Can you spin sneakers in a washing machine?

These days, many housewives wash their sneakers in the washing machine, which is much more effective than hand washing. This is completely safe, as modern footwear is designed to be washed in a washing machine without damaging the materials. However, it's always important to follow certain care guidelines to avoid damaging your sneakers. For example, not everyone knows whether it's safe to spin-dry sneakers in a washing machine, which we'll explore today.

Only low speed spin is possible

Every new washing machine has a function for regulating the number of revolutions per minute during spinning. This is very important, because spinning sneakers in the washing machine is only permissible if they are made of fabric and have no obvious defects or serious tears in the seams.

Spinning of sneakers is only allowed at a speed of 400 rpm.

If the user sets the spin speed to 600, 800, 1000, or even higher, the washing machine can seriously damage the shoes. In the worst case, the machine can even tear off the sole of the sneaker, making it virtually impossible to restore. Therefore, if your washing machine doesn't have a spin speed setting, it's best to avoid it altogether.

How to prepare shoes for washing?

While shoes can certainly be washed in household appliances, they must be thoroughly prepared for washing. Here's a short list of tips on how to do this correctly.

• Carefully examine the shoes to ensure there are no loose threads, poorly stitched elements, or foam rubber. In this case, it is best not to wash the items.
• Unlace your sneakers and remove the insoles, as they need to be cleaned separately.
• First, remove dried mud, leaves, sand, stones and other debris from your shoes; it is easier to remove this with a knitting needle, toothpick or a rough brush.

Once you've followed these three tips, you can begin cleaning your sneakers. The step-by-step washing instructions for this type of cleaning are as follows:

• Place the shoes in the washing machine drum;
• add liquid detergent to the powder dispenser;
• start the wash;
• Wait until the working cycle is complete, remove the items and dry them thoroughly.

Experts do not recommend treating more than two pairs of shoes at a time.

For additional protection of the drum, you can add an old, unwanted towel to it – it will act as a counterweight, preventing your “home helper” from breaking down.

Selecting a washing mode

The choice of the best operating cycle mode directly depends on the model of the washing machine. The most convenient program to use is the one called “sports shoes.” Unfortunately, not every washing machine has this mode, so if you don’t have such a cycle in your program menu, you should choose the delicate mode.

In any case, setting up your washing machine for shoe washing is easy. Simply disable the spin cycle or set it to 400 rpm. The temperature for this cycle should be no more than 40 degrees Celsius. With these settings, the washing time will be minimal, preventing damage to your sneakers.

What detergent should I use?

The best way to clean sneakers and other athletic footwear is with household chemicals in gel or concentrate form. It's important to ensure they don't contain harsh ingredients like chlorine or acids.

To clean colored shoes, you should purchase detergents specifically designed for dyed items. Failure to follow this rule can seriously damage your sneakers.

It's also crucial to ensure that household cleaning products are not dissolved in extremely hot water. Therefore, don't use regular detergent, as it dissolves poorly in water below 30 degrees Celsius, leaving multicolored particles on your shoes, creating unsightly stains.

It's best to treat shoes with gel capsules, which should be placed directly in the drum. However, it's not recommended to add fabric softeners, as they can adversely affect the sneakers.

Furthermore, do not use liquid soap, shampoo, shower gel, dishwashing liquid, or other household chemicals not intended for washing shoes. All of these products contain surfactants, which can create excessive foam, which can damage the washing machine's electronics.

Drying sneakers correctly

Shoes should be dried naturally only, but keep in mind that sneakers should generally not be exposed to direct sunlight. They should also not be heated on radiators or left near the stove. The only thing that is allowed to speed up drying is to take the shoes outside to let them stand in the air, or move them to a room with low humidity.

To ensure the shoes retain their shape, they can be filled with paper, which must be clean and free of paint or ink, so newspapers or magazines should not be used.

   

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