Product test
Make your shoes smell great again
by Patrick Bardelli
Sneaker shampoo review: how good is «Freshe Treter»?
13.9.2024
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
This shampoo claims to freshen up your old trainers using a scientific approach. It removes dirt by means of micro vibrations. This works pretty well, but not in every case.
When my shoes get dirty, I usually machine wash them at 30 degrees. However, this does tend to damage adhesives, seams or other parts. This is where the trainer shampoo «Freshe Treter» comes into it.
I tested the shampoo on my family’s shoes ad it did well. The product relies on tried-and-tested cleaning agents and markets them as «smart vibrancy technology».
These active ingredients make up less than 25 per cent of the ingredients. The rest is lumped together as fragrances and preservatives by manufacturer Reuter Cleaning Solutions. To me, the shampoo smells fresh without being too in your face.
Sure, there are physics at play in the bottle; after all, it’s the surfactants that ultimately dissolve the dirt on your shoes. However, this isn’t as mind-boggling as advertised on the packaging. Unless there’s a secret substance in the mixture. Besides, not all surfactants are biodegradable. Plant-based surfactants, for example, are more environmentally friendly than those made from crude oil. Unfortunately, the bottle doesn’t reveal which surfactants are in it.
How does the cleaning work?
The cleaning process happens in four steps. First, you need to remove any coarse dirt. Then generously spray the shoes with shampoo. After leaving it to sit for two minutes, lather the shampoo using a sponge or brush. The last step is to wipe off the dissolved dirt with a cloth.
The result
I tested the shampoo on my son’s sandals from last year. They were put away in a wardrobe last autumn without being cleaned. At first glance, they’re not particularly grimy. But sand and dust are deeply engrained in the fabric. I treat the right sandal according to the instructions and leave the left one untreated for comparison.
The sandal doesn’t look like new after cleaning – because it’s not – but certainly cleaner. The colours also look brighter again, and the deep-seated dust is gone.
The before-and-after effect is particularly visible with strong colours and on white shoes. Smooth surfaces such as leather or imitation leather are easier to clean than fabric. This is quite apparent in Oliver’s shoes, for example.
I also tested the sneaker shampoo on other things than shoes and sprayed the back of the passenger seat of our family car. My oldest kid always manages to rub his dirty shoes on it. The cleaning effect is significantly smaller here, which is probably down to the fabric surface.
In a nutshell
Ideal for quick brush-ups
Clean your shoes quickly and easily with the sneaker shampoo «Freshe Treter». The effect is similar to machine washing your kicks. I’d recommend using the shampoo on leather and imitation leather in particular, as those materials aren’t suitable for the washing machine. For fabric shoes, machine washing them will achieve better results. However, they’ll also take longer to dry. That’s why this shampoo’s a solid solution if you’re in a rush.
In terms of price per litre, the product is in line with other sneaker cleaners such as Collonil Clean Care or Pedag Sneaker Cleaner. I’d therefore say the price is fair. One bottle should have you covered for up to ten pairs of shoes, depending on how dirty they are. For leather, you could also use Dr. Wack’s leather cleaner, which my workmate Stefanie recently tested.
Pro
- Good and quick cleaning
- Pleasant and subtle smell
Contra
- Results on fabric not amazing
- Ingredients not fully disclosed
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
Fashion
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