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Washing sneakers with your clothes can be safe and convenient, but only when you do it the right way. The secret is to know which shoes and garments can share a cycle, how to prep them, and which wash settings protect both your sneakers and your washing machine. This guide explains everything in simple steps so you can clean your shoes without ruining your laundry, your footwear, or your washer.
Can You Wash Sneakers with Clothes?
Yes—sometimes. Fabric and mesh sneakers can often be machine-washed with sturdy clothing if you use gentle settings and protect the shoes. However, leather, suede, and many specialty shoes should not go in the washing machine at all. The clothes you add matter too: choose durable, color-safe items that can handle some friction.
When It’s Usually Okay
You can usually wash sneakers with clothes when the sneakers are made of canvas, mesh, knit, or other fabric blends without leather or suede panels. These materials handle gentle cycles well. It’s best to pair them with sturdy laundry like towels, cotton tees, sweatshirts, joggers, or denim. Make sure colors are compatible (for example, dark sneakers with dark clothes). Use a mesh laundry bag for each shoe to prevent scuffs and reduce noise.
When You Should Not Do It
Do not wash sneakers with clothes if the shoes are leather, suede, or nubuck. Avoid washing shoes with lights and delicates (lingerie, silk, fine knits), or with anything that has loose glitter, sequins, or heavy zippers that can scratch your sneakers. Skip the machine if the shoes are extremely muddy—large chunks of dirt can clog drains. Also avoid if your washer is very small or unbalanced; the banging can be hard on the machine.
Risks to Consider Before You Hit Start
Potential Damage to Sneakers
Heat and high spin can loosen glue, warp foam midsoles, and cause peeling soles. Rough items or bare metal in the drum can scuff rubber and damage eyelets. Strong bleach can discolor fabrics and weaken threads. To protect your shoes, use cold water, gentle spin, and a mesh bag.
Potential Damage to Clothes
Sneakers can transfer dye to light clothing. Grit from soles can mark fabrics. Metal lace tips, eyelets, or hard logos can snag. Reduce risk by pre-rinsing dirt, sorting by color, and adding cushioning towels so the load doesn’t slam around.
Potential Damage to the Machine
Uncushioned shoes can bang against the drum and stress the bearings, especially in top-loaders with agitators. A well-balanced load with towels and mesh bags minimizes impact and noise. Avoid very heavy or mixed loads that throw the drum off balance.
Prep Work: The Step Most People Skip
Check the Tag and Materials
Look for a care tag inside the shoe or on the brand’s website. If it says “hand wash only” or “do not machine wash,” follow that advice. If the shoe has leather or suede panels, plan to hand clean instead. Foam midsoles glued to uppers can loosen in hot cycles—stick to cold water.
Pre-Clean Dirt and Treat Odors
Knock soles together outside to remove loose dirt. Brush off dried mud with a soft brush or an old toothbrush. If mud is heavy, rinse the soles in a sink to remove grit so it does not swirl around your machine. For odor, sprinkle a tablespoon of baking soda inside each shoe and leave it overnight, then dump it out before washing.
Disassemble: Laces and Insoles
Remove laces and insoles. Putting them in their own mesh bags helps them get clean and stops tangles. Wash insoles by hand with warm soapy water if they are delicate or memory foam. Rinse well and air-dry separately so they do not trap moisture inside the shoes later.
Protect and Sort
Place each sneaker in a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase tied at the end. Sort laundry by color as usual. Choose sturdy items to wash with the shoes—two to four bath towels are ideal because they cushion the drum and reduce banging. Do not mix with delicate fabrics or brand-new, high-shed towels that may leave lint.
How to Machine-Wash Sneakers with Clothes Safely
Step 1: Load the washer with two to four clean towels first. This balances the weight and cushions impact.
Step 2: Add the bagged sneakers and the laces in a separate small bag. If you are washing a T-shirt or sweats with them, add them now. Keep the total load moderate—not overstuffed.
Step 3: Use cold water or cool water (up to 30°C/86°F). Select a gentle or delicate cycle with a low spin speed. If your machine lets you choose, a lower spin, around 400–600 rpm, is safer for glue bonds and foam.
Step 4: Add a small amount of liquid laundry detergent. Liquid dissolves better than powder and avoids residue. Do not use fabric softener; it can leave films that trap odor.
Step 5: For white canvas shoes, you may add a color-safe oxygen bleach to the wash, following the label dose. Avoid chlorine bleach on colored fabrics and colored shoes—it can strip dye and weaken fibers.
Step 6: If your washer has an extra rinse option, turn it on to remove all soap from thick fabrics and foam. Leftover detergent can make shoes feel stiff and smell musty.
Detergent and Add-Ons: What Works Best
Use an enzyme-based liquid detergent for sweat and body oils. A tablespoon of baking soda in the drum can help with odor, but do not overdo it. If you want a mild deodorizing boost, you can add a half cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser so it releases during the rinse; the smell will fade as shoes dry. Skip strong chlorine bleach unless you are cleaning plain white canvas and you have tested for colorfastness.
Front-Loader vs. Top-Loader Tips
Front-loaders are gentler because they tumble instead of agitate. For top-loaders with an agitator, place shoes and towels around the edges of the drum, not directly against the agitator. Keep the load small and well-cushioned to prevent hard slapping noises and wear.
Balancing the Load Matters
Washing two shoes alone will bang around. Add two to four towels to spread weight evenly. If the machine starts to thump, pause and redistribute. A balanced load protects your washer and helps shoes clean more evenly.
