Rules and tips for washing sneakers in the washing machine

Shoes are not washed nearly as often as clothes, but they still need to be cleaned. The easiest option is to put it in the washing machine, dry it and steam it like new. But sneakers, unlike clothes, often don’t have a label indicating exactly how to wash them. But there are restrictions. They must be followed so that the shoes and washing machine remain safe and sound.

Which sneakers are not recommended to be washed?

Automatic washing is not recommended for some types of shoes:

With decorative decorations (rivets, rhinestones, appliqués and other glued or poorly sewn elements). During washing, small parts may come off and come off. Even if you don't mind losing a few small rhinestones from your sneakers, they can clog the drain and render your washing machine unusable.
With backlight and reflective elements . Such sneakers can be seen on children, despite the fact that they quickly get mud on their shoes; machine washing is prohibited. Firstly, there may be microcircuits in the sneakers that do not tolerate contact with water, so after the washing machine the backlight will no longer work. Secondly, if there is a phosphorus coating, it will be erased when hitting the drum.
Shoes of dubious quality with taped elements . Not any glue will withstand machine washing; most likely it will lose its properties, and you will have to collect the sneakers from the washing machine piece by piece.
Very old, torn and dilapidated sneakers . It seems like you don’t feel sorry for such shoes anymore, they won’t get any worse. Unfortunately, it could be worse. Sneakers can become completely torn in the washing machine, and pieces that come off can damage the drum and clog the filters. Then it will be difficult to get, for example, a piece of foam rubber out of the car.

Sneaker dry cleaning

You can maintain your shoes in a well-groomed condition yourself, or by turning to dry cleaning services. Special sneaker dry cleaners can be found in many large cities.

Often, for the convenience of customers, such establishments offer courier delivery services. You can search for shoe dry cleaners on the Internet by searching for “sneaker dry cleaner.”

Such enterprises provide a whole range of services:

cleaning;
disinfection;
deodorization;
restoration, etc.

In addition to sneakers, you can also take other shoes to a sneaker dry cleaner.

Depending on the list of services provided, the price is determined. Standard cleaning will cost from 1,500 rubles . If additional painting of all sneakers or individual elements, gluing, replacement of laces is required, then the amount will be higher.

Is it possible to wash it in a washing machine?

Suede sneakers

Real suede is a demanding material. Due to prolonged water procedures, the material loses its softness, and the paint begins to quickly wash out. Suede sneakers cannot be washed in a machine; even hand washing in the usual sense is not recommended. Requires dry cleaning or home cleaning with special materials.

If after washing your suede sneakers nothing happens to them, most likely the material is of different quality. The material does not deteriorate the first time you wash it, but after a few attempts the sneakers will become noticeably worse. It is better to switch to another type of cleaning. And if, after automatic washing, the suede becomes noticeably rough, you can try to restore the softness with steam.

With faux suede, everything is much simpler - it can be machine washed. The only problem is that streaks from the powder may appear.

Leatherette

Sneakers made from artificial leather and eco-leather can and should be washed. They need washing more often than others, because leatherette does not “breathe”, odors accumulate in shoes faster, and bacteria can begin to multiply. Therefore, definitely yes.

With mesh

Sneakers most often contain fabric mesh, nylon or polyester. All these materials tolerate washing well, and dirt on them can be washed off without any problems.

Sneakers made of genuine leather

This material is another sign to stop machine washing. Some people wash leather sneakers and there are no problems, but such washing is a lottery. Some people will be lucky, and this particular model will retain its appearance, but for others, after the first attempt, leather sneakers will lose their shape, become rough and dry out. It’s better not to take risks, there is a high probability of ruining high-quality shoes.

If there are only inserts made of suede or genuine leather, washing is still not recommended. Shoes may lose their shape.

Sole whitening methods

To return the sole to its original appearance, you need to use the following means:

pour an oxygen bleach solution into the bottom of the basin, at the height of the sole, and immerse the sneakers there for a couple of hours;
wipe the sole with a cotton pad soaked in a mixture of vinegar and acetone;
treat the sole with citric acid;
mix baking soda, dish detergent and white toothpaste (1 teaspoon each), stir until smooth and apply with an old toothbrush, then rinse with water.

And another budget method for whitening soles - this requires formic alcohol and cotton pads. Just wet the disc well with alcohol and wipe the sole thoroughly.

The rules for caring for white shoes are not so complicated, the main thing is not to neglect or put off washing dirty items for too long, then your sneakers and sneakers will always look like new.

And if the information about washing turned out to be at least a little useful, then it would be right to share it with friends and acquaintances on social networks.

Is it possible to wash sneakers in the washing machine with other things?

It is possible and necessary. If the sneakers spin in the washing machine “alone”, an uneven load on the drum will occur. This is compensated by adding other things, for example, terry towels, socks, some rags or unnecessary things. This will balance the drum and add friction. The quality of washing will improve, and the risk of damage to the drum from impacts from sneakers will decrease.

Whether to put “good” things and clothes with sneakers is up to everyone to decide for themselves. This will not cause any harm to either the car or things, but it can be psychologically difficult to wash, for example, sneakers and underwear in one go. It seems that dirt from shoes will get on other things. This is a not unfounded fear; a lot of dirt accumulates in the soles. But everything will be fine if you wash your sneakers well first.

Manual removal of dirt

You can wash your sneakers by hand using water and washing gel. The following items will be needed:

a basin of such a size that sneakers fit into it;
washing gel.

