Wash shoes in the washing machine

Shoes can both look dirty and smell bad. This especially applies to sneakers, fabric and sneakers. Therefore, it is convenient that you can wash several different types of shoes in the washing machine. In this article, we will walk you through step by step how to do it.

Can you wash shoes in a washing machine?

The first thing you need to find out is if the shoes can be washed in the washing machine. The easiest way to find out is to read the washing instructions on the shoes. If there is no such note, you can search the company's website for advice. If, after all, you cannot find any information, you may wash at your own risk.

Beware of the shoes

If you do not find any washing instructions, you must assess the possibility of washing the shoe in a washing machine. The first thing you do then is to find out what material it is made of. If the shoe is made of cotton, synthetic or synthetic fiber, it is usually good to machine wash.

If you find a washing instruction that says that the shoes can only be washed by hand, it is usually still good to machine wash on a program for delicate washing. Such programs can sometimes even be more gentle than hand washing. For safety reasons, however, you should only use cold water or a maximum of 30 degrees.

Wash shoes in washing machine leather

It is not possible to wash leather or suede shoes in the washing machine. You clean leather shoes by brushing away dirt and then polishing with shoe polish. You first brush suede shoes with a special brush and then impregnate to protect against dirt and moisture.

If your cloth shoes have leather details, you should also leave out the washing machine. Then it is better that you hand wash the shoe, unless the washing instructions state otherwise. If the shoes have a bad smell, you will get tips later in the article on how to proceed.

Protect the washing machine

When washing shoes in the washing machine, it is also important that you think about protecting the machine. Gravel or sand stuck in the sole can scratch the drum. Hard details on the shoe can come loose and damage the washing machine.

To avoid injuries, always put the shoes in a laundry bag. If you do not have one, you can use a pillowcase or duvet cover. You should also wash the shoes together with, for example, towels so that the hard shoes do not hit the drum.

How to wash shoes in washing machine step by step

If you have found that you can wash the shoes in the washing machine without damaging them, do the following to wash them in the washing machine.

1. Remove the shoelaces and remove the loose sole
2. Soak the shoelaces with detergent
3. Brush soil, clay, gravel and other loose dirt from the shoes
4. Put shoes and shoelaces in a laundry bag or in a pillowcase / duvet cover
5. Wash the sole by hand
6. Place the laundry bag together with some towels in the washing machine
7. Wash at 30 degrees on a program for delicate washing
8. When the laundry is done, let the shoes air dry
9. Put newspaper inside the shoes to absorb the moisture and maintain the shape
10. When everything is dry, tuck in the sole and pull on the shoelaces

Wash shoes in washing machine what degrees

If you have dirty and smelly shoes, it can be tempting to wash shoes in a washing machine at 60 degrees or more. In this way, you effectively kill foul-smelling bacteria. However, you should not do that.

If it does not appear specifically on the shoes' washing instructions that you can wash at 60 degrees, it is best not to. Otherwise, the glue that holds the shoes together can be dissolved by the high temperature. Too hot water can also cause the shoes to shrink and lose their shape.

Remove odor from shoes

All shoes can start to smell bad. If you can wash the shoes in the washing machine, the smell usually disappears. Sometimes, however, other measures may be needed. For example, you can pour some vinegar into the machine together with the detergent.

If you have shoes that you can not wash in the washing machine, we give tips here on how to go about getting rid of bad smells.

Bad smell in shoes

An effective way to get rid of bad odor from shoes is to wash shoes with bicarbonate. The bad smell is due to bacteria settling in the shoes. So it is not the smell of sweat that shoes emit. On the other hand, foot sweat is a reason for bacteria to take root in the shoes. With bicarbonate, you effectively kill them and thus the smell disappears. Do this:

1. Take out the sole and wash it by hand
2. Let the sole dry
3. Powder bicarbonate both inside the shoe and on the sole
4. Put everything cold for 24 hours, preferably in the freezer

If you do not mind that your socks get white powder on them, you can make it a habit to always leave a little bicarbonate in the shoes. This way you prevent bad smells. Another way is to put dry tea bags in the shoes during the night. They absorb moisture and leave a pleasant scent.

Clean white shoes by hand

The shoes that you can not wash in the washing machine must be cleaned by hand. Then follow the process above until it's time to put the shoes in the machine. Then you soak the shoe in a tub of water and rub detergent into the fabric. Then rinse a few times in clean water until all the detergent is gone.

The above tips assume that the shoes can withstand water. It should therefore not clean leather or suede shoes in this way. Even colored shoes can be washed in this way.

With toothpaste

An easy way to freshen up white shoes without washing them in the washing machine is to use toothpaste. Then do the following:

1. Apply toothpaste to blemishes using a brush
2. Do not use water
3. Let the toothpaste work for a while
4. Wipe the toothpaste with a damp cloth

With bicarbonate

You can also use bicarbonate to clean your shoes. Here's how:

1. Spray the shoes with a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar
2. Powder bicarbonate over the shoes
3. It will then start milling and bubbling
4. When the reaction has stopped, brush with stains on stains
5. Then brush off excess bicarbonate or use a vacuum cleaner

Bicarbonate is also an excellent remedy to use if you need to clean the washing machine after the shoe washing.

Take care of your shoes

By caring for all your shoes regularly, they last better and look better. If you do not think there is enough time, we have a solution. Let us take care of the rest of the cleaning in the home so you have more time to take care of the shoes. Look under the tab our services to see what we can help with.