The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Shoes

Can You Put Shoes in the Washing Machine?

Most shoes made of canvas, mesh, or synthetic materials – tennis shoes typically fall into one of these categories – can be washed in the washing machine. However, you should always check the label inside your shoes (usually under the tongue or inside the heel) to verify they are machine-washable.

For example, leather and suede shoes (think dress shoes or stylish basketball shoes) should not go in the washer. The same goes for wool (like bedtime slippers), rubber, and vinyl shoes. Additionally, any shoes that include beading or embroidery should not be machine-washed.

Can You Put Shoes in the Dryer?

You generally should not put shoes in the dryer because the heat could damage the fabric or cause the shoes to shrink. Machine drying may damage the glue holding the materials of the shoe together, while tumble drying may also impact the shape of the shoe.

Some dryers have “No heat” drying settings or shoe-specific settings that may work. You can also find insertable shoe drying racks that will not damage the appliance. Some dryers come equipped with drying racks that also work for shoes. If you can tumble dry your shoes, you should consider placing them in a mesh bag before drying.

Some canvas and mesh sneakers can be tumbled dried. Regardless, check the washing and drying instructions inside the tongue or at the heel before throwing them in the dryer.

How to Wash Your Shoes in the Washing Machine

So you’ve discovered your shoes are indeed machine-washable. But you’re not sure what else you need to do to thoroughly clean your shoes while still ensuring their original integrity remains intact. We’re going to give you the step-by-step process for how to wash shoes in the washer:

1. Check the label of your shoes: We can’t stress this enough. You MUST verify you can clean shoes in the washer. Pay attention to the water temperature recommended and whether chlorine bleach may be used.
2. Remove the shoelaces from your shoes: We’ll get into washing shoelaces later. For now, know that you want to remove them (as well as the insoles if you can) and wash them separately. This is because you want to prevent the laces from catching or snatching during the agitation portion of washing.
3. Pretreat tough stains:Pretreating laundry is one of the best ways to remove tough stains fully. If your shoes were caked in mud or dirt after a hike or rainy commute, let the mud dry before doing anything else. Then rub a small amount of your usual liquid laundry detergent into the stain with your fingers – there should be pretreating instructions on the back of the detergent bottle.
4. Place the shoes in a mesh laundry bag: You can typically find shoe laundry bags or other mesh laundry bags to store your canvas sneakers or mesh tennis shoes before washing. These bags help prevent the shoes from tumbling and possibly becoming damaged.
5. Add a couple of towels or sheets to the load: You don’t want to wash just the shoes by themselves because they won’t get as clean without other items to agitate against during the wash cycle. But you also don’t want to overload the washer. You’re looking to balance the load and leave room for all the items to move around, so add a couple of towels, rags, or sheets to the drum when you’re cleaning shoes in the machine.
6. Add the proper amount of your favorite liquid laundry detergent (follow the instructions on the packaging): Next, you’re ready to add your detergent to the drum. For tough stain removal, try ARM & HAMMER™ Deep Clean Stain Formula Liquid Laundry Detergent; it features pH Power Technology with micro-scrubbers that penetrate deep between clothing fibers to clean stains from things like mud and dirt. Or, if you’re cleaning smelly shoes, try ARM & HAMMER™ Deep Clean Odor Formula Liquid Laundry Detergent to help eliminate odors.
7. Wash in cool or cold water on a delicate setting if possible: You should wash shoes in cold water if possible, since heat can sometimes cause damage and shrinking. Similarly, “delicate” is usually the best wash cycle for shoes since it minimizes spin and agitation. Regardless, refer to the washing instructions. Hint: You can add ½ cup of baking soda to the washer drum to help eliminate odors from shoes.
8. Allow shoes to dry: Remove the shoes from the mesh laundry bag and dry accordingly. Remember, only tumble dry if your machine has a no-heat setting. Otherwise, leave your shoes out to air dry.

How to Dry Shoes

If you can tumble dry your shoes, place them in a mesh shoe laundry bag before drying or utilize a shoe rack. Choose a “no heat” setting and run for about 20 minutes. If more drying is needed, run for another 20 minutes or allow your shoes to air dry.

Some canvas and mesh sneakers can be tumbled dried. Regardless, check the washing and drying instructions inside the tongue or at the heel before throwing them in the dryer.

How to Air Dry Shoes

The first key to air drying shoes is making sure they are placed in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight – much as you would do when air drying other laundry. Also: you want to dry the shoes separately from the laces and insoles.