For cleaning, you can use products designed for washing white laundry.

Cleaning procedure:

Prepare your shoes.
Pour non-cold water into the basin (temperature about +40°C).
Dilute washing gel in water.
Dip your sneakers in water.
Wash shoes using a brush on the outside.
Clean the inside of the shoes with a brush.
Rinse your sneakers.
Dry.

Washing and drying process

Preparing shoes

Before the first wash, it is best to conduct a small endurance test. You need to soak your shoes in warm water for 10-15 minutes. Add the same detergent used for automatic washing. This test will show how the shoes react to water - whether the soles are coming apart, whether various elements are falling off, or whether the material is fading. When something goes wrong, the consequences will not be as global as after spinning in a drum for half an hour. And if everything is fine, you can start washing. But you need to take into account a few more rules:

Oddly enough, you shouldn't wash dirty sneakers. We are, of course, not talking about dirt on the fabric, but about dirt on the sole. The washing machine is not designed for handfuls of earth, sand and gravel that remain in the recesses of the soleplate. Therefore, it is important to prepare your sneakers for washing - rinse them well under running water. You can use a knitting needle, matches, or a brush (large or toothbrush).
Remove the laces in advance. Don't be lazy about unlacing your shoes; sneakers will look bad with clean sides and half-dirty laces.
Remove the insoles if they are not glued. Like laces, they are best washed separately. This is especially important when the insoles are made of genuine leather.
If your shoes have Velcro, fasten them.
Look at the label and make sure there is no prohibition on machine washing.
Finally, put the sneakers in a special bag, if available. The laces are usually placed there, having first soaped them (the laces may not have enough regular detergent, the thing is too “embossed”).

Do not put more than two pairs of sneakers in the washing machine at the same time, they can damage the drum. There have been cases when thick and heavy soles of sneakers even broke the glass of the door during washing. This rule can be neglected if very light fabric sneakers with thin soles are washed.

Temperature selection

The optimal temperature for washing is 30-40°C. Washing machines often don’t provide colder water, and even if they did, it won’t wash the dirt off your shoes. And at a higher temperature, the sole may peel off, and the colored elements will lose their appearance.

If the sole is sewn, it is better to set the temperature to 40°C. If glued - 30°C.

Program selection

Modern washing machines often have a “shoe wash” or even specifically “sneakers” mode. If there is such a program, you need to choose it. If not, a delicate mode will do (but you need to understand that even this is not recommended for natural materials such as suede or leather). Sometimes there is a wool washing mode - this is also suitable.

If there is no delicate mode, it is recommended to choose the shortest one. The duration of washing sneakers should not exceed 25 minutes. Be sure to turn off spinning and drying.

What cleaning products to use

It is better not to use regular washing powder for sneakers. It is too aggressive for sneakers, it is difficult to rinse out, and it can leave streaks on leatherette and other materials.

It is better to buy a liquid detergent for washing - a special gel or soluble capsules. For one pair of sneakers, 1 standard dose of gel or 1 capsule is enough. There is no need to add an extra dose of the product - it may simply not be washed out of the shoes.

Do not use fragrances or conditioners. Detergent will give a good smell, but there is simply no point in using conditioner - it will not have the proper softening effect on shoes. You can use bleach, but oxygen bleach is best. Others may leave behind nasty stains that will be extremely difficult to remove.

Hard case…

How to wash sneakers in a machine (white sneakers or shoes with specific dirt)? Remove stains first using one of the following recipes:

Difficult stains on the surface of sneakers are removed using purified gasoline and stain remover. Dampen a cotton pad and rub the dirt. Let it sit for the gasoline to evaporate. Apply stain remover. After 15 minutes, rinse your sneakers thoroughly.
Yellowness on a white or textile surface of the sole can be treated with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide 3%, washing powder and table vinegar 9%. Take the components in equal parts. Apply with a brush to the stain and the ENTIRE surface. Let it sit for a while and rinse thoroughly.
Dirt on light soles. It is easy to clean with “White” or other bleaching agent. Apply it carefully with a cotton swab so that the product does not get on the fabric.
Stains on suede after water. Stuff the sneakers with white paper, dampen the surface, and comb in the direction of the grain. Blot with a rag so as not to disturb the design. Dry it. Brush with a dry soft brush.

Useful tips.

Along with new shoes, purchase special products that impregnate the fabric surface to protect it from water and dirt. Apply immediately after purchase. Washing washes everything out. After complete drying, apply again.
If the laces are not washed or their appearance leaves much to be desired, replace them with new ones, the shoes will immediately get a second wind. Do the same with the insoles.
To reduce problems, get into the habit of wiping your sneakers from dirt and dust every time after a long walk: the soles and uppers (preferably with soap suds). Wash your laces frequently.

If you have a stain, remove it immediately , without waiting for the next “washing”. Then it will be much more difficult to deal with them.
Carefully store your sneakers during the off-season: dry, clean, in a cardboard box
It is better to use gel instead of powder . It penetrates the fibers more easily, which means it washes. The gel leaves streaks less often and is easier to wash out. Don't pour it too much.
Do not wash your sneakers more than 2-3 times a month (especially in the machine). Sneakers can withstand a lot, but they don't last forever.
To wash whites and colors by hand, use different sponges .

Handle your bots with care, do not jump into puddles with them, do not throw mud at them, and do not kick rocks. They will answer you with a long service life and a neat appearance)

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