Washing your shoes prolongs their life, promotes hygiene, and keeps them looking fresh and new. Did you know that as well as handwashing, you can also put some shoes in the washing machine?
If you’ve never washed your shoes before, you're missing a trick. However, choosing the right products and method is essential to avoid spoiling your favorite sneakers or ruining your washing machine.
In this detailed article, we’ll explain how to hand and machine-wash shoes and avoid the pitfalls.
Can You Wash Shoes in the Washing Machine?
You can put footwear in the washing machine, but only certain types, like sneakers or ones made of canvas, cotton, nylon, and polyester.
Washing machines clean using friction and abrasion, so destroy footwear made of suede, leather, nubuck, or vinyl. Always read the care label first.
Avoid machine-washing shoes with metal buckles or eyelets, as these will scratch the inside of the washer drum.
Some washing machine manufacturers recommend that you don’t use their washers for footwear.
In addition to being incredibly noisy, they can throw the machine off balance and increase vibration, damaging internal components during the spin cycle, such as the bearings and seals.
A mesh bag can help reduce noise and movement, but some washing machine manufacturers advise against machine-washing shoes as it may affect warranty coverage.
Don’t wash your footwear with other clothes or linens to protect the drum and deaden the noise. They'll transfer dirt, mud, and debris to your clothes, which may cause discoloration or staining.
If you decide to machine-wash your shoes, remove insoles and laces where appropriate; you’ll need to clean these separately.
What You’ll Need to Wash Shoes
- Mild laundry detergent that doesn’t contain bleach or harsh chemicals
- Detergent sheets with the right ingredients, including enzymes like protease
- Regular household detergent
- Baking soda to remove odors
- Melamine eraser to lift white scuff marks on dark shoes
- A large plastic bowl or tub
- A soft, clean microfiber cloth to lift dirt and stains
- A brush with soft bristles
- A garment bag or thin pillowcase
- A rack to dry your footwear
- Old newspapers to scrunch up and stuff in the shoes to help them dry out
How to Wash Your Shoes in the Washing Machine
Check the Label Inside the Shoes
Your shoes will have a label detailing how to clean them and what to avoid.
The Care Labeling Rule requires shoe manufacturers and importers to provide instructions about regular care procedures using appropriate language and symbols.
The label will tell you whether your footwear is machine-washable or handwash-only and guide cleaning protocols.
Take Out the Laces and Insoles
If the insoles are removable, then take them out and any laces.
Prepare the Shoes
Start by removing any apparent lumps of dirt and pre-treating any marks that look likely to put up a fight, like grass stains. A dry brush like a nailbrush or toothbrush can gently remove dirt.
Stubborn stains may require a pre-treatment. If you’re using a stain treatment product, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Always check first that the product is compatible with the material.
Some laundry products, like Freddie’s laundry detergent sheets, are formulated without phosphates, optical brighteners, or bleach, making them suitable for cleaning shoes and clothing.
After you’ve treated any stains, pop the shoes in a garment bag and inside the washer.
Select the Washer Program
Most shoes don’t respond well to hot washes; even if they survive the experience, you’ll fade the color and could distort their shape.
Choose a cold-water cycle with the shortest time setting and a slow spin cycle, then add your laundry sheet. Treat the shoes like delicate linens that might shrink or fade if washed at too hot a temperature or exposed to a fast spin cycle.
Air Dry Away from Direct Heat
Again, don’t expose your footwear to excessive heat; allow shoes to air dry naturally on a clean towel in a warm room. If you overcook them, they will shrink. Don’t be tempted to put them in the tumble dryer, either.
Never leave your shoes to dry in direct sunlight, as it can damage or discolor the material. Be prepared to wait at least 24 hours for them to dry thoroughly.
How To Wash Your Shoes By Hand
Make a Cleaning Solution
Blend some mild liquid soap or detergent with warm water.
Fill a Plastic Bowl or the Sink
Fill a bowl or the kitchen sink with warm water and add your soap mix or a laundry detergent sheet.
Remove the insoles and any laces and completely submerge the shoes for about an hour to lift the dirt and any stubborn stains.
Gently Remove the Dirt
Use a soft-bristled brush, such as an old nailbrush or toothbrush, to gently work away at the shoes. Persistence has its rewards! Don’t be tempted to accelerate the process using a harsher brush, as this will only damage the fabric.
Clean the Insoles
Use more soap mix applied with a cloth or sponge to gently work away at the insoles to remove dirt, odor, and stains. Keep the cloth as damp as possible, but don’t saturate it, as too much water will damage some insoles.
Rinse the soles and leave to air dry.
If your insoles are victim to rather stubborn odors, pop them in a small bag or pillowcase with a couple of teaspoons of baking soda and leave for 12 hours or overnight.
Baking soda neutralizes unpleasant odors, just another thing you can add to this household favorite’s list of magic powers.
Rinse Thoroughly
Rinse the shoes thoroughly in cool water to remove all traces of soap before leaving them to air dry in a warm, well-ventilated room. You can stuff in some scrunched-up newspaper, which helps draw moisture and accelerate the drying process.
Air Dry the Shoes
Air dry at room temperature in a well-ventilated room. Avoid direct sunlight, and don’t locate them adjacent to a heat source.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Way to Wash Your Shoes?
Follow the care label on the shoes to determine the best way to wash them. If the label is indistinct, base your wash on the material. Two or three hand washes equate to a washing machine cycle. If in doubt, always hand wash to avoid damage.
How Often Should You Wash Shoes?
The frequency of washing shoes depends on their material, how often they are worn, and the local ground conditions and weather. Hardworking footwear worn daily may require more care, but certain materials, like suede and leather, are resistant to regular cleaning.
Will Shoes Shrink in the Washing Machine?
Shoes can shrink in the washing machine if they are laundered in an unsuitable material or at too high a temperature. The care label will tell you if you can machine wash them and what temperature you should select.
Final Thoughts
There’s a cleaning protocol for every type of shoe; you just need to ensure that the ones you intend to sling in the wash will cope with that process. Handwashing is better for delicate materials, such as leather and suede, or if you can’t read the label inside the shoes. Freddie detergent sheets are formulated without phosphates, parabens, or dyes and come in recyclable packaging, making them a great choice for washing your scruffy shoes.