Sneakers are the choice of people leading an active lifestyle. Mud, slush, puddles on the roads, sand and just dust - these shoes often take on such “blows”. How to restore her presentable appearance, if the usual wet sponge does not always help? On what mode to wash sneakers? Which detergent to choose? And do all sports shoes stand up to this kind of cleaning?
Are the sneakers machine washable
First you need to find out what modern sports shoes are. As a rule, this is a foam or rubber sole and a leather or fabric component, which are connected with glue, some models are stitched. Thus, the following risks appear: the shoes are deformed or their parts are unglued. What to do? Here you should clearly understand in which mode it is better to wash sneakers, and for this you need to find out what exactly your pair is made of.
Pay attention! Most sports shoe manufacturers do not recommend the use of an automatic machine to clean their products. Moreover, not every washing machine is designed for this. And if you did not find information on the shoe tag and in the instructions for the home unit that would allow you to carry out such events, all responsibility for the final result lies solely with you.
Which sneakers can be machine washed
So, in order to decide on which mode to wash sneakers in the washing machine, let's find out how this or that material will behave.
- Shoes made of synthetic leather have a relatively light texture. It stretches much less than genuine leather, but it tends to wear out quickly.
- Sneakers made of nylon or polyester yarn, or simply "mesh", are very light and provide excellent breathability. This material has virtually no stretch.
- Sports shoes made of textiles are also very light, allow the skin to "breathe", but at the same time let moisture through and retain heat very poorly.
Most often you have to wash synthetic and textile models. In this case, it is desirable to sort the latter by color, otherwise they may shed. White shoes are always cleaned separately, and here it will be important not only what mode to put on to wash sneakers, but also what kind of product you will use. In this option, you should give preference to powder with bleach.
Which sneakersbetter not to auto wash
These include models made of genuine leather. They can not only be severely deformed, but also react negatively to detergents. For this reason, it is better to wipe leather sneakers with a damp sponge.
Suede sneakers are not machine washable. Moreover, shoes made of this material are better not to get wet at all. To clean them, modern industry has developed and produced special products that perfectly cope with pollution and do not spoil the material.
In addition, in no case should you wash decorated sneakers: with rhinestones, stones, glass elements, etc. They can peel off and clog the drain. Under the ban are shoes of poor quality and damaged pairs. If the sole is not stitched and at the same time very poorly glued, then it can simply come off. The same situation is with torn shoes, from under the upper material of which foam rubber is already “peeping out”.
When choosing which mode to wash sneakers, first make sure that they are absolutely intact and well stitched. And think carefully before sending nubuck or suede items to the machine.
Preparing shoes for washing
First, pre-processing should be done. Remove the laces and insoles if they are removable. Soak them in a small container and add some powder. Leave for a few minutes, then brush with a shoe brush. You will spend no more than ten minutes on this.
Let's move on to the shoes themselves. Before choosing which machine mode to wash your sneakers and send them to the drum, get rid of adhering dirt. To do this, hold the shoes under running warm water and brush them with an old toothbrush. Particular attention should be paid to the sole, carefully washing out small pebbles and sand from it. Rinse the steam under the faucet again to remove any remaining dirt.
In the future, you can wash the laces and insoles with a pair of shoes, although it is better to clean them separately. So the insoles will definitely not lose their original shape, and the laces will not get stuck in the holes in the drum.
How best to wash sports shoes
Do you think that now it's time to decide in what mode you can wash your sneakers? Take your time, you still need to take care of security. To prevent the shoes from deforming, it is advisable to place them in a special mesh bag. These are usually sold in hardware stores. If you can't find a bag, put your sneakers in a pillowcase, or load a couple of towels, rags, or an old jacket with them. This neighborhood will reduce vibration, so that the blades and ribs of the drum will remain intact, and the unit will not fail.
Do not forget that the rags and towels that you send in the wash with your sneakers should not shed. Otherwise, textile materials will change color, and your shoes will become unusable.
In addition, it is allowed to wash one or two pairs of sneakers at a time. No more! Otherwise, they simply do not wash off, and the machinethis may spoil.
Detergent
Choosing the right detergent is just as important as choosing the right wash to wash your sneakers. Many people prefer to use regular laundry detergent. However, this is not entirely correct, as it is poorly rinsed out. It is better to give preference to a gel or any other liquid remedy. In addition, according to reviews, they do not leave streaks. If the dirt is strong, add a water softener.
If you are dealing with white shoes, it is advisable to add a little stain remover during washing. At the same time, pay attention to the fact that the product does not contain chlorine in its composition. Many also note that ordinary laundry soap washes well with white shoes.
Remember that some models may have a water-repellent coating, and therefore these sneakers cannot be washed in the washing machine. Whichever mode you choose, moisture will completely destroy this protective coating. In addition, keep in mind that it is highly undesirable to add conditioners and rinses. These products may leave streaks.
Mode selection
In general, according to reviews, it is easy to wash sneakers in the washing machine. What is the best mode for them? Many modern units have a special program for washing shoes. This is the one you should use.
But if there is no special program, in what mode should sneakers be washed? In such situations, it is necessary to choose a delicate or hand wash. You can also set the mode manually by selecting a short duration and a water temperature of at least 30˚С and not more than 40˚С.
