How to properly wash sneakers in a washing machine at home, cleaning secrets

Sneakers are practical and comfortable shoes for everyday wear. The more actively it is used, the more often it needs to be washed.

Some pairs can be processed automatically, while others can only be cleaned manually. In order not to spoil your sneakers and give them freshness, you need to know the basic rules for caring for them.

Is it possible and how to properly wash sneakers in an automatic washing machine (in what mode, at what temperature, with or without spin) and manually, how to quickly dry shoes after washing without spoiling them? You will find answers to questions in the article.

Is it washable?

Is it possible to wash sneakers in a machine? You can understand in 2 ways:

1. 
   Study the information provided by the manufacturer .
   It is presented on the product label. It can be sewn on the tongue or on the back of the shoe. Sometimes care instructions can be found on a special insert that is in the box or on the packaging itself.

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   If it shows an icon with a crossed out washing machine, then the sneakers cannot be processed automatically.

2. Independently evaluate the material from which the shoes are made . Leather and suede shoes are not loaded into the machine. They are cleaned by hand.

You will have to refuse machine washing in the following cases:

1. The shoes are seriously damaged. The sole is peeling off or the seams are coming apart.
2. All parts of the sneaker are fixed with glue. With prolonged contact with water, the boots will simply fall apart.
3. The shoes have decorative metal fittings.
4. The sneakers have built-in non-removable electrical elements.

If the pair does not fall under these exceptions, you can clean it automatically.

Removing unpleasant odor

If the unpleasant odor is a consequence of sweaty feet, the following methods are used:

• wash sneakers and insoles;
• spray the inside of the shoes with an alcohol solution;
• put the products in a bag and in the freezer for one day;
• use fresheners in the form of bay leaves or orange peels.

Subsequently, you need to wear clean, preferably cotton socks, wash your feet daily, and if there is a problem with hyperhidrosis, use absorbent disposable insoles, deodorant (store-bought or oak bark decoction)

How to do it manually?

Hand washing sneakers allows you to carefully remove dirt and not damage them.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Prepare a pair: remove the insoles and laces, clean the sole, rinse off any dust.
2. Pour warm water into a basin, add detergent, until it is completely dissolved.
3. Soak sneakers if they are seriously soiled. You should not leave them in water for more than an hour.
4. Clean shoes with a soft brush. Particular attention should be paid to the toes and soles.
5. Rinse the pair inside and out.
6. Wait until the water drains and send the shoes to dry.

Insoles and laces are soaped, left for 20-30 minutes, then rubbed with a brush and rinsed.

Preparing for washing

First of all, you need to know for sure whether your shoes will be damaged during the washing process. Only then can you prepare it for cleaning in the washing machine. You need to remove the insoles from the sneakers, since it is not advisable to wash them along with the shoes. You need to wash them yourself, to do this, put them in warm water and add powder. Take an unnecessary toothbrush and gently clean the insoles. Next, remove excess moisture from them and wipe with a clean cloth, hang to dry.

Sneaker laces can be washed by hand or thrown into the washing machine, but first of all they must be removed from the shoes. It is also necessary to clean the sole with water from dirt and various stones. If there are any stains on the shoes, they can be treated with alcohol or stain remover and only then washed.

Features for products made of different materials and colors

Depending on the material of the sneakers, their color and the brand under which they are produced, the rules for caring for them will differ. The information is presented in the table:

Washing Converse in the washing machine

Converse sneakers have become very popular and fashionable today. In order for them to look good not only when purchased, but also in the future, you must follow some rules when washing. First of all, the water temperature should not be more than thirty degrees and the spin mode should be set to no more than 600 rpm. It is better to refuse it, because it can damage your shoes. Before washing, you need to read the composition of the product. It should not contain chlorine.

You need to choose only high-quality powder so as not to harm the material. It is necessary to wash sneakers only in a special bag so as not to damage the drum of the machine and the shoes being washed. You should not wash those sneakers that have metal decorations; this can also adversely affect the washing machine.

You definitely need to know that only original Converse shoes should be cleaned in the washing machine. If you wash fake sneakers, they will most likely immediately lose their color and may completely fall apart.

How to remove difficult stains?

Sometimes there is a need for additional cleaning of sneakers, since it is not possible to deal with complex stains using a regular detergent.

You can remove yellow stains on light-colored sneakers using the following means:

1. 
   Toothpaste without multi-colored inclusions . The contaminated area is moistened, the paste is rubbed into it, left for half an hour, rubbed with a brush and washed off with running water.

2. Baking soda . It is mixed with water to form a thick paste, which is applied to the stain for 20 minutes. All that remains is to lightly rub the shoes with a brush and rinse with clean water.
3. Hydrogen peroxide . It has a whitening effect, so it is applied to the stain in its pure form. After half an hour, rub the yellow stains with a brush and rinse with clean water.

To prevent yellow stains from appearing on your sneakers, you need to add bleach to the water during each wash, for example, Vanish Crystal White (200 rubles for a 0.45 liter gel).

If your sneakers have been stained with grass, you need to start cleaning them as quickly as possible. The longer chlorophyll remains on the fabric, the deeper it penetrates into its fibers.

The following products can help deal with green stains:

1. Ammonia . It does not harm the product, but has a whitening effect. Apply it to a cotton pad and treat the stain with it. The procedure must be repeated until the contamination completely disappears.
2. Vinegar. If the stain has already dried, moisten the cloth with table vinegar and leave for 15 minutes. Then the product is cleaned with soap and a soft brush.
3. Salt. A highly concentrated solution is prepared from it. For a glass of water you will need 4 tbsp. l. soda Moisten the stains with the resulting mixture, leave for 30 minutes, after which the treated areas are cleaned with a brush.

