In partnership with Dryello. Disclosure. Published October 26, 2026.
The short answer
To dry soaked cleats, knock off the mud, take out the laces and insoles, open the uppers, and stuff them loosely with newspaper, swapping it out when it's wet. Leave everything in a ventilated room at room temperature. No dryer, no hair dryer, no radiator, no direct sun: Nike's care guide says heat damages the materials and that cleats should be fully dry before they're worn again or bagged. For the feet inside them, change into dry socks as soon as you can, dry between the toes, and rotate a second pair of cleats if you play on back-to-back days. Wet cleats don't cause athlete's foot, but feet that stay wet for long periods are a known risk factor. If itching or peeling shows up between the toes, treat it with an over-the-counter antifungal such as tolnaftate; our partner pick is Dryello's Athlete's Foot Treatment Stick.
Key takeaways
- Air, paper and time dry cleats. Heat ruins them. Nike says to air-dry indoors away from direct sunlight, hair dryers and tumble dryers.
- Insoles out, laces out, uppers open. Most of the trapped water is in the insole and the toe box.
- Fully dry before the next wear or the bag. A damp cleat zipped into a bag stays damp for days.
- Feet matter more than the cleats. The AAD says to change socks whenever they get wet and to alternate shoes so they're dry when you put them on.
- Itching or peeling between the toes is a treatment problem, not a drying problem. Use an OTC antifungal for the full labeled course.
Why a rainy season is hard on feet
Fall and spring seasons in the Northeast bring plenty of rain-soaked practices and games. A natural grass field with poor drainage holds water and turns to mud. Synthetic turf with a working drainage system usually clears standing water faster, but players still run through wet fibers and infill for the whole session. Either way, cleats and socks fill with water, and they often stay that way through a long drive home in a closed bag.
That is a problem for three reasons:
- Soggy skin blisters more easily. The NHS says blisters are mostly caused by friction and recommends changing socks frequently if your feet get sweaty. Wet socks slide and bunch inside a cleat.
- Wet feet are a known risk factor for athlete's foot. MedlinePlus lists keeping your feet wet for long periods, sweating a lot and wearing closed shoes among the things that raise the risk. The AAD says the fungus thrives in warm, moist areas such as the inside of hot, sweaty shoes.
- Damp cleats smell. The NHS says smelly feet are usually caused by a build-up of sweat and bacteria and advises letting shoes dry out before wearing them again. Nike's care guide says storing damp cleats in a bag can lead to bacteria growth and odor.
If the field itself is the reason your players are standing in water, that is worth fixing. Our sports field drainage guide covers the common causes, and is artificial turf slippery when wet? covers traction on a wet synthetic field.
How to dry wet cleats overnight, step by step
- At the field: get the mud off. Knock the cleats together sole to sole or clear the studs with a stick, as Nike's guide suggests. Mud holds water against the upper.
- Don't seal them in the bag. If they must go in the bag for the ride home, leave it unzipped or carry the cleats separately in a mesh bag.
- At home: laces and insoles out. Pull the insoles and dry them separately. They hold more water than you'd expect.
- Open the uppers. Loosen the lacing all the way and pull the tongue forward so air can get into the toe box.
- Stuff with newspaper or paper towels. Nike recommends newspaper to absorb moisture and help keep the shape. Stuff loosely, not packed tight. Swap it for fresh paper when it's soaked, every hour or two at first, then before bed.
- Pick the right spot. Indoors, room temperature, with air moving. A fan blowing room air is fine. A heater vent, radiator, fireplace, car dashboard or sunny windowsill isn't.
- Check by hand before the next wear. Feel the inside of the toe box and the insole. If either is cool or damp, it's not dry yet.
What not to do: Nike's guide says not to put cleats in the tumble dryer or use a hair dryer, and not to dry them in direct sunlight, because heat damages the materials. It also says to hand-wash only, since washing machines can damage cleats. Laces can go in a mesh bag on a cold, delicate cycle, but never in the dryer.
