SecondWind - Cleaner Deodorizer FAQ

ATHLETIC SHOE CLEANER-DEODORIZER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Will my leather athletic shoes get damaged if they get wet?
A. Many outdoor sports are played rain or shine. Therefore leather athletic shoes are usually made to withstand not only getting wet, but also being worn while they are wet. And, as you know, kids walk through puddles, not around them! Years ago, heel counters and lasts were made of cardboard and if they got wet too often, the shoes fell apart. Today, shoes are made with plastic heel counters and water resistant lasting boards to prevent the shoes from falling apart when they get wet. Note: Whenever leather shoes get wet, it is important to dry them slowly, at warm room temperature. Avoid placing shoes near high heat sources.

Q. Can SecondWind’s Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer be used on all suede or nubuck casual (athletic) shoes?
A. No. An all suede shoe is designed for and is most often worn for casual use, not for playing sports. The manufacturers of these type shoes do not intend for them to get completely wet. The colors on an all suede or nubuck shoe tend to bleed when they get wet. This is why our product is supposed to be used for athletic shoes only. Many athletic shoes, like running shoes, have suede trim, and these types of shoes can almost always be cleaned with the Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer, but always remember to first check for colorfastness.

Q. Does the Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer safely clean canvas shoes?
A. Yes, but only if the canvas shoes are made of Fastbreak™ with Visa®. It will work on some colored canvas, but check first for colorfastness. (Please read the *Canvas statement on bottom of the product package.) Unfortunately, many shoe manufacturers are using inexpensive canvas to make their shoes. Cheap canvas material (especially white canvas) tends to yellow simply by getting wet. This can easily happen even while watering the lawn, washing the car or doing the dishes. When they are new, recommend a SecondWind Water Repellent Product for all cotton canvas shoes.

Q. How often should I clean my athletic shoes with the Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer?
A. Once a month, or every other month, depending on how often the shoes are worn or how quickly they become dirty.

Q. Is the photo on the packaging an actual dirty shoe that was cleaned with the Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer?
A. Yes and for a very good reason. SecondWind offers a 100% satisfaction, money back guarantee. We understand that if your customers could not get the same results as the photo on the packaging, SecondWind would go out of business from buying back product from millions of dissatisfied customers. This was our first product and we still believe it to be one of our absolute best!

Q. How were the shoes made ready for the photo on the front of the packaging?
A. The shoes were worn in varying conditions for 6 weeks. The shoes had to be soiled over time in the same way customers do. This process allowed the soil to be ground-in naturally. The wearer also did some gardening in the shoes, which got the shoes extra dirty. The (left) After shoe and lace were cleaned with SecondWind's Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer and allowed to dry according to the directions on the packaging. They were then photographed along side the (right) Before shoe to show how dramatically well the product actually worked.

Q. Can I throw my shoes in the washer with some Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer?
A. No. Most manufacturers of athletic shoes agree that the washer is not a safe or effective means of cleaning athletic shoes. The Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer is too concentrated to be used in a washing machine.

Q. Will the Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer make (yellowed) polyurethane mid-soles, white again?
A. No. Once polyurethane mid-soles have turned yellow, nothing will whiten them. This is a permanent color change that can not be reversed. It's caused by a chemical reaction between polyurethane and air, a process that's accelerated by sunlight. Some footwear manufactures paint their mid-soles in an attempt to prevent this problem from showing. Many athletic shoes are still made with EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) mid-soles. The Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer is an excellent cleaner for EVA.

Q. Will the Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer hide the scuffs on leather athletic shoes?
A. No. Once shoes have been cleaned, scuffs will have to be covered with a polish. SecondWind makes excellent white and black polishes for athletic shoes.

Q. How does the Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer, deodorize?
A. Wearing shoes greatly elevates the temperature of the feet, causing them to perspire more than normal. Over time shoe linings become clogged with ground-in dirt, sweat, body oil, salt, sprays and powders. Heat and moisture can no longer effectively escape. Moisture in the shoe is not only uncomfortable, it makes shoes an ideal environment for bacteria & fungi to grow. The average person has millions of bacteria inside their athletic shoes. Bacteria constantly grow, multiply, die and decompose, emitting offensive odors. Clean your shoes inside and out with SecondWind’s Athletic Shoe Cleaner-Deodorizer. The product is formulated to wash away ground-in dirt, sweat, oils, sprays, powders and odor causing bacteria & the debris they feed on. Clean shoes will breathe better, keeping your feet cooler, drier and less susceptible to odors.