Drying: Do This Right to Save Your Sneakers
Skip the Dryer and Heat
Do not put sneakers in the dryer. Heat can shrink fabric, warp soles, and weaken glue. Instead, air-dry at room temperature. Stuff the shoes with plain paper or clean rags to help them hold shape and wick moisture. Change the stuffing once or twice until the shoes are mostly dry.
Speed Up Air-Drying Safely
Place the shoes near a fan or in a breezy spot. Gentle sunlight for a short period can help, but avoid long exposure that can fade colors and dry out rubber. Keep them away from radiators or heaters. Most fabric sneakers take 12–24 hours to dry fully depending on humidity.
Reassemble and Finish
When shoes are fully dry, reinsert dry insoles and relace. If soles look dull, wipe them with a damp cloth or use a magic eraser on rubber edges. For extra protection, spray fabric sneakers with a water-repellent designed for textiles to reduce future stains.
Can You Wash Sneakers with Delicate Items?
Keep Delicates Out of the Shoe Cycle
Do not wash sneakers with lingerie, lace, silk, cashmere, or anything marked delicate. The friction and occasional knocks in a shoe load can snag and tear. Choose sturdy companions only.
Mind Your Colors
Wash dark sneakers with dark laundry and light sneakers with light laundry. If you are unsure about dye stability, wipe the shoe fabric with a damp white cloth. If color transfers, do not wash with other garments; wash the shoes alone with towels.
Special Cases and Alternatives
Leather, Suede, and Nubuck
Do not machine-wash these materials. Instead, wipe leather with a damp cloth and a small amount of saddle soap or a leather cleaner, then condition. For suede and nubuck, use a suede brush to lift dirt and a suede eraser for marks. Let them air-dry away from heat and use a suede protector afterward.
High-Performance Running Shoes
Many performance shoes use lightweight foam and glue that can degrade in a washer. Brands often recommend hand washing. Mix mild detergent with cool water, scrub with a soft brush, rinse lightly, and air-dry with paper stuffing. This preserves cushioning and shape.
Very Muddy or Gritty Shoes
Rinse heavy mud and sand outside or in a utility sink before any machine cycle. Large amounts of grit can scratch the drum and clog filters. Once most dirt is gone, proceed with the gentle wash method or hand wash if the shoes are delicate.
Odor Solutions Without a Full Wash
Between washes, sprinkle baking soda inside shoes overnight and tap it out in the morning. You can also use a shoe deodorizing spray or a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar lightly misted inside, then air-dry. Let shoes rest 24 hours between wears to dry out sweat and prevent odor buildup.
A Quick Decision Checklist
If your sneakers are fabric or mesh, not leather or suede, and they are not extremely muddy, you can usually machine wash them. If your laundry for the load is sturdy, color-matched, and you have mesh bags and towels to cushion, it is a good candidate. If the shoes are expensive or performance models with glued foam, hand wash to be safe. If you cannot control spin speed or water temperature, delay the wash until you can set a gentle, cold cycle.
FAQ: Simple Answers to Common Questions
How often should I wash sneakers?
Wash only when they look dirty or smell, not after every wear. For everyday fabric sneakers, every few weeks or after 20–40 wears is typical. Focus on spot cleaning between full washes to extend life.
Can I use bleach on white sneakers?
Use color-safe oxygen bleach on white fabric shoes. Avoid chlorine bleach on colored fabrics or colored logos. If you try chlorine bleach on plain white canvas, dilute it well, test a small area first, and rinse thoroughly to protect fibers.
Can I dry sneakers in the dryer if I use low heat?
It is still risky. Even low heat can warp soles and loosen glue. Air-drying with a fan is the safest method and keeps shoes in shape.
What about the insoles?
Remove them before washing. Wash by hand with mild soap and water, rinse well, and air-dry completely. Putting damp insoles back in the shoes can cause odor and mold.
Will washing shoes with towels make them cleaner?
Yes. Towels act as buffers to reduce banging and help scrub dirt off the shoe surface during the cycle. Use older towels that will not shed lint on dark fabrics.
Organizing and Maintenance Tips to Reduce Washing
Rotate and Dry Between Wears
Rotate between at least two pairs so each pair can dry fully. After wearing, remove insoles for an hour and let shoes sit in a ventilated area. This simple step cuts odor and the need for frequent washes.
Use Entry Mats and Quick Wipes
Keep a stiff mat outside and a softer mat inside your door to catch dirt. Wipe soles with a damp cloth after outdoor use. The less dirt goes in, the less often you need to wash.
Store Shoes Smartly
Store in a cool, dry place. Avoid plastic bins without ventilation, which trap moisture. Fabric shoe organizers or breathable boxes help shoes stay fresh.
Clean Laces Separately and Fast
Laces get grimy first. Keep a spare set on hand. Toss laces into a small mesh bag with a regular load to refresh them without running a full shoe cycle.
Conclusion
You can wash sneakers with clothes, but success depends on smart choices. Fabric and mesh shoes usually do fine on a gentle, cold cycle when protected in mesh bags and cushioned with towels. Choose sturdy, color-matched clothes, use a small amount of liquid detergent, and air-dry completely. Skip the machine for leather, suede, and delicate performance shoes, and hand clean them instead. With a little prep and the right settings, you will get fresh sneakers, intact clothes, and a happy washing machine—no stress, no damage, and no lingering odors.