Methods for washing shoes by hand, in a washing machine or dishwasher

Is this type of washing possible? It’s not for nothing that they say that laziness is the engine of progress. If someone had not once thrown sneakers into the washing machine, we would never have guessed that there was such a fast, effective and hassle-free way to clean them. But at the same time, it’s right to ask the question: how to wash shoes in a washing machine? In what cases is it better to refuse such cleaning? How to dry products? Our article will be devoted to all this.

What shoes can be washed?

We still won’t put all the very dirty shoes into the drum of the washing machine, ignoring the instructions of their manufacturers. The fact is that in this device the product is subjected to thermal and mechanical influences that are not typical for it. But not everyone, even branded, high-quality and expensive shoes, can withstand such “shock therapy.”

Fabric shoes withstand washing best

Let's look at the table to see if shoes can be washed in a machine.

So we figured out whether it is possible to wash shoes in a washing machine.

Shoes will lose their decor in the washing machine

Membrane shoes are not recommended to be washed

Washing will also destroy fur.

Boots can damage the door glass

It’s a crime to put patent leather shoes in a typewriter.

Winter boots are cleaned only by hand

Advice! Fabric shoes with a good adhesive base are most suitable for washing.

Care and video

The care system consists of several rules:

• cleansing from impurities;
• drying;

• polishing;
• impregnation.

Dirt is removed from leather shoes. Wipe with a damp, then dry cloth. Do not wash with hot water. The material is polished with special creams.

Lacquered products are not washed. Simply wipe with a soft flannelette cloth. Shoes with such a surface cannot be cleaned with a brush. These shoes are not recommended to be worn every day.

To renew the varnish layer, periodically wipe the surface with a swab dipped in milk. After drying, the liquid is soaked in half an onion and polished with velor or flannelette cloth.

To extend the service life, periodically lubricate the varnished surface with a cloth soaked in vegetable oil, and then wipe it with a dry piece of cloth.

Preparation

Washing shoes in a washing machine is a procedure for which the latter must be prepared:

1. The first thing is to refer to such an important document as the instructions for the product - label, brochure, booklet, recommendations on the box, label, etc. It is according to what is written there that we decide whether it is possible to wash shoes in a machine or whether it is better to give preference to hand cleaning.
2. Separate everything you can: unlace the laces, remove the insoles, remove some detachable decor. This should be washed separately and unfortunately by hand. Laundry soap is perfect for laces, and insoles can be washed well by cleaning them with an old toothbrush and washing powder.

To avoid such problems, place only undamaged shoes in the drum.

1. If your shoes are very dirty, you will again have to do it yourself: wash off all the stuck-on dirt, shake out the sand, scrape off the stuck chewing gum, clean out the stuck pebbles, thorns, and twigs. All this, if separated in the drum, can lead to serious damage to the machine.
2. Soak very dirty shoes for a while in soapy water before washing.
3. If fabric shoes are heavily soiled, we advise you to additionally rub these areas with detergent or laundry soap applied to a brush before machine washing. Then you need to give it some time to act, after which you just place it in the drum.

You can soften the impact of the sole

1. We advise you to purchase a special bag for washing shoes - approximately the same as in the photo. As a last resort, the product can be placed in an old pillowcase, wrapped in unnecessary sheets, a towel, or an old (but clean) linen bag. It will do just fine to wrap unnecessary rags around your shoes. The drum of the machine, as well as the glass of the door, is not designed to be hit by a heavy shoe sole during the washing process. Therefore, such impacts must be mitigated.
2. Be prepared for the fact that you will only wash one pair per wash cycle. Maximum two - and only if these are products with light soles, small children's sneakers. More is an unbearable load on the “washing machine”.

Special bag for washing shoes

Process

Well, we come directly to the washing itself. Let's look at the correct process - how to wash shoes in an automatic machine.

First you need to remove the dirt

Detergent

For shoes, it is best to choose liquid detergent or capsules, which are popular today. They are washed out more easily, without leaving streaks or undissolved grains, than washing powder does in this case. It may also leave yellow spots on a light surface. If the shoes are white, then you can add an oxygen bleach like Vanish, which is intended specifically for use in an automatic machine.

If you wash white shoes, you can add oxygen bleach

Which product is best to choose? Ideal for washing sports items and membrane fabrics. If you have nothing but powder, then you should put the very minimum amount of it. It would be a mistake to replace the detergent with shampoo, liquid soap or dishwashing gel - they foam too much, which is why they are not suitable for machine washing.

After washing, you need to treat your shoes with a water-repellent agent.

Fabric, sports shoes

How to wash shoes in an automatic machine? To do this, you need to set the following characteristics:

Shoes separately, laces separately

• Mode: the best one is the one designed specifically for washing sports shoes. If your machine does not have such a program, then you need to choose a delicate wash or a mode for sports (membrane) clothes and synthetics. Do not choose the shortest program - microparticles of dirt will not have time to be washed out of dense shoe material in a couple of tens of minutes.
• Before washing your shoes in the washing machine, set the temperature to no more than 40 degrees.

