Can you wash tennis shoes in a washing machine? Absolutely. Should you just throw them in and hope for the best? That's a fast track to wrecking a good pair of shoes. I've been cleaning athletic gear for years, and I've seen the aftermath of too many laundry disasters – glue melting, fabrics tearing, shoes coming out looking worse than they went in. The good news is, with the right prep and settings, your washing machine can be your best friend for reviving smelly, dirty tennis shoes. This guide cuts through the generic advice and gives you the exact, safe process I use. This is where most people fail. They skip prep work and then blame the machine when things go wrong. Don't be that person. Set aside 10 minutes for this. Remove the laces and insoles. Take them out. Every time. Laces can wrap around the drum's agitator or other clothes, causing stress. Insoles trap water and take forever to dry, creating a perfect environment for mold. Wash them separately in a mesh laundry bag on a gentle cycle, or hand wash them in the sink. Brush off loose dirt. Give the shoes a good smack together outside over a trash can. Use a dry, stiff-bristled brush (an old toothbrush works) to knock off dried mud, clay, or grass from the soles and mesh. This prevents your washer from becoming a mud bath. Spot treat stains. Got a grass stain on the toe or a mud splatter on the side? Apply a small amount of liquid laundry detergent, a stain remover stick, or a paste of baking soda and water directly to the stain. Gently scrub with the brush. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. This gives the cleaner a head start. Now for the main event. Follow this sequence like a recipe. Put your shoes in a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase. Tie the pillowcase closed. This protects the shoes from banging against the metal drum and protects your machine from the shoes. Add a couple of old towels. They act as buffers, cushioning the shoes and helping balance the load. Never wash shoes alone; the imbalance can damage your machine. Use a mild liquid detergent. Powder detergent can clump and not fully dissolve, leaving residue. Avoid fabric softener entirely – it can break down the technical fabrics and reduce their breathability. Dial in these settings on your machine: That's it. Let the machine do its job. Don't interrupt it. The whole process, with the towels, should take 30-45 minutes on a gentle cycle. Drying is the second most critical phase. Impatience here ruins everything. The Absolute Don't: Never, ever put tennis shoes in the dryer. The intense, direct heat will warp the soles, melt any plastic components or glue, and significantly shorten the shoe's lifespan. It's a guaranteed way to end up with a lumpy, misshapen pair of shoes. The Right Way (Air Drying): Not all tennis shoes are created equal. Here’s a breakdown of common materials and their machine-washability. When in doubt, check the manufacturer's care label inside the tongue. If it says "Do Not Machine Wash," believe it. Can I wash leather tennis shoes in the machine if I'm really careful? I strongly advise against it. The combination of water, agitation, and detergent strips the natural oils from leather, leaving it dry, brittle, and prone to cracking. Even on a cold, gentle cycle, the risk isn't worth it. The structural integrity is compromised. For leather athletic shoes, stick to wiping with a damp cloth and using a leather conditioner. My shoes still smell after washing. What did I do wrong? Odor often lingers in the midsole foam, which the wash cycle doesn't fully penetrate. After washing, make a baking soda paste and work it into the inside fabric and any mesh areas. Let it sit for an hour before rinsing. The key is ensuring they dry completely in a breezy spot. Trapped moisture is the source of most smells. For future prevention, let your shoes air out after every wear and use moisture-wicking socks. Is it safe to wash my expensive running shoes this way? For modern running shoes made primarily of synthetic mesh, yes, the gentle method described is generally safe and recommended by many running communities. However, frequent washing (more than once a month) will accelerate the breakdown of the midsole foam and adhesives. For maintenance, focus on spot cleaning and airing them out. Reserve the full machine wash for when they are truly soiled or smelly. Will washing my shoes in the machine make them fall apart faster? Any cleaning adds wear, but improper drying (like using a dryer) causes far more damage than a proper cold, gentle wash. The agitation is less stressful than miles of running. Think of it as maintenance. A clean shoe is less abrasive on its own materials than one caked in dirt and sweat crystals. How often should I wash my tennis shoes in the washing machine? Only when they are visibly dirty or develop an odor that airing out won't fix. For regular gym or court shoes, that might be every few weeks. For casual wear, it could be every couple of months. Over-washing is unnecessary and will shorten their life. In between full washes, wipe them down with a disinfecting wipe or a damp cloth.What You'll Learn
How to Prepare Your Tennis Shoes for the Washing Machine
The Step-by-Step Washing Process
1. Load the Washer Correctly
2. Choose the Right Detergent and Settings
3. Start the Cycle and Let It Run
How to Dry Tennis Shoes: The Right Way vs. The Ruinous Way
Material Matters: A Quick Guide to Fabric Safety
Material
Machine Wash Safe?
Key Considerations & Expert Tip
Synthetic Mesh & Nylon (Most common)
Yes
This is the ideal candidate. Follow the main guide. The mesh dries relatively quickly. Tip: For stubborn odors in mesh, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser during the wash – it neutralizes smells without leaving a vinegar scent.
Canvas
Yes, with caution
Canvas can be washed but may shrink slightly. Always use cold water. Tip: To prevent color bleeding, wash colored canvas shoes with similar dark colors or alone the first time.
Leather or Suede Accents
Generally No
Machine washing will stiffen, crack, and ruin leather. Suede becomes matted. Tip: For shoes with small leather logos, you might risk it on gentle, but spot cleaning is always safer.
Full-Grain Leather Tennis Shoes
No
Avoid the machine entirely. Use leather cleaner and conditioner.
Shoes with Extensive Glitter, Sequins, or Delicate Prints
No
The agitation will destroy these decorations. Hand wash only.
Your Top Machine-Washing Questions, Answered
So there you have it. Washing tennis shoes in a laundry machine isn't a mystery, it's a method. It demands a bit of patience – mostly in the drying stage – but the reward is a pair of fresh, clean shoes ready for your next match or workout. Ditch the guesswork, follow these steps, and you'll keep your favorite kicks in the game much longer.
Pro Tip I Learned the Hard Way: Never use bleach or harsh chemicals like chlorine on colored shoes or mesh. It will yellow white fabrics and eat away at colored dyes. For white rubber soles that have turned grey, a magic eraser (melamine foam) while the shoe is dry works wonders before you even put it in the wash.
