Footwear

In the process of wearing, any shoe is not only subject to wear and tear, but also gets dirty and loses its presentable appearance over time.

In addition, the inner side absorbs sweat and gives off an unpleasant odor. And the outer one accumulates dust and dirt.

Good cleaning will help improve the condition of your shoes. But not every pair of shoes can be washed.

Is it possible and how to properly wash shoes (made of fabric, white, etc.) in a washing machine and by hand, read the article.

Is it washable?

Manufacturers do not recommend washing most types and models of shoes, especially in an automatic machine. Intense mechanical stress and moisture can lead to deterioration and deformation.

Before proceeding with manual, and even more so with machine washing, shoes must:

1. Remove adhering dirt and dust.
2. Inspect for defects requiring repair.
3. Pull out the laces and removable insoles.
4. If there are Velcro or zippers, they must be closed.
5. If there are stains, they must be removed before the main wash.

Not every pair is washable. The ban includes:

• varnished;
• model;
• winter;
• design with complex decor, etc.

Washing allowed:

• quality stitched leather and fabric sneakers;
• home slippers;
• sneaker;
• cloth sandals;
• fabric moccasins, etc.

More stringent requirements are imposed on shoes that are supposed to be machine washed. When in doubt that a sneaker or another pair will survive the automatic wash, it is best to use manual cleaning.

Washing in a washing machine

Washing shoes by hand is a laborious process.Responding to the desires of consumers, many manufacturers of automatic washing machines have introduced the "Washing shoes" mode.

Its peculiarity:

1. The washing process is carried out at low speed.
2. Water heating temperature is limited.
3. Disabled drying and spinning.

But even with such a gentle influence, a negative result is possible. The following types are not subject to automatic washing:

• from leatherette;
• having fur inserts;
• suede;
• winter couples;
• having glued reflectors;
• things of very low quality;
• with the presence of non-removable decor.

Pre-cleaning shoes from dirt, before loading into the machine, is very important. In this case, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the upper and the sole, trying to clean out as much as possible even small pebbles and grains of sand stuck in the sole, as they can damage the washing machine drum and lead to a blockage.

At what temperature?

For shoes optimal temperature indicators - from + 30 ° C to + 40 ° C... Higher temperatures may damage the product, while lower temperatures will be ineffective.

If the manufacturer does not specify a maximum heating rate, it is better to limit yourself to + 30 ° C.

What mode, program?

It is best, if possible, to wash shoes on a specially designed mode. This will automatically set the temperature and duration of the wash.

In its absence, you can choose the most suitable option from the ones provided. The most suitable is delicate... It is corrected in terms of temperature. And be sure to turn off the spin.

Choosing a detergent

Shoes should be washed using a detergent designed for an automatic machine.

It is advisable to use the products in gel, not powder form.... Liquid formulations dissolve better in water and do not form sediment.

The amount of detergent is determined in proportion to the load of the machine. If you wash white sneakers, you can add chlorine-free oxygenated bleach.

Do not add fabric softener additionally as it can stain.

Why do you need a bag?

Load sneakers or other shoes into the drum in special bag... Such mesh devices have sealed elements. They protect the drum from too intense impact, and the shoe from mechanical.

How many pairs are there?

Each washing machine has a maximum load indicated. But when washing shoes, this parameter does not matter, since more than two pairs at a time cannot be washed... This is a tough condition, violation of which can lead to equipment failure.

How to clean it with your hands correctly?

You can wash sneakers and other shoes that require more delicate care than a machine can be washed by hand.

For a general cleaning you will need:

• the basin in which the washing will be carried out;
• warm water;
• brush for external cleaning;
• long-handled brush for processing the inside;
• rag or sponge;
• detergent.

Work order:

1. Prepare shoes for washing.
2. Pour water into a basin.
3. Dilute the detergent in water.
4. Dip the steam into the water.
5. Carry out consistent cleaning of the outside and inside.
6. Rinse.
7. Dry.

If the shoes are too dirty, then the water must be changed during the washing process.

If the leather pair is not very dirty, you can limit yourself to shallow cleaning:

• process only the outside of the shoe;
• wash insoles and laces.

How to dry?

After washing the shoes, they must be dried. The best choice is in air, at low humidity. There are many ways to deal with the problem quickly and easily.

More information about the drying rules can be found here.

We get rid of complex dirt and odor

In some cases, simply washing your shoes is not enough. If the surface of the material has stains from grease, cat urine, etc., additional processing is required. It will help eliminate the pollution itself and remove the unpleasant odor.

Fat

Stains of this kind can remain on the suede or fabric surface. There are no such problems with natural leather.

To remove stains you will need:

• a rag or napkin;
• refined gasoline or soap solution with ammonia (1: 1);
• for suede - a special brush.

When removing stains, the condition must be met: do not overmoisten the material, especially when it comes to suede.

Work order:

1. Moisten a napkin in the prepared solution.
2. Rub the stain gently.
3. Dry the surface.
4. After removing the stain, cloth shoes are washed, and suede shoes are cleaned with a special brush.

Biological and food stains

Food contamination and biological stains (pet feces, blood) are difficult to remove. Leather shoes are best cleaned.

If the stain appeared as a result of the pranks of a pet, then in addition to removing the stain, you also need to neutralize the smell... For these purposes, an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide or vinegar is used. When mixing a solution of water, 4 parts are taken, and 1 part of the active substance.

Disinfectants from veterinary stores will help to cope with the smell from animal feces. But the use of funds in this category is also capable of leaving stains. To prevent the stains from becoming even larger and more noticeable, before the first use, the new product should be tested on an inconspicuous area.

Reagents used in winter by utilities

In winter, public utilities sprinkle sidewalks and roads with special reagents, thanks to which snow and ice melt. But for shoes, such substances often have a simply destructive effect.

Washing is not always capable of removing ugly stains from the skin. Such processing will help:

1. Wipe the stains with ammonia (as an option - diluted 1: 3 with water vinegar).
2. Blot the surface until it is completely dry.
3. Lubricate with castor or other vegetable oil.
4. Withstand a quarter of an hour.
5. Remove excess treatment with a soft cloth.

Paint

You can remove paint stains by using a solvent. One option is to use a solution of ammonia. White alcohol or gasoline will give a similar effect.

Procedure:

• prepare a solution from 3 parts of water and 1 part of alcohol;
• using a soft cloth dipped in the solution, gently clean the surface.

Therefore, the first time you use it, it is recommended to test from the inside on an inconspicuous area.

Zelenka and iodine

Remove green stain or iodine stain from leather shoes alcohol or hydrogen peroxide will help.

You can try to wash off such preparations from a textile pair using a stain remover or ammonia.

If a difficult stain cannot be removed at home, you can turn to the services of a specialized dry cleaner for shoes.

Processing depending on material and color

Taking into account the material from which the shoes are made, the approach to washing is determined. If 2 pairs are put in one load of the washing machine, they must be the same color.

White trainers, sneakers, and slippers can be washed with oxygen-free chlorine-free bleach. It is permissible to wash black shoes using universal cleaning agents or those intended for black clothes. In all cases, a liquid form, a gel, is preferred.

From fabric

High-quality fabric footwear, for the most part, tolerates contact with water well... Cleaning with a dry brush will help remove dust.

Despite the fact that the material tolerates washing well (both automatic and manual), fabric shoes, like others, should not be soaked for a long time and exposed to aggressive household chemicals (for example, bleach).

When organizing laundry, there are no special nuances with textiles. Proper drying will be essential - with good ventilation.

Genuine Leather

When wet, natural leather becomes susceptible to external influences.

The washing process should not be long and often repetitive.... The impact should be gentle, intense friction is excluded.

The top of leather sneakers and sneakers is well cleaned with soapy water and a brush. Open air is suitable for drying, you can also use electric dryers.

After washing and drying, it is advisable to treat natural leather with a special impregnation. Read more about washing leather shoes. here.

Artificial (leatherette)

The artificial material used for sewing footwear differs significantly from natural leather in its performance characteristics.

And requires specific care:

1. Leatherette cannot be washed in an automatic machine, even on the most gentle programs.
2. Do not use hot water.
3. Should not be vigorously cleaned.
4. Do not use abrasive surfaces.

Nubuck and suede

Materials such as suede and nubuck should not be overdamped or washed vigorously.

If cleaning agents are to be used, they should be in liquid form and in low concentration. After drying, the suede upper should be treated with a special brush and a water-repellent spray.

