How to Wash Shoes in a Washing Machine?

They say shoes make a man. Of course! Shoes are an essential part of our life and personality. They not only help us to express ourselves uniquely but also keep our feet comfortable. So how do you express yourself with dirty, dust shoes? of course, no one wants to be seen wearing dirty shoes but cleaning them by yourself can be a scary thought.

If your shoes get dirty, you should try to clean them as soon as possible. If you don’t do so, then the dirt can become stiff and sink into your shoes’ material, making it hard to remove later on.

Trainers are shoes that are expected to get dirty. If you start thinking about keeping your shoes clean during your runs, how will you run properly? So the best way to get the most out of your trainers and also have them looking fresh and clean is to clean them at home in a few simple and easy steps.

There are several ways you can clean your shoes. All these methods depend on the material used in making your shoes. If you have work boots to take care of, then check out this blog of work boot waterproofing. Like some methods used to clean leather might not be suitable to clean suede. Or what is used to clean canvas won’t be that effective on leather. That is why you should always double-check your shoe’s material before starting with the cleaning process. Some ways of getting your trainers squeaky clean are mentioned below.

How to wash shoes in the washing machine?

Cleaning your shoes in the washing machine is by far the easiest and the least energy-consuming. All you have to do is throw them in the washing machine. Well not really! Even if you are cleaning your shoes in the washing machine, you need to take care of certain things.

Step 1

Clean your shoes in the washing machine by themselves. If you put them in the machine with other articles of clothing, there is a chance that your shoes might start fraying. This can sufficiently damage your shoe’s shape and also the shoe’s upper. Also, you should remove the laces, so they don’t get tangled. You should wash the laces in a mesh bag of sorts.

Step 2

Never wash your shoes in the washing machine with hot water. Coldwater is the way to go. You should put your shoes in the machine with cold water and a small amount of gentle detergent. Strong washing detergents aren’t ideal. Additionally, you should go for gentle cycles as the other cycles might damage the shoe form.

Step 3

After your shoes are out of the machine, don’t put them in the dryer. Instead, let them air-dry overnight. Your shoe’s shape will kind of squish so you can reshape your shoes by putting in balls of small hand towels or cleaning cloth in the wet shoe and let them dry.

Cleaning your shoes with the help of a washing machine is very time-saving and easy. You can get a clean shoe in minutes with minimum effort, but it is not ideal to do so. Washing your shoes in the washing machine can decrease their durability. So, if you have time on your hand, try to hand-clean your shoes. Know about white shoes and their waterproofing here.

Quick and Efficient Way to Hand Wash your Trainers

Although cleaning shoes in the washing machine is more accessible, it isn’t that beneficial for your shoes in the long run. So if you want your shoes to look new and feel fresh and ensure their longevity, you should hand wash them. There are many ways to hand-wash your trainers, but the most efficient and quickest is mentioned here. To hand-wash your shoes at home, you will need the following:

Tools

Towel
2 bowls
Small scrub brush
Lint roller
Clothing detergent

Method

Step 1

First of all, you need to set up your station, so you don’t have to run looking for the required material. After you have set up your station, remove your shoe’s laces. The lace can be a hindrance because it can soak up excess water and prevent you from getting to all the nooks and crannies.

Step 2

When you have removed the laces, dust off your shoe with a towel, this will eliminate most of the dust and dirt. Use a lint roller if your shoes are suede or fabric. The towel will get most of the dust off, but it will not make much of a difference in these materials. The lint roller works like magic as it strips off all the grum and dust.

Step 3

Fill both the bowls with warm water. Fill one of the bowls with clean water. At the same time, add the detergent pod to the other bowl of warm water. You should make sure to dissolve the detergent in the water thoroughly. Also, make sure to leave some space and not fill the bowls to the top. This will give you room to dip your brush in.

Step 4

When you are done setting up the bowls, take a small scrub brush and dip it in the detergent. After dipping the brush in the detergent, use small circular motions to scrub your shoe. Make sure to create lather. This affirms that the detergent is doing its duty of removing stains.

Furthermore, rinse the brush in clean water now and then. This method of scrubbing dirt is ideal for leather and fabric shoes, and you should not try this on suede. For suede shoes, you should use a dry brush and eraser instead. There are many eraser options available in the market.

Step 5

After you’re done washing your shoe with detergent, dry it off with a towel. Afterward, let your shoe air-dry overnight. Drying them under direct sunlight is not a good idea as it can ruin the color and the feel of your shoes. That is the reason you should make sure to air-dry them away from direct sunlight.

Step 6

Your dirty shoes are clean, yay! So what about your laces? Cleaning your laces is very simple. Just take the brush and detergent water and thoroughly brush your laces. Or you can simply throw them in the machine. On the other hand, if you want a cleaner and fresher look just buy a new pair of laces. They are inexpensive, and a new pair of laces can make a difference.

This method of hand washing your shoes is easy and efficient. All you need are some essential tools that are already available in your house somewhere. This method is ideal for leather and canvas. As for suede, you need to be extra careful with those kinds of shoes. Thus, to clean suede using an eraser and dry brush and you should be good to go.

Clean Canvas Shoes with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Cleaning your canvas shoes can be a bit of a hassle, especially if they’re white. This is a very effective way to get your canvas shoes to look like new again. The required materials for this cleaning method are probably available in your home. All you need is baking soda and vinegar.

Material

Baking soda
Vinegar
1 cup of water
Toothbrush

Method

For this method, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda into 2 tablespoons of vinegar and add 1 cup of water. Form a paste of these ingredients and use a toothbrush to apply this to your shoes. Scrub the paste on your shoes with a gentle circular motion. This paste dries relatively quickly, so once it’s dry, dust it off. Let your shoe air-dry overnight, and voila! Your canvas shoes should be good as new.

FAQs

Do you wash shoes in cold or hot water?

You can wash shoes in cold water. Make sure you use a mild detergent. When washing in washing machine apply mild setting. However, hot water can warp your shoes, or may cause fading of their color.

How do you dry trainers fast?

Stuff the shoes with crinkled newspaper, and with opened laces. Place the shoes in front of air heater or fan. Keep them there for a while, to get them dried quickly.

Should you take laces out when washing shoes?

Yes definitely, you have to take out laces from the shoes, and wash them seperately.

In Conclusion

The right shoes are hard to find. And once found, it’s hard to maintain their new and clean look. Shoes are expensive, and you can’t buy a new pair whenever the one you have gets dirty. That is the reason why you should get your hands dirty to clean your shoes yourself. It’s an easy and economical way of having your shoes look sleek and fresh for longer, making you look nice.