Wearing Sneakers in Winter: 5 Things You Should Avoid

Winter has arrived—and your sneakers are in danger

Winter is almost here. Frost is at the door, and secretly, we’re all hoping for a white Christmas. Sinterklaas is in town, and the Pieten are wandering across the wet rooftops. The snow hasn’t fallen yet, but this winter we’ll face road salt again.

People walk everywhere in sneakers, and many make mistakes that can ruin their shoes in just weeks. White salt stains and permanent marks… you can prevent them. In this blog, we’ll cover the five biggest mistakes sneaker lovers make in winter and how to avoid them, so your sneakers survive the Dutch winter.

Why the Dutch winter affects your sneakers

We don’t experience extreme winters in the Netherlands, but streets can still be quite snowy at times. Winter weather is tough on sneakers because they face several challenges:

• Constant exposure to moisture: Rain, snow, or wet streets make it nearly impossible to keep sneakers dry.
• Road salt: Essential for keeping streets safe, but harsh on materials and often everywhere on sidewalks.
• Temperature fluctuations: Moving between cold outdoors and warm indoor spaces can stress the materials.
• Mud and dirt: Wet weather brings mud, leaves, and debris, making it hard to keep sneakers clean.

What this means? Sneakers that survive summer with ease often won’t last two months in winter without proper care. Avoid the mistakes below and give your sneakers the attention they deserve.

No protection = Not an option!

Unprotected sneakers act like sponges in winter. Water, salt, and dirt immediately penetrate the material, causing water stains (especially on suede), salt crystals that dry out the material, permanent discoloration, and mold or odors from constant moisture.

In numbers: unprotected sneakers lose up to 70% of their value after one winter. With quality protection like crystalline protection, depreciation drops to 10–20%. While many sneakers would need replacement after a winter season, protecting them with REINS crystalline protection costs only €6 per pair for six months.

Apply protection before winter begins. Two layers via a sprayer are enough to survive winter and spring. Avoid rain or snow for the first 72 hours after application, so the crystals can fully bond to the material.

Pro tip: Apply protection to dry sneakers at room temperature. Cold or damp shoes won’t absorb it properly. All REINS products are safe to use indoors.

Don’t wait to remove road salt

Salt is one of the biggest enemies of sneakers in winter. It attracts moisture, dries out materials, leaves white, gritty marks, and can permanently damage leather and suede. After 24 hours, it often cannot be fully removed because it has penetrated the material.

• Within 2 hours: Salt is still visible and easy to remove.
• Next 10 hours: Dirt begins to absorb into the material, making removal harder.
• Within 24 hours: Salt crystallizes, drying out the material.

Act fast: wipe your sneakers with a microfiber cloth within 2 hours of returning home. Apply some cleaner, scrub gently, and let air dry. If your sneakers aren’t yet protected, this is the perfect moment to do so.

Prevention is better than cure: check the weather forecast and avoid wearing your most valuable sneakers on snowy days. Choose routes with less salt, like bike paths or sidewalks, and wipe your feet upon entering. For convenience, the REINS starter kit helps you keep your sneakers in top condition effortlessly.

Don’t dry wet sneakers incorrectly

It’s tempting to dry sneakers quickly, but avoid these mistakes:

• Never place them on a heater: Glue can dissolve, and materials may shrink, tear, or warp.
• Avoid hairdryers: Uneven drying damages materials and glue.
• Do not use a dryer: Extreme heat is destructive.
• Do not store damp shoes to dry later: Risk of mold, odor, and permanent water stains.

Correct method:

1. Remove laces and insoles.
2. Wipe off moisture with a dry microfiber cloth and shake out excess water.
3. Stuff with newspaper to absorb moisture and maintain shape, replacing every 2–3 hours until dry.
4. Place in a well-ventilated area at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.
5. Dry for 24–48 hours until completely dry, odor-free, and fitting properly.

Pro tip: Cedar shoe trees absorb moisture and keep shoes smelling fresh.

Don’t choose the wrong sneakers for winter

Not all sneakers are winter-proof. Some won’t survive, no matter how well protected:

• White sneakers: Show stains and salt marks easily.
• Suede: Extremely sensitive to water and salt.
• Light-colored canvas: Absorbs water and dirt.
• Mesh: Not water-resistant, leaving feet cold and wet.
• Vintage or old sneakers: Glue may be brittle, risking sole separation when wet.

Better choices:

• Dark leather or dark canvas sneakers: hides dirt and stains.
• Gore-Tex sneakers: water-resistant.
• High-top sneakers: more protection from splashes.
• Rotate sneakers: prevents them from staying permanently damp.

Don’t skip sneaker maintenance

Winter requires more attention than summer. Here’s a suggested maintenance schedule:

Winter exposes sneakers to harmful elements more frequently. Damage escalates faster—salt penetrates materials more than sand. Shorter drying times and daily wear increase risks. Following this schedule helps your sneakers survive winter effortlessly.

Bonus tips for extreme winter conditions

• Snow/Ice: Wear winter boots. If sneakers are necessary, choose high-tops protected with crystalline protection and avoid fresh snow.
• Rain: Prefer leather over canvas; bring spare socks.
• Frost: Sneakers stiffen in the cold. Warm them to room temperature before wearing to prevent cracking.

The value of protecting sneakers in numbers

Unprotected sneakers can become worthless in 1–2 months due to salt damage or improper drying. Protecting them with REINS costs just €6 for six months and, if dried correctly, allows sneakers to survive winter with minimal depreciation.

Winter-ready sneaker checklist

☐ Protect sneakers with professional spray (preferably via ultrasonic sprayer)
☐ Rotate sneakers; don’t wear the same pair daily
☐ Keep starter kit with microfiber cloths and cleaner ready
☐ Store white and suede sneakers until spring
☐ Remove salt immediately after returning home
☐ Wipe sneakers with a lightly damp microfiber cloth
☐ Allow sneakers ample time to dry
☐ Deep clean sneakers twice a week
☐ Inspect weekly, including insoles
☐ Check glue joints every two weeks
☐ Perform deep cleaning monthly
☐ Refresh crystalline protection every six months

Conclusion: winter doesn’t have to kill your sneakers

Dutch winters may not be severe, but they can still damage your favorite sneakers. With preparation and care, they can survive. The difference between winter-proof sneakers and ruined sneakers? Proper maintenance.

Protect your sneakers before winter starts, remove salt immediately, dry correctly, choose appropriate shoes for the conditions, and maintain more frequently than in other seasons. Five simple rules that can save you hundreds of euros in replacements and repairs. Winter is coming—are your sneakers ready?

Check out our winter protection products to ensure your sneakers survive the Dutch winter without salt stains, water damage, or permanent damage.