How To Clean Bowling Shoes Slide Strip? (5 Tips to Slide Better)

Bowling shoes are a vital part of your game. Having the proper pair of bowling shoes can make a difference between striking and spares all night long. A lot goes into choosing a great pair of bowling shoes, but the most overlooked feature is the slide strip on the bottom. It’s there for a reason, and it can affect your game when you don’t take care of it.

You know that feeling when you get home from a night of bowling and your slide strip is all dirty? It’s not just annoying, but it may also be harmful to your health. In this article, I hope to give you some insight on how often you need to clean your slide strip and what is the best way to do so.

How To Clean Bowling Shoes Slide Strip?

When I started bowling, slide strips came in two forms: leather or leather-like plastic. Leather shoes could be cleaned by poking through the holes of the strap with a toothpick to clean out dirt and debris. The other variety was easier to clean but required more care to prevent discoloration. Leather shoes could be cleaned by using saddle soap but not all leather-like plastics can handle that kind of scrubbing.

Read: Are bowling Shoes Clean?

How To Clean Bowling Shoes Slide Strip?

Tips Note: Your shoe care kit should include a leather cleaner, saddle soap (for plastic), brush, and soft cloths to complete the job.

• Step 1. Remove the shoe from your foot by unlacing it and slipping it off. The sole of the shoe should be facing up to provide easy cleaning.

• Step 2. With a soft cloth–preferably one that has been slightly dampened with water–wipe the dirt away. If you prefer, the leather cleaner may also be used to clean your shoes. You can also use a stiff brush to remove built-up dirt from the shoe’s lug area, between the sole and heel, and in small areas of stitching.

• Step 3. Clean plastic parts with saddle soap. Apply a small amount of saddle soap directly to the part that needs cleaning or dip a soft cloth into it and then wipe the plastic with the damp cloth. Avoid applying saddle soap directly to footwear when it is in leather or vinyl. Cleaning these materials with saddle soap can cause discoloration, which may not come out when they are dry.

• Step 4. Rinse your shoes by wiping them with a clean wet cloth.

• Step 5. Allow your shoes to dry naturally. If the soles of your shoes are leather or vinyl, use a hairdryer to hasten the drying process.

• Step 6. Put laces back in shoes and tie them up to finish the process.

How Often You Need To Clean Your Slide Strip 

Check for dirt build-up in the bottom of your shoes every time you clean them. If they are not excessively dirty, cleaning may only need to be done once a week. If you bowl often, daily cleaning will help keep your slide strip cleaner; preventing it from permanent discoloration or becoming hard and uncomfortable to wear.

How To Make Bowling Shoes Slide More?

Bowling shoes need to have a smooth sliding surface in order to perform at the best of their ability. How do you make bowling shoes slide more? In this guide, I will discuss 5 tips for making them slide better and how they can help your game.

5 Tips for Making Bowling Shoes Slide Better

• First, ensure that your shoe bottoms are clean and smooth. They should not have any pebbles stuck to them which will make it difficult for the bowling ball to pass over smoothly.

• Second, you can apply some wax on the sole of your shoes and rub it in with a cloth or towel until they shine; this is also an effective way to get rid of any debris stuck on the surface.

• Third, you should check if there is excess fabric around your ankles because this could be preventing them from sliding properly. You can use a seam ripper to remove the stitches and ensure that it does not interfere with your game in any way after sewing back together again.

• Fourth, your feet should fit into the shoes properly and not be sliding around inside while you are bowling. You can use a spoon or blade to scrape off any seams that may have opened up after multiple uses so it fits snugly in place again.

• Fifth, you should look at the bottom of your shoes and see if there is a lot of rubber build-up from sliding. If so, use some sandpaper to rub it off; this will ensure that they slide smoothly across the lane instead of having built-up residue which could create friction with the ball.

Wrapping Up

In this article, I discussed How To Clean Bowling shoe Slide strips and how to make bowling shoes slide better. If you follow the tips provided, this will help you have a smoother sliding surface which can ultimately improve your game.