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Wash trainers by hand or in the machine: which is better

Should you wash trainers by hand or in the washing machine? Hand washing is safer for most pairs. Here is when the machine is fine and how to dry them.

Chloé Petit4 min read

A pair of dirty white trainers on a towel next to a bowl of soapy water
Image by carissarogers from Pixabay

Verdict: hand washing wins for most trainers. The machine is for cheap canvas pairs that say it is allowed. The machine is faster, but heat, spinning and soaking can loosen glue and bend the shape.

Which wins on

FactorHand washMachine wash
Risk to glue and shapeLowHigher. Soaking and spinning can loosen soles
Time10 to 15 minutes of workAlmost none, but a long drying time
Works on leather and suedeYes, with careNo
Works on canvas and knitYesOften, if the label allows
Deep dirtBetter, because you can scrub the spotGood for general grime
CostA brush, soap and a bowlWater and power, plus wear on the machine

Pick hand washing if

  • The trainers are leather, suede, patent or have a foam or air sole.
  • They are fairly new or cost more than a few meals.
  • Dirt sits in one place, such as the toe or the sole edge.
  • You want to keep the shape for years.

How to do it: remove the laces and insoles. Brush off dry mud first. Mix a few drops of mild washing-up liquid in a bowl of lukewarm water. Scrub gently with a soft brush. Wipe off the soap with a damp cloth. Stuff with paper and dry away from heat.

Pick the machine if

  • The pair is cheap canvas or knit and the care label says machine washable.
  • They are more dirty than precious.
  • You do not have time to scrub.

How to do it: take out the laces and insoles. Put the shoes in a mesh bag or a pillowcase, add a towel to cushion the drum, and run a gentle cold cycle. Use a small amount of detergent. Skip the spin if you can, or use a low spin.

The rule: if the label does not say machine washable, wash by hand. The label is the maker's word on what the shoe can take.

A soft brush scrubbing the side of a white trainer
A soft brush and mild soapPhoto by Nati on Pexels

Where it flips

If the pair is already coming unglued, falling apart or flat, wash them any way you like. They are heading for the replace pile.

Never use a tumble dryer or a radiator. Heat can warp the sole and soften the glue. Dry them at room temperature with paper inside. Smell is a drying problem more than a washing one, see how to get rid of smelly shoes.

Use one cleaning product at a time. Do not add bleach to a trainer cleaner or to a bowl that had another product in it. Read the label on each.

A worked example

Say you have one pair of white canvas trainers, muddy at the toe, and one pair of leather trainers with a scuffed side.

  1. Canvas pair: brush off dry mud, take out laces and insoles, put in a bag with a towel, and run a gentle cold cycle.
  2. Leather pair: wipe with a damp cloth and a drop of mild soap. Dry with a clean cloth. Do not soak.
  3. Both: dry with paper inside, away from heat, for a day or two.

The point is to match the method to the material, not to wash everything the same way.

Quick questions

Can I put trainers in the dryer?

Generally no. Heat can warp the sole and weaken glue. Air dry them with paper inside.

Can I wash trainers with other clothes?

It is better not to. Trainers are heavy and can bang the drum. Wash them alone or with a towel.

How often should I wash trainers?

When they are visibly dirty or smell. Brushing off dry mud after wear keeps washing rare.

What about white soles?

A soft brush with mild soap does most of it. A gentle sole cleaner is the next step.

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