Best Way to Wash Shoes: Guide for All Types

Your favorite sneakers have seen better days. Maybe they’ve logged a few too many miles on the treadmill, survived a muddy trail run, or just accumulated that unmistakable funk that comes from daily wear. Whatever the case, you’re here because you want to know the best way to wash shoes, without ruining them in the process.

Here’s the thing: not all shoes are created equal, and the cleaning method that works for your canvas sneakers could absolutely wreck a pair of leather loafers. That’s why we put together this complete guide covering everything from hand-washing gym shoes to machine-washing tennis shoes, tackling white shoe yellowing, and banishing odors for good. Whether you’re a busy professional trying to keep your rotation fresh or a parent dealing with your kid’s grass-stained cleats, you’ll find a method here that works.

Why Regular Shoe Cleaning Matters

It’s easy to neglect your shoes. They sit by the door, they get tossed in the closet, and unless they’re visibly filthy, cleaning them rarely crosses your mind. But regular shoe cleaning isn’t just about aesthetics, it actually extends the life of your footwear.

Dirt, sweat, and bacteria build up over time, breaking down the materials from the inside out. The oils from your feet degrade adhesives. Grime embedded in mesh and fabric weakens fibers. And let’s not even get started on the smell. A pair of running shoes that never gets cleaned can become a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which isn’t great for foot health.

Regular cleaning also keeps your shoes looking presentable. Stains set deeper the longer they sit, and discoloration becomes permanent if you wait too long. Think of it like laundry, you wouldn’t wear the same shirt for three months without washing it. Your shoes deserve at least occasional attention, too.

For busy households and professionals who already struggle to keep up with regular laundry, shoe cleaning can feel like one more chore on an endless list. That’s where services like Clotheslyne come in handy, their on-demand laundry pickup and delivery can free up time you’d otherwise spend scrubbing sneakers at the sink.

Know Your Shoe Materials Before You Start

Before you grab a bucket of soapy water, stop. Check the care label on your shoes. Seriously, it’s the single most important step people skip, and it’s the reason shoes end up warped, discolored, or falling apart after a wash.

Different materials require completely different approaches:

Canvas and fabric shoes (like Converse or Vans) are generally the most forgiving. Most can handle a gentle machine wash or a thorough hand scrub.
Mesh and knit uppers (common on running shoes and gym shoes) are delicate but washable. Hand washing is usually safest, though some can go in the machine inside a mesh bag.
Leather requires specialized cleaners and conditioners. Water alone can cause cracking and staining. Never machine wash leather shoes.
Suede and nubuck are the most sensitive. They need dry brushing and suede-specific products. Water is essentially the enemy here.
Rubber and synthetic materials on outsoles and rain boots are the easiest to clean, soap and water do the trick.

Leather and suede shoelaces should never go in the washing machine, even if the shoes themselves are fabric. When in doubt, hand washing with a mild solution is always the safer bet.

The bottom line? Know what you’re working with before you start. A little research upfront saves you from an expensive mistake.

Supplies and Tools for Washing Shoes

Essential Supplies and Tools for Washing Shoes

You don’t need a cabinet full of specialty products to clean your shoes. Most of what you need is probably already in your home.

For Hand Washing

Warm water
Liquid laundry detergent (or mild dish soap)
A soft-bristled brush or old toothbrush
A clean sponge or microfiber cloth
A small bowl or basin

For Machine Washing

A mesh garment bag (or a pillowcase in a pinch)
Two to three old towels
Liquid detergent, avoid powder detergent, which can clump and get stuck inside shoes

Optional but Helpful

Baking soda – Great for neutralizing odors and creating a gentle cleaning paste
White vinegar – Effective on tough stains and scuff marks
Magic Eraser or melamine sponge – Works wonders on white rubber soles
Shoe tree or crumpled newspaper – Helps shoes hold their shape while drying

One quick tip: avoid bleach unless you’re dealing with white canvas shoes and you know what you’re doing. Bleach can yellow white shoes (ironic, right?) and weaken fabrics. We’ll cover the white shoe situation in detail later.

