Proper care of soccer shoes will not only determine how long they last, it is an important ritual of the sport, and will enforce discipline. It is most important to shoes for leather cleats, but synthetic ones (made for younger players) also benefit from proper care. For leather & synthetic shoe care, follow these steps: • Understand fit. Shoes, especially leather ones, mold to the foot, allowing for an optimum feel for the ball. • Start when shoes are right out of the box. Put them on, tie them, and wear them as much as possible before using them in game. • Hand-wash only. Never put cleats in the washing machine. This breaks down the materials. • Tap shoes together or against a hard surface to remove mud stuck to the bottoms after use. • Clean shoes immediately after use. Wipe soiled cleats with a damp cloth. • Take more drastic measures for very dirty cleats. Soak them in lukewarm, soapy water. Some players even take them into the shower while bathing. • Apply leather protector, followed by shoe polish, after each cleaning. • Buff cleats after the polish dries. • Dry naturally or in front of a dehumidifier. Try stuffing them with newspaper. Never machine-dry.