Cleaning the VFF

Did the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run yesterday and noticed that there is a stark increase in VFF users compared to last year's run. In fact, I'll hazard that perhaps 1 in 10 runners are using the VFF which makes Vibram a relatively significant brand even compared to mainstream brands like Adidas and New Balance. Having run in the VFF for over a year, the main complain is the stench. VFF's are not exactly sock friendly and it stinks up quite quickly as a result. Also, I'm into my second week of the Operation Sunbird (Fatbird Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon training) and have been running a lot more compared to previous periods. My Bikila is seeing a lot more action with the regular Thu runs and again the base building 2+hr Sat runs. If you need to turnaround your VFF fast and really worry about the smell, here are some tips (which worked for me).

Washing the VFF

Ordinary laundry detergent works for giving the VFF a general cleaning. I use an old toothbrush to brush the toe and the entire footbed. Then I take the toothbrush over the entire shoe, both inside and outside, to give me the confidence that any gunk is removed. Rinse a couple of times with clean water to remove excess detergent.

Decontaminating the VFF

Now, just washing the VFF cleans it but the bad smell returns on by the 2nd run. This is where you need dentures tablets. Yes, those magic tablets for dentures works wonders on your VFF. I simply drop one (or two if it's been a while between washes) of these magical tablets and leave the VFF to soak for a couple of hours.

Drying the VFF

This final step is almost a science. You see, the VFF is not the easiest shoe to dry. The heel area is generously padded so won't dry easily if left on the heels, and it seems wrong to leave the shoes on the toes as well. After numerous experiments, it turns out that leaving the shoe tiptoe-ed is the ideal way to dry it. That's because the toes are fabric (for my KSO and bikila) so they drain out quite easily. I usually leave the shoe to drain out in the bathroom overnight so they are just damp by the morning. I leave out to sun on my balcony from the morning and the shoes are usually dry by evening. There you have it.. the entire recipe to keep your VFF fresh. Hope you found it helpful and enjoy your runs with your VFF.