Nubuck is even more capricious to care for than suede. When cleaning such shoes, it is advisable to avoid washing, limiting itself to removing stains, if any, and dry cleaning.

Read about how to wash suede shoes in this article.

Work on bugs

Mistakes made when washing and drying shoes very often lead to the fact that the shoes are deformed, and stains form on them. Homemade recipes will help to cope with the problem.

Yellow spots

The following actions can lead to ugly yellow spots and stains:

• drying in the sun;
• poor rinsing, in which the detergent is not completely removed;
• wash in hot water.

Fabric sneakers and slippers will have to be washed:

1. Pour cold water into a basin.
2. Put your shoes in the water.
3. Leave for 1 to 2 hours.
4. Rinse well.
5. Dry in a ventilated room or outdoors, but not in direct sunlight.

Loss of shape, formation of creases

If the tissue pair is deformed, then the following actions will help to restore the shape:

1. Pour water at room temperature into the basin.
2. Get your shoes wet.
3. Remove from the pelvis.
4. Drain off remaining water.
5. Blot the surface with rags or napkins.
6. Fill the inside thoroughly with paper that absorbs moisture well.
7. As the paper gets wet, change it to dry.

To restore the shape of a leather pair, the following recipe is useful:

• stuff shoes with paper, giving the necessary shape;
• lubricate the top with shoe wax or cream;
• withstand until the cream is absorbed;
• repeat the procedure 2 more times;
• collect the rest of the product with a napkin;
• withstand a day without putting on shoes and without taking out paper.

You can eliminate serious deformations and creases of a leather pair by applying the following recipe:

1. Stuff the shoes thoroughly with paper, trying to form the desired shape.
2. Wet a rag and wring out.
3. Cover the prepared pair with a rag.
4. Wait until the skin is slightly moisturized.
5. Set the iron to the lowest setting by turning off the steam function.
6. Carefully, acting only through the fabric, iron the creases.
7. If the result is not satisfactory, the process is repeated.
8. Leave the shoes, without removing the paper, until they are completely dry and cool.

Increase or decrease size

If after washing the shoes are stretched and become larger, then it will not be easy to drastically reduce them. The following techniques will help to improve the situation:

• the use of additional silicone shoe liners (they are sold in the shoe departments of stores), as an option - a gel insole;
• inserting small pieces of foam rubber into the toe area;
• suede or leather shoes will become smaller when wet and dry again without being stuffed tight with paper.

Even a repairman will not be able to reduce the size of textile shoes, but with leather, in some situations, he can help.

If your fabric shoes are shrinking after washing, you can try stretching them. To do this, the steam is again moistened with water and stuffed tightly with paper, forming a shape. Additionally, you can use spacers, which sometimes come with the purchase of shoes.

For a leather pair, you can use this approach:

1. Insert a dense plastic bag without holes inside.
2. Pour water into it.
3. Place in the freezer.
4. When the water freezes, it will stretch the skin.
5. Remove steam from the freezer.
6. When it starts to melt, the ice will decrease and the bag will be easy to remove.
7. Dry the steam.

Scratches

Improper washing may cause scratches on the leather surface. If they are shallow, then they can be tinted. Shoe cream of the corresponding color is suitable for this.

For deep scratches, wax will help:

• warm up wax (paraffin wax or beeswax);
• fill the scratch with it;
• wait until it cools completely;
• remove excess product with a soft cloth.

Recommendations

The following tips will help you wash your shoes by hand or using a washing machine:

1. Shoes cannot be loaded into the drum without pre-treatment.
2. You should not put clothes in the same load with sneakers and sneakers, as things after such processing may become unusable.
3. After washing and drying, it is recommended to use shoe care products - use impregnations and creams for leather and suede, etc.
4. Do not wash shoes of different colors at the same time due to the danger of color transfer.
5. It is advisable to wash insoles and laces more often than washing the entire pair.
6. Minor dirt on the outside can be removed without a complete wash.
7. It is recommended to avoid prolonged soaking and prolonged contact with water.

Conclusion

Washing and drying your shoes correctly will help keep them in good condition and keep them clean.... To do this, you need to follow the recommendations of specialists, and do not wash shoes for which such processing is prohibited.