Games on back-to-back days
The honest answer for a Saturday-Sunday tournament in the rain is a second pair. The AAD's advice for sweaty feet is to avoid wearing the same shoes two days in a row, because a day off lets shoes dry. The NHS says much the same for smelly feet: don't wear the same socks or shoes two days in a row. If a second pair isn't realistic, older cleats or turf shoes for warm-ups at least keep the game cleats out of the water until kickoff.
Taking care of the feet, not just the cleats
Cleats can be replaced. Skin that stays wet for hours, game after game, is where the real trouble starts. A rain-day routine for players:
- Start dry. The AAD says to wash your feet every day with soap and dry them completely. Get between the toes.
- Wear wicking socks. The AAD recommends socks that dry quickly or wick moisture away from the skin, and points out that not all polyester or nylon socks actually wick, so look for “moisture wicking” on the label.
- Change socks when they're wet. The AAD says to change socks every day and more often when they get wet. Halftime of a soaked game counts.
- Dry socks and slides for the ride home. Get out of wet socks and cleats right after the game, not when you get home.
- Shower shoes in the locker room. The AAD says to wear shower shoes or flip-flops around pools, gyms, showers and locker areas. Our locker-room athlete's foot guide covers the facility side.
- Don't share towels, socks or cleats, even when a teammate forgot theirs.
Dryello's fall sports foot care guide has a longer checklist for the season.
Where a foot antiperspirant fits
An antiperspirant won't stop rainwater coming in through the upper. What it does is reduce sweat, and most practices aren't in the rain. For players whose socks are soaked from the inside on dry days too, a foot antiperspirant on clean, unbroken skin is one more way to keep feet drier. The AAD notes antiperspirants reduce sweating and deodorants don't.
Our partner pick is Dryello Foot Antiperspirant For Him (or For Her, same active with a different scent), a dry glide-on stick made for feet. Its FDA-listed Drug Facts label gives aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly 6% as the active, “reduces sweat” as the use, and these warnings: don't use on broken skin, stop if rash or irritation occurs, and ask a doctor before use if you have kidney disease. Each was listed at $14.50 for a 36 g stick on dryello.com on October 26, 2026. Dryello explains why it uses a softer formula for feet.
If itching, peeling or cracking starts
After a wet stretch of the season, some players notice itchy white patches or peeling between the toes. The NHS lists itchy white patches between the toes, red, sore and flaky patches, and cracked or bleeding skin as signs of athlete's foot. That's a fungal infection, and drying the cleats won't clear it on its own. The NHS says athlete's foot is unlikely to get better by itself and that pharmacy antifungals usually take a few weeks to work. It also says you don't need to stay off work or school, so most players can keep playing while they treat it.
Common over-the-counter actives include tolnaftate, clotrimazole, miconazole and terbinafine. Pick one the player will actually use for the full labeled course; stopping when the itch fades is a common reason it comes back.
Our partner pick: Dryello Athlete's Foot Treatment Stick. It's an OTC tolnaftate 1% antifungal in a dry glide-on stick, so there's no cream to rub in before pulling on socks. Its Drug Facts label lists these uses: cures most athlete's foot (tinea pedis); relieves itching, burning, cracking and scaling; prevents recurrence of most athlete's foot with daily use. Label directions: wash and dry feet thoroughly, apply a thin layer to the affected area twice daily (morning and night), pay special attention to the spaces between the toes, wear well-fitting ventilated shoes, and change shoes and socks at least once daily. Don't use on children under 2 unless directed by a doctor, and stop and consult a doctor if irritation occurs. It was listed at $16.95 for the 30 g pack of two 15 g sticks on dryello.com on October 26, 2026, and a fragrance-free version was listed at $18.95.
Don't put an antiperspirant on cracked or broken skin. Neither Dryello label addresses using both products together, so ask a pharmacist if you want to combine them.
When to see a doctor
The NHS says to see a doctor if pharmacy treatments don't work, if you're in a lot of pain, or if your foot or leg is hot, painful and red, which could be a more serious infection. Players with diabetes, poor circulation or a weakened immune system should check with a doctor before treating their feet themselves.
