Shoes, particularly sneakers, take a battering, so knowing how to wash them is essential. If you have a pair of favorite sneakers, you can clean them at home by either using a washing machine or washing them by hand to remove dirt, stains, and odor. To preserve your shoes in good condition, some additional guidelines are required. Please continue reading to find out what they are.
Materials of Exceptional Quality
If your shoes have suede or leather trim or have been coated with a water repellent, do not wash them in a washing machine; instead, hand-wash them. This applies to any shoes with trim, beading, or rope soles. The washer’s agitation is extreme, and spending too long in the water may loosen the glues used in construction.
What You’ll Require
Instruments and Tools
- One washer and dryer
- One huge sink or tub made of plastic
- One piece of microfiber cloth
- One nylon brush with gentle bristles
- One rack for drying
Materials
- One bottle of washing detergent with enzymes
- One bottle (optional) enzyme-based stain remover
- One oxygen-based bleach container
- One eraser made of melamine
- One bottle of dish detergent
- One box of baking soda
- One laundry disinfectant bottle
How to Wash Shoes by Hand or Machine
Laundry detergent based on enzymes
Temperature of the Water: From cool to warm
Type of Cycle: Hand wash or gentle cycle
Only air-dry
In the washer, use a mesh washing bag.
Washing Shoes in a Washing Machine
Take off the laces and insoles.
Shoelaces should be washed separately in a mesh washing bag in the washer or by hand in warm water with a touch of soap. Remove any detachable insoles and clean or replace them by hand.
Before cleaning sneakers, remove the laces and insoles.
Selecting Laundry Products
Wash shoes with ordinary laundry detergent. It’s preferable to use an enzyme-based detergent to disrupt the stain molecules’ link with the fabric. Add a scoop of powdered oxygen bleach to the washer with the shoes if they appear dull.
Tip
If you’re worried about fungus, use a disinfectant in the wash water for athlete’s foot or any other fungus. Follow the product instructions to determine how much to add per load.
Selecting Laundry Products for Sneakers
Choose the Washer Settings
Choose between warm and cold water temperatures. The gentle cycle is recommended since it has a slower final spin cycle speed. This will assist in protecting the shoe soles and prevent your washer from getting unbalanced.
Choosing a Wash Cycle for Sneakers
Remove Loose Soil and Pretreat Stains
Use a dab of laundry detergent or an enzyme-based stain remover to pretreat noticeable spots. Work it into the stain with a soft-bristled brush, such as an old toothbrush. Allow the detergent to work for at least 15 minutes before adding the shoes to the washing to break up the soil.
Before placing the shoes in the washing machine, rinse them with a yard hose or a utility sink. Mud might clog the washer and cause it to fail. Before cleaning, you can alternatively rinse the trash away with a yard hose or in a utility sink.
Using a stain remover on white shoes
Place the shoes in the washer.
Pull up the tongue if the shoe is laced so that the cleaning solution can readily reach every surface. Before putting the shoes and laces in the washer, could you place them in a mesh laundry bag? Shoes can be washed alongside similar-colored and weighted items, such as towels or jeans.
The shoes should be dried.
When the cycle ends, remove the shoes and air-dry them in direct sunlight and heat. Shoes should never be placed in a hot automatic clothes dryer. The extreme heat might cause the glue to melt, causing the boots to break apart.
How to Wash Shoes by Hand
Construct a Cleaning Solution
Combine one teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent in a sink or plastic tub with two quarts of warm water.
Tip
If you don’t have any laundry detergent, make your cleaning solution with dishwashing liquid.
In a laundry tub, a cleaning solution is being mixed.
Prepare the Shoes for Cleaning
Fill a small dish with the cleaning solution and, if necessary, remove the laces. Allow the laces to soak in the solution.
Rinse the shoes to remove any mud or loose soil.
Pretreat noticeable spots with a dab of detergent. Use your fingers or a soft-bristled brush to work in the detergent. Allow at least 15 minutes for it to work before washing the entire shoe.
Clean the Shoes
Allow the shoes to soak in the soapy solution for approximately 15 minutes.
Scrub the outside and interior of the shoe with a microfiber towel dipped in the detergent solution. Take note of the soles as well.
If the soles are unclean, use a melamine sponge (Mr. Clean Eraser) to remove scuff marks from the rubber.
Immersion of the sneakers in a cleaning solution
Rinse and dry the cleaning solution well. Fill the tub or sink with cool water.
Rinse the shoes, changing the water as required, until there are no more suds.
Rinse the laces and air-dry the shoes. Laces away from direct sunshine and heat.
After cleaning, let the sneakers air dry.
How Often Should You Wash Your Shoes?
The quantity and location of your shoe wear will determine how frequently you should wash them. If you wear them daily, try replacing them every couple of weeks. If you only wear them sometimes, you can wash them anytime they become dirty or dingy. If your shoes get dirty, wash them immediately to prevent discoloration.
How to Care for and Repair Your Shoes
If you adore a pair of shoes, you’ll want to take good care of them so they can be worn for a long time. Keep them as dry as possible because moisture can allow bacteria to thrive and tear down the shoe components. Avoid storing them where dust might accumulate and cause them to appear old and dull. For better storage, use breathable fabric shoe bags instead of plastic or cardboard boxes, which hinder air circulation.
If your shoes are torn, you can repair them by sewing a patch or using adhesive to fill the hole. If you find any loose stitching or broken threads, take the shoes to a shoe repair shop to see what can be done.
Washing Shoes Suggestions
When hand-washing shoes with rope-covered soles or trim, do not immerse them. Gently clean the rope with a moist towel and soapy water. Work in small areas, often changing the water and rinsing away sudsy residue.
Stuff the toes of your shoes with microfiber cloths, nylon mesh, or paper towels to help them keep their form while drying. Because stuffing absorbs moisture, it should be changed regularly.
Add one cup of baking soda to the washing machine or add half a cup to the hand-washing solution to eliminate odor.
Review the cleaning directions on the care tag before placing your shoes in the washing machine. If you need help finding the title, go to the manufacturer’s website for more information. You want to protect your shoes if they are made of materials that should not be machine-washed.
Questions and Answers
What if you don’t have a mesh washing machine bag?
If you don’t have a mesh laundry bag for the shoes in before washing them, use any empty pillowcase that can button, tie, or zip shut.
How do you get the odor out of sneakers that otherwise appear clean?
Your shoes may appear new, but they are everything. To remove odors, sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda or drop an activated charcoal sachet into the shoe and leave it overnight. This absorbs the scents.
Can I have my shoes dry-cleaned?
The substance determines it. You should consult with your dry cleaner if the shoes are made of leather or suede. Dry cleaning is usually not recommended for shoes made of canvas, mesh, or knit fabrics since the solvents may impair the shoe’s construction.