Trainers get filthy, and hand scrubbing them is tedious enough that most people simply let them stay grubby. The machine is a perfectly good option for the majority of shoes, provided you accept that a few materials are genuinely off limits and that the process needs a little preparation.
What Can and Cannot Go In
Start by ruling things out. The following should never see a washing machine:
- Leather and suede, which crack, stiffen and stain permanently
- Shoes with glued-on decorative elements likely to detach
- Anything with an internal structure such as dress shoes or boots
- Trainers where the sole is already separating from the upper
Canvas, mesh, knit uppers and most synthetic running shoes are fine. If the shoe is essentially fabric on a rubber sole, it will survive.
Preparation Is Most of the Job
Skipping preparation is why people end up with damaged shoes and a dented drum.
- Remove laces and insoles and wash them separately
- Knock off loose mud and grit outdoors, then brush the outsole
- Treat obvious stains with a little detergent and a soft brush first
- Place the shoes in a large mesh bag so they cannot batter the drum
- Add two or three towels to the load to cushion the tumbling
That last point matters more than it sounds. Shoes alone in a drum bang loudly and can genuinely damage both the machine door and themselves. Towels absorb the impact and balance the load.
Cycle Settings That Work
Cold water, gentle cycle, low spin. Heat is the enemy: it softens the adhesives holding a shoe together and can warp foam midsoles. Liquid detergent is preferable to powder, which sometimes leaves residue in mesh panels.
An extra-large wash bag is the right tool here. Standard lingerie bags are too small and the shoes will not tumble freely. Oversized options in the 28-inch range, of the kind compared at https://okaka.org/, are sized for exactly this sort of bulky, awkward load along with bedding and curtains.
Drying Without Wrecking Them
This is where most damage actually occurs. Never tumble dry trainers. The combination of heat and impact deforms the midsole and can delaminate the sole entirely.
Instead:
- Stuff the shoes with paper towel or newspaper to hold their shape
- Air dry at room temperature, away from radiators and direct sun
- Change the stuffing once it becomes saturated
- Allow a full 24 hours before wearing them again
Rushing the drying stage produces smell rather than clean shoes, because damp foam is exactly where odour bacteria thrive.
Frequency
Washing trainers every week is unnecessary and will age them. Every few months for regular wear, or after any genuinely muddy outing, is a reasonable rhythm. Between washes, a brush and a damp cloth handle most of the visible dirt at a fraction of the wear.