Modern man has long lost the habit of doing homework on his own. Why work on your own if there is a special technique for this? For this reason, many are beginning to wonder if it is possible to wash shoes in a washing machine? This article will answer this question!
Can it or can't it?
Almost all shoe manufacturers on the labels of their products indicate that they are subject to only dry or manual wet cleaning. Why can't you wash shoes in a washing machine, according to manufacturers? The fact is that mechanical and thermal effects occur in the drum. For such tests, shoes are simply not designed. After machine washing, even branded, high-quality and expensive products can tear, stick out, or simply lose their presentation. But still, there are shoes that do not have to be washed by hand.
Which shoes are machine washable?
The answer to the question of whether shoes can be washed in a washing machine is far from unambiguous. But the hostesses were able to find a solution through experience. Machine washablefollowing items:
- Any athletic shoe whose manufacturer allows mechanical and thermal stress.
- Sturdy sneakers, well stitched or at least glued.
- High quality canvas sneakers.
- Classic leatherette shoes with stitched instead of glued soles.
- High quality textile moccasins, ballerinas, uggs and slippers.
- Slippers and sandals.
Machine-washable shoes with a good adhesive backing are best.
Which shoes are not machine washable?
- Insulated with artificial or natural fur. Usually these are boots, half boots, "dutiks", massive boots, berets, lacquer and model specimens. It is highly likely that the inner fur trim will grow bald and will not be able to protect in the cold.
- Membrane shoes. It is very capricious, so it quickly deteriorates from mechanical stress and prolonged exposure to water.
- From leather (both natural and artificial). Material may fade, lose shape, or shrink.
- Suede shoes. In the washing machine, it can deteriorate so much that it remains only to throw it away. But the fact is that this material does not like high humidity at all.
- Shoes with decor (rhinestones, sequins, ribbons, ribbons, patches, prints, reflective elements, etc.). Perhaps the shoes themselves will endure washing well, but the decorations will quickly fall off. Moreover, they can lead tomachine breakdown.
- Poor quality shoes. Inexpensive products usually use poor adhesive that does not withstand prolonged contact with water.
- Damaged shoes. If some layer is coming off, the sole has peeled off a little, or the material is worn, then machine washing will only aggravate the situation. But it is very likely that the thing will completely become unusable.
So, now it has become clear whether shoes can be washed in a washing machine. Now we can move on to the consideration of the process itself.
Preparing shoes for washing
1. First you need to pull out the insoles, laces and remove the removable decor. These items can be washed by hand or also sent to the machine drum.
2. If the thing is heavily soiled, you will have to work with your hands. It is necessary to wash off the adhering dirt, shake out the sand, clean out the stuck pebbles, twigs, scrape off the stuck chewing gum, and so on. If this is not done, debris can seriously damage the machine. Heavily soiled shoes will have to be rubbed with laundry soap in advance or soaked in water with the addition of washing powder. You can do the same with insoles and laces.
3. Now you can put the shoes in the laundry bag. It protects the washing machine from the impact of a heavy sole, so it would be nice to have it. If there is no such bag, then you can wrap the shoes in unnecessary sheets, pillowcases, towels or some kind of rags. They will also soften the blows well and protect the glass door and drum from damage. It is very important to put in the machinejust one pair. A maximum of two if they have a light sole or are children's shoes.
Choice of detergent
Can I wash shoes in the washing machine with ordinary powder? In general, this is undesirable, since such a product leaves yellow spots on a light surface, streaks and is poorly washed out. Housewives recommend using liquid powder or soluble capsules, which are becoming more and more popular today. To wash white shoes, you can add oxygen bleach, which is suitable for an automatic washing machine. For example, Vanish has such funds.
Do not use dishwashing gel, shampoo and liquid soap. They foam too much and are not machine washable.
Next, we will take a closer look at how to wash shoes made of various materials in the washing machine.
Sports and textile shoes
To wash such products, certain characteristics must be set in the program. The most optimal mode will be for sports shoes. If this is not the case, then you should not choose the shortest program. Dirt microparticles simply do not have time to wash out of the material. You can choose the mode for membrane, sportswear or delicate washing.
The temperature should be no more than 40 degrees.
It is more difficult to wash detergent out of shoes. Therefore, rinsing must be added, and even better double. Otherwise, whitish stains may remain. Get rid of themwill have to re-wash.
