How to wash sneakers in a washing machine
Sneakers are versatile footwear, indispensable for walks, at the gym, and have become an everyday accessory for leisure and work. They require cleaning, inside and out, more than any other footwear. Therefore, the practice of washing sneakers in the washing machine is becoming increasingly common. However, the result isn't always effective: stains remain, or the sneakers are irreparably damaged. Before throwing them in the washing machine, you need to know when machine washing is possible, which cycles are used, and what detergents are safe to use.
What shoes can't be machine washed?
Not all sneakers are machine washable, and the following types of footwear are not suitable for machine washing:
- made of genuine leather - requires special dry cleaning for leather shoes; in a washing machine, hot water and mechanical friction will cause severe deformation and cannot be restored;
- made of nubuck and suede - any type of wet washing is strictly prohibited; dry cleaning or hand cleaning with special compounds is also required;
- with artificial or natural fur - does not tolerate high humidity, the fur may become bald after the first wash;
- with decorative embellishments (rhinestones, rivets, beads, sequins, embroidery, prints, appliqués, reflective elements) - even if the shoes themselves can withstand washing, the decor may fall off, and in addition, damage the machine;
- with glued elements - rare glue can withstand the effects of hot water and detergent;
- with damaged or torn parts – the water circulating in the drum will only worsen the situation and completely ruin the shoes, and pieces of foam rubber, insoles, etc. can clog the machine filters.
What to do with "non-washable" shoes
Many shoe manufacturers include care instructions in the box or on the tag of the sneakers.
For shoes made of natural materials (leather, suede, nubuck), only hand cleaning is permitted, without excessive water treatment. Shoe boutiques offer a variety of care and cleaning products for these types of shoes, including aerosols, shampoos, special erasers for suede and nubuck, and water-repellent treatments. Following the instructions will achieve excellent results.
If these products are unavailable, it is recommended to use water with ammonia (a few drops per 1 liter of water). After cleaning the shoes, wipe them with a soft cloth soaked in the prepared solution. After this procedure, the nap of suede and nubuck should be brushed with a rubber brush or revived with hot steam, for example, from a kettle. Finally, apply a water-repellent treatment to the shoes. Leather sneakers should be treated with a cream of a matching color or a colorless one.
Sneakers made of synthetic materials and textiles can be cleaned with a soft brush and soapy water, but be sure to work quickly and not let them soak completely. Bleach is not recommended, as it may leave permanent white stains.
Which sneakers can be washed?
Before machine washing your sneakers with regular detergents, carefully examine what they're made of. Fabric or canvas sneakers are generally machine washable. A washing machine is ideal for sneakers made from the following materials:
- artificial leather;
- synthetic fabric;
- textile;
- nylon and polyester mesh.
Also pay attention to the sole; whether it is rubber or foam, it will not fall off during machine washing.
Preparation
Properly washing sneakers in the washing machine requires careful preparation. The best way to test whether your shoes are machine-washable is to soak them for 10-15 minutes in a basin of warm water and laundry detergent. This test will determine whether the shoes are fading, whether the soles are peeling, or whether the decorative elements are falling off. The rest of the preparation process consists of the following steps:
- remove the insole and laces from the shoes;
- clean the sole tread from dirt and stones;
- Place the pair of shoes in a special shoe bag or in a regular mesh laundry bag, which always comes with the machine;
- To protect against mechanical damage, it is advisable to add unnecessary things, rags, etc. to the car, since sneakers clank against the tank and damage the surface of the car.
Membrane sneakers require special attention. Gore-Tex, the largest membrane manufacturer that produces high-tech films for footwear such as Adidas and Nike, answers the question, "Is it hygienic to machine-wash sneakers?" with a resounding yes! The manufacturer's main recommendations for washing membrane sneakers are:
- temperature – no higher than 30 ºC;
- use of liquid products without bleaches;
- rinse thoroughly.
Laundry accessories
New washing machines with a shoe cycle have special hooks for hanging sneakers to prevent them from smashing during the wash. To avoid this, in standard machines, you can place sneakers in a mesh bag, a shoe bag (usually included in shoeboxes), or any other drawstring bag. In a pinch, an old pillowcase can serve as such a bag; a baby pillowcase works particularly well. The key is to use a bag that's not colored and won't fade during the wash.
Laundry detergents
Regular laundry detergent should be used with extreme caution, as it is more aggressive than liquid detergents. Therefore, gels, liquid powders, or soluble capsules are preferable for sneakers. The recommended dosage is one standard dose of gel or one capsule per pair of sneakers.
White sneakers also won't withstand all bleach; oxygen-based bleaches are necessary. Before loading white sneakers into the washing machine, you can pre-treat heavily soiled areas with a chlorine-free stain remover.
There's no point in using fabric softener when washing sneakers. Its antistatic or softening properties won't have the desired effect.
Mode and temperature
The answer to the question "How long does a program last?" depends on the washing machine's settings. Newer-generation washing machines have a special shoe wash setting lasting 20-25 minutes. If your machine doesn't have this setting, you can use the hand wash, delicates, or other gentle wash settings.
The main parameters for washing sneakers:
- temperature – no higher than 30-40 °C;
- washing mode – gentle;
- duration – no more than 25 minutes;
- Spinning and drying modes are disabled.
Automatic spin and dry
The intensity of the automatic spin cycle in a washing machine can damage athletic shoes. Therefore, don't use the automatic spin cycle. As a last resort, use the gentle spin cycle, if your washing machine has one.
Machine drying sneakers is also not recommended. Excessively hot air will negatively affect wet shoes, causing them to lose their shape.
How to dry
Drying sports shoes will take a long time and will require the simplest, almost old-fashioned methods:
- on the balcony in sunny weather, but in the shade;
- on a newspaper near heating radiators, but not on the hot batteries themselves;
- stuffing shoes with paper (not newspaper, it may stain) or soft cloth, which should be periodically changed to dry;
- using silica gel as a drying filler, which is applied to each pair of shoes and if you managed to save it.
After drying, it's recommended to apply a water-repellent treatment according to the instructions: apply two coats outdoors. This treatment will protect the sneakers from further contamination.
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The most annoying thing is washing dirty sneakers in the washing machine. I wash bed linens, laces, and then these…
Astra, take a closer look at the Hotpoint Ariston washing machines. Many of them have auto-cleaning, so you can do it like this: sneakers first, then bedding or baby clothes. The auto-cleaning will do everything itself. 🙂 And there's a program not only for sports clothes (where you can wash sneakers too), but there's even a program for down jackets.
I also have a Hotpoint Ariston, and I don't have any trouble washing at all. After washing my bedding, everyday clothes, and even dirty sneakers, nothing remains in the drum. And everything washes perfectly. So maybe you should just upgrade to a new machine?
By the way, I also use a Hotpoint washing machine. I was surprised the first time I washed my sneakers in it, and they were completely white afterwards. Before that, I had a machine that would screech and screech the dirt out of my sneakers.
By the way, Indesit also has a self-cleaning function. I have a washing machine like that. It doesn't leave any odor, and you can wash delicate items without worrying about washing them after, say, sneakers.
And my Ariston also cooks steamed food 🙂
And cross-stitch?
I wash on a delicate cycle in my Whirlpool and everything is always great.
I wash it in a regular machine, everything is fine.