Crocs is a footwear company that mainly sells foam clog shoes. Made of closed-cell resin, they are known for being lightweight, soft, and comfortable. As far as their other products go, they also offer boots, sandals, sneakers, loafers, and flip flops.
More About Crocs
Crocs was founded by Lyndon Hanson and George Boedecker Jr. in 2002. By the mid-2000s, they were earning over $200 million a year, having scored a number of licensing deals. Eventually, they secured the rights to their proprietary form resin—the material that they use for their trademark clogs. Since then, they have opened dozens of stores in nearly 40 different countries worldwide. What’s more, is that they have sold more than 600 million pairs of shoes!
Aside from their official stores, you can also find their shoes at other retailers such as Walmart, Macy, Kohl’s, and Amazon.
More About Crocs Shoes
Like we said earlier, Crocs offer various types of shoes from sandals to boots. For the purposes of this post, however, we’ll be focusing on their foam clogs, which also happens to be their most popular product. One thing that sets them apart from other similar shoes is that you can customize them with various charms. If anything, that’s one of the reasons why they’re so popular among children.
They’re also affordable, especially if you manage to get them on sale. For instance, you can easily snag a pair of foam clogs for under $50 (children’s clogs are cheaper than adult clogs). Keep in mind, however, that some of their other styles are more expensive.
Taking Care of Crocs
The resin material that the shoes are made of is durable but that doesn’t mean that it won’t attract dirt and mud, because it will. Sweat is another issue—this is especially true if you have a habit of wearing your Crocs without socks (whether or not you should is a whole different issue). Why? The sweat from your feet will come into direct contact with the foam material. As it is, this can cause noticeable odors over time.
Fortunately, it’s not a major problem since you can wash Crocs easily with soap and water. Having said that, there are a few things that you want to be careful with when it comes to these clogs and we’ll be outlining them below. For now, though, let’s take a closer look at the resin material.
What is Crocs Croslite Material?
Their trademark clogs as well as many of their other shoes are made of Croslite material. A type of closed-cell resin, it is not rubber nor plastic, despite how it feels. Not only is it able to absorb impacts, but it also offers maximum cushioning. That’s not all, the material is also resistant against fungal and bacterial growth. Non-toxic, the material does not contain any latex.
LiteRide
Recently, the company came out with a new material that’s even comfier than their original material. To give you a better idea, it’s 25% lighter and 40% softer. Despite that, it offers the same amount of shock absorption and support. Aside from being used for clogs, it’s also used for platform sandals, sneakers, and flip flops.
Washing Instructions for Crocs Shoes
Crocs don’t have to be washed all that often. With that said, it’s a good idea to give them a clean every once in a while, especially if you’ve been walking around in the mud. Of course, you’ll also want to wash them if they have a noticeable odor. Anyway, here’s how to do it safely without ruining them:
Cleaning Your Crocs with Water and Detergent
The first thing that you want to do is wet your Crocs. You can do this by filling a container or sink with water. Make sure that you use cold water and not hot water as the latter can cause the resin material to shrink, which can affect its fit. You can also hold the Crocs under running water—that will help to remove any dirt and debris from the surface.
Once you’ve done that, add half a scoop of ACTIVE detergent to the sink or bucket that you’re using. Mix the powder well so that it dissolves completely before dunking your Crocs in. From there, you can add a capful of bleach to the water (if your shoes are excessively dirty).
Gently scrub the Crocs with a soft brush for a couple of minutes, paying attention to the soiled areas. From there, you want to let them soak in the soapy mixture. You can also soak and scrub at the same time.
Pro-tip: Have a stubborn stain that you can’t get rid of? Consider using a magic eraser. You’ll be surprised as to just how well it works! All you have to do is rub it over the stain until it disappears.
When you’re done scrubbing and soaking, rinse the Crocs with water from the tap. Rinse off all the soap before drying them completely with a towel. Or if you’re not in a rush, you can just let them air dry. Avoid leaving them out in the sun as the UV rays and heat can compromise the Croslite material.
Can You Put Your Crocs in the Washing Machine?
Generally speaking, it’s not recommended that you put your Crocs in the washing machine. With that said, some people have had success with this method—just make sure that you don’t wash them with your clothes!
Basically, all you have to do is put them in the washer. To balance the weight, add a few towels—that way, they won’t get thrown around as much while the cycling is running. Next, you’ll want to add a scoop of ACTIVE detergent. After all, plain water won’t be enough to remove the grime. Like we said earlier, you can also add bleach if you feel that it’s necessary.
Start the cycle on gentle and let it run. Remove the clogs afterward and allow them to air dry in a well-ventilated area. Once again, do not expose them to sunlight and do not run them through the dryer (unless you want to buy a new pair).
How to Wash Crocs Liners
Crocs sell sheepskin-like liners that you can put into your clogs for additional warmth. As you can imagine, however, they can also get dirty with frequent wear. The good news is that you can easily take them off and wash them.
Can You Put Croc Liners in the Washer?
Yes, their liners are machine washable. Start by unsnapping them from the base of each shoe. You’ll have to pull up gently at the back to detach them from the clog. From there, you’ll want put them in a mesh laundry bag. Not only will it keep them together (i.e. they won’t be thrown around), but it’ll also protect them against friction.
Note: You can wash Crocs liners with other garments such as socks, shirts, tanks, etc. In fact, it’s highly recommended that you do so.
As usual, add a scoop of ACTIVE detergent. Proceed to wash the liners with a cold water cycle on delicate. Take them out of the washing machine afterward and place them on a flat surface to air dry. Avoid the clothes dryer as the heat can cause them to dry.
When they’re fully dry, you can snap the liners back into the Crocs.
Washing Croc Liners By Hand
You can pretty much treat the liners like any other accessory when you’re washing them by hand. The first step? Dissolve some ACTIVE detergent in lukewarm water in a sink or container. You can help it by swishing the water a couple of times with your hands. Place the Croc liners in once it’s bubbly.
Saturate the item by swishing it around in the sink. Ensure that all of the fabric is soaked with the detergent. If necessary, you can give it a few gentle scrubs with your hands. Afterward, let the liners soak for 15 to 20 minutes—that’ll help to get rid of any sweat or dirt that’s set in the fabric.
The next thing that you want to do, once they’re soaked, is to rinse the detergent off. For example, you can pick the liners up and hold them under running water. Continue to rinse and clean until the film of detergent is gone. Then you can let them air dry.
Best Way to Deodorize Crocs Shoes
While Crocs are made from an anti-microbial material, they can still smell after a while. Fortunately, there are ways to deodorize them so that they’ll smell fresh again.
Using Baking Soda
Pour a generous amount of baking soda into the inside of each clog. You want the bottom of the Crocs to be completely covered with the powder. From there, lay them flat in a plastic bag—it’ll help to prevent the baking soda from spilling out. Transfer the bag into the freezer and keep it in there overnight. The next morning, shake out the baking soda.
Using Baking Soda with Vinegar
For extra deodorizing power, you can use baking soda with white vinegar. More specifically, you want to mix three parts vinegar to one part baking soda—you should end up with a paste. Use your finger to apply it onto the inside of the Crocs. Let it remain on the surface for a few minutes before soaking the shoes in cool water. Rinse and dry well afterward.
