How to Wash Shoes in the Washing Machine Without Ruining Them

Step by step

1. 1

   Check if your shoes are machine washable

   Only fabric shoes belong in the washing machine: canvas sneakers, trainers and most athletic shoes made of mesh or textile. Skip real leather, suede, nubuck and shoes with a Gore-Tex membrane, because water and detergent will ruin them for good. You can wash models with glued soles at your own risk, but frequent washing softens the glue and speeds up sole separation.

2. 2

   Remove the laces and insoles

   Wash laces and removable insoles separately, because they tangle in the drum and block the shoes from moving. You can toss the laces into a small mesh bag or hand wash them in a bowl of warm water. Clean the insoles with a damp brush and a little soap and let them air dry - they often warp in the machine.

3. 3

   Remove mud and heavy dirt

   Knock off dried mud by tapping the soles together over a bin, then brush away the rest with a dry brush or an old toothbrush. Pay attention to the tread, where most of the dirt and pebbles collect. This pre-cleaning keeps the machine from spreading mud all over the shoe and clogging the filter.

4. 4

   Bag the shoes and add towels

   Put the shoes in a laundry bag or an old pillowcase so they don't slam against the drum and the door glass. Add two or three old towels - they balance the load, muffle the noise and protect the machine's gasket. Don't wash light-colored shoes in the same cycle as anything that bleeds dye, or they may pick up the color.

5. 5

   Set the cycle, temperature and detergent

   Choose a delicate or sportswear cycle, set the temperature to 30°C (86°F), and set the spin to zero or the lowest level. Use liquid detergent instead of powder - powder tends to stay in the fabric and leave white streaks along the seams. Skip fabric softener and higher temperatures, because hot water dissolves the glue and washes out the color.

6. 6

   Dry the shoes at room temperature

   Stuff the shoes with crumpled paper or a white towel, which absorbs moisture and holds their shape. Avoid the tumble dryer, radiators and hair dryers, because heat shrinks the fabric and unsticks the sole. Set the shoes in an airy spot away from the sun and swap the paper when it gets soaked; full drying usually takes anywhere from 12 to 24 hours.

7. 7

   Touch up white soles

   If the rubber still looks gray after washing, rub it with a damp eraser or a paste of baking soda and a little water. Stubborn scuffs come off with gentle scrubbing with a small brush. Wipe the sole dry at the end so dirt doesn't settle back onto damp rubber.

Which shoes can go in the machine and which should stay out

Fabric shoes handle machine washing best: canvas sneakers, light trainers and athletic shoes made of textile or mesh. Their construction is simple and the fabric stands up to water and the motion of the drum, so after a proper cycle they come out looking refreshed.

Keep real leather and suede shoes out of the machine, along with Gore-Tex models and faux leather, which cracks and peels after a soak in water. Be careful with glued soles and any shoe that shows a lot of gluing instead of stitching - they usually survive a one-off wash, but regular washing shortens their life.

The most common mistakes when machine washing shoes

High heat and a strong spin do the most damage. Water above 30°C (86°F) softens the glue and warps the upper, while fast spinning slams the shoes against the drum, which ends in misshapen shoes and a loud banging that wears out the machine's bearings.

The second common mistake is skipping the bag and towels, and drying shoes on a radiator. Without protection, the shoes batter the gasket and the glass, and a hot radiator steams the sole loose and warps the shape. Don't reach for powder either, because it settles into light fabric and leaves streaks that are hard to rinse out.

Frequently asked questions