It is recommended to disable the spin function. Rotation, especially at high speeds, can ruin shoes. Or the sole will break the glass of the door. It will be enough to leave only the drain of water from the machine drum.
The drying function must also be turned off. Exposure to high temperatures adversely affects the adhesive base, sole material and upper of the product.
Leather shoes
As already mentioned, it is better to clean such things manually with a special brush, napkins, followed by impregnation with cream. A deodorizing spray, a solution of alcohol or manganese will help get rid of an unpleasant smell inside the shoes. In case of heavy soiling, you can resort to a gentle hand wash. To do this, the shoes must be soaked in water in which ammonia or grated laundry soap is dissolved. After rinsing, the skin should be treated with castor oil.
Some housewives are lazy and send even leather shoes to the washing machine. How to wash such things in a drum machine? Be sure to use a special bag or its alternative. The water temperature should not exceed 30 degrees. The spin and dry functions must be disabled. The most optimal mode would be a delicate wash.
Shoes made of nubuck and suede
On what mode to wash shoes made of nubuck and suede? In general, none! Sending such things to the machine drum is a very bad idea. This proves the bitter experience of many housewives. Only dry cleaning is allowed withspecial brushes. If scuffs and an ugly gloss appear on the surface, then you can rub these areas with an ordinary clerical eraser. It will quickly help restore the aesthetic appearance.
Fur shoes
Unfortunately, such shoes cannot be washed in a washing machine. How then to wash your favorite things?
Often the thought of washing such things appears because of an unpleasant smell. In this case, it is better to clean the shoes separately. The top cover can be washed with a cloth dampened with soapy water. After you need to wash off the product with napkins and water. The insoles can be washed separately with laundry soap. The fur is easily cleaned with a special brush.
Essential oils will help get rid of the smell. You can choose any that you like by the smell. It is enough to put a few drops on the insole and the “insides” of the shoe. The main thing is not to overdo it. Otherwise, instead of a pleasant aroma, you will get an unpleasant and pungent smell.
Shoe drying
Washing shoes is only half the battle. It must be properly dried, especially after rough machining. In order not to spoil the products, it is important to adhere to the following recommendations:
No tumble dry
Avoid high temperatures. That is, do not dry shoes on hot pipes, batteries, heaters and special devices. Even direct sunlight and hot air from a hair dryer can damage. Such experiments will lead to deformation of the shape and detachment of the sole. This is especially true for leather products. Rag shoes will not fall apart, but the appearance will suffer. If the detergent is not completely washed out, it will bake quickly when it comes into contact with high temperatures. As a result, ugly brownish stains appear on your favorite pair
Properly dry shoes in a well-ventilated area at room temperature. It can be at home or on the balcony, the main thing is that the sun's rays do not fall. Inside the shoes you need to stuff crumpled paper. It will absorb moisture and help keep its shape. The filler needs to be changed in process of moistening. The best option would be clean white paper. Magazines, newspapers, and other printed materials may stain the material they come in contact with when moistened
After complete drying, it is desirable to treat the shoes with a water-repellent impregnation in the form of an aerosol. The tool will keep the presentable appearance of the boots and protect the feet from the weather
Helpful tips to keep in mind
Experienced housewives know how to wash shoes in the washing machine even more efficiently. Here are some suggestions:
Persil gel does an excellent job with strong pollution. It should be applied to the soiled areas for about 10 minutes. Instead of a gel, you can use Calgon, another analogue, or baking soda. They also have a beneficial effect on the result of cleaning. After that, the shoes can be placed in the drum of the machine without washing off the product
If an unpleasant smell remains after washing, table vinegar will come to the rescue. Essence won't work! Wet a cloth with pure vinegar and wipe the shoes with it.from within. After airing, you can wear things again. For membrane products, it is better to use essential oils
If there are only a few inserts of suede or nubuck on shoes, then it can be safely washed in a machine. Suitable delicate mode and the temperature is not more than 30 degrees. The spin and dry functions must be disabled
Washing shoes often is not recommended, even by hand. A maximum of three treatments per month can be allowed. Otherwise, the life of the product will be shortened
So, we can conclude that there is no definite answer to the question of whether shoes can be washed in a washing machine. Manufacturers indicate all recommendations on their products. But everyone decides for himself whether it is worth breaking them.
