Everyone wants to be looked awesome from head to toe. As the man is judged by his watch similarly nowadays people make shoe contact before eye contact.
Shoes are the basic need of everyone, and good shoes take a person to good places. You should have to know that how to wash shoes in washing machine? Because shoes are unable to speak otherwise they shout to people to clean them daily.
Although dirty shoes have many interesting secret stories to tell, which are hidden behind their condition. But people are welcomed everywhere if they leave the dirt off their shoes at home.
I am covertly dubious that the shoe manufacturers want to sell white sole shoes because they are more vulnerable to get dirty faster and have a shorter lifetime. The cleanliness of shoes doesn’t have to be difficult anymore.
Why do Shoes Need to be Washed?
People always like to do all sorts of adventures in their lives such as hiking, apple picking, summer fun, morning soccer practices, and mud runs, etc.
During these adventures, the miserable thing that suffers a lot is your poor shoes. No matter to what extent you make your shoes dirty, it is the responsibility of the owner to restore them in their factory condition because you are the real culprit of this.
Some people like a replacement pair as soon as their shoes are no longer primeval. Some are fortunate to buy new shoes because of having money.
But unfortunately, some people have unconditional love for their shoes and they don’t want to replace them. Luckily it is a plus point of their shoes that they can be washed easily in a washing machine when they get dirty or extra smelly.
And washing machine says “Hello I am here to make you brand-new as you were ever before.” Washing shoes in a washing machine may help you to save time and get good results.
Take Some Precautions Before Washing the Shoes
First look at the type of shoes before washing the shoes in a washing machine. One should read the specific instructions enlisted by the shoe company very carefully. The labels of the shoe company will suggest the best way to wash the shoes.
The shoes made up of cotton, nylon and polyester are safe to be washed in the washing machine because of the durability of these materials. These materials cannot be spoiled by washing detergent in contrast to rubber, vinyl, leather, suede, or dres’ shoes.
So, it is not suitable to put rubber, leather or dress shoes in washing machines. Because these footwears need hand cleaning and good care. Always double-check the instructions if your shoes are delicate and made up of silk and embroidery.
STEP 1: Remove the Shoelaces
First of all, before putting the shoes into the washing machine remove the laces to prevent them from getting tangled inside the machine.
If you want to wash the shoelaces in a washing machine then put them into a mesh garment bag that has a zipper or safe shut. If there is no mesh garment bag you can use a pillowcase instead. It will prevent the laces from wrapping around the moving parts of the machine.
STEP 2: Cleaning the Shoelaces
It is better to clean your laces manually with an old toothbrush rather than putting them in a washing machine.
For this purpose,
- Add a half-table spoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of detergent in a bowl.
- Mix them with water and dip your laces in it for 1 or 2 hours.
- Then rub the shoelaces gently with a soft brush to make your laces look bright white once again. But if your shoelaces are made up of leather then do not use brushes.
- If your shoelaces are muddy or yellow then use a strong bleaching solution such as Clorox bleach.
- Add a bleach solution in warm water and soak your shoelaces in it for 5 to 10 minutes instead of half an hour.
Avoid using bleaching solution for your colored shoelaces to prevent them from getting fade or decolorized. they may Don’t make the mistake of washing shoelaces in a sink with hands while using bleaching powder because it will irritate the skin. It may even burn your hands when used in high concentrations. You can also use gloves to avoid direct contact.
STEP 3: Washing of Insoles
The insoles of your shoes should also be washed separately to prevent them from damage. Because washing machine will leave them waterlogged and they will take 3 to 4 days to dry.
Therefore, it is better to clean your insoles with your hands by using a light detergent. By using a soft toothbrush or nylon brush, mildly wipe down the insoles with soapy water. You can also use a soft sponge to soak up the extra water. After it, dip the insoles with ½ tablespoon of “baking soda” and let them sit the whole night to become odorless.
In the morning dry them and once your shoes are dried put your insoles back into shoes. It is the best idea to remove your insoles from shoes every night and sprinkle a mixture of vinegar and warm water on them.
Then let them air-dry overnight. You can also use a hairdryer. Some people use baking soda or pet odor remover to neutralize the odors of their insoles and to kill bacteria.
