Can You Wash Shoes in a Washing Machine?

Shoes made of canvas or fabrics such as nylon or polyester can be machine washed. However, ones that are made from suede leather, vinyl, or rubber should never be machine-washed.

For the ones that qualify to be machine washed, you should always place them in a mesh bag and wash them in a cold water cycle with slow spin settings (more on that later).

Not all shoes are made the same, so it’s important that you read the care label (usually printed on the soles or prescribed in the packaging).

Types of shoes that are machine washable

In general, athletic shoes or regular wear shoes made from fabric such as nylon, polyester, canvas, or cotton can be machine washed as well as hand washed.

These fabrics are durable and are less likely to get damaged by laundry detergent.

With that said, before washing, just check the care label or the care instructions for the right washing method.

Types of shoes that are not machine washable

Here are a few types of shoes that are not machine washable in most cases.

• Dress shoes
• Beaded or buckled shoes
• Shoes with heels
• Shoes made of rubber
• Leather sandals
• Boots
• Shoes made of suede
• Shoes made of vinyl

Note: It’s advisable to read the care label before washing any type of shoe.

How to wash shoes in the washing machine with pillowcases or mesh bags?

By placing your favorite machine-washable sneakers or shoes inside a mesh bag or pillowcase, you not only preserve their condition but also prevent damage to your washer.

Here’s how you can get your shoe machine washed in 8 easy steps.

Step 1: Read the Care Label

It’s important that you spend a quick 60 seconds going through the care label before deciding on the washing method.

If the care label recommends machine washing, you are good to go, or else stick to the hand wash or spot cleaning method.

Step 2: Pre-Clean the Shoes

In order to dislodge the loose dirt and debris from the shoes, bang them together. Next, brush any dirt and mud off your shoes with an old rag or soft brush if they are too dirty.

Step 3: Pre-treat the shoes

The next step is to pre-treat the stained areas with a mild detergent diluted in a bowl of water.

Here’s how to do it.

• Take a bowl and pour some water into it, followed by adding a teaspoon of mild detergent powder. Alternatively, you can also use liquid detergents.
• Next, dip a sponge into the cleaning solution and blot the stained areas.
• And then, start working on the stained areas using a soft microfiber cloth or soft brush.
• The next thing to do is to clean the bottoms (soles) of the shoes with a toothbrush and some warm soapy water.
• Once done with the pre-treating process, gently rinse the areas that you worked on.

Note: Make sure to remove the insoles and laces before starting this process. Shoes with laces should be washed separately from other items.

Step 4: Put the shoes in a pillowcase or mesh bag

This step is crucial because the bags will protect the shoes as well as the washer.

So, place the shoes in a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase after separating the laces and insoles.

Step 5: Place the pillowcase or mesh bag in the washer

Simply place the pillowcase or mesh bag that has the shoes in it along with a couple of towels for padding inside the washer.

Placing towels in the washer along with a pillowcase or mesh bag containing shoes reduces banging during agitation.

Step 6: Set the Right Wash Cycle Settings and wash your shoes

The next and most important step is to set the right wash cycle settings.

Here are the ideal washing machine settings to wash your shoes.

• Wash Type: Delicate or Gentle
• Soil Level: Normal
• Spin Speed: Low
• Water Temperature: Cold
• Pre-Wash: Not Needed

Once you have these basic settings in place, you can run the wash cycle.

Step 7: Remove the shoes and wash the laces and Insoles

Now, wash the insoles using the same settings.

Just put them in a mesh bag or pillow case and run the wash cycle.

Step 8: Dry your Shoes

The last step is to dry your shoes along with the laces and insoles.

It’s best to air dry your shoes naturally by either hanging them or laying them flat.

Note: You can put newspaper or tissue paper inside the shoes while drying to boost the drying process.

Also Read: How to Wash Allbirds Shoes?

How to wash shoes in the washing machine without a pillowcase or mesh bag?

It’s highly recommended to use a mesh bag while washing your shoes in the washing machine. If you don’t have a mesh laundry bag, simply use a pillowcase.

With that said, if you still wish to wash your shoes without using a mesh bag, you can simply separate the insoles and laces from the shoes and pre-treat them using mild detergent. Next, place the shoes in the washer and set the washer to run on a delicate cycle with cold water settings.

While washing without a mesh bag, don’t forget to put at least 2 towels along with the shoes.

Doing this will help to prevent damage to your shoes as well as the washer.

How to Clean Non-Washer Friendly shoes?

There are no special prerequisites or prep work needed to wash non-washer-friendly shoes.

With these types of shoes, there is only one option and that is spot cleaning.

Instructions to clean non-washer-friendly shoes

Step 1: Separate the laces and insoles from the shoes and hand wash them.

Step 2: Dilute vinegar or lemon juice with water and soak a cloth or soft toothbrush in it.

Step 3: Remove the stains from your shoes by gently working on the affected areas.

Step 4: Wipe the shoe with a dry cloth and let it dry.

Note: If you are spot cleaning leather shoes, you can use a leather shoe cleaning solution.

Final Thoughts

Machine washing your shoes can be a bit risky, especially if the care label has faded and you don’t know the correct approach.

So, if you are not sure about the right approach, stick to hand washing to be on the safe side.

Lastly, when you opt to machine wash your shoes, make sure that you use either a laundry mesh bag or a pillowcase.

For extra care, use a couple of towels. This will help to prevent any damage to your washer.

Frequently Asked Questions