If the temperature is too high, the shoes can be severely deformed, discolored and unstuck. At low water temperatures, some dirt simply cannot be washed off.
Peculiarities of washing some types of sports shoes
There are models of sneakers that are made from several materials at once. It can be a textile base with water-repellent inserts or leatherette shoes with genuine leather elements.
In general, it is better to wash such shoes in manual mode, wiping individual elements with a dry sponge. Otherwise, the appearance of delicate inserts may change somewhat: the skin is deformed, and the moisture-repellent surface will lose its basic properties.
If there is a need to wash shoes in a washing machine, for example, when existing dirt cannot be removed manually, then in such a situation, you should choose the same delicate mode. Please note that the water temperature does not exceed 30˚C.
At the same time, there is a method that helps to restore the water-repellent coating. To do this, you need to use a special tool in the form of a spray, which is sold in shoe stores. It is applied to a clean, dry surface and left to dry at room temperature.
If the dirt on sneakers could not be removed during normal washing, innext time they must be pre-soaked for a couple of hours in warm water. In this case, you should thoroughly rub the dirty places with gel. Then the shoes are sent to the drum of the washing unit, adding a little more detergent to the appropriate compartment.
Some materials are very difficult to get rid of odors. To combat it, a solution of table vinegar is usually used. However, remember that expensive shoes can be ruined in this way. In such a situation, it is better to use an old toothbrush and toilet soap. Carry out the procedure twice, each time thoroughly rinsing the sneakers under running water. They can then be machine washed on a delicate cycle.
Do I need to spin
When choosing which mode to wash sneakers on, remember that in some automatic machines you can adjust the speed during spinning and drying. And if your unit allows it, set the minimum value. According to reviews, with a strong mechanical impact, shoes can be seriously damaged.
And if the model has a hard sole, then at fast drum speeds it will hit the walls, which can disable the washing machine. For this reason, spinning is best not to use. Remove shoes immediately after the unit has drained all the dirty water. At the same time, rinsing can be completely abandoned. Let the machine just wash your shoes, and you can rinse them manually, using a large bowl, or simply water them several times from the shower.
Drying sports shoes
Determining which mode to wash sneakers inwashing machine, do not forget that some models can be deformed not only during the main cleaning process, but also after drying. Here, the material from which the shoes are made is of great importance. To prevent undesirable consequences, still wet shoes should be stuffed with a clean, dry cotton cloth.
You can also use newspapers. However, please note that such a filler may leave marks on the inside of the shoe. They will be especially noticeable if your sneakers are light and made of fabric. It is much more convenient and safer to replace the newspaper with plain paper napkins or plain toilet paper.
Do not place wet sneakers close to a hot heater or leave them on the battery. In this case, you risk hopelessly spoiling the shoes. So it is not only strongly deformed: if there is a heat source in the immediate vicinity, red spots will appear on the surface of the material, which will be very difficult to get rid of afterwards. At the same time, it doesn’t matter in which mode the sneakers are washed in the machine - stains may not disappear even after several cleanings.
If you need to dry your sneakers urgently
Having figured out which mode to wash sneakers on, and having completed this procedure, it remains to figure out what is the best thing to do if shoes need to be dried as quickly as possible. As mentioned above, the battery in this matter is not the best helper. What to do? The simplest tools at hand can come to the rescue.
- Bestdry sneakers at room temperature. Stuff your shoes with toilet paper, clean white napkins, or a plain cotton cloth and place them on a windowsill. In the warm season, a couple can be taken out to the balcony. Just make sure that it is not exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise the sneakers may lose their shape.
- You can use a hair dryer, but be careful when doing so. As practice shows, some are too fond of the process, as a result of which the shoes become unusable - the top layer of the material simply peels off. To avoid trouble, use a cold blow and do not hold the dryer too close to the shoes.
- A vacuum cleaner can solve a problem much faster than a hair dryer. The effect is achieved more easily and at the same time your sneakers remain unharmed. Just insert the tube into your shoes and wait 20-30 minutes. Repeat the procedure on the second shoe.
- Table s alt helps dry sneakers in 2-2.5 hours. It is preheated on a baking sheet in the oven or in a frying pan, then it is poured into a cloth bag (you can use a regular sock) and placed in shoes. When the s alt has cooled, it is necessary to check the sneakers - if they are still wet, repeat the procedure.
- Silica gel are small porous balls that perfectly absorb moisture. Sachets with silica gel are placed in sneakers and taken out after 1-2 hours. This time is enough for the shoes to completely dry from the inside.
- Another very original way is to use rice. Pour it into the bottom of the boxunder the shoes, put the sneakers on top with the soles up. Close the lid tightly, you can additionally put a thick cloth on top, and wait a couple of hours. After the specified time, your shoes will be completely dry.
You can wash sneakers in the washing machine, but you shouldn't do it too often. In order for the shoes to serve you as long as possible, try to limit yourself to one or two sessions per month. After each wash, do not forget to clean the drum: wipe it, removing all threads and debris. Finally, wash without laundry at high temperature with a little citric acid added.