Rain-day bag checklist
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Spare moisture-wicking socks (two pairs) | Halftime change and a dry pair for after |
| Slides or sandals | Get out of wet cleats right away; shower shoes in the locker room |
| Small towel (yours only) | Dry feet and between the toes before dry socks go on |
| Mesh bag or plastic bag for wet cleats | Keep wet cleats away from dry clothes, and out of a sealed bag once home |
| Second pair of cleats or turf shoes | For back-to-back days and warm-ups |
| Newspaper at home | Overnight drying, swapped when soaked |
Frequently asked questions
How do you dry wet cleats fast?
Knock off the mud, pull out the laces and insoles, open the cleats wide, and stuff them loosely with newspaper or paper towels. Replace the paper when it is soaked (every hour or two at first), and leave the cleats and insoles in a ventilated room at room temperature. Nike's care guide says to air-dry cleats indoors away from direct sunlight, hair dryers and tumble dryers because heat damages the materials, and that cleats should be fully dry before they are worn again or stored in a bag.
Can I put cleats in the dryer or use a hair dryer?
No. Nike's soccer cleat care guide says to avoid tumble dryers, hair dryers and direct sunlight because heat damages cleat materials. Heat can also soften adhesives and warp the soleplate. Room-temperature air, open uppers, removed insoles and fresh newspaper are slower but safe.
How long do soaked cleats take to dry?
It depends on the cleat, how wet it got and the room. Thin synthetic uppers can be dry by the next day with insoles out and paper changed a few times; padded or leather cleats can take longer. Check the inside of the toe box and the insole by hand. If either still feels cool or damp, the cleat is not ready. This is why players with games on back-to-back days benefit from a second pair.
Can wet cleats give you athlete's foot?
Wet cleats do not create the fungus, which has to be picked up from damp floors, shared towels or shared shoes. But MedlinePlus lists keeping your feet wet for long periods and sweating a lot as risk factors, and the American Academy of Dermatology says the fungus thrives in warm, moist places like the inside of hot, sweaty shoes. Playing repeatedly in cleats that never fully dry gives it the conditions it likes.
Should you change socks at halftime in the rain?
If you can, yes. The AAD says to change socks every day and more often when they get wet. A dry pair of moisture-wicking socks at halftime of a soaked game is one of the cheapest things a player can do for blisters and for skin that stays soggy for hours.
Does a foot antiperspirant help in the rain?
Not with rainwater, which soaks in from outside. A foot antiperspirant reduces sweat, so it helps on the many days when feet get wet from the inside. On unbroken skin only: Dryello's antiperspirant label says not to use it on broken skin and to ask a doctor first if you have kidney disease.
What should I do if my feet itch and peel after a wet season?
Itching, peeling or cracked skin between the toes is a common sign of athlete's foot. The NHS says it is unlikely to get better on its own and that pharmacy antifungals usually take a few weeks to work. Start an over-the-counter antifungal such as tolnaftate, use it for the full labeled course, and keep the dry-feet routine going. See a doctor if it is not improving, is painful, or the foot is hot, red and swollen, or before self-treating if you have diabetes.
Sources
- Nike. How to clean soccer cleats (air-dry indoors; no direct sunlight, hair dryers or tumble dryers; newspaper; fully dry before wearing or bagging). Accessed October 26, 2026.
- American Academy of Dermatology. How to prevent athlete's foot. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Hyperhidrosis: tips dermatologists give their patients. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- NHS. Athlete's foot; Smelly feet; Blisters. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Athlete's foot. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- DailyMed. Dryello Athlete's Foot Treatment Stick (tolnaftate 1%) Drug Facts label and Dryello Antiperspirant Deodorant Foot Glide-On Stick Drug Facts label. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Disclosure: This article was written in partnership with Dryello, a foot-care brand made by ProPedix, Inc., which makes an athlete's foot treatment stick and a foot antiperspirant. That is why Dryello products are our picks here. The links to dryello.com include tracking parameters so Dryello can see visits from this page. DreamFields did not test any product, and no other brand mentioned here paid to appear. Product facts come from FDA-listed Drug Facts labels on DailyMed and from dryello.com, with prices as listed on the date stated.
This is general information, not medical advice. Always read and follow the product label, and talk to a doctor, podiatrist, or pharmacist about any foot problem that isn't improving.
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