It’s the piece of our outfit that collects the most filth, yet gets cleaned the least. Shoes tend to be forgotten but require cleaning nonetheless. And in most cases, this is fairly easy to do.
In this short article, we will explain the best way to clean shoes, alternative cleaning methods, and more.
Can You Clean Shoes in the Washing Machine?
A lot of people aren’t aware that it is perfectly fine to wash shoes in the washing machine. In fact, most shoes will come out looking brand new.
There are a few exceptions though:
- Leather and suede shoes
- Shoes that have specific washing instructions from the manufacturer
As you can see, the list of exceptions is rather short. However, this doesn’t mean we can wash them like clothes.
How to Clean Shoes in the Washing Machine
Required items:
- Pillowcase / laundry bag
- Detergent
- Washing Machine
Time to Complete:
- 5 Minutes of actual work
- <60 minutes for the cycle itself
Follow these steps:
- Clean the worst filth from your shoes. They don’t need to be perfectly clean, but anything that can come off easily should be removed beforehand. You don’t want to have to clean your washing machine afterward.
- Remove the laces.
- Put your shoes in a laundry bag or pillowcase. This is to protect the shoes from damage. You can add the laces in there too, but make sure they can’t get out.
- Put the packed shoes in the washing machine. Optionally add 1-2 towels to reduce noise.
- Apply the minimum amount of detergent and no fabric softener.
- Set the washing machine to a cold / eco-program. So about 80-90°F or 30°C.
- No spinning cycle.
Afterward, the shoes can just be left to dry. Do not put them in the dryer, as this will ruin your shoes. Just leave them to dry as you would after getting soaked by rain.
Didn’t your shoes come out clean?
You may need to wash them again with baking soda.
Cleaning Shoes by Hand
The less fun and less easy way would be to clean your shoes by hand.
Required items:
- Cloth / soft brush
- Mild soap
- Sink with running water
Time to Complete:
- 15 Minutes
Follow these steps:
- Open the faucet and keep it running with warm water.
- Apply mild soap to the shoes.
- Brush the shoes with a cloth or brush
There are no tips and tricks to share here, except when dealing with leather or suede. In that case, you should carefully follow the steps in this guide. Perhaps even consider letting a professional do this for you.
Extra Tips for Keeping Shoes Clean Longer
If you want to prevent shoes from getting filthy you can use certain sprays to protect them. But honestly, often this won’t be needed as you can simply put them in the washing machine. You wouldn’t put protective sprays on your regular clothing either. However, leather and suede shoes remain the exception here. Considering how much harder (or expensive) it is to clean those, you may want to prevent them from getting filthy sooner than necessary.
Conclusion
It’s not that hard to keep most types of shoes clean. Simply put them in the washing machine or manually clean them under the faucet. If you own a pair of leather and suede shoes, you’ll have to do some more work–or get someone to do it for you. Either way, we hope this quick tutorial made your shoes look brand new again.
