How to Wash Shoes in the Washing Machine Safely

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Most athletic shoes and sneakers can be washed in the washing machine — but the method matters significantly. Done correctly, machine washing removes deep-set dirt, odors, and bacteria that hand washing misses. Done incorrectly, it can warp shoes, damage cushioning, separate glued components, or crack rubber. This guide covers which shoes can be machine washed, the correct method, and when to hand wash instead.

Quick Answer: How to Machine Wash Shoes

• Check the shoe type first — canvas, mesh, and synthetic sneakers: generally safe; leather, suede, and dress shoes: never machine wash
• Remove laces and insoles — wash these separately
• Use a mesh laundry bag — protects the shoes and the drum
• Cold water, delicate cycle — never hot water or a standard cycle
• Air dry only — never tumble dry; heat warps soles and shrinks materials

Which Shoes Can Be Machine Washed

Safe for machine washing

• Canvas sneakers (Converse, Vans canvas styles) — very durable in the wash
• Mesh and knit athletic shoes (running shoes, training shoes with mesh uppers) — most common sneaker type; generally safe on delicate/cold settings
• Synthetic fabric sneakers — polyester, nylon uppers hold up well
• Most everyday casual sneakers — if the upper is fabric-based, machine washing is typically safe

Hand wash only — do not machine wash

• Leather shoes and sneakers — water and agitation crack and damage leather; leather needs specialized conditioning care
• Suede shoes — suede is destroyed by water; use a suede brush and dry cleaning methods only
• Patent leather — wipe clean only
• Dress shoes and oxfords — typically leather or structured materials not compatible with machine washing
• Shoes with heavy embellishments — beads, sequins, or decorative elements that are glued may not survive agitation
• Vintage or expensive sneakers — machine washing carries too much risk of irreversible damage for shoes with high replacement cost or sentimental value

How to check if your specific shoe can be washed

Check the shoe's tongue or inner lining for a care label — some manufacturers include washing instructions. If there is no label, look up the model name on the manufacturer's website. When in doubt, check the upper material: fabric/mesh/canvas = likely safe; leather/suede = do not machine wash.

Preparing Shoes for the Washing Machine

Step 1: Remove laces

Pull out the laces completely. Wash them separately in a mesh bag or laundry pouch — they will tangle around other items and potentially around the drum agitator if left in. White laces can be soaked in a small amount of oxygen bleach solution to restore brightness before washing.

Step 2: Remove insoles

Pull out removable insoles. Most insoles should not go in the machine — the foam can compress, deform, or delaminate with agitation and heat exposure. Hand wash insoles with a small amount of mild soap and cool water using a soft brush, then allow to air dry completely. Leave them out of the shoe until they are fully dry to prevent mildew inside the shoe.

Step 3: Remove loose dirt

Knock the shoes together over a trash can to dislodge large dirt clumps from the sole. Use an old toothbrush to scrub mud and debris from the grooves in the outsole and from around the midsole. Removing bulk dirt before washing prevents it from being swirled around the drum and potentially transferred to the mesh laundry bag or drum surfaces.

Step 4: Place shoes in a mesh laundry bag

Put each shoe in its own mesh laundry bag, or both in one large bag. The mesh bag serves two functions: it cushions the shoes from direct drum impact during agitation, and it protects the drum from the metal eyelets and hardware on the shoes. Without a bag, shoes can bang against the drum repeatedly, damaging both the shoes and potentially the machine.

Step 5: Add towels to balance the load

Add two to four old towels to the machine with the shoe bag. The towels balance the load — shoes are heavy and asymmetrical, which causes vibration and imbalance without something to counterbalance them. They also provide additional cushioning. Do not wash shoes with regular laundry that could be stained by shoe dirt.

Washing Machine Settings for Shoes

• Cycle: Delicate, Gentle, or Hand Wash setting — not Standard or Heavy Duty
• Temperature: Cold water only — warm or hot water can warp the midsole foam, loosen glue, and shrink mesh materials
• Spin speed: Slow spin if possible — high-speed spin puts maximum stress on the shoe structure
• Detergent: A small amount of liquid detergent — avoid powder, which may leave white residue in mesh; avoid bleach except for an all-white canvas shoe where you can use diluted bleach carefully

Drying Shoes After Washing

Never use a dryer

The tumble dryer is the most common way people damage washed shoes. Heat warps the midsole foam (which is designed to be flexible, not heat-stable), shrinks mesh uppers, and can separate glued sections. The mechanical tumbling also causes the shoes to bang against the drum repeatedly for the entire drying cycle.

