How to clean baseball cleats (and get the smell out) without ruining them

After every game (2 minutes)

1. At the field: bang the soles together over the grass to drop the clods. Mud that dries in the studs is concrete by Tuesday.
2. At home: pull the insoles and loosen the laces so the inside dries.
3. Air dry at room temperature, not by a heater and not in the car trunk. The glove care guide makes the same point about the car; it applies to everything in the bag.

The mud routine (10 minutes, weekly or after a wet game)

1. Let the mud dry; wet mud smears, dry mud brushes off.
2. Stiff brush or an old toothbrush on the outsole and around each stud. A butter knife for the packed stuff between studs.
3. Damp cloth with a drop of dish soap on the upper. Synthetic uppers (the ones the retailers describe as “easy to clean”) wipe clean; mesh needs a gentle brush; leather gets a damp cloth only.
4. Rinse the cloth, wipe again to lift the soap.
5. Newspaper inside, air dry overnight. Insoles dry separately.

The smell routine

• Prevention: insoles out and laces loose after every game; a cleat that dries does not stink.
• Baking soda: a tablespoon in each cleat overnight, shaken out in the morning.
• Insoles: wash the insoles by hand in warm soapy water, rinse, air dry. Replace them when they stay damp; a cheap new insole fixes most smells.
• Socks: the source. A moisture-wicking baseball sock instead of a cotton tube sock changes everything.
• Deodorizing sprays and balls: fine as a second step; they mask a wet cleat, they do not dry it.

White cleats

White synthetic cleats clean the same way with one addition: a magic-eraser sponge on scuffs, and a white shoe cleaner rather than dish soap for the sole edge. Do not bleach. Accept that white youth cleats are white for two games.

Which uppers clean easiest

Retailer descriptions are useful here. The New Balance 4040v8 youth is described as having a “de-bossed synthetic upper that is durable and easy to clean” (Academy); the Under Armour Leadoff Jr lists a synthetic upper with a toe overlay (Academy); Nike's own Trout 9 page could not be read, so we make no claim about its upper. Knit and open-mesh uppers on premium adult cleats hold dirt and are the wrong choice for a 9-year-old who slides.

Two easy-clean picks