Care tips: Wash shoes: How to clean your shoes properly in the machine

The more frequently shoes are used, the more noticeable the dirt, dust and sweat become. If the commercially available care products fail, the only option is the washing machine. But not every shoe is suitable for this.

Classic sports or street shoes that are used in everyday life as well as for sporting (outdoor) activities become increasingly dirty over time and begin to stink – even shoe deodorant will no longer help. It would be advisable to simply clean the treads in the washing machine, but are they even suitable for this? In fact, all shoes made of synthetic materials can be washed, such as vegan sneakers, ballet flats, trainers, canvas and canvas shoes. What you need to consider and how you can wash your shoes by hand is explained in this article.

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Instructions for washing shoes: step by step

1. Before you put the shoes in washing machine give coarse dirt with a firm Shoe brush Remove – alternatively you can use a damp cloth.
2. Remove the shoelaces and possible insoles from the shoes so that they are not washed.
3. To prevent the shoes from accidentally damaging the laundry drum, you should only wash them with other robust textiles such as towels or bed sheets.
4. It is even safer for the shoes in the machine if you use a special one laundry net or a padded one laundry bag use for protection.
5. Wash the shoes at 30 degrees, preferably on a gentle cycle (easy care or wool) – and avoid the spin cycle to protect the materials.
6. Only add a little (full-strength) detergent to the machine and no fabric softener. If you only wash the shoes, there are also special ones laundry detergent for sneakers.
7. After washing, the shoes should be stuffed with newspaper so that they return to their original shape when dried in a warm place.
8. In the last step, dry the shoes with a Waterproofing spray treated to seal the surface and protect it from new signs of wear.

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Care tips: Wash shoes without a washing machine

Whether boots, high heels or sandals: If the shoes are made of leather, they should under no circumstances be put in the washing machine. But what if the fine shoes are so dirty that you no longer want to show them in public? Quite simply, there are a variety of suitable care products that you can use to clean leather – the same also applies to shoes made of synthetic materials, which you also need due to glued or sewn-on applications (e.g. metal, rhinestones or sequins). cannot be machine washed.

• A liquid detergent is suitable for fabric and linen shoes, which you have to rub in and wash out by hand.
• There are also special ones for sneakers made of imitation leather Shoe cleanerwhich are intended for cleaning and care, or one Care foam.
• For shoes made of genuine leather horsehair– or Crepe brushes to recommend. They not only remove coarse dirt, but also stains.

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And even for sensitive shoes, it makes sense to treat the material with a waterproofing spray after cleaning and caring for it by hand.

You might also be interested in:

• Caring for nubuck leather – this is what you need to pay attention to
• Cleaning white sneakers: How to get dirty sneakers clean again
• Cleaning suede shoes: This is how you get the rough leather clean again
• Waterproofing shoes: How to protect sensitive materials from moisture
• Detergent test: Click here for the detergent comparison