Washing New Balance sneakers in a washing machine

Washing New Balance sneakers in a washing machine Can New Balance sneakers be machine washed? This is a common question among owners of the well-known brand's athletic footwear. New sneakers look stylish and pristine, but after wearing them outdoors, dust and dirt spoil their appearance. Let's find out whether machine washing is acceptable, or whether it's better to clean sneakers by hand instead of using a washing machine.

Is machine washing possible?

All recommendations for product care are described in the instructions. The manufacturer prohibits putting sneakers in New Balance in the washing machine. The rule applies to all models produced under this brand, regardless of the material the sneakers are made of: leather, suede, textile, or artificial fabrics.

The manufacturer strongly recommends avoiding machine washing and instead cleaning athletic shoes by hand. Follow these guidelines:

Wipe the surface of your sneakers daily to remove dust and dirt with a damp cloth or soft brush;
Wipe painted leather sneakers with a cloth soaked in soapy water;
Do not allow boots to remain in contact with water for a long time; do not soak sneakers;
To remove stubborn stains from textile sneakers, use special cleaning products and aerosols.

If you follow the manufacturer's advice, your sneakers will last a long time without losing their quality. But in reality, cleaning shoes with just a brush and a damp cloth is often very difficult, and thoughts inevitably turn to the washing machine.

You can still wash New Balance textile sneakers in a washing machine, but you'll have to forget about warranty service after doing so.

We make sure that the shoes can withstand washing

Certain shoe styles should never be thrown into the washing machine. Otherwise, the item will come out of the machine significantly damaged. This applies to sneakers:

made of nubuck, leather, or suede. These materials will not withstand contact with water;
made of polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride;
with many decorative elements: spikes, rhinestones, colored stripes, rivets;
Shoes that have damage, such as holes, loose threads, or torn seams. Also, don't wash shoes with slightly peeling soles. Machine washing will only damage the sneakers further.
with reflective inserts - they may come off when washed.

Sneakers made from natural fabrics require delicate handling. New Balance shoes are expensive, so if possible, it's best to play it safe and take them to a dry cleaner. Minor stains can be easily removed at home. Heavily soiled New Balance canvas sneakers can be machine washed. Before loading, ensure the shoes are in good condition. It's important to select a gentle cycle and check the settings.

Machine washing algorithm

Only New Balance textile sneakers or shoes made from synthetic materials should be thrown into the washing machine. A pair of sports shoes made of leather, suede or nubuck can only be cleaned by hand. When starting an automatic wash, please follow these recommendations:

Before placing the shoes in the drum, wipe the surface of the sneakers with a damp cloth, clean off any dirt from the soles, and remove any stones stuck in the tread pattern;
Remove the insoles and laces. It's best to wash them separately by hand;
Place your athletic shoes in a laundry bag. If you don't have a mesh bag, you can use a regular pillowcase.
Use liquid detergents or gel capsules. They dissolve faster and rinse completely from the material. This minimizes the risk of whitish stains on your shoes.
Use a delicate or hand wash cycle. A special "Sports Shoes" cycle will also work;
monitor the water temperature, it should not exceed 30°C;
It is better to turn off the spin cycle or set it to the lowest possible speed;
If your washing machine has the Eco Time function programmed into its memory, enable it. This will reduce the cycle time.

New Balance shoe washing powder isn't suitable. The granules don't dissolve easily in cool water, so you won't be able to remove stains or prevent white streaks from appearing on the material.

When choosing a detergent, choose one that works in cool water (20-30°C).

Let's wash the shoes by hand

Manual cleaning is convenient because you don't have to wet the entire shoe surface, but focus your efforts on the soiled area. This method can help tackle small, isolated stains. The procedure is as follows:

Prepare a soapy solution in a basin: add detergent to the water and mix well. You can use regular baby or laundry soap, or special laundry gels;
Stuff your New Balance sneakers with white fabric, such as an old T-shirt, a waffle towel, or cheesecloth. This will prevent the shoes from getting soaked through and becoming misshapen.
Use a sponge or cloth soaked in soapy water to wipe the dirty areas of the shoes;
brush off stains with a soft brush;
rinse the treated areas under running warm water;
put the sneakers out to dry.

This method can be used to clean not only fabric shoes but also leather or suede sneakers. The key is to proceed with extreme caution. If your sneakers, made of fabric or synthetic materials, require a full cleaning, follow these steps:

Prepare a soapy solution in a basin. The detergent should dissolve completely in the water to prevent white streaks from appearing on your sneakers. Make sure the water temperature doesn't exceed 30°C;
Place your shoes in the container. Beforehand, brush off any dust or dirt, and wash the soles;
leave the sports pair in the basin for half an hour;
wipe the dirtiest areas with a brush;
rinse the sneakers in clean water;
Dry your shoes.

Hand cleaning reduces the amount of water contact with sneakers, reducing the risk of damage. It also protects them from excessive friction, which is undesirable when washing a pair of sneakers in a machine.

Proper drying is the key to success

It's important not only to wash your New Balance sneakers carefully but also to dry them properly. A lot depends on the latter. Therefore, when drying, follow these rules:

Avoid exposing athletic shoes to high temperatures. Do not place them on radiators, heaters, or blow them with a hot hair dryer.
It is better to dry your sneakers in the fresh air, but most importantly, protect them from direct sunlight;
If you can’t take your sneakers outside, you should leave them to dry in a well-ventilated room;
Be sure to stuff your sneakers with white paper. The parchment will absorb excess water. Just be sure not to use newspaper or magazine pages. Printing ink may bleed onto the material, ruining the look of the shoes.

If you need your sneakers to dry faster, you can direct a fan at them. The blast of cool air will speed up the drying process, and you'll be ready to wear them in just a couple of hours.

Expert advice

Experts recommend following simple guidelines when cleaning athletic shoes to avoid damaging your expensive sneakers. When washing them by hand or machine, remember the following:

White shoes should be washed separately from black or colored shoes;
No more than two pairs of shoes can be loaded into the washing machine at a time;
To prevent imbalance, it is better to throw a few old light-colored T-shirts into the drum at the same time as the sneakers;
When washing a white pair of clothes, you cannot use detergents for colored items.

In any case, it's best to avoid machine washing. If you have the option of hand-cleaning your sneakers, don't neglect it. After the sneakers New Balance will dry, it is better to treat them with a water-repellent impregnation. This will help protect your sports pair.

Interesting:

1 reader comment

March 1, 2024, at 7:30 PM
Sab:

What should you do if you were lured with hot water and a solution of 565 New Balance and the paint started to wash off?

Answer