White sneakers are a versatile wardrobe staple, but keeping them spotless is a struggle. You can find all sorts of products designed to clean sneakers, from specialized wipes to foaming cleansers to bristle brushes. But what if there were a simpler, more cost-effective way to get your kicks looking new again?
Melissa Pateras, the author of A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home, is a well-known expert in the “LaundryTok” community on TikTok. In an interview on CTV’s Your Morning, Pateras shared some clever advice for easily and effectively cleaning sneakers in the washing machine.
Nothing Sneaky About It
If you have sneakers made of canvas, nylon, cotton, or polyester, it’s perfectly safe to toss them in the washing machine, as long as you follow what Pateras describes as a “super simple process.” First, lightly wet your shoes in the sink, then apply a little bit of liquid dish soap to a soft-bristled brush and work the product into the fabric. This removes any caked-on dirt and starts to lift stains. Don’t worry about removing the laces; Pateras says you can leave them in. She also suggests using a Magic Eraser on the rubber sides and toes before allowing the sneakers to soak or putting them directly into the washing machine.
Add one or two clean bath towels to the machine along with the sneakers. The fabric of the towels will help scrub the shoes clean, while also reducing the noise of them banging against the drum. Pateras advises washing the shoes on a gentle or delicate cycle with cold water and your regular detergent. After that, they should be clean as a whistle.
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Now, of course, comes the drying process. According to Pateras, you can either air-dry the shoes or use a clever hack to speed up the process. Tie the laces of the two shoes together and shut the dryer door so that part of the laces are hanging outside with the shoes dangling inside. This encourages airflow and prevents the shoes from banging around.
Run the dryer on a low heat seating, checking the shoes every so often until they are dry. (Note: Some sneakerheads warn against doing this, as heat can weaken the adhesive that holds the shoes together. If the sneakers are important to you, consider using newspaper to absorb some of the moisture or simply allowing them to air-dry.) Once they’re dry, use a suede brush to touch up problem areas, and your beloved white sneakers will be good to go.