Gather everything before you start so you’re not scrambling mid-clean with soapy hands. It makes the whole process smoother.

Best Way to Wash Tennis Shoes and Gym Shoes by Hand

Hand washing is the best way to wash tennis shoes and gym shoes if you want to be thorough without risking damage. It gives you control over pressure, temperature, and which areas get the most attention. Here’s how to do it right.

Prepping Your Shoes

Start by removing the shoelaces and insoles. These get washed separately (we’ll cover that below). Knock the soles together over a trash can or outside to shake off any loose dirt, pebbles, or dried mud.

Next, use a dry soft-bristled brush to scrub away any crusted-on debris from the outsoles and along the seams. This step matters more than people think, if you skip it, you’ll just be pushing dirt around once you add water.

For stubborn stains like grass, blood, or food spills, pretreat by rubbing a small dab of liquid laundry detergent directly into the stain. Let it sit for five to ten minutes before moving on.

Cleaning the Uppers, Soles, and Insoles

Mix warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap in a bowl. Alternatively, you can make a cleaning paste with one tablespoon of baking soda, two tablespoons of white vinegar, and one cup of warm water. This paste works particularly well on the best way to wash gym shoes that have heavy soil buildup.

Dip your toothbrush or soft cloth into the solution and work in small circular motions across the uppers. Don’t soak the shoe, you want it damp, not waterlogged. Pay extra attention to high-contact areas like the toe box and heel.

For the outsoles, apply the baking soda paste and scrub with a stiffer brush. The grooves in the tread can trap a surprising amount of gunk, so take your time here.

Once you’ve scrubbed everything, wipe the shoes down with a clean, damp cloth to remove soap residue. Then rinse lightly with clean water, again, don’t drench them. Stuff the shoes with crumpled newspaper or paper towels and set them somewhere with good airflow to dry completely.

How to Wash Shoes in the Washing Machine

Not every shoe can go in the washing machine, but for canvas sneakers, nylon running shoes, and most athletic footwear, it’s a perfectly valid option, as long as you do it correctly.

First, remove the laces and insoles. Place the shoes inside a mesh laundry bag to protect them from banging around. If you don’t have a mesh bag, a zippered pillowcase works fine.

Here’s the trick most people miss: add two or three old towels to the load. This serves two purposes. It balances the drum so your washing machine doesn’t sound like it’s trying to launch into orbit, and it provides cushioning that prevents the shoes from slamming against the sides.

Set the machine to a delicate or bulky items cycle with cold water. Hot water can warp shoes, weaken glue, and cause colors to bleed. Add a standard amount of liquid laundry detergent. For extra odor-fighting power, toss in a half cup of baking soda.

The wash cycle typically takes 45 minutes to an hour. Once it’s done, resist the urge to throw the shoes in the dryer. High heat can melt plastic lace tips, shrink materials, and compromise the shoe’s structure. Instead, stuff them with paper and let them air-dry overnight.

A few shoes you should never machine wash:

Leather or suede shoes
Shoes with embellishments, beading, or hardware
Dress shoes or heels
Boots with stiff soles

When in doubt, hand wash. It’s always the safer call.

Best Way to Wash White Shoes Without Yellowing

White shoes are beautiful until they’re not. And the frustrating part? Even cleaning them wrong can make things worse. If you’ve ever pulled a pair of white sneakers out of the wash only to find yellow streaks or a dingy tint, you know exactly what we’re talking about.

Yellowing usually happens for one of two reasons: leftover detergent residue that oxidizes as the shoe dries, or exposure to direct sunlight or heat during drying. Here’s the best way to wash white shoes and actually keep them white.

Step 1: Remove laces and insoles. Soak the laces separately in a solution of warm water and oxygen-based bleach (like OxiClean), not chlorine bleach, which can cause yellowing.

