How to Wash Shoes in the Washing Machine?

There’s nothing more unpleasant than wearing smell shoes, isn’t it? No matter, how well-dressed you are, smelly shoes can certainly spoil your overall personality.

It is quite tempting to throw your shoes in the washing machine as soon as they start smelling. But, do you know, you can spoil your shoe quality with your carelessly washing them in the machine? so, how to wash shoes in the washing machine?

Your shoes require proper observation when you plan them to wash in the washing machine. Interested in knowing?

Let us dive into the pool of the special procedure that you should follow when planning to wash your shoes in the washing machine without hampering their quality.

 

Is it safe to wash your shoes in the machine?

For most of us the first thought or question is always – is it safe to wash the shoes in the washing machine, isn’t it? If you also had this passing thought after reading the title, you would certainly be not the only one.

Washing or not washing the shoes in the machine basically depends on the material with which your shoes are made of. There are many shoes which are not machine washable such as leather shoes, etc. But, many other shoes can be suitably washed in the machine.

The only thing that you need to take care of is to follow the right procedure and steps to get the best and desired results. And yes, not to forget, it is absolutely safe to wash your shoes in the machine, if and only if you follow all the right instructions.

 

Why your shoes smell?

Before understanding the proper way of cleaning your shoes in the washing machine, it is important to know the reasons that make your shoes smelly. There can be a number of reasons for that:

• Frequent wear – shoes absorb the sweat of your feet and if they are not dried properly, they smell
• Fungus in the foot
• Not wearing socks
• Poor ventilation

These possible reasons can cause severe smelly shoes, if not taken proper care.

Cleaning your Smelly shoes – Step-by-step guide:

It is not as simple as to simply put your smelly shoes in the machine but you should take some extra efforts if you want your shoes to be as perfect as they were when new.

A) Pre-cleaning your shoes:

Before, you put your shoe in the washing machine; you should pre-clean your shoes for getting the best results. Here are some of the steps that you can follow for pre-cleaning your shoes:

 

Step 1. RemoveX the excess dirt:

If your shoes are extra dirty or muddy, then simply get rid of the excess dirt using an old rag. You don’t have to scrub your shoes, just wipe them freely with the rag to get the dirt off.

 

Step 2. Clean the sole of the shoes:

You should also clean the sole of your shoe. Use a toothbrush and warm soapy water to remove the available dirt from the sole. You can scrub the sole with a little force to make sure that all the excess dirt comes off easily.

 

Step 3. Rinse your shoe:

Although, you need to put your shoe in the machine for washing but before that, you should make sure to remove the soapy residue from them. For that, you can rinse your shoe with plain water.

 

Step 4. Remove the laces and insole:

Lastly, it is always advisable to remove the insole and laces of your shoes, before putting it in the washing machine. There can be a lot of dirt collected around the laces and insoles, therefore, removing them can result in better cleaning.

You can put the insole and laces separately in the machine to clean them as well.

 

B) Putting the shoes in the washing machine:

Once you are done with the pre-cleaning of your shoes, the next step concerns to put them in the machine for thorough cleaning. Here again, you need to take care of certain steps to clean your shoes properly without ruining its quality and shape.

Here are the steps that you need to follow for machine washing your shoes:

Step 1. Use a mesh bag or pillow cover:

Rather than directly putting your shoes in the machine, you should use a mesh bag or a pillow cover to clean them.

Put your shoes in the mesh bag/pillow cover and be sure that it is perfectly sealed to avoid causing any damages to the shoe. The mesh bag will help in protecting the quality and shape of your shoes.

 

Step 2. Add extra padding:

Your shoes are delicate and even a light extra pressure can ruin its shape. To avoid that, you can simply use 2-3 large towels along with shoes in the mesh bag. The added towels will act as an extra padding to protect your shoes from getting damaged in the machine.

Remember that you are washing the towels with your dirty shoes, so avoid using any delicate or white towels.

 

Step 3. Choose a gentle wash cycle:

Now, add your shoes, laces, and insoles in the washing machine and choose the wash cycle as gentle. Also, be specific to use only cold or warm water for washing your shoes. Use the extra rinse option to completely get rid of the soapy residue from the shoes.

You should avoid these things when washing your shoes in the machine:

• Don’t use hot water s it can weaken or crack the glue bonds of your shoes
• Also, don’t use any fabric softener while cleaning your shoes as its residue can attract more dirt later

 

C) Drying the shoes:

One of the common mistakes that many people do is drying their shoes in the machine dryer. If you too are doing the same, then you should stop it right now.

The extra pressure of the machine dryer can be harmful to your shoes as it can ruin its shape and even degrade the quality. You should be careful while drying your shoes to keep your shoes strong and new for the maximum time possible.

1. For properly drying your shoes, you should keep them in the open air for at least 24-hours. Allow your shoes to get all dried naturally.
2. However, if you want to speed up the drying process, you can stuff some newspaper sheets in your shoes. This will soak in the excess water and as a result, will speed up the drying process.

This completes the entire process of cleaning your shoes in the washing machine without distorting its shape/quality and yet getting the best results. Fortunately, cleaning shoes in the washing machine is not hard, but only if you know the trick.

 

Also, Read Our Article on Best Essential oils for Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Pain for men and women.

 

Which shoes can be washed in the machine?

Now, if you are planning to quickly place your shoes in the machine for a wash, wait right there. You must be aware that not all the shoes are meant for washing. Yes, you read that right.

• Generally, the canvas and athletic shoes which are made with nylon, cotton, or polyester material are apt for machine wash. These materials are durable and are not damaged by the machine wash.
• On the other hand, if your shoes are made with materials like leather, suede, rubber, and vinyl, then it shouldn’t be placed in the washer. Washing the shoes with these materials in the washer can ruin its quality and also hamper the shape.
• Also, if your shoes are made with delicate material like silk or have some embroidery or sequin on them, then also you should take them to the cleaning specialist to avoid any severe damages to the shoes.

So, before putting your shoes in the machine for a wash, make sure you are aware of its material type so as to get the best results without any compromises in the quality.

Take care of your shoes with properly washing them and dress to impress with their unmatched quality.