Paint stains can be removed using solvents. They are used according to the same scheme: applied to cotton wool, wiped over the stain, and left for 15 minutes. Complete the cleaning with a classic wash.

The paint is dissolved by means such as:

• turpentine;
• White Spirit;
• acetone.

These substances have a pungent odor, so you need to work with them in well-ventilated areas. Hands are protected with gloves, and a mask is put on the face.

If white sneakers are not afraid of contact with aggressive compounds, then black and colored products must be handled carefully . The selected product is first tested on an inconspicuous area. Exposure time is kept to a minimum.

How can you whiten soles?

Most often, the sole of shoes is white. During use, it turns yellow or gray, and difficult to remove stains appear on it. It is difficult to cope with them if the sole is grooved.

However, you can bleach it if you use the following means:

1. Dentifrice . It is applied to a moistened brush, which is used to rub the sole. After 20 minutes, the paste along with the dirt is washed off with plain water.
2. Laundry soap . The acids it contains perfectly penetrate the structure of the sole and push dirt out. Lather it up, rub it with an old toothbrush, leave it for 20 minutes, then rinse it off with water.
3. Hydrogen peroxide or citric acid (1 sachet per glass of water) . These products help remove yellow spots and remove gray plaque. It is recommended to pour them into a suitable container and immerse the sole of the sneaker in it for 20 minutes. The cleaning solution should not come into contact with the fabric or seams.

You can bleach the sole using a melamine sponge. It is sold in departments with household chemicals and costs about 50 rubles.

Use it as follows:

• 
  scissors cut off a piece of suitable size from the general layer;

• wet and wring out the sponge;
• Use its corner to systematically work through the entire sole; during the cleaning process, the sponge will shrink;
• As it gets dirty, rinse it with water, wring it out and continue the procedure.

If you don’t have a sponge at home, you can use a stationery eraser. However, the effect will not be as noticeable.

How to dry them quickly without ruining them?

To dry your sneakers without harming them, you must adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

1. After washing, blot your shoes with an old terry towel. It will absorb excess moisture.
2. Stuff white paper or cloth inside. Wrap the product with bandages. Change them when they get wet.
3. Place your shoes upside down.

Sneakers should be kept in a room with low humidity. When exposed to air currents, the drying process will go faster. Its average duration is 1-2 days.

Do not dry shoes on a heating radiator . This can cause yellow spots to appear and the sole to peel off.

Do not expose the steam to direct sunlight. Under no circumstances should you dry your sneakers in the microwave.

How to speed up the drying process?

To speed up the process of moisture evaporation, you can resort to the following tips:

1. 
   Place your shoes on the windowsill, providing access to fresh air and light shade.

2. Place the pair at a distance of 20 cm from the battery. It needs to be turned over periodically.
3. Use a hairdryer on cold air.
4. Direct a flow of air from a fan onto the sneakers.
5. Use silica gel beads. They are sold in shoe stores. They are placed in sneakers for 3 hours, then removed and dried on a radiator. The balls absorb moisture, which speeds up the drying process.

Shoes should not be exposed to hot air. It will lead to its damage.

Rules for drying sneakers

It’s not enough to simply wash dirty sneakers. They also need to be dried properly. The nuances of drying sneakers are as follows:

• Do not dry colored shoes in the sun, otherwise they will fade and the fabric will fade.
• White sneakers, on the contrary, are dried in a sunny place. This will make the fabric more snow-white.
• Balls of paper are placed inside the shoes. They will absorb the excess.
• Provide air circulation during drying. This will allow the shoes to dry faster.
• Leather products are dried only in special electric dryers and using paper.

How to remove yellowness?

If the pair turns yellow after washing, you can deal with the problem using available means, including:

• hydrogen peroxide;
• ammonia;
• soda and salt;
• toothpaste.

If yellowness persists, re-washing using chemical bleaches is required. To prevent stains from appearing again, the pair must be thoroughly rinsed and dried properly.

This publication will tell you how to remove yellow discoloration that appears on sneakers after washing.

Will dry cleaning help?

If the sneakers are expensive, or they have complex stains that you cannot handle on your own, you can use dry cleaning services.

Before handing over the shoes, it is necessary to clarify whether the craftsmen will cope with their task without harm to the couple. You must pay for services upon completion of them.

Services that can be provided by a professional dry cleaner:

1. Remove dust, dirt and stubborn stains from sneakers. The cost of the work is 700 rubles.
2. Remove abrasions and scratches. The price starts from 600 - 800 rubles.
3. Clean and paint shoes. Depending on the type of material, the price varies from 700 to 1200 rubles.

Important Tips

To thoroughly remove all dirt from your sneakers and not spoil them during washing, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Do not wash more than 2 pairs at a time. In this case, the shoes must be in the same color scheme.
2. To prevent the sole from knocking too hard on the drum of the washing machine, you can throw in an old towel along with the pair. It will act as a counterweight.
3. Laces and insoles are washed separately. They are easy to process by hand.
4. White fabric shoes can be washed using gentle bleach. It should not contain chlorine or other aggressive components.

The less often the sneakers come into contact with water, the longer they will serve their owner. Therefore, you need to wear them carefully.

General procedure

You cannot take shoes and immediately throw them into a basin or drum. Street dust and dried dirt will leave stains and the shoes will lose their neat appearance.

How to wash shoes correctly, general principle:

• Remove pieces of dirt and debris.
• Use a dry brush or vacuum cleaner to remove most of the dust from the upper and laces.
• Remove the laces and insoles (the former do not extend into the armhole area if tucked in, the latter require special care).
• Wash the sole, preferably bleach it immediately.
• Wash and dry.