Can you wash suede sneakers and other shoes in the washing machine?

suede sneakers Suede shoes are considered the most luxurious and easy to care for. But even so, people still ask whether they can be machine washed.

This is a perfectly reasonable question for busy people, and laziness also prompts us to look for simpler shoe care options than cleaning and hand washing. Let's figure out whether it's worth washing shoes, including suede, in a washing machine.

How does suede react to washing?

Natural or artificial suede is a delicate material made in a special way. Shoe manufacturers do not even recommend getting suede items wet, so machine washing almost all suede shoes is prohibited. The only exception would be sneakers, and even then, in our opinion, it is better to clean them by hand rather than machine wash them.

Suede will lose its softness if left in water for long periods. Furthermore, colored suede may fade due to dye leaching. Low-quality faux suede will fall apart. Even if nothing seems to be happening after one or two washes, the suede's seams will start to fray after a couple more washes. This is why it's recommended to clean or hand-wash suede.

What shoes can't be washed?

Twenty years ago, few people considered washing shoes in a washing machine. Today, this method of care has become a priority for many. Even the latest models of washing machines have modes like "Sneakers" or "Shoes." But this doesn't mean you can put anything you want in the drum. Not only suede shoes should not be washed in the washing machine, but also:

Shoes made of any leather. Leather will dry out and lose its appearance after washing;
boots, shoes, boots and other footwear with a hard last, which can lose shape if wet;
Shoes with damage, such as sneakers with parts coming off. Machine washing will ruin them completely;
Shoes with embellishments should also not be machine washed;
Shoes of poor quality and questionable manufacture, or shoes with glued soles. The glue can swell when exposed to water, damaging the shoes.

Please note! Sneakers, moccasins, slippers, and trainers made from synthetic materials are machine washable.

Manual cleaning

So, it's best to clean suede shoes by hand, including sneakers. For expensive suede shoes, washing them in a washing machine is generally prohibited; don't experiment. To keep your suede shoes looking their best, you can choose one of the cleaning methods.

Dry cleaning. If the shoes have heavy wet stains, do not attempt to scrub them off. Don't do it right away; it will only make things worse. Wait for the dirt to dry, then scrub the dirty area with a stiff brush, completely removing dirt and dust. Rub shiny areas with an eraser to fluff up the pile.
Cleaning with foam. This procedure requires a special foam cleaner. The foam is applied to shoes cleaned of dirt using a flannel cloth and then removed. The shoes are put out to dry.
Wash with water. This method isn't exactly washing. Simply add liquid detergent to warm water, as it dissolves better. Then, wipe the shoes with a cloth soaked in the solution, paying particular attention to soiled areas. Rinse the cloth with clean water and wipe the shoes again. Blot the surface with a dry cloth to speed up drying.

Note: You can use suede shampoo instead of laundry gel.
Steam treatment. If your suede shoes have lost their shine, steam treatment can help restore it. Simply hold the shoes over boiling water for a few minutes, then smooth out the fibers with a stiff brush.
Stain Removal. Simply cleaning and washing with soapy water won't remove stains; they'll need to be treated with stronger products. For example, gasoline is effective in removing stains, but it also dissolves paint well, so you need to be careful with colored shoes. To restore the color of brown shoes, sprinkle coffee grounds on them and brush them off after they dry. For other colored sneakers, use talcum powder, which helps remove grease stains.

Whatever method you choose to clean your suede shoes, be sure to dry them naturally, stuffing them with white paper, rather than on a radiator. Otherwise, the shoes will become rough and stiff.

Adviсe

washing sneakers in a machine If you want to machine wash your shoes, you need to do it correctly. When experimenting with suede sneakers, choose ones you won't mind throwing away if the results aren't perfect. To machine wash any shoes, follow these instructions:

Prepare your shoes for washing by cleaning the soles from dirt, removing the insoles and laces, and removing any stains;
put a couple in shoe washing bag, this will protect the products and the machine from unnecessary impacts;
place the shoes in the drum;

Remember! You can put no more than two pairs of shoes, or better yet, one. If you don't have a laundry bag, be sure to add a couple of old towels.
Pour liquid powder into the tray; it will dissolve better and will not leave streaks;
Select a delicate cycle, if available, the "Sneakers" cycle, the temperature, time and number of turns should be minimal. The optimal washing temperature is 30⁰C. It is better to turn off the spin and drying mode.
shoe laces and insoles should be washed separately;
After washing, stuff the shoes with white paper and place them in the sun to dry. It's best not to use newspapers, as they can leave a dirty mark, especially on white shoes.

To summarize, it's important to emphasize once again that suede shoes and sneakers require careful care. Machine washing on a delicate cycle isn't recommended; if you don't want to shorten the lifespan of your favorite pair of sneakers, hand-clean them. Fabric shoes withstand machine washing best, and they look as good as new. Enjoy washing them!