You can, but carefully. How not to ruin running shoes in the washing machine

For any runner, sneakers are a sacred thing. The very pair is first meticulously chosen, and then cherished and nurtured, so that it served as long as possible and at the same time pleased the eye with cool appearance. Water-repellent sprays help to keep running shoes clean, but sooner or later it’s time to wash them. And with it comes a difficult choice: hand or machine?

On the one hand, washing by hand, you provide your favorite sneakers more careful attitude and protect them from a good shake. On the other hand, a washing machine will not only save you time and effort, but will also do the job more efficiently.

So can you trust your running shoes to the washing machine? And what are some simple tricks that will help to restore the shoe’s appearance without harming the running qualities?

Can all running shoes be washed in the machine?

Usually manufacturers of sneakers warn users about the undesirability of machine washing, and many fans of running really consider this option risky and even dangerous. However, if you follow a number of simple rules, then damage, deformation and other negative consequences of machine washing can be avoided.

First of all, it is necessary to understand whether your couple has no contraindications to machine washing. It is highly undesirable to trust household appliances shoes made of leather, suede or leatherette. In addition, it should not have reflective elements and foam inserts. But most often to modern running shoes all this does not apply. That means you can safely throw your favorite sneakers into the drum of the machine. Naturally, not forgetting the rules of effective and safe washing.

5 simple rules for effective and safe washing

Clean the sole

Before proceeding directly to washing, it is recommended to clean the sole, so that there are no lumps of earth, pebbles and grass in the tread. Do this conveniently under a stream of water, forging dirt with a toothpick.

Take out the insole and laces

It is better to wash sneakers without insert elements. Insole is better to wash by hand, minimizing the risk of deformation. Laces can easily be entrusted to the machine, but it is better to take them out and put them in a separate bag, so as not to damage the technique from the inside.

Sneakers in a bag

Then it is desirable to place the sneakers in a special bag for washing, which can easily be purchased in a hardware store or on the Internet. This will reduce the shock load on your shoes, although during washing there will be loud noises from the machine in any case. Experienced runners often use a trick: put old towels in the drum along with sneakers.

Washing mode

For washing running shoes, you need to choose the most gentle mode. Most modern “washing machines” already provide modes for delicate washing or sportswear. The main thing to remember is that sneakers should be washed at a minimum temperature – 30-40 degrees, with a spin at 300-400 revolutions, and better without spinning at all. The duration of washing should be minimal, and the drying function, if there is one, it is better not to use.

To the choice of powder when washing sneakers there are no special requirements. The only thing is that for white models, you can add a little bleach or pre-treat strong contaminants with a stain remover.

How to dry sneakers after washing?

After proper washing in the machine, your sneakers will be clean, but wet. The ideal drying option is natural drying away from batteries and direct sunlight. It’s best not to use a hair dryer either. Put the washed pair on a newspaper, and inside put crumpled napkins of more or less dense paper.
In this case, drying will take a few hours longer, but the sneakers will retain their pristine qualities and will be your faithful companions for a long time on any distance.