Golf shoes can get pretty dirty during a game, considering how much walking you can do.
As with all sports equipment, it’s important to clean your golf shoes before storing them because it keeps them fresh between games.
Below, we’ll look at whether you can put golf shoes in the washing machine, along with other care methods that might be better.
Can You Put Golf Shoes in the Washing Machine?
You can put golf shoes in the washing machine as long as they don’t have any leather components.
You should also be aware that metal or plastic spikes may damage your washing machine, so it can help to put golf shoes in a washing bag for an extra level of protection.
Leather or suede golf shoes should be cleaned the same as any other leather shoe. This involves using a dedicated leather shoe cleaner, such as Cadillac Boot and Shoe Leather Cleaner.
Leather can split and dry out if it gets too wet, so machine washing is best avoided.
What’s the Best Way to Clean Golf Shoes?
The tips below are based on entirely synthetic golf shoes, as these can be machine washed if needed.
If you’re unsure about the material composition of your shoes, check the label that should be sewn to the inside of the tongue. It’ll tell you what materials are used in the shoes.
To wash golf shoes in the washing machine, follow these tips:
- Pre-treat stains. Use an old toothbrush and some laundry detergent to gently scrub any tough stains, especially grass. Wipe the area with a damp cloth and repeat until the stains have lifted.
- Remove the shoelaces and wash them separately by hand. Soak them in warm water with a small amount of laundry detergent and then rinse out.
- Put your golf shoes in washing bags to protect your machine. If you don’t have mesh washing bags, you can use pillow cases (one for each shoe).
- Run your washing machine on a delicate cycle at 30 or 40 degrees Celsius with a slow spin (under 800 rpm). Only use a small amount of gentle laundry detergent.
- Once the washing cycle has finished, remove your golf shoes. Stuff them with newspaper to retain their shape and remove some moisture. If you have shoe trees, insert them after about an hour.
- Leave your golf shoes somewhere warm to dry. Keep them out of the sun and away from radiators.
- After drying, spray with a shoe protector, such as Renapur Shoe Protector.
You can also clean your golf shoes by hand. Fill a bowl with warm water and add a few drops of laundry detergent.
Use a clean cloth to wipe the shoes down, and tackle any stains with a toothbrush. Wipe over the shoes with a different cloth and clean water to rinse them.
Final Thoughts
Golf shoes are fairly easy to clean in the washing machine, but it’s also not difficult to do it by hand.
The only real risk with machine washing is the spikes damaging your machine’s drum, but putting them in bags is enough to avoid this.
Jacob is a freelance writer based in Wales, where he lives with his partner and two dogs. All his work is fuelled by extensive research and buckets of coffee.
