What laundry setting is best for shoes?

Author: Prof. Carol Renner Jr.  |  Last update: Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Set your washing machine on a Delicate, cold water cycle with a slow or no-spin option. Use liquid detergent or laundry pods because powder detergent can get stuck in the shoes if it doesn't dissolve properly.

What setting should shoes be washed on?

You're going to want to use the delicates or hand wash setting. This has a higher water usage, which is what you want sluicing around your shoes. Remove the soles before cleaning your shoes – they take forever to dry.

What wash cycle is best for shoes?

Use a gentle cycle, such as Delicates or Hand Wash, and a cold water setting. After the cycle, remove the shoes from the laundry bag or pillowcase and let them air dry. If you prefer to use the dryer, choose a cycle with low heat and place the shoes on a drying rack.

What setting should my washing machine be on for running shoes?

Set your washing machine on a delicate, cold water cycle and select a slow or no-spin option. Powder detergent can get stuck in shoes if it doesn't dissolve properly, so use liquid detergent instead.

What is the best temperature to wash shoes in washing machine?

Rather than opting for a warm wash, keep the water temperature at a cooler 30 degrees to prevent the colours of your shoes running or fading. This is especially important if you're washing PU or PVC, as you don't want to damage the coating. Use a good colour detergent, like Persil Colour Washing Capsules.

How to WASH SHOES IN WASHING MACHINE

How to wash running shoes without ruining them?

Yes, you can put your running shoes in the washing machine. You may wish to still brush the dirt off, then remove the laces and insoles and place it all in a garment bag or a pillowcase. Wash in the washing machine on cold and a gentle cycle. Let them air dry.

How to wash stinky shoes in a washing machine?

Choose a delicate cycle to gently wash your shoes. The slower spin cycles (or sometimes no spin cycle at all) also help reduce noise. Select the coldest temperature available for the wash. A cold cycle will still remove odors, as modern laundry detergents contain enzymes that work regardless of water temperature.

Can I wash shoes at a laundromat?

The water and agitation from the washer can easily damage these materials. However, many common shoe textiles such as nylon, cotton, polyester, and the like can withstand a machine wash. All it takes is a quick trip down to your local laundromat!

Should you put shoes in the dryer?

First things first: You'll want to avoid damage to your footwear when drying your shoes. That's why it's generally not recommended to dry shoes in a machine dryer. This runs the risk of potentially shrinking the footwear and damaging the glue that holds the shoes together.

What cycle should I put my shoes on?

Remember that a delicate, cold-water cycle is best and will help keep your fabric shoes free from harm.

How do you wash your shoes perfectly?

How to Clean Shoes
  1. Wipe Away Excess Dirt. Remove the laces, if appropriate, and wipe down the shoes with a dry microfiber cloth to remove any loose surface dust and dirt.
  2. Make a Cleaning Solution. Mix one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in two cups of warm water. ...
  3. Wash the Laces. ...
  4. Scrub Shoes. ...
  5. Rinse and Dry.

How to wash shoes in washing machine without mesh bag?

If you don't have a mesh bag handy when cleaning your shoes in the washing machine, you can easily opt for a pillowcase instead. This can help keep them secure, so they don't tumble around as much in the drum.

What is delicate mode in a washing machine?

The delicate wash cycle uses high levels of cold water and a low spin speed for carefully tending to undergarments and delicate fabrics that need to be handled with care, like lace, lingerie, or silk neckties. Specialty items like electric blankets or stuffed animals may also benefit from a delicate wash.

What setting do you wash Nike shoes on?

Place the trainers in a mesh laundry bag to prevent them getting caught in the drum. Add a few colourfast towels to provide more cushioning to your shoes. Choose an appropriate wash setting – usually around 30C and gentle.

What setting to wash shoes on?

Place the shoes (in mesh bags) and several old towels into the washing machine. The towels help cushion the shoes during the cycle and prevent the machine from becoming imbalanced. Add liquid detergent. Set and run the washer on the most delicate wash cycle.

Can you put shoes in a laundry machine?

Yes, you can put and wash shoes in the washing machine. While the thought of your sneakers banging around your drum may not sound so appealing, it's better than laboriously hand-scrubbing them in the sink.

Is it sanitary to wash at a laundromat?

Self-service laundromats have developed a reputation for being unhygienic over the years. In reality, they're often much cleaner than your home washer. Ask yourself, when was the last time you cleaned the inside of your washing machine? Here at Liquid Laundromats, we clean ours routinely.

Why do my shoes smell so bad even after washing?

Overuse, sweat, skin shedding, dirt, bacteria, fungus, and lack of aeration can all contribute to stinky shoes.

How to wash sneakers without ruining them?

Place your shoes in a mesh laundry bag, toss it in the machine and wash them in cold water with regular laundry soap on medium spin speed.

Why put shoes in a mesh bag?

Place your shoes in a mesh bag

You don't want to hear your shoes slamming against your drum which could potentially damage your washing machine. Place them in a mesh bag or a pillowcase to contain them and lessen the noise.

How to deodorize shoes?

Pour some rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle and give the inside of your shoes a wondrous mist of bacteria-killing, odor-eliminating magic.

Can you put shoes in the dryer?

Because most shoes are put together by glue that won't withstand the high temperatures of a dryer, air drying is the safest option. Stuff your shoes with rags or balls of crumpled newspaper to help them keep their shape and keep away from direct sunlight.

What is the fastest way to clean your shoes?

  1. Untie and remove laces from shoes.
  2. Soak in warm, soapy water. Add a few squirts of liquid dish soap to your bathroom sink or a large bowl. ...
  3. Scrub stubborn spots. Make a paste of baking soda and water and scrub by hand with a toothbrush.
  4. Rinse with fresh water. ...
  5. Lay flat to dry.

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