topic Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds? in Shoes

How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

butterfly123 — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 23:02:34 GMT

I have googled and read various methods. I would like some suggestions please.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

Chicagosuburbangirl — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 23:21:07 GMT

I have two pairs of Birkenstocks and would not attempt to clean the footbed.

When you are wearing them no one can see the footbed anyway so I just ignore how ugly mine look until I slip them on and....pure bliss.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

World Traveler — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 23:25:47 GMT

I own two Birkenstocks and have had them for years. I have never cleaned the footbed. I just wipe the the other part of the shoe...the part that covers my foot and the outside of the heel. If I did get them really dirty, like stepped in mud, I would take a dry cloth and remove the mud.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

Annabellethecat66 — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 23:29:49 GMT

I have maybe 60 or more (I used to say 100 but I need to recount them) pairs of Birkenstock shoes. They are various kinds and sizes.

I've never bothered to clean the foot bed. They are famous for imprinting your foot into the foot bed. If you try to wash them, well, it wouldn't work very well.

I have gotten them very, very wet. It didn't damage them but it didn't clean them either.

The other day I found a pair (one of my favorites...red/white and blue) and some water had leaked on one of the shoes. The foot bed was soaked! The front of the shoe had turned up (the entire part of the shoe) a little.

I'm try to find something heavy enough to put over it to push the shoe back flat again. It isn't a lot but I can feel it!

I wouldn't advise on purpose getting the foot bed soaking wet. I think it will shrink.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

Pook — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 23:31:11 GMT

@butterfly123 When I worked they are just about all I wore and I found cleaner on Birketock website as well as the cork renew stuff. That was about 10 years ago that I got those.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

winamac1 — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 23:32:40 GMT

I have many pairs of birkenstocks. I would never clean my footbed.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

Annabellethecat66 — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 23:41:39 GMT

I've been thinking about it. Maybe you could try sprinkling some powder onto the bed and rubbing it in (if there is a slight odor). Perhaps the powder would absorb the odor?

Or OK, this is kinda funny but it wasn't at the time. Stay with me here:

When my daughter was around 12 or so (forget the age) her tennis shoes stunk and we thought it was her feet. My husband would take our girls to Children's Hospital in DC if they had the sniffles. So, he made and appointment to find out (swear to you) why her feel stunk (she was clean but her feet stunk).

So the Dr said, "Wash the tennis shoes". We'd been washing them but in a few days they stunk again! Then he said, "Take spray on deodorant and spray her feet. They are sweating and this is what is causing the odor".

We did and it helped. It wasn't long after that (insurance didn't pay for stinking feet...you can imagine the cost), that (for some reason) they no longer stunk.

Perhaps it was because we threw out her beloved tennis shoes (they were the keds kids wore back then (washable)). I guess the smell just got in there and wouldn't go away.

Are you guys laughing? Welcome to my world...you have no idea.

Anyway, finally my point. If they have an odor (it won't make them clean) but it might help the smell if you spray the foot bed with spray on deodorant. It probably won't hurt the foot bed. Not promising, but it's worth a try....maybe....

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

butterfly123 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 00:22:08 GMT

@Annabellethecat66

My husband works in a very hot environment and sprays his feet with deodorant to keep his feet from sweating. It definitely works 😊

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

butterfly123 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 00:26:08 GMT

I wore my Birkenstock sandals to massage appointments. I ask the massage therapist not to use so much oil. She hasn’t listened and I try to wipe the excess oil off my feet. Now the footbed is oily and my feet stick to the insoles when it is hot and humid.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

PINKdogWOOD — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 11:38:03 GMT

Birkies are 'built' in such a way that your feet prints become YOUR'S. There is no need to clean the footbeds of your birkies.

Do you clean/scrub the inners of any of your other sandals, flipflops, shoes, boots? Just not necessary.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

Ibby114 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 11:53:10 GMT

I bought a pair on ebay- a favorite style in another color. They were hardly worn - the print on the footbed was vibrant & clear. But I still wiped down the footbed with a disinfecting wipe.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

lolakimono — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 12:49:01 GMT

@butterfly123

As others have said, I don't "clean" them, but I have read that you can take a fine grade of sandpaper and lightly sand down the areas that are giving you trouble.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

Imaoldhippie — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 15:18:14 GMT

I spray my sandal footbeds with Lysol Spray & during the winter when I dont wear them I sprinkle deoderant foot powder on them.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 15:39:16 GMT

@lolakimono Your suggestion 'kinda' makes sense but ONLY if the foot imprint isn't very deep. It depends on how long the OP has worn them.

It takes several months (even if worn every day) and depending on the weather (damp, sweaty) as to how long it takes for the foot imprint to happen. I guess it also depends on how much pressure is applied to the foot bed (as far as the imprint goes).

The only problem with using the sandpaper is it MIGHT negate whatever coating (if any) they put on the top layer of the cork foot bed. However, it sounds to me like one of the best suggestions.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

sidsmom — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 15:47:11 GMT

Never once in my 58 years of living

have I ever, ever cleaned the footbed of any shoe.

It’s kinda like ironing your bra...why?

I suppose if you spilled something on them I would,

but even on those rare occasions, just a soapy sponge.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

Peridot — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 15:36:24 GMT

I have 17 pair of Birkenstocks, mostly sandals. I only wear my Birkenstocks that completely cover the front of the foot with socks and mostly wear these in winter. I do not wear my Birkenstocks sandals when it rains and my other Birki's when it's snowing. I take very good care of mine as they are so expensive. I have never cleaned the footbeds but I do condition the cork part with a product I buy from Birkenstock. I have also taken my Birkenstocks that cover the front of my foot to a shoe repair shop that sells Birkenstocks and have them polish and buff them and they come back looking like new (black leather). I store all of my shoes and Birkenstocks in their boxes and after wearing I let them sit in my closet over night so that they "dry" out from the dampness of my feet before I put them away.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

Katcat1 — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 15:04:11 GMT

@World Traveler It's the heat from your feet that changes the footbed or if your feet sweat. I would do nothing but wipe out with damp cloth and dry because it will end up the exact same way if you go into thorough cleaning.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

maximillian — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 18:30:55 GMT

I do own and wear Birkenstcks and I do clean the footbeds occasionally. I spray with a cleaning product, "Simple Green." Then I spray with water. My feet do sweat more than average, so I feel like I should do this once-in-a-while. It has never damaged the footbeds. Just don't go overboard.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

feline groovy — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 02:00:52 GMT

@butterfly123: I just wipe them down with a Clorox disinfectant wipe as needed. Hope you're doing well, friend.

Re: How Do You Clean Your Birkenstock Footbeds?

blackhole99 — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 01:26:52 GMT

I've been wearing Birkenstocks for 35 years and they do start to stink after a summer of wearing them barefoot. What worked best for me is loading the foot bed with baking soda and letting them sit as long as you can. The baking soda absorbs the stinky smell, but it only lasts till you sweat them up again.