How to wash Converse in a washing machine

Converse have been a popular footwear choice for many years. They're loved not only by teenagers but also by seasoned adults. It's no wonder fans of these shoes often ask: can Converse be washed in the washing machine? Indeed, in this day and age, many have forgotten what hand washing is, preferring to throw everything in the washing machine. But will this harm Converse? Let's explore this question and, at the same time, learn how to wash these shoes properly.

How to wash?

It's commonly believed that machine washing ruins almost all shoes. While there's some truth to this assertion, it doesn't apply to Converse. There are three main ways to clean Converse:

• clean by hand with a brush and cloth;
• hand wash;
• Wash in automatic mode in a washing machine.

Cleaning is only advisable when the shoes are not very dirty. Moreover, cleaning can be done not only mechanically, but also chemically, by wiping the Converse with a cloth soaked in ammonia or dishwashing liquid.

 

The soles of your Converse will appear whiter if you first wipe them with a cloth soaked in ammonia, and then brush them with a clothes brush, after applying a small amount of toothpaste to them.

If your Converse sneakers are particularly dirty, you'll have to choose between machine or hand washing, and that's where the problem arises. Fans of these sneakers have long been hotly debating whether hand or machine washing is preferable for their favorite shoes. In our opinion, machine washing is still better because it:

1. As strange as it may sound, it prolongs the life of Converse;
2. helps to remove dirt from shoes better;
3. saves your time and effort.

Let's be clear: washing Converse in a washing machine preserves the shoes better than hand washing only if the machine is washed correctly. But how is this "correct"? First, you need to prepare your sneakers for machine washing; second, you need to find the right detergent; and third, you need to choose the right washing mode based on your washing machine's capabilities. Let's start with the preparatory stage.

Preparing for washing

Preparing shoes comes down to performing a number of simple steps.

• Shoes should be cleaned of large chunks of dirt, clumps of plants and their thorns, and other debris. The rule is simple: anything that can be pre-cleaned should be removed – you don't want excess dirt in the washing machine tub.
• It is necessary to remove the insoles and laces from the shoes. It has been observed that if the laces are left on, they will change color and become unusable after the first wash.
• Get a shoe washing bag and put your Converse in it; washing sneakers without a bag is dangerous both for the shoes themselves and for the washing machine drum.
  

If you don't have a special shoe bag, you can use an old pillowcase; it will work just as well.

• Place the laces from your sneakers in a bundle, tie them with a string, and place them in a shoe laundry bag next to your Converse.

At this point, the preparation is complete. You can begin washing with a clear conscience. However, if your sneakers have particularly stubborn stains, it's best to treat these stains with some kind of product beforehand, even just regular soap. In this case, you can expect better washing results.

How and with what to wash?

The answer to the question of how to wash Converse is simple: in the washing machine. Any delicate wash cycle with a water temperature no higher than 40°C is ideal for washing Converse.⁰C. It is better to wash faded colored sneakers at a temperature of 30⁰C. The delicate wash cycle involves a slow and gentle rotation of the drum. This prevents the bag of shoes from swaying around in the machine like in a centrifuge, which means it won't cause any mechanical damage. To avoid further damage to the sneakers, the spin cycle should also be turned off.

Converse shoes handle modern detergents well, including laundry detergents and gels. Even oxygen bleach is acceptable, but chlorine-based or chlorine-containing products, especially chlorine bleaches, should never be used. If the sneakers are colored, use washing powder for the automatic washing machine. Color, and for white shoes, a universal detergent or a detergent for washing white items will do.

Using detergents containing chlorine will cause the sneakers to turn yellow and lose their appearance.

How to dry?

Recently, many washing machine users prefer to buy built-in washing machines with dryersIndeed, if there's nowhere to dry clothes, and there's no time, this is the ideal solution. This raises the question: can Converse be tumble-dried in a washing machine? The answer is obvious: no! Also, you can't dry these types of shoes:

• dry in the sun;
• place on a heater or hot radiator;
• dry near open flames.

So how do you dry your Converse without them losing their shape or getting ruined? Immediately after washing, lay the shoes out to drain. Don't wring them out by hand, and hanging them on a clothesline is also not recommended. After the water has drained, stuff the Converse with crumpled white paper. There is no need to stuff newspapers in, as black paint may remain on the shoes. Next, you need to place the Converse in a warm, well-ventilated place and dry them at ambient temperature.

If you're drying your sneakers outside, a ventilated, shaded area is ideal. If you're drying them indoors, place them at least 1 meter away from a heat source. Modern drying cabinets have a "shoe dry" or "gentle dry" setting, which is ideal for washed Converse.

In conclusion, we'd like to point out that in this article, we've tried to provide a more or less comprehensive answer to the question of whether Converse can be washed in a washing machine and how to do so properly to preserve their appearance and enhance their appearance. We hope this information is helpful.

   

Readers' comments