White shoes look great, when they’re clean. Unfortunately, this doesn’t last for long because white is always prone to showing dirt and grime. So, knowing how to clean your white shoes properly is vital.
To make this easier, it’s worth knowing if you can put white shoes in the washing machine. Let’s find out.
Can You Put White Shoes in the Washing Machine?
You can put white shoes in the washing machine, provided they’re not made of leather.
Your shoes should have a label on the tongue that shows what materials are used. The symbol for leather is shaped like an animal skin, so if you see this at all, keep your shoes away from the washing machine.
Theoretically, you should be able to machine-wash shoes made from:
- Nylon
- Polyester
- Cotton
- Canvas
- Neoprene
Of course, check the shoes’ care label first. The tongue label that states the materials might also say the best way to wash your white shoes.
How Do You Clean White Trainers?
The best way to clean white trainers (sneakers) depends on what they’re made from. Treat leather shoes the same as any leather product: spot clean, avoid harsh detergents, and moisturise after.
Any other materials are fine to be put in the washing machine. Even so, follow these tips to get the best results:
- Only ever wash on a cool cycle. Hot water can damage rubber elements, causing them to crack or perish.
- Turn the spin cycle down to 600-1000 RPM. This will help prevent unbalancing your washing machine and damaging the shoes.
- Put each shoe in a separate delicates bag.
- Make sure you also put some padding in the washing machine to prevent the shoes from causing damage. A towel is the most suitable option, but make sure it’s white.
- A small amount of laundry liquid should be fine, but avoid anything too harsh. Again, this is to prevent damage to the rubber elements.
Washing White Shoes by Hand
Generally, it’s easiest to wash shoes by hand. This is easy enough with synthetic materials, as you don’t need to be particularly gentle. The steps are as follows:
- Use a dedicated trainer cleaning product, such as Kiwi Sneaker Cleaner. Products like this basically act as shampoo and should lift most of the dirt out of your trainers.
- Alternatively, a mix of warm water and washing up liquid will work fine. Apply it to your trainers using a toothbrush and make sure to get it in all the creases.
- If the shoes can get fully wet, submerge them in water to rinse off any cleaning product.
- Stuff with newspaper and allow to air dry.
- Finally, apply some Crep Protect for water and stain resistance.
Final Thoughts
If you have a look online for trainer cleaning guides, you’ll likely find far more intricate methods.
However, the methods above will be fine for all but the deepest stains. And if you clean your shoes regularly and use protector spray, you should be able to avoid these altogether!
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.