Air dry correctly

• Remove shoes from the bag and stuff them loosely with dry newspaper or paper towels — this absorbs moisture from the inside and helps the shoe maintain its shape during drying
• Replace the newspaper or paper towels after an hour or two once they are saturated
• Place shoes in a well-ventilated area at room temperature — near an open window or with a fan is ideal
• Allow 24 to 48 hours for complete drying — do not rush by placing near a heater or in direct hot sun
• Do not put insoles back in until both the shoes and insoles are fully dry

Drying tip for white canvas shoes

Direct sunlight naturally bleaches and brightens white canvas as it dries. If you have white canvas shoes, drying them in full direct sunlight is beneficial — just avoid leaving them for extended periods if any elements are colored, as sun can fade colored components.

Post-Wash Care

Once shoes are fully dry, reinsert the insoles and re-lace with the cleaned laces. For mesh running shoes, a light spray of sneaker protector spray after washing creates a barrier that makes future cleaning easier and helps repel water and light staining. For canvas shoes, a fabric waterproofing spray works similarly.

Hand Washing Method for Shoes That Cannot Go in the Machine

For shoes that require hand washing (or any shoe you prefer to hand wash):

1. Mix a small amount of mild soap or sneaker cleaner with cool water
2. Dip a soft brush or old toothbrush into the solution
3. Work in small circular sections across the upper, applying gentle scrubbing pressure
4. Wipe away foam and dirt with a damp clean cloth
5. For mesh areas, use the brush to work cleaning solution in, then rinse by wiping repeatedly with a clean damp cloth
6. Clean the outsole with a firmer brush
7. Stuff with newspaper and air dry as described above

Frequently Asked Questions

Will machine washing ruin the shape of my sneakers?

Not if you use cold water, a gentle cycle, and air dry with newspaper stuffing to maintain shape. The main risks to shape are hot water (which softens glues and foam), high-speed spin (which compresses and distorts), and dryer heat (which warps materials). Avoid all three and shape is preserved.

How often can I machine wash sneakers?

Most sneakers can handle machine washing every four to eight weeks without significant deterioration, depending on how heavily they are used. More frequent washing accelerates wear on glues and materials. Spot cleaning between washes extends the time between full washes.

Can I use bleach on white shoes?

Diluted bleach (one tablespoon per half liter of water) can be applied to all-white canvas shoes, either hand applied with a toothbrush to stained areas or added to a machine wash cycle for all-white canvas. Do not use bleach on colored elements, mesh, or any shoe with glued-on components — bleach weakens adhesives. Oxygen bleach (OxiClean) is a safer option for brightening without the adhesive risk.

My shoes came out smelling worse after washing — why?

If shoes smell worse after washing, bacteria were not fully eliminated during the wash. This is common with heavily odorous shoes where the bacterial load was very high. Soak the insoles separately in a diluted white vinegar solution before the next wash, and consider adding half a cup of baking soda to the machine wash cycle with the shoes. Air dry in direct sunlight to kill remaining bacteria. For persistent odor, see How to Remove Mildew Smell from Clothes — the same principles apply to fabric shoe uppers.

The Bottom Line

Most canvas and mesh sneakers can be safely machine washed with the right precautions: remove laces and insoles first, use a mesh bag, wash cold on a delicate cycle, and always air dry — never use a dryer. Leather and suede shoes are off-limits for machine washing regardless. The combination that damages the most shoes is wrong temperature (warm/hot) combined with dryer heat afterward — avoid both and your shoes will come through the wash in good shape and significantly cleaner than hand washing alone can achieve.

Recommended Products (Affiliate)

• Mesh Laundry Bag for Shoes
• Shoe Cleaning Kit
• Sport Laundry Detergent
• Shoe Deodorizer Spray

---

Related Articles

• r
• o