Step 2: Make a paste of baking soda, white vinegar, and a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. Apply it to the entire shoe using a toothbrush, working it into stained areas with gentle circular motions.

Step 3: Let the paste sit for 30 minutes. You’ll notice it starts to dry and harden slightly, that’s normal and actually helps lift stains.

Step 4: Rinse thoroughly with cold water. And we mean thoroughly. Any soap or paste left behind is what causes that yellowing effect.

Step 5: Wrap the shoes loosely in white paper towels (avoid newspaper, as ink can transfer) and air-dry them indoors, away from direct sunlight. The paper towels absorb excess moisture and help wick away any remaining residue.

Some people swear by the “wrap and sun-dry” method, but direct UV exposure is actually one of the biggest culprits behind yellowing. Keep them in a shaded, well-ventilated area instead.

How to Clean Shoelaces and Insoles Separately

Shoelaces and insoles are often the dirtiest parts of any shoe, yet most people forget to clean them separately. Tossing them through the wash still attached to the shoe means they won’t get properly cleaned, and they’ll take forever to dry.

Shoelaces

Machine method: Place laces in a small mesh laundry bag and run them through a normal cold-water cycle with your regular laundry. Hang them to air-dry afterward. Never put laces in the dryer, heat can shrink them and damage plastic aglets.

Hand method: Fill a bowl with warm water and add a squirt of liquid detergent. Drop the laces in and let them soak for 15 to 30 minutes. Swish them around occasionally, rubbing any particularly grimy sections between your fingers. Rinse under clean running water and hang to dry.

For white laces that have turned gray, soak them in a mixture of warm water and oxygen bleach for an hour before washing. They’ll come out looking noticeably brighter.

Insoles

Always wash insoles by hand. They’re often made of foam or gel that can waterlog and lose shape in a machine. Scrub them gently with a damp cloth and a little liquid soap, then rinse and lay flat to air-dry.

To deodorize insoles, sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda over them and let it sit overnight. Shake off the excess in the morning. This simple trick works surprisingly well for eliminating lingering odors.

Best Way to Deodorize Shoes and Keep Them Fresh

Clean shoes can still smell terrible if you don’t address odor at the source. The best way to deodorize shoes involves a combination of treatment and prevention.

Baking soda is the easiest and most effective deodorizer. Sprinkle it generously inside each shoe and let it sit for at least eight hours, overnight is ideal. Shake or vacuum it out before wearing. Baking soda absorbs moisture and neutralizes the acids that cause odor.

Dryer sheets tucked inside shoes overnight can also help. They won’t eliminate bacteria, but they’ll mask odors between deeper cleanings.

Tea bags (unused, of course) are an underrated option. Black tea contains tannins that kill odor-causing bacteria. Place a dry tea bag in each shoe for a few hours.

Rubbing alcohol or white vinegar spritz: Lightly spray the inside of shoes with either one and let them air-dry. Both are effective at killing bacteria. Don’t saturate, a light mist is all you need.

For prevention, the most important thing you can do is let your shoes dry completely between wears. Rotating between two or more pairs gives each pair time to air out. Moisture-wicking socks also make a noticeable difference.

If your gym bag is part of the problem, treat it the same way, baking soda and airflow. A stinky bag will re-contaminate clean shoes faster than you’d think.

Drying, Storage, and Ongoing Shoe Care Tips

You’ve done the hard work of washing your shoes. Don’t blow it at the finish line by drying or storing them wrong.

Drying: Always air-dry shoes at room temperature. Stuff them with crumpled newspaper, paper towels, or a clean rag to absorb moisture and help them keep their shape. Replace the stuffing after a few hours if the shoes are particularly wet. Avoid placing them near radiators, space heaters, or in direct sunlight, heat warps materials, loosens glue, and causes yellowing on white shoes.

Drying typically takes anywhere from 12 to 24 hours depending on the shoe material and humidity levels. Don’t wear them until they’re completely dry. Putting on damp shoes leads to bacterial growth, blisters, and faster deterioration.

Storage: Once your shoes are dry, store them in a cool, dry place with decent airflow. Avoid sealed plastic bins, which trap moisture. If you’re storing shoes long-term, stuff them with shoe trees or acid-free tissue paper to maintain their shape.

Cedar shoe trees are a great investment, they absorb moisture, prevent creasing, and keep shoes smelling fresh between wears.

Ongoing care tips:

Spot-clean stains as soon as they happen. Fresh stains are dramatically easier to remove.
Apply a water and stain repellent spray to new shoes before wearing them. This creates a protective barrier that makes future cleaning much simpler.
Rotate your shoes. Wearing the same pair every day doesn’t give them time to dry out and recover.
Deep clean your go-to shoes every two to four weeks, depending on how often you wear them.

And if all of this feels like a lot? It’s okay to outsource. Clotheslyne‘s pickup and delivery laundry service takes the hassle out of keeping your wardrobe, and your shoes, in top shape. Their locally vetted Clotheslyners handle washing with care, using eco-friendly products, so you can spend your time on things that actually matter to you.

Conclusion

Finding the best way to wash shoes really comes down to knowing your materials, using the right method, and being patient with the drying process. Hand washing gives you the most control and works for nearly every shoe type. Machine washing is a solid shortcut for canvas and athletic shoes, as long as you use cold water, a mesh bag, and skip the dryer.

White shoes need extra care to avoid yellowing, rinse thoroughly and dry in the shade. Laces and insoles deserve their own cleaning routine. And deodorizing isn’t optional if you want your shoes to last (and your feet to stay healthy).

The key takeaway? A little regular maintenance goes a long way. You don’t need to deep clean after every wear, but building a quick routine, spot cleaning, rotating pairs, sprinkling some baking soda, keeps your shoes looking and smelling fresh for months longer than they otherwise would.

And for the days when you’d rather not deal with it at all, Clotheslyne is always there to handle the dirty work.

For those who prefer professional laundry care, Clotheslyne provides an ideal solution. Through the app, you can hire Clotheslyners for expert laundry services, including washing, drying, and folding of clothes and bulky items.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to wash shoes without ruining them?

The best way to wash shoes depends on the material. Always check the care label first. Canvas and mesh shoes can be hand-washed with warm water and mild soap or machine-washed in a mesh bag on a cold, delicate cycle. Leather and suede should never be machine-washed—use specialized cleaners instead.

Can I put shoes in the washing machine?

Yes, but only certain types. Canvas sneakers, nylon running shoes, and most athletic footwear can go in the washing machine inside a mesh laundry bag. Use cold water on a delicate cycle, add old towels to balance the load, and use liquid detergent. Never machine-wash leather, suede, or dress shoes.

How do you wash white shoes without them turning yellow?

Yellowing is caused by detergent residue or sun exposure during drying. Apply a paste of baking soda, white vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide, let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cold water. Air-dry indoors away from direct sunlight, wrapped loosely in white paper towels to absorb residue.

How often should you clean your shoes?

Deep clean your most-worn shoes every two to four weeks. Between deep cleans, spot-clean stains as soon as they happen and sprinkle baking soda inside overnight to control odors. Rotating between pairs also helps each shoe dry out fully and last longer.

What is the best way to deodorize smelly shoes?

Sprinkle baking soda generously inside each shoe and let it sit for at least eight hours—overnight works best. Shake or vacuum it out before wearing. You can also lightly spritz the interior with white vinegar or rubbing alcohol to kill odor-causing bacteria. Let shoes dry fully between wears for prevention.

Should you remove insoles and laces before washing shoes?

Absolutely. Always remove shoelaces and insoles before washing. Laces can be machine-washed in a mesh bag on a cold cycle or hand-soaked in warm soapy water. Insoles should only be hand-washed with a damp cloth and mild soap, then air-dried flat to prevent waterlogging and shape loss.