In addition, machine washing also helps shoes dry faster, saving a significant amount of drying time, especially for busy individuals.
Normally, the types of shoes that you can choose to wash in the machine are children’s shoes, Adidas sandals, Nike running shoes, Vans…; shoes made of materials such as cotton, nylon, polyester, and some other materials.
Steps for machine washing shoes
Although shoes can be easily washed in a washing machine, if not washed correctly, the shoes will quickly become worn, old, or even damaged. You can refer to the steps below to correctly wash shoes:
Clean the shoes before putting them in the washing machine
Step 1: Remove any dirt sticking to the shoes. At this point, you can tap the shoes together or tap them in a trash bin to remove dust and dirt, then use a soft cloth to wipe the shoe’s surface. You don’t need to scrub too much, just gently wipe it clean.
Step 2: Clean the sole with a toothbrush and a warm soapy water solution in a ratio of 1 tablespoon of dish soap: 5 tablespoons of warm water, stir well and use the toothbrush to scrub any dirt on the shoe’s sole.
Step 3: Remove any remaining soap from the shoes after scrubbing by rinsing the shoes under a running faucet.
Step 4: Remove the insole and shoelaces if necessary.
Washing and drying the shoes
Step 1: Place the shoes in a laundry bag (or a pillowcase) to prevent them from being heavily bumped inside the washing drum, which could damage the shoe’s surface. Additionally, to minimize the noise produced when the washing machine operates, you can also wrap a layer of fabric around the shoes before placing them in the laundry bag.
Step 2: Put the shoes in the washing machine and select the appropriate wash mode and temperature. It is recommended to choose a gentle wash mode with cold water (below 30°C) to minimize color fading and select a strong spin cycle to remove all soap after washing. You can choose a gentle or no spin cycle to avoid damaging the shoes.
Step 3: After completing the washing process, take the shoes out of the machine and air dry them. To speed up the drying process and maintain the shape of the shoes, you can stuff some old newspapers into the shoes to absorb excess moisture.
Some notes when machine washing shoes
- Avoid using too much detergent or strong cleaning agents as they can quickly deteriorate the shoe fabric.
- Do not use hot water wash or high-temperature drying after washing as this will cause the shoe’s adhesive to melt and reduce the durability of the shoes.
- You can use fabric softener to minimize detergent residue on the shoes.
