Method2Using the Washing Machine
Download Article
Method2
1Brush any loose dirt off the shoes with a dry toothbrush. This helps to avoid your washing machine getting clogged with dirt. Rub the toothbrush back and forth over any muddy patches until there is no more dirt or dust flaking off the shoes.[9]Don't worry about removing mud from inside the mesh, as the machine cycle will help to get rid of this.
- 2Place your laces and insoles into a delicate bag. Unthread the laces from your shoes and gently remove the insoles. Zip these inside a delicate bag to stop them from getting tangled during the spin cycle.[10]
If the insoles are glued into your shoes, don't worry about removing them.
3Pour a capful of bleach-free washing detergent into the machine. It is important to avoid washing detergents that contain bleach, as these can stain your shoes. Avoid any bottles of washing detergent that advertise themselves as “whitening” or “bleaching”. Pour the washing detergent over the shoes or into the agitator.[11]Follow the directions on the back of the washing detergent bottle.
- 4Place your shoes into the washing machine on a cold and gentle cycle. It is important to set the machine to a cold wash, as hot water may damage the glue inside the shoes. Set the machine to a gentle wash, to ensure that the shoes don't lose their shape during the spin cycle.[12]
Only wash 1 pair of shoes at a time to avoid damaging your washing machine.
Wash your running clothes at the same time to reduce the noise of the shoes tumbling around in the washing machine.
5Scrunch up newspaper and place it inside your clean wet shoes. This helps the shoes to maintain their shape while they dry. Fill the entire foot cavity with scrunched newspaper.[13]If you don't have any newspaper on hand, use scrap paper instead.
- 6Leave your shoes to dry for 12 hours before you remove the newspaper. After 12 hours, pull the newspaper out of the shoes and check that they are dry. If there is any moisture left in the shoes, leave them to dry for another 12 hours.[14]