It's good if the car has a special mode

• Rinse: Since shoes are not clothes, it is harder to rinse detergent out of them. Therefore, it is better to stick to double rinsing. Otherwise, you will get unsightly whitish stains. To remove them from fabric shoes, you will need to wash them again.
• Spin: Disable this function. Rotating in a shoe drum is no easy task. And spinning at high speeds can ruin the thing. It’s also not surprising to break the glass of the door with the sole. Only drain the water from the drum.
• Drying: be sure to decontaminate it! High temperature exposure is detrimental to both the adhesive base and the material of the sole, the leather from which the upper of the product is made.

Consequences of washing low-quality products.
More tips on washing in the video in this article.

Advice! When washing shoes, unusually loud sounds will be heard while the machine is running - this is the sole hitting the glass, the interior of the drum. You shouldn’t be scared, but you need to keep in mind that you shouldn’t run such a wash at night - you simply won’t fall asleep under such a roar.

Leather shoes

We learned how to wash sports shoes in the washing machine. Let us immediately note that shoes made of leather - both natural and substitute - are best cleaned with a special brush, napkin, cloth, followed by impregnation with special caring creams. From the inside, you get rid of the unpleasant odor using deodorizing sprays or improvised substances - treat with a solution of manganese or alcohol.

It is better to clean leather shoes by hand

An alternative would be a more gentle hand wash in water with the addition of dissolved laundry soap shavings and ammonia. After the procedure, the shoe leather is treated with castor oil.

But if you want to send leather boots, sneakers or shoes to the device at your own risk, follow these recommendations before washing your shoes in an automatic washing machine:

• Be sure to remove all dirt from the product.
• As in the previous case, remove the insoles, laces and anything else that may come loose during the washing process. This is all cleaned by hand with laundry soap.
• Be sure to use a laundry bag or alternative.
• Washing temperature – no more than 30 degrees.
• Mode – delicate, without spinning and drying.

For such shoes it is better to clean them by hand.

Advice! Frequently washing shoes is not recommended! Maximum – three times a month. Otherwise, such cleaning will lead to a reduction in its service life.

Shoes made of suede and nubuck

How to machine wash shoes if they are made of suede or nubuck? We will not do this under any circumstances! We will share with you recommendations for possible effective cleaning:

• Start the procedure when the shoes are completely dry.
• It is best to clean with special brushes for this material.
• If an unsightly gloss or abrasion appears on the surface of the suede, then rubbing these areas with a regular eraser will help restore the shoe’s aesthetic appearance.

Washing suede is not a good idea.

From the inside

Many people send their shoes to the wash for only one reason - to get rid of an unpleasant odor. But we also know a more gentle and effective way to combat it:

Eliminating unpleasant odor

• First of all, clean the inside of your shoes and wash the insoles. The product itself is cleaned with a cloth soaked in soapy water. For fur, use a brush.
• Buy essential oils with your favorite scent at the pharmacy, the price of which is not so high. Now all that remains is to saturate the insole, the “insides of the shoe,” with this substance. But don't overdo it: more won't mean better here. Just a few drops are enough. Overdo it and you will get a strong and unpleasant odor.

How to wash shoes by hand

Before starting the procedure, make sure that your favorite pair can be cleaned of dirt with soap and water; not all materials react equally to such treatment.

1. Clean shoes made of natural and artificial leather, suede boots, nubuck shoes with special foams or wipe with damp wipes.
2. Treat a pair of genuine leather with a soap solution (100 ml) with 2-3 drops of ammonia. Then wipe the surface thoroughly with a clean cloth.

Suede boots cannot be washed by hand or in a machine; dirt from the surface should be removed using a special brush

House slippers, Ugg boots made of synthetic materials, sneakers, moccasins and ballet flats made of textiles tolerate hand washing well. To properly clean them, follow the following sequence of actions.

1. Dilute liquid washing powder in water heated to +40 °C.
2. Soak cloth pairs of shoes or white sneakers for 15-20 minutes to enhance cleaning effectiveness.
3. Drain the cooled water after soaking.
4. Prepare a new solution according to the recipe described earlier.
5. Using a toothbrush, clean the surface of the shoes from the outside and inside until the stains and dirt disappear.
6. Rinse the pair in clean water and leave to dry.

After cleaning the surface with a brush and soapy water, rinse the shoes thoroughly so that there are no streaks left.

Secrets of hand washing rag shoes - video

Drying

We have completely figured out how to wash shoes in a machine. Washing your shoes properly is half the battle. The product must be dried according to all the rules so as not to spoil it at this stage of care. We advise you to adhere to this series of recommendations:

You also need to know about proper drying

• Do not dry your shoes at high temperatures! This applies to its location on radiators, pipes, other heating devices, and in high-temperature dryers. Even the hot air of a hair dryer and drying in direct sunlight will damage your shoes! Leather products are deformed from such influences; on others, the adhesive layer that connects the upper to the sole “melts”.
• We would separately warn those who are planning to dry fabric sneakers on a radiator, thinking that such drying will not harm the material, especially if it is cotton. If the detergent is not completely washed out, then when it comes into contact with hot metal, it will quickly bake, turning into unsightly brown stains.
• Ideal drying is at room temperature, in a well-ventilated area. This is either at home or on a shaded balcony.