Now, you can choose two methods to help speed up the air drying process. The first is stuffing your shoes with crumpled newspaper, which can help soak up the moisture, and shoving it all the way to the toe. You may have to replace the newspaper if your shoes remain especially wet -- but do a spot check after around 12 hours to see how they look. Consider lightly wrapping the exterior of the shoe(s) in a towel to help dry the outside.

The other method involves placing the shoes directly in front of a fan or air vent (if it blows cool air). You can lay a towel underneath the soles and dry them accordingly. However, the insides of the shoes may not get as dry as the exterior with the fan method.

How to Hand Wash Shoes

If your shoes can’t go in the washing machine or you simply need to spot clean your shoes, washing them by hand will be your best bet. Don’t worry. It’s not difficult and only takes a few minutes and a couple of ingredients.

Materials:

1. A medium-sized bowl half-full of warm water
2. Liquid laundry detergent filled to the first line on the cap
3. A small scrub brush
4. Optional: 1 tablespoon ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda laundry booster

Method:

1. Remove the laces (if any) from your shoes and brush off any clumps of dirt.
2. Add the laundry detergent (and ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda, if using) to the bowl of warm water and swish around to dissolve.
3. Dip your scrub brush into the detergent solution.
4. Clean the dirty areas of your shoe(s) with the scrub brush, using circular motions. You’ll also want to scrub the soles of your shoes since that’s the area most likely to attract and retain dirt, mud, and other stains.
5. Repeat as needed until the stain lifts. You will have some suds!
6. Rinse the shoe with clean water and a sponge.
7. Set aside to air dry.

How to Clean Your Shoelaces by Hand or in the Washing Machine

Always remove the laces from your shoes before washing them. Wash your laces as well as your shoes to get them completely clean and looking like new again.

Cloth shoelaces can be put in the washing machine, but you need to use a shoe laundry bag or pillowcase to prevent them from tangling with each other or other items in the load. .

How to Wash Shoelaces in the Washer

1. Remove the laces from your shoes and brush off any crusted dirt. Do not machine wash leather or suede shoelaces.
2. Place the laces in a shoe laundry bag (mesh or otherwise) or pillowcase to prevent tangling during the wash cycle.
3. Add the bag with the laces to a load of laundry you are washing in cool or cold water and run a normal cycle.
4. Remove the laces from the washer and hang to dry inside or outside. Do not put shoelaces in the dryer as the heat can damage plastic tips or cause the laces to shrink in some cases.

How to Wash Shoelaces by Hand

1. Add 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent to a small- or medium-sized bowl of warm (but not hot) water. Swish around to dissolve.
2. Remove the laces from your shoes and brush off any crusted dirt.
3. Submerge the laces in the detergent solution.
4. Let them soak for 15-30 minutes, swishing around a few times to keep them covered and to allow the detergent to penetrate the fibers.
5. Rinse in cool, clean water.
6. Hang to air dry. Do not put shoelaces in the dryer.

How to Clean Shoe Insoles

It’s generally best to clean your shoe insoles by hand, and you can use baking soda to help remove stains and neutralize odors.

Pour 1-2 teaspoons ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda into a large bowl or bag. Place your insoles in the baking soda and let sit overnight. Then, the following morning, use a brush to scrub the baking soda to address any lingering stains before rinsing with water.

Get Clean Tennis Shoes or Sneakers with the Help of ARM & HAMMER™ Detergent

You don’t need to be running through mud or sliding into home base to get shoes dirty – but if you are, we can still help. It’s best to wash your shoes as soon as possible after getting a stains. The longer the stains sit on the fabric, the more it will set into the fibers and the tougher it will be to remove.

Some laundry detergents, like ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ Stain Fighters, utilize the power of enzymes to help tackle tough set-in stains. For odor concerns, consider a specialty odor-eliminating detergent like ARM & HAMMER™ Deep Clean Odor Formula, designed to help tackle lingering smells while delivering a deep clean.

DID YOU KNOW: you can also spot clean your white shoes and help restore their whiteness by using baking soda.

Need to freshen up your kicks? Clean your water-washable shoes and shoelaces in the washing machine with ARM & HAMMER™ laundry detergents. Or, use ARM & HAMMER™ laundry detergents and Super Washing Soda to hand wash shoes and remove any stingy stains or eliminate stinky odors.