Previously, I shared with you all how to wash your Activewear clothing but I started to get emails about shoes!
So here we go,...the Do’s & Don’ts for Washing Gym Shoes in a Washing Machine!
Here’s what you need to know before tossing them in the washing machine, saying a prayer to Baby Jesus and hoping that some kind of magic is going to bring back the brightness of your ratty, smelly, stained gym shoes!
PreCare is ESSENTIAL. Prepping in life in general is important so it’s essential for getting the best results from your washing machine.
DO check the care labels inside the shoe, usually they are found inside the tongue of the shoe (the part under where the laces reside?
This is important because leather and suede should NOT be put in a washing machine. Lucky for you, most gym shoes don’t have these materials but ALWAYS check!
DO remove laces. (Scroll to the bottom to learn the proper stain removing soaking technique to get these babies pretty again, last paragraph!)
DO brush off any excess dirt or mud from your shoes. Get a $1 toothbrush from the Dollar Store and wet it and brush as much of the dirt off as possible.
DO spot removal. Same as you do for clothing, depending on the stain, because each stain has a different method of removal! (See my blog in STAINS titled “I got a BBQ stain on my white T-shirt”
DO place your shoes in a laundry bag or pillowcase and tie a knot in it so it stays closed during wash.
DO add towels to the washing machine alongside your shoes in the wash. This prevents the loud banging that the shoes can make if they are solo in the machine.
DO use detergent but only 1/2 the amount you normally would for a load of laundry.
DO use a low/normal temperature setting.
DO use OxyClean if your sneakers are naturally white. Otherwise, you can use a color protecting detergent.
DO sit back and let the machine do the work!
DO air dry them only (read under DONTs why the dryer is death for your Nike’s!)
DO roll paper, plastic bags or newspaper and place inside damp shoe to hold shape while drying. This also helps to remove excess moisture.
Now for the DONTs.
DONT wash your sneakers with your clothes.
DONT wash too many sneakers at the same time. I’d limit to 4 pairs at a time per 1 load.
DONT ever put them in the DRYER. Air dry them even if you are in a dire need to have clean trainers,...the heat from the dryer can cause the sneakers to melt (a lot of them have a plastic component to them) and become mis-shaped.
Now for those laces,...if they are super trashed, like fraying and stained? Toss them and go on Amazon or to Walmart and buy a new pair! They are usually under $3!
If you think they are salvagable, then I suggest the soak method. Soak them in a bowl of water with equal parts baking soda and dish soap for about 30 minutes. Let air dry!
If you use any of my tips and tricks! Be sure to post it on social and tag me @cardiocouture! Xoxo
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