How to wash shoes?

Washing sneakers is something many may not consider a necessary task at times, as the same shoes are often worn repeatedly. It can also be thought that shoes are like clothes, and you can surely just toss them into the washing machine to clean them again. What often happens then is that you can damage the delicate materials used to construct the shoe and, in the worst case, completely distort them. So, if you are truly set on washing your shoes in the washing machine, do it carefully and keep them away from the dryer. Place the shoes in a pillowcase, use cold water, very little detergent, or if you're washing completely white shoes, use bleach instead, and with low or no spin cycle, then let them air dry. Again, no dryer! Next, we will explain how to wash by hand to avoid damaging your favorite pair.

Avoid dirty shoes with this trick

One of the best tips for white shoes is prevention. If you want to keep your new sneakers clean and white for as long as possible, the first thing you should do is waterproof your shoes before wearing them. This will reduce the amount of dirt that adheres to the shoes, and any stains will be easier to wash off. If the damage has already occurred, we have several effective tips that remove even the worst stains.

General tips

Here are some general tips to maintain the appearance and quality of your shoes before we dive into how to wash them. They are very simple and can quickly become a nice little routine when you get home. It's always best to take care of these steps as early as possible to prevent them from becoming very difficult to clean later.

Step 1 - Wash away visible dirt. Evaluate the time you have to do it and use a clean towel, a used toothbrush you've considered discarding, or if you're really short on time: your hands.

Just like with your teeth, it's important to remove dirt from your shoes so that things don't get worse – it will save you from future problems and headaches.

Step 2 - The next thing you can do is remove any remaining dirt from an outdoor excursion; even if you just walked to the store where the path is clean, you'd be surprised how much can get stuck under your shoe.

Rinse the shoes with a wet towel or a concentrated stream of water; for example, under the sink or showerhead if you are careful enough. It's especially useful if you've been for a run in the forest where it's wet and muddy.

Step 3 - Last but not least, clean the large and visible stains. If you've managed to get large stains on your shoe and it's recent, it will likely be possible to remove them if you're quick enough to apply a soap and water mixture to the stain.

What kind of products you can use for this depends on the shoe, and we will go deeper into how to get rid of stubborn stains and marks later in the article.

The other general tips will take you a long way, but it is important to be cautious with the different materials of your shoes, and it requires a bit more attention from you if you need to clean them further. Next, we will guide you through how to wash knitted, mesh, canvas, leather, synthetic leather, and suede leather shoes.

Knitted and mesh shoes

Also called knit or knitted shoes, which can be described as breathable with a mesh-like appearance. Wearing knitted sneakers has been a big trend lately, but the problem is that they also tend to get dirty easily. Unlike other materials found in shoes, knitted materials are very porous by nature; in other words, provided with pores and openings. This means they attract mud, dirt, sweat, and everything that loves to soak into the material, and which can often seem impossible to clean.

Mesh shoes have the same problems as knitted shoes, as both are made of a breathable material; dirt and other grime get trapped in the mesh surrounding the shoe when you are, for example, on a run or working out. The difference between mesh and knitted, however, is that mesh shoes are usually made of synthetic materials such as polyester or nylon and can therefore withstand more thorough cleaning.

How to wash shoes in the washing machine

Our running shoes are made of a mesh material, and we have concluded that they can withstand the washing machine as long as you remove the laces and insoles and set the washing machine to 30 degrees Celsius with a low spin cycle. The white shoes are designed to retain their white color longer. But if you want to be more careful, follow the advice below.

With the help of this guide, we will make the impossible possible. Although knit and mesh shoes require a lot of love, it doesn't mean they can't be transformed back to their original state – they just need a little extra patience and delicacy.

How to do it

With knitted shoes, you must be very careful; they are soft and pliable, which makes them more fragile compared to a nylon blend mesh or other materials. This means that brushing is a no-no and is too coarse for the fabric, so you'll need to use a soft cloth or microfiber cloth to remove stains.

1. Regarding cleaning products, you must also be cautious. The chemicals in detergents can be too strong for the fabric. Instead, use mild shower gel.
2. Cover the area you want to wash with soap and dampen it with cold water.
3. Gently rub it with the cloth you have available until the stain has lifted from the fabric.
4. Remove soap residue with a wet towel and let it air dry.

With mesh, stronger materials like nylon and polyester might have been used, making it possible to use a brush if you have one available or a used toothbrush. It also varies whether the shoes are soft or hard; so if you opt for a toothbrush, use soft bristles for soft shoes and hard bristles for hard shoes.

1. You know your shoe best, so choose the right brush – soft for soft and hard for hard.
2. Brush away dirt and grime from your shoe.
3. Mix 1 part baking soda with 1 part vinegar and soak the mixture on the dirty areas or stains for about 15 minutes.
4. After 15 minutes, gently scrub the covered area for a couple of minutes before finally using a soft, wet cloth to wash and wipe it away.

