Washing Shoes In The Washing Machine Made Simple


washing shoes in the washing machineLegend has it that long ago there was a sneaker lover that got into a fight with mud and lost. This sneaker lover thought that all hope was lost until he used this machine called a washer. With all of its power it washed his dirty sneakers and left them cleaner than ever before. The end! Alright no more jokes. So a common question always asked by sneaker wearers is “can I throw my sneakers in the washing machine?” The answer is yes, washing shoes in the washing machine is very much possible.

In this section of our site we plan on giving you everything you need to know when it comes to how to wash your shoes in the washing machine. We’re also going to provide you with a list of tools you will need when going into this method. We will provide you with a prep stage before we begin our process as well. Guys lets start our engines and let us begin!

Washing Shoes In The Washing Machine Prep Stage

Before you throw your muddy, dirty, scuffed up sneakers into the washing machine you first need to prepare them correctly. Start off by giving your sneakers a light hand wash to remove that excess grease or dirt. Use a soft bristle brush with soapy water to get any dirt that may be stuck on the shoe. You can find more information about our hand washing method on our home page! This step is important because you want to help the washing machine do its job.

The washing machine is good at getting rid of stains and deep dirt marks. Even though this is true it can sometimes not remove all dirt fully unless you pre clean your sneakers first. So for the best results guys’ pre clean is a must!

A List Of Materials You Will Need For This Method

Try to make sure you have these items handy when beginning the process of washing shoes in the washing machine.

  • Laundry Detergent Liquid or Gel– This is the solution you need to clean your sneakers.
  • 4 to 5 Towels– These towels prevent your sneakers from banging up and down in the machine.
  • 2 Pillow Cases– Putting your shoes into the pillow cases will prevent any damage to the outer layers.
  • 2 Shoe Trees– This isn’t a must but we recommend them because it will prevent your sneaker from losing form.

Now that your sneakers are prepped and you have your tools lets jump into the process now!

Washing Machine Process

“Feed me Seymore”  A quote from the popular movie classic Little Shop of Horror. Now your washing machine is hungry and ready to clean so it’s time to feed it your sneakers.

 Step 1:

Remove the laces from your sneakers. This is done because you want to make sure they don’t get in the way while your getting your sneakers washed. We recommend putting the laces in a separate mesh bag before throwing them in with your sneakers.

Step 2:

Remove the insoles of the sneaker. Most of the time your insoles hold the most smell so it is wise to wash them separately. This will ensure that you get all the smell out of them. Some blogs recommend letting them sit with baking soda on them for a day before washing. If you don’t want to do this then you can just pre clean the sneakers instead. Now you can throw them in the machine separately.

Step 3: Optional but Recommended

Place a pair of shoe trees inside your sneakers. This is to prevent your sneakers from losing their form while in the wash. You can try using a rag or a pair of socks to stuff your sneakers with as an alternative. Shoe trees would work better though because they will not come out while washing.

Step 4:

Place your sneakers inside your pillow cases. Tie a knot at the end of each pillow case to prevent your sneakers from falling out.

Step 5:

Place your sneakers into your washing machine. Then go ahead and throw your towels into the machine as well.

Step 6:

Add your laundry detergent. You’re going to want to add just a cap full of detergent for your sneakers.

Step 7:

Make sure you set the correct settings on your washing machine before you start washing. First set your water level on large flow to make sure you get enough water going for your sneakers. Then turn your temperature to cold water. Set your options to one rinse only. Now make sure you use the setting “delicate wash” because the less friction the better. You can also use normal wash as well but we recommend delicate or gentle wash instead.

Step 8:

Press the start button on your washing machine. Each washing machine will vary but you’re going to want to wash your sneakers for about 40 to 50 minutes. Once the sneakers are done take them out of the machine. Now take them out of your pillow cases and let them air dry. Let the insoles and the laces all dry separately before placing them back into the sneakers. There you have it guys, this is how washing shoes in the washing machine is done.

Here is one example of washing shoes in the washing machine by HavikTheGreat: