How to Wash Sneakers in the Washing Machine
Most canvas, mesh, knit and synthetic sneakers come out of a washing machine looking close to new, as long as you prep them, protect them and keep the heat low. Here is the whole routine.
The short version
- Check the label first. Leather, suede and nubuck stay out of the washer.
- Take out laces and insoles, knock off dirt and pre-treat stains.
- Put one pair in a padded wash bag and add two or three towels.
- Gentle cycle, cold or warm water up to 86°F (30°C), a little mild liquid detergent.
- Air dry overnight, stuffed with paper towels. Never use the dryer.
What you need
- Mild liquid detergent
- An old toothbrush or soft brush
- Two or three old towels
- A padded sneaker wash bag
- Paper towels for drying
Step by step
Check the care label
Look inside the tongue. Canvas, cotton, polyester, nylon, mesh and knit uppers can usually be machine washed. If the shoe is leather, suede or nubuck, or has lights or a battery, clean it by hand instead. Not sure? See which shoes can go in the washer.
Remove laces and insoles
Laces can go in the bag with the shoes. Many foam insoles lose their shape in a machine, so wash them by hand in a bowl of soapy water and let them air dry flat.
Knock off the dirt
Clap the soles together outside, then brush out the tread. Mud that goes into the washer stays in the water and re-deposits on the uppers.
- Rub a drop of liquid detergent into stains with the toothbrush and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Bag them
Put one pair in a padded wash bag and zip it fully. The bag stops the shoes from slamming against the drum, which protects the glue line, the shoes and your machine. Thick chenille fibers also scrub every side of the upper as the drum turns.
Balance the load
Add two or three towels. They stop the drum from thumping and help a high-efficiency washer sense enough weight to fill properly. Skip anything with metal zippers or rivets.
Pick gentle settings
Use the gentle or delicate cycle, cold or warm water no hotter than 86°F (30°C), and the lowest spin speed. Heat softens the glue that holds soles on and can shrink knit uppers.
- Use about half your normal amount of liquid detergent. Too much leaves residue in mesh.
- Skip chlorine bleach and fabric softener.
Air dry overnight
Take the shoes out of the bag as soon as the cycle ends. Stuff them with paper towels to hold their shape and pull out moisture, then leave them at room temperature, out of direct sun. Swap the paper once it is soaked. Most sneakers are dry in 12 to 24 hours.
Settings by washer type
| Washer | Cycle | Water | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front-load | Delicate or hand wash | Cold to 86°F | Lowest spin speed keeps shoes from compressing. |
| HE top-load | Delicate | Cold to 86°F | Towels help the washer sense enough weight to fill. |
| Top-load with agitator | Gentle | Cold | Set the bag on top of the towels, away from the center post. |
Mistakes that ruin sneakers
- Hot water. It can loosen the sole and shrink knit fabric.
- The dryer. Tumbling heat warps midsoles and cracks glue. Air dry only.
- Washing them loose. Shoes bang against the drum, scuff, and can damage the door seal.
- Too much detergent. Leftover soap stiffens mesh and can leave yellow marks on whites as it dries.
- Washing every week. Spot clean between washes. A full machine wash a few times a season is plenty for most pairs.
