How to Wash Tennis Shoes in the Washer

Your shoe's care instructions come first

A dirty canvas pair and a pair with delicate trim need different decisions before either reaches the drum. We'd check the shoe's materials and care instructions before choosing a cycle, because some materials can't tolerate soaking and embellished shoes need specialist care.

Look inside your shoes for a material sticker or sewn-in tag, and read their washing instructions. Canvas, nylon, cotton and polyester shoes are usually suitable for machine washing, but the shoe's own directions still govern whether you should proceed. Whirlpool's shoe-care guidance (opens in a new tab) makes that check the first step.

Pairs to keep out of this load

Set aside pairs made from materials on the exclusion list before you gather the laundry supplies. These need care suited to their materials, even when they look like everyday sneakers.

• Keep leather, suede, patent leather, imitation leather and nubuck shoes out of the washer.
• Keep wool, velvet, velour and silk shoes out, along with shoes that have cork soles.
• Don't machine-wash cleats, including sports shoes with rubber or metal cleats.

For delicate shoes or pairs with beading, embroidery, sequins or other embellishments, take them to a shoe repair and cleaning specialist. That gives you a cleaning route suited to the details that machine washing could damage.

Rubber and vinyl need a separate decision because the manufacturers disagree. Whirlpool excludes rubber and vinyl shoes, while Maytag's material guidance (opens in a new tab) conditionally allows PVC/rubber shoes if they contain no other materials that could be damaged in the wash. We'd leave those disputed materials out of this washer method, following the more restrictive advice to avoid risking an unsuitable pair.

Laces and insoles need different treatment

Remove the laces where possible, and take out removable insoles before washing the shoes. Treat those loose pieces separately from the shoe itself: laces need containment, while insoles can hold enough water to take days to dry.

Only include suitable non-leather laces in the wash. Put them in a mesh garment bag and close it securely so they can't tangle or wrap around parts inside the drum. Check the closure before the bag goes into the load.

Keep the removed insoles out of this washer load to avoid waterlogging. Whirlpool's insole advice (opens in a new tab) allows an exception when the insole's care instructions state otherwise, whereas Maytag directs you to leave insoles out. Follow any separate care directions for those inserts before returning them to the shoes.

Loose dirt comes off before loading

Use a soft brush to lift as much excess mud and debris from the soles as possible. Work gently over loose dirt on the shoes, brushing it away without pressing it deeper into the material.

For dirt lodged in tight areas of the soles, use a toothbrush or carefully work with a toothpick. The aim at this stage is to remove the debris you can reach before bagging the shoes. Whirlpool's preparation steps (opens in a new tab) put this sole cleaning ahead of loading, so give the tread a look before moving on.

A bag and old towels protect the load

Place the prepared shoes in a mesh garment bag. If you don't have one, use a pillowcase instead. Either contains the shoes so they don't tumble as forcefully around the drum, helping protect them from damage during the wash.

Put the bagged shoes into the washer with a few old towels to help balance the load. Choose towels that are already old, since newer towels can release excess dye and stain the shoes you're trying to clean. The towels and the bag serve different purposes: balance and containment.

Whirlpool says shoes are unlikely to damage the washer when they're contained in a mesh bag or pillowcase and washed on a cold, gentle cycle. Keep those conditions together when following its washer-protection guidance (opens in a new tab), because the containment helps limit damage from shoes tumbling through the drum.

Cold settings and the Whirlpool guide example

Choose cold water and a gentle cycle, with low or no spin if your washer offers that option. Avoid switching to hot water for a dirty pair: it can shrink shoes, and cold, gentle washing helps prevent that damage.

Use a small amount of liquid laundry detergent to avoid over-sudsing. Skip powder for this job because detergent that doesn't dissolve properly can get stuck in the shoes. Maytag's washing guidance (opens in a new tab) supports the small liquid-detergent amount alongside cold water and gentle washing.

For the Whirlpool washing machine example, use the prepared, bagged load described above and select Delicate, cold water and slow or no spin. Whirlpool's brand-guide settings (opens in a new tab) allow liquid detergent or laundry pods. Those are its wash-setting choices for this shoe-care method.

Air-dry in the shade

When the cycle finishes, take the shoes and laces out of their bags and let them air-dry. Stuff the shoes with clean rags or paper towels if you'd like help absorbing excess moisture and holding their shape while they dry.

Use a spot out of direct sunlight. Whirlpool suggests sunlight to speed drying, while Maytag's drying advice (opens in a new tab) says to keep shoes away from it. The shaded air-drying route follows Maytag's precaution without relying on sun exposure to finish the job.

Leave high dryer heat out of the drying process. It can shrink or damage the shoes, and the glue used to assemble many shoes won't withstand high dryer temperatures. Air drying avoids that heat exposure while the shoes lose moisture.

Complete dryness is the finishing check

Plan for more than the wash cycle when deciding when you'll need this pair again. Whirlpool estimates about 45 minutes to one hour for the Delicate wash, followed by at least overnight air drying. It also notes that shoes may take a few days to dry.

Use complete dryness as the finishing point, rather than the end of a set number of hours. Leave shoes that are still damp to continue air-drying, then reinsert the insoles and thread the laces back through only once the shoes are completely dry.