You’ve been running in the rain, just got back from a muddy festival or have stepped in some dog 💩😅.
Your beautiful trainers now look a mess and you want to return them to their former glory, but what washing machine settings do you choose?
Like with clothes, many types of shoes comes will come with a care label giving instructions about what temperature and washing cycle you should use. If you find one, you’re sorted, head to our clothes washing symbols explained guide to work out those hieroglyphics.
If there isn’t a label, what type of material are the trainers made from? If they include nubuck or suede make sure to keep them out of the washing machine
However, most trainer will be made from synthetic materials, canvas or cotton which can go in the washing machine no problem.
Before you chuck your trainers in the washing machine, we’ve got some prep to do.
Remove any excess dirt - a great job for a toothbrush and included as one of our hacks for an old used toothbrush!
Take out any insoles and set them to one side. Putting them in the washing machine can destroy their structure, rendering them useless.
Remove any laces - this allows the trainer to open up in the washing machine so that the detergent can penetrate deep into the shoe.
It’s not recommended to wash your laces loose in the washing machine as they can easily get stuck in the mechanism. One way around this is to put both your trainers and laces into a laundry bag or pillow case before adding them to the drum.
If your trainers are dirty it's likely from organic matter; mud, grass etc but you also don’t want to use harsh chemicals like bleach so we recommend opting for mild bio base detergent like our laundry detergent sheets.
At this point, you may have already found the trainers care label and know which setting to choose. If not, err on the side of caution with the washing machine settings. Go with a low temp wash, 30 degrees, and a gentle wash cycle.
The lower temperature will protect any delicate components in your trainers from heat damage and the gentle cycle will make sure the trainers aren't thrown around too aggressively in the drum. You can add a few towels if you find they are still be thrown around and making a lot of noise.
Again, if you have one consult your care label, but it’s best to let your trainers air dry after taking them out of the washing machine.
Once everything is dry it’s time to put your insoles and laces back. That’s it, you're done! You and your trainers are now ready for the next adventure.
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