If your shoes have any leather or suede, it is not a good idea to machine wash them, as the water can damage those parts of the shoes.
Removing as much dirt as possible before washing the shoes will help them get cleaner in the washing machine.
Put the laces into their own small mesh bag to keep them from wrapping around other items when they’re in the wash.
Washing the shoes along with towels keeps the shoes from banging around in the washing machine, which could potentially damage your shoes or the machine itself.
Don’t overdo it on the detergent. Excess detergent can cause soap residue to build up on your shoes, making them stiff and possibly even staining them.
You might be tempted to toss your sneakers into the dryer so you can wear them sooner, but doing so could ruin the shape of your shoes. The high heat could warp plastic or synthetic fibers. To help the shoes keep their shape, stuff the insides with crumpled newspaper.
If your shoes still look really dirty, you may need to treat the soles separately or perhaps try putting them through the laundry again. If you can’t get them clean, it may be time to invest in a new pair of sneakers.
If you do need to buy new laces, measure your current ones to see what length they are. That way, you’ll be sure to purchase replacements that are long enough for your shoes.
Rubbing the laundry detergent into the laces causes the soap to start reacting with and breaking down the ground-in dirt.
If your laces are particularly dirty, you could also fill your sink with warm water and leave the shoelaces to soak for 10 to 15 minutes while you clean the rest of your shoes.
When rinsing away the laundry detergent, avoid using an overly-wet sponge. Wet the sponge then wring it out so it’s not dripping wet. This’ll keep the suds from spreading too far and your shoes won’t get over-saturated.
Don’t try to brush away dirt that is still wet. Let it dry completely first—it’ll be much easier to remove once it’s dry. If there are stuck pebbles, use a pair of tweezers to scrape them out.
It doesn’t matter if you use warm or cold water. The laundry detergent will dissolve easily in either one.
Re-wet the toothbrush as many times as you need to while you clean. Don’t forget that insole! Remove it and clean it the same way you did the exterior of the shoe. If it still isn’t coming clean, you can always buy replacement insoles. [15] X Research source
Don’t forget to wipe down the insides and the bottoms of the shoes, too.
If your shoes were really stinky, sprinkle some baking soda over the insides while they dry overnight. In the morning, knock out the excess baking soda before putting the shoes on. [18] X Research source
This method works great when you simply need to spruce up the soles of your shoes but don’t need to clean the rest of them.
Don’t be afraid to really pile the paste onto the soles. You can always make more if you run out, and it won’t hurt anything if you use a lot.
Use a sponge rather than running the shoes under a stream of water. The sponge will keep the rest of the shoe from getting wet, which means you won’t have to wait for them to dry after you’ve cleaned them.
If you notice any sections that are still dirty, you may want to apply a second coat of the baking soda paste to see if that helps lift the remaining dirt.
