Does anyone "clean" their shoes post-climb?

I've never done it but I got a new pair of Sportiva solutions and actually read the manual that comes with it and it talks about wiping them down with a wet cloth after each use... anyone do this after every climb?

Addison wrote:I've never done it but I got a new pair of Sportiva solutions and actually read the manual that comes with it and it talks about wiping them down with a wet cloth after each use... anyone do this after every climb?

Yeah, they put those generic instructions with all their shoes. I think that advice is geared more toward leather hiking boots that might be wet and muddy...
But yeah, I clean my climbing shoes by rubbing them on my pants.

I just do this:

February rock climbing in N.-B.

I tend to rub my shoes clean while sitting in the "on deck" chair at competitions, but not anywhere else.

I've heard some old timers used to use alcohol on their shoes before hard slab problems to clean off and dry out the rubber. I'm thinking of trying it out. Usually I just rub the toes on my crashpad and slap them with some chalk for the psychological effect.

Rob Gordon wrote:I've heard some old timers used to use alcohol on their shoes before hard slab problems to clean off and dry out the rubber. I'm thinking of trying it out. Usually I just rub the toes on my crashpad and slap them with some chalk for the psychological effect.

Alcohol will, over time, dry out and destroy your rubber, I know from experience

Rob Gordon wrote:I've heard some old timers used to use alcohol on their shoes before hard slab problems to clean off and dry out the rubber. I'm thinking of trying it out. Usually I just rub the toes on my crashpad and slap them with some chalk for the psychological effect.

The slapping them with chalk is going to lessen their grip, unless your shoe soles sweat.

I only clean my shoes after a climb if I had to chock them in and sling em up for some reason or another.

Not Post...but..I was lucky enough to share a smoke with Bachar once.

He told me he had done zillions of tests on rubber friction, and it was amazing the difference that just wire brushing your shoes before climbing made.

I now keep a small wire brush in the bag...and ritually brush them before climbing.

When superman tells you how to fly...you damn well oughta listen.

I wire brush the soles every few climbs but never clean them on the climb.

M Sprague wrote: The slapping them with chalk is going to lessen their grip, unless your shoe soles sweat.

Damn. Now the psychological effect won't work even.

If my shoes get lots of dirt on them or end up a little bit muddy I'll wipe them off with a wet paper towel. That's about it though.

Keep that rubber clean!

Evan S wrote: Alcohol will, over time, dry out and destroy your rubber, I know from experience

Evan what is you're experience with using alcohol to clean your shoes? I use it frequently to break down dirt that inevitably accrues on rubber soles. I'm also curious about how often you climb to how much you use alcohol. I go through a pair of shoes in about 2-3 months (depending on where I'm climbing) and would highly doubt that sporadic use of alcohol would damage your shoes in this time frame. I keep a spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol and a nylon brush in my bag for such occasions. Anyone else have thoughts on using alcohol on rubber soles?

Tea wrote: Not Post...but..I was lucky enough to share a smoke with Bachar once. He told me he had done zillions of tests on rubber friction, and it was amazing the difference that just wire brushing your shoes before climbing made. I now keep a small wire brush in the bag...and ritually brush them before climbing. When superman tells you how to fly...you damn well oughta listen.

Now I’m gonna be doing that!!  

Yep, I stick the soles under the faucet and brush ‘em under running water. Convinced it makes a difference on slabs at least. 

Rob Gordon wrote: The slapping them with chalk is going to lessen their grip, unless your shoe soles sweat. Damn. Now the psychological effect won't work even.

On the plus side, maybe you’ll climb harder. ;)

Ernest W wrote:

Yep, I stick the soles under the faucet and brush ‘em under running water. Convinced it makes a difference on slabs at least. 

Then a little bit of alcohol right at the point of contact.... rub them together till they squeak.... they should now "stick" to granite or some other slick stone. 

I don't know if its mental or all in my head, but knowing my boots are 110% right, puts me in the proper frame of mind.  

But to answer the OP.... post-climb-- they just get tossed into the pack-- dirty, sweaty and smelly. 

 

I use a damp cloth and wipe off the chalk from any contact points of my rubber.  If it’s excessive, I may wipe off any blood from where my ankle bones get torn up.  But mostly  I leave the leather alone.  Only way I know how to clean leather is with oils, and I want to keep that far away from my climbing shoes.  

Plus the blood splatter adds character 

I clean my shoes before a climbing trip by running slightly warm tap water over the soles. I brush them or just rub them with my hands. Seems to help them stay sticky.