They look like new! How to machine wash your shoesFavourite shoes are often worn every day and put through a lot of wear and tear. However, street dirt, water stains and other marks can significantly reduce the enjoyment of your shoes over time. Not only do they spoil the look, but in the worst case, they can even damage the quality in the long term. It is therefore advisable to clean your shoes regularly. But what should you do if the shoes can no longer be cleaned with a shoe brush and a cloth or if the odour of the sports shoes becomes too strong? This guide shows whether, how and at how many degrees shoes can be machine washed in this case.
Schuhmodell | Geeignet für die Waschmaschine | Besonderheiten |
|---|---|---|
High Heels | Nein | Absätze können abbrechen und/oder die Maschine beschädigen |
Lederschuhe | Nein | Absätze können abbrechen und/oder die Maschine beschädigen |
Sportschuhe | Ja | Sportschuhe mit Dämpfung in der Sohle sollten nicht in die Maschine |
Stoffschuhe | Ja | Schuhe mit Metallapplikationen wie Nieten dürfen nicht in die Maschine |
Sneaker/Turnschuhe | Ja | Schuhe mit Metallapplikationen wie Nieten dürfen nicht in die Maschine |
Tip 2: Use the right detergentA heavy-duty or mild detergent is the right choice for gently cleaning shoes. If the shoes are made of white fabric, a white detergent can also be used to make the colour shine even brighter. When dosing the detergent, the motto is: less is more. Fabric softener should not be used when washing trainers in the machine: fabric softener can damage the fabric and especially the areas where glue has been used, thus ruining the shoe.
Tip 4: Load the machine carefullyShoes should never be put in the washing machine on their own. The fast rotations cause the shoes to hit the inside of the drum and can create an imbalance and damage the machine. Towels and bed sheets, for example, are well suited as companions for shoes in the washing machine. If the shoes are in the garment bag, there is no need to worry about the other items of laundry being damaged.
Tip 5: Dry shoes properlyOnce the shoes have survived washing in the washing machine undamaged, they need to be dried properly. This is the only way to ensure that they retain their shape and do not develop mould stains or similar. Avoid exposing them to direct heat from a heater or hair dryer. Instead, the trainers should ideally be dried at room temperature. To avoid deformation, a shoe tree or newspaper can be inserted into the shoe. Newspaper also has the advantage of absorbing water, which speeds up the drying process. If possible, shoes should not be put in the tumble dryer.
Tipp 6 : Nach dem Waschen imprägnieren
Waren die Schuhe imprägniert, muss der Schutz nach dem Waschen erneuert werden. Zwar ist die Imprägnierung wasserfest, allerdings nur bei kalten Temperaturen und bis zu einer bestimmten Menge Wasser. Außerdem hilft das Imprägnieren dabei, zukünftige Verschmutzungen und Flecken zu minimieren. Das Imprägnierspray sollte jedoch erst aufgetragen werden, wenn der Schuh vollständig getrocknet ist.
Proper shoe careIn general, shoes should be well cared for so that they last a long time and look good. Dirt, mud and the like should be removed as soon as possible after wearing them, before the dirt settles in the fibres. Regular airing and alternating between different shoes helps to minimise odours. Shoe polish keeps the material soft so that it does not become brittle and dirt cannot settle in the creases.white shoes are yellow after washing: what can I do? if the formerly white shoes have an undesirable yellow tinge after washing, this is usually due to the glue that has come loose and stuck to the fabric. This is why special care is required when washing white trainers. A mixture of baking soda and washing-up liquid can help to remove the yellow colour from the shoe: A 1:1 mixture is applied to the shoe with a toothbrush and removed with a damp cloth after a short exposure time. This household remedy can often remove a slight yellow tinge.
