Many people don’t know they can wash their shoes in a front loader machine. Now, whether your shoes are dusty, muddy, or mucky, you can clean them by putting them in a front loader washer.
This article will highlight more about cleaning your shoes in a washing machine. But before we have an in-depth discussion, below is a simple guide on washing shoes in a front loader washer.
What You Need For Washing Shoes In Front Loader Washer:
- Front Loader Washer
- Toothbrush/ Scrub Brush/ Laundry Brush
- Sponge
- Baking Powder
- Special Wash Bag/ Towels
- A pillowcase
- Liquid Detergent/ Powder Detergent
- Soapy Water
- Some Newspaper
- Dirty Shoes
Step 1: Study The Label
The first and most important step is reading the label. First, the label instructs you on whether to wash the shoes in the machine or not.
If the label prohibits you from using a front loader washer, you should choose to handwash.
Step 2: Remove The Laces And Loose Dirt
Before putting the shoe in the machine, it is important to remove any dirt on the shoe’s surface with a brush. You can also use a small pipe, a stick, or a toothbrush to access hidden areas. For stubborn stains, run excessive clean water to remove the stains.
In addition, it is important to remove the laces. Preparing the shoes like this ensures that the job is done efficiently and effectively.
Step 3: Clean The Insoles
It is important to clean the inside soles independently. If you wash them in the machine, they will get waterlogged and take several days to dry up. Therefore, it is better to hand wash them instead.
Just use a soft brush and some soapy water, then scrub them gently. Then use a sponge to drain the excess water. Once you finish using the sponge, shake over some baking powder and leave the soles overnight. In the morning, you can off the baking powder and insert back the soles if the shoe is dry.
Step 4: Place Your Shoes In A Special Bag
It is important to place your shoes in a special bag before placing them in a machine. If you don’t have a special bag, you can use a pillowcase instead. Placing the shoes in a special bag protects them from becoming snaggy.
Nonetheless, you need to know that washing shoes in a front loader washer can be very noisy. To reduce the noise, you should add towels to the machine. The towels act as a buffer and prevent your shoes from banging the drum of the machine.
Step 4: Set The Front Loader Machine
Instead of setting high temperatures, you need to set the temperature at 30 degrees Celsius. Low degrees of temperature will protect your shoes from fading. Also, low temperature is important for PVC shoes. It prevents the coating from getting damaged.
In addition, you should set the machine on a slow spin option. It will protect the front loader machine from damage. Another important requirement is using liquid detergent. Powder detergent is not good for shoes because it doesn’t dissolve fully in water. Therefore, always use liquid detergent.
Step 5: Dry The Shoes
Once the shoes are clean, you can air dry them. You can also put some newspapers inside the shoe to absorb moisture or maintain the shoe’s shape.
Avoid drying the shoes in the dryer due to the high temperatures. The high temperatures can melt the glue, breaking the shoes.
However, you can cover your shoes with towels and set the dryer to an air fluff setting if you are in a hurry. Check the shoes frequently to ensure that they are not damaged by warm air.
After everything is dry, you can put your insoles and laces back.
Can I Wash Shoes In My Front Load Washer?
Yes, you can wash shoes in your front load washer.
However, this is not a good idea for all types of shoes.
We also have some PVC shoes that are machine washable. Just check the label and see if you can clean them. However, if your shoes are made from animal fabrics like suede and leather, you should opt for hand cleaning.
The general rule is reading the label. Once you read the instructions on the label, you will easily determine whether to wash your shoes in the front load washer.
Also, luckily, modern front loaders have a unique feature that cleans shoes. Therefore you will not need to use a special bag or paper towel to protect the machine.
Nonetheless, if you are using an older washer model, you should strictly adhere to the guide.
Can You Wash Shoes In A Front Load Washer?
Yes, you can. Nevertheless, it would be best if you protect your shoes against unnecessary tear and shrinkage during washing.
As we mentioned earlier, you need first to review the shoe label. If the label indicates that the shoes can be cleaned through all methods, including a front loader washer, you can implement the above guideline. Nonetheless, if the label indicates ‘hand wash only, you should only wash the shoes manually.
Nonetheless, you can also add other strategies to ensure that your shoes are completely clean. For example, you can add some baking powder to the shoe before putting it in the front load washer.
The addition will ensure that the shoes are sparkling clean. Also, only use liquid detergent because powdered detergent can easily stick on the shoes.
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Final Thoughts
If you are looking to save time and energy, clean your shoes in a front load washer. The appliance can easily wash more than three pairs of shoes at a time, depending on the size of the machine. The only thing you are required to do is to ensure that the shoe label supports washing machine cleaning.
If it does, kindly adhere to the above guideline. That way, your shoes will be sparkling clean, protected, and look as good as new. Now you can wear and enjoy them!
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