Stuff with paper for quick drying

• Stuff highly absorbent paper into your shoes. This will help it not lose shape during drying and will take away excess moisture. Change this “filler” as it becomes completely moistened. We do not recommend using newspapers, magazines and other printed materials - once wet, they can stain your shoes with their colors. The best option is plain white paper.
• We advise you to treat your boots with a water-repellent impregnation after complete drying. This is a special aerosol that can easily be found in both shoe stores and household chemical stores. The product will help keep your feet from getting wet in bad weather for as long as possible, and keep your sneakers and sneakers looking presentable for a long time.

The nuances of drying a fabric or leather pair

The ideal place for drying is a balcony, loggia or just open air. Direct sunlight is not suitable for drying, it destroys the adhesive layer. If it's cold or raining outside, dry your shoes at home. To dry quickly, place it on the battery, which you have previously covered with a thick towel or material.

A popular method is to stuff shoes with crumpled up newspapers. Fill your boots or slippers tightly with them and leave until completely dry. The paper absorbs moisture, allowing it to maintain its shape.

Only colored shoes with dark lining can be stuffed with newspapers.

You cannot use newspaper to dry light-colored shoes, as the printing ink will print on the lining. In this case, replace it with white paper, preferably writing paper with higher hygroscopicity.

Everything is quite simple: immediately after washing, you need to wipe your shoes as dry as possible with clean white napkins or paper (always white, without dyes). Then we stuff the sneakers with white paper, napkins, clean bandages, cotton wool or gauze. Then we wrap the sneakers tightly, very tightly with a bandage or gauze in 4-5 layers, tie them and put them in a dry, clean place.

slynyavka

https://pikabu.ru/story/kak_sushit_tekstilnuyu_obuv_komu_len_chitat_chitayte_srazu_pod_zvyozdochkami_944528

You can dry your shoes using special electric dryers. In this case, follow the instructions supplied with the device.

Electric shoe dryer with UV radiation neutralizes fungus and germs

Tips to note

Let’s share a number of recommendations that housewives learned during the practice of washing shoes in a machine:

Is it possible to wash shoes in a washing machine - a pressing question

• A product called “Persil” works well against severe stains: the gel is applied to particularly dirty areas. After 10 minutes, the shoes can be washed without rinsing off the product.
• Is it possible to wash shoes in a machine more efficiently? For more effective cleaning, you need to add Calgon or an analogue to the special compartment. Ordinary soda will also successfully cope with this role. These products soften the water, which has a beneficial effect on the cleaning result.
• As we said, machine washing is disastrous for suede shoes. But if the product has several such inserts, then it’s okay if it goes through a machine wash cycle.
• If after washing there is an unpleasant odor inside a pair of shoes, then you should moisten a napkin or cloth in ordinary table vinegar (not essence!), and wipe the inside of the product with it. After this, you just need to ventilate the shoes a little to remove the unpleasant vinegar “aroma” - and they are ready to wear! Note that in the case of membrane shoes, this life hack will have to be abandoned.

Still, is it possible to wash shoes in a washing machine? We have found out that this is not a taboo for textile, soft house shoes, sneakers, uggs, sneakers, moccasins and fabric ballet shoes. However, when sending these items for washing, you should carefully consider preparing them for this process, selecting the correct washing mode and detergent. Proper drying is no less important - at this stage, shoes can also be irreparably damaged. We hope that our recommendations were useful to you!

Washing denim and rubber shoes in the dishwasher

The method proposed below for washing denim sneakers, shoes made of rubber and plastic may seem unhygienic to some, because then you will have to put dishes in the chamber of the machine. Whether to use advice or not is up to everyone to decide for themselves, but the method has its fans who share their successes with friends.

When choosing this type of washing, follow certain rules:

• The dishwasher model must have a program configured to use low-temperature water and dry without heating. When washing, it is necessary to avoid contact of shoes with boiling water and heated air flow, which destroy the material and destroy the adhesive seams;
• The machine must be equipped with a filter on the drainage system, which must be thoroughly cleaned after washing.

The dishwasher is an alternative assistant for washing shoes

Tips for washing shoes in the dishwasher:

• Pre-clean your shoes from dirt and stones;
• remove the insoles, liners and laces;
• Having selected the desired program, start the washing mode;
• use detergent without disinfectants and bleaching additives;
• After finishing washing, thoroughly clean the drain filter.

In addition to sneakers, children's or house shoes, rubber boots can be washed in the dishwasher. Place small ones with their soles up, and place adults on top of each other. Wash plastic slippers, flip-flops and galoshes in the same way.

Place shoes carefully in the dishwasher compartment, not in bulk.