 

Synthetic leather shoes

The material in synthetic leather shoes doesn't hold stains as tightly as nylon/polyester mesh, and is more forgiving than real leather shoes, so the difficulty of cleaning your synthetic shoes is thankfully much easier. Hopefully, you'll notice that dirt and grime lift off easily as you begin to clean them.

How to do it

1. Mix a solution containing warm water and a little mild detergent.
2. Grab a clean cloth and soak it in the solution before proceeding to wash away and dampen the dirty areas of your shoe.
3. Once you've dampened the dirty areas, gently scrub them with a brush or toothbrush for a couple of minutes.
4. Then clean the shoes with a soft, wet cloth to remove soap residue and let the shoes air dry.

Canvas sneakers

Canvas shoes, however, are less forgiving and more prone to getting dirty than synthetic leather shoes, but they make up for it by being very durable or hard-wearing. That said, it will then be possible to clean the shoes in your washing machine; just be careful and make sure you preferably put them in a pillowcase and run it on a delicate cycle with cold water and very little detergent, and if the shoes are completely white, you can add bleach and skip the detergent. When it's done, take them out and let them air dry. But it's always best to wash shoes by hand, as you will have more control over what goes where.

How to do it by hand

1. Make a mixture containing equal parts baking soda and warm water.
2. Grab that good old, used (or a new one specifically for shoes) toothbrush and dip it into the mixture you just prepared.
3. Then scrub the stains and dirt on the shoes with the toothbrush until they are clean.
4. Let the shoes dry with the scrubbed-in mixture still on before eventually wiping away the dried and hardened baking soda mixture with a damp cloth.

Leather shoes

Leather can be a fantastic material that can do wonders for an outfit, but it can also cause great frustration and headaches when cleaning garments. It's easy to get stains on leather shoes, and they are very prone to wear marks from almost anything, which can distort the material's natural patina. As soon as you notice a stain on your shoes, the most important thing will be to thoroughly clean the stains that have appeared.

How to do it

1. Make a mixture with a little liquid dish soap and water in a bowl. Dip a microfiber cloth in the mixture and use it to gently wipe away visible dirt and salt stains from the shoe's surface.
2. Add baking soda to the mixture from step 1, and mix it with a used toothbrush if you're using one, or a brush with suitable bristles for leather. Use the toothbrush to scrub the soles of the shoe until you see no dirt left. Then wipe away the soap and grime with the microfiber cloth, or carefully rinse it off under the tap.
3. A clever idea we've come up with is that you can use window cleaner to make your shoes shinier! Spray the cleaner either directly onto the shoe or onto a microfiber cloth, then polish it and wipe it dry.
4. Do the same with the other shoe and let them dry completely, but shield them from direct sunlight and heat.

Suede shoes

Suede sneakers are among the most frustrating shoes to try and maintain the quality of. Suede lacks the external protective barrier of leather, which gives it that velvety feel on the shoes, but it also makes it very vulnerable to a host of nasty accidents you might encounter when wearing them. To make matters worse, suede is also quite resistant to cleaning.

If you haven't already, it would be wise to invest in a brush specifically designed for suede. Just be careful with brushing as you don't want to be too aggressive, but the brush can work wonders for cleaning the surface.

Another item you can invest in is a suede eraser. You press the eraser against the stain and rub and manipulate it until the stain disappears. When you're done, use a clean cloth to remove any residue from the cleaning.

If the shoes still haven't been cleaned by the two products you invested in, or if you simply don't want to invest in them, you can resort to white vinegar.

How to do it

1. Apply a little white vinegar to a clean cloth before gently dabbing the cloth onto the stain. You don't need much vinegar, so apply as little as possible.
2. Gently clean the stain with the cloth that has white vinegar on it.
3. Once you've managed to wash away the stain, clean the area with a damp cloth or towel and let it air dry.

How to keep your shoes clean

Now that you've received a proper introduction to cleaning sneakers, we can summarize the guide with a few simple tips for keeping them clean.

1. Spot-check your shoes every time you come home. It might seem like an unnecessary and tedious extra task, but by keeping track of the condition of your shoes before putting them away, you can maintain their quality.
2. It's super important to clean stains immediately when you notice them. Grit, dirt, and other sticky stuff you encounter can be easiest to clean immediately upon contact with your shoes, so try to address it as soon as possible, even if all you have available is a little soap and water in the bar's restroom.
3. Last but not least, apply products that create a protective barrier when necessary. Not all shoe variants need to be sprayed or rubbed in, but leather and suede in particular will greatly benefit from a little extra care. Remember to waterproof your shoes.
4. You waterproof leather shoes with wax. For suede/nubuck or other shoes such as sneakers and running shoes, use spray. Remember to wash the shoes and let them air dry unless they are brand new before waterproofing, so that the waterproofing creates a fresh and protective layer.