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cross-posted from: https://linux.community/post/1079067

after running under the rain for 30 minutes my white sneakers had a foul stench. I tried disinfectant and washing them with soap and water and lots of rubbing and sunlight to dry.

While that got rid of most of the smell, my white sneakers are now brownish, specially around the shoelaces.

I've never washed sneakers in the washing machine. Am I going to ruin them?

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[-] hedgehogging_the_bed@lemmy.world 14 points 5 months ago

Literally just pulled my daughter's high tops out of the washer. We unlace them and put them in a zippered laundry bag (cheap at most stores that sell Landry soap, look near the clothespins in the cleaning aisle) with the laced. Wash shoes alone with regular soap and a small amount of oxiclean on gentle with an extra rinse, cool water, smallest load. They finished looking very nice and we usually let shoes dry sitting out in the air on a towel for a day or 2 before wearing.

[-] rrrurboatlibad@lemdro.id 10 points 5 months ago

I have washed shoes on gentle before with success. Technique, I put them in a pillowcase that closes first to keep laces from tangling

[-] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 7 points 5 months ago

Why not just take the shoelaces out?

[-] vestmoria@linux.community 5 points 5 months ago

I assume that's an old pillowcase?

[-] thisisbutaname@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 5 months ago

I've washed shoes in the washing machine a few times, using the setting for delicate clothes. So far no damage to be seen and they come out clean.

Probably not something that should be done every other day, but once in a while seems fine.

[-] shalafi@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago

Dry them in the sun, reduces wear a great deal. Also nukes fungi.

[-] LowtierComputer@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

Don't forget to pull the soles out!

[-] ToffeeIsForClosers@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

Yes, you can wash sneakers in the washer. Delicate, cold, small amount of detergent, laces out (Dan!) and in a laundry bag or the pair entirely in a bag laundry bag.

You can wash with other sneakers but I wouldn’t wash with clothes.

Consider getting a boot/mitt/hat dryer (like the ones at Costco). Very handy for quick drying and no mold, bacteria, fungi stink. I use mine all year round for this and weather related needs.

Note that the fabric on the soles might let go over time. The glue isn’t so strong.

[-] eldavi@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

you'd think it doesn't need to be said because it's obvious, but i speak from experience that it does need to be said: make sure you don't put them into an agitation based washer; impeller or tumble washers ONLY!

(or atleast use a laundry bag if you have only have access to an agitation washer)

and air dry them IN THE SUN!!!

[-] IIII@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

What goes on in an agitation washing machine that affects how shoes clean?

[-] eldavi@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 months ago

the agitator will either tear the shoes apart or maim them.

[-] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 2 points 5 months ago

Shoeshiners exist for a reason. There's a science to cleaning shoes.

[-] cm0002@lemmy.world 14 points 5 months ago

Shoeshiners are for "nice" shoes that use primarily "hard" materials for the outer layer that can be, well, shined. They don't typically take care of the inner parts where more standard fabrics are nor do they do sneakers.

Sneakers you can toss in the washer and call it a day

[-] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 1 points 5 months ago

I have tried this with little success, I always just assumed they weren't made for that.

[-] FiskFisk33@startrek.website 5 points 5 months ago

that reason is not sneakers

[-] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 1 points 5 months ago

I thought sneakers were shoes.

[-] FiskFisk33@startrek.website 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Airplanes are vehicles, yet it won't do you much good to take them to a car mechanic.

[-] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 1 points 5 months ago

Yeah, but airplanes aren't cars. Sneakers are still shoes though, so the expectation is/was there.

[-] Drusas@kbin.run 3 points 5 months ago

Shoe shiners:

  1. Are exceedingly rare in the modern era, and
  2. Shine shoes. They do not clean sneakers.
[-] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 1 points 5 months ago

I thought sneakers were shoes.

[-] Drusas@kbin.run 3 points 5 months ago

Would you try to shine sneakers?

[-] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 1 points 5 months ago

If they were as the OP describes, yes. Or whatever the equivalent to sneakers are. I just didn't know it was vastly different or that they could go in the washer without side effects as I've always failed.

[-] Bell@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Love my Allbirds for just this reason, I machine wash them about every 2 months or so

[-] 11111one11111@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Wash by themselves in washer then I stuff clean dry socks in mine to keep form drying and use a dryer rack that keeps them from tumbling around. I'm not a sneaker head tho and usually are cleaning already beat up shoes.

this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2024
46 points (100.0% liked)

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