STEP 4: Pre-Cleaning the Shoes
Before adding the shoes to the washing machine remove the apparent and excess debris and dirt as much as you can with a toothbrush or a brush cleaner.
It is hard to remove dirt from tight areas therefore you can use toothpicks to remove this debris. If there are scuff marks on shoes, they can be cleaned away by using a soft brush or a rag.
For this purpose, rub the detergent on the scuffs and wipe it away with a wet rag. You should not scrub the scuffs vigorously because they will destroy your shoes. At the end grasp your shoes over a bathtub and wash the soles with water
STEP 5: Putting Shoes in a Pillowcase
Next to cleaning the soles, put your shoes in a pillowcase or mesh bag to prevent them from bashing around the walls of the washing machine. The pillowcase or mesh garment bag should be sealed before putting in the washing machine. You can use rubber bands or any tie to seal them.
STEP 6: Putting the Shoes in Washing Machine
After it pops one cap of a suitable detergent in the washing machine and puts shoes into it for 40 to 45 minutes. The washing time may vary depending upon the quality of your washing machine.
It is more efficient to use a liquid detergent instead of using powdered detergent because it can stick in the shoes if doesn’t dissolve appropriately.
Never use fabric softener because it will leave such residues on our shoes that may attract more dirt. You can also use a disinfectant if required to avoid fungal infection i.e. “athlete’s foot.”
For it add a disinfectant (pine oil disinfectant) at the starting of the machine cycle. Make a disinfectant that contains 80% of pine oil and warm water to make it effective.
While putting the shoes in the washing machine also add some old towels (about three to four) to balance the load so that they can help to stop your shoes from noisily smashing against the inner sides of the washing machine. Make sure that the towels should be old because the newer towels can leach extra dye which may stain your shoes.
STEP 7: Setting the Machine Cycle
On your washing machine set a “slow” or “no spin option”. Also, use cold water instead of hot water because hot water can damage the material of your shoes. The warm water can also fade or damage the coating of the shoes, made of Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) or PU (synthetic leather). Because these materials are considerably less durable and have a short lifespan.
STEP 8: Drying of Shoes
After the completion of the washing cycle, you can use the extra spin cycle option which will be proved useful to remove any soapy residue. After that get your shoes and laces out of the machine and let them dry in the sunlight or the fresh air.
You can also use a towel or paper to soak the excess water because it will help to keep your shoes in their original shape. Keep your shoes in an area that bears more sunlight because it will increase the drying process.
You can also use the sheets of newspaper and stuffing them inside the shoes to speed up the drying process. It will also keep your shoes in their original shape so that they become as comfortable as before.
Also, prefer to dry your shoes in the fresh air rather than drying them in the dryer. Because the heat of the dryer may cause damage to your shoes and melt the glue which keeps them together.
This makes your shoes more vulnerable to break. The high temperature of the dryer can also shrink certain materials or fabrics.
STEP 9: Using Dryer for Drying Purpose
If you are living in a region where there is no sunlight then you can use a dryer to dry your shoes. Instead of putting the shoes directly in the dryer, wrap them in a cloth or old towel that will help to protect them.
Set your dryer carefully by selecting “air fluff setting”. Stop the cycle successively to check the condition of your shoes so that they remain harmless from warm and tumbling air.
STEP 10: Fixing the accessories in Shoes
When everything becomes dry, take your shoelaces and insoles to put them back into your shoes. Fix the laces properly considering that they should not be too tight or loose. Now the only thing you should have to do is “enjoy your brand-new shoes once again.”
Conclusion
Have you ever noticed how important shoes are in your life? Some people want durability some want comfort, and some want to style in the shoes. Everyone rogues their feet in suitable style according to the right occasion.
Because shoes are the symbol of one’s identity and they convey your character to others. But wearing the shoes daily can cause huge wear and tear on them. One should no need to get panic whenever their shoes get dirty.
Because washing and cleaning of shoes are very easy although there are still some precautions and necessities that you should take.
I hope this complete guide on how to clean your shoes in washing machine will help you a lot. To more about the cleaning process read other blog posts on our website.