouldn’t cut it this time.
Gathering My Weapons
- Dish soap (the cheap blue kind)
- Old toothbrush with medium bristles
- Stiff-bristled scrub brush (for the cleat bottoms)
- Two rags – one for washing, one for drying
- Bowl of lukewarm water
- Plastic knife (trust me on this)
Let’s Get Dirty (By Getting Clean)
Yanked out the laces and chucked ’em in the soapy water bowl to soak. Then started dry-scraping the worst mud chunks off the soles with that plastic knife. It crumbled away easier than expected.
Dipped the stiff brush into soapy water and went to town on the cleat bottoms. Used circular motions like I was polishing a hubcap, focusing on gunk packed between the studs. Mud literally flew everywhere – recommend doing this outside.
Switched to the toothbrush for the shoe uppers. Dabbed the rag in soapy water first to wet the mesh gently, then worked the brush in small circles over stains. Didn’t dunk the whole shoe – just spot-cleaned dirty patches.
For the laces? Rubbed ’em between soapy hands like I was trying to start a fire. Looked brand-new after. Gave everything a final wipe with a water-dampened rag to rinse soap residue off.
Patience Is Key
Stuffed the insoles back in loosely and set the cleats near a fan. Zero heat – no dryer, no heater vent. Let ’em breathe naturally for a good 12 hours. Woke up to shoes that actually look wearable again. Smell’s gone too.
Whole process took maybe 20 minutes active time. Moral of the story? Don’t let mud bake onto your cleats. Attack it same-day next time.
