I need to know how to wash sneakers in the washing machine. Is there a way to do it without destroying the shoes? My running shoes have suede on them but they’re all stained with mud.
Tiffany Long, Johnstown, PA
Let’s see if these tips for how to clean sneakers don’t get you up and running again in no time. To clean white shoelaces first, pull out the laces and wash them either by hand or in a protective bag in the machine. Knot them together loosely so they don’t get lost among the rest of your laundry. If they’re too grimy, consider buying new ones.
As for your suede running shoes, There’s a little problem. Washing them in the machine will irreparably damage the suede. In this case, you’ll need a couple of tools like an old toothbrush and a suede eraser to get the mud off of them without harming the suede fabric.
Brush off any caked-on mud first. Coat the toothbrush with a little dish soap to scrub the edges of the sole, then use the suede eraser to gently rub off stains on the material.
If you spray a little water on it, it can help you brush the suede in the right direction to make it look its best. Pat dry with a towel or blow-dry with a hairdryer on the cool setting.
But you did ask how to machine-wash sneakers, so let’s cover that, too. For full details, visit this page:https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-clean-sneakers/
If you decide to wash tennis shoes in the washer, put them in a mesh bag to protect them and remove grass stains from shoes before adding the sneakers to the washer. Stick to warm water and regular laundry detergent. Throw in some towels, too, to keep shoe banging around the drum to a minimum. Choose towels with similar coloring to the shoes. Of course, washing leather like this is not a good idea, but canvas shoes and mesh shoes should be fine.
If you need ideas for ways to stretch sneakers after cleaning them, we can help with that, too. Carefully seal a zipper bag with water in it and place it inside each of your shoes. Freeze the shoes. The water in the bags expands as it freezes, making your shoes just a bit bigger. An expander on a shoe tree does the same thing.
While you may have heard about people cleaning shoes in the dishwasher, this is not recommended. It gets so hot in a dishwasher that it can melt parts of shoes.
For virtually all types of shoes, the best way to dry sneakers is by air drying. Hang sneakers on the clothesline, sit them in front of a fan, or put them outside if it’s warm. While drying shoes in the dryer is an option, high heat is not recommended, as it can damage some types of shoes. Instead, use a cool setting for a short time.