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Do you have a pair of Converse that are looking a bit dirty and could do with a clean? You might be wondering if you can put them in your washing machine to clean them. You can in fact use your washing machine to clean and wash Converse.
Find out below everything you need to know when it comes to cleaning you Converse sneakers in the washer.
Can you Put Converse shoes in the Washing Machine?
Putting your Converse in the washing machine is OK if you take the correct steps and precautions. You can actually get good results from cleaning canvas sneakers in the washing machine.
Canvas sneakers aren’t really designed to go in a washing machine, but we have a lot more setting to play with on our washers than what we had years ago which makes the process a lot better for your shoes. The canvas material is now a lot better protected than what is used to be.
Below I’ll detail the method we use when cleaning our shoes to give them a new lease of life.
Items You Might Need to Wash Converse
- A small brush or toothbrush.
- Laundry detergent.
- A pillow case. mesh laundry bag or towels.
- A towel or cloth to dry.
- New shoe laces.
- Baking soda and white vinegar.
- Finally consider doing this on a sunny day.
Preparing Converse Shoes for the washer
Before putting your Converse in the washing machine there are a few steps to follow to get the best results for your pair of shoes.
- Remove the laces so that you can clean them separately or replace with new shoe laces. Ensure that you do this, because if you remove the laces you are ensuring that they won’t get caught or stuck in your washing machine.
- Also remove any inserts or insoles from your Converse.
- If you have stubborn stains like a grass stain you can use a clothing stain remover spray first. Apply it to the stain and let it sit for the recommended amount of time before washing your shoes.
- Remove surface dirt or any mud from your shoes. You can do this with some warm water and a small brush or a toothbrush. Do not use hot water as it can loosen the shoes glue. This might also remove any other stains prior to putting your shoes in the washing machine.
- You can use a gentle detergent with your warm water or make a paste using two parts baking soda and three parts white vinegar (other vinegar types are likely to stain.)
- Rinse your shoes in cold water.
- Leave your shoes to air dry. If you can do this in sunshine it can help to brighten the color of the shoes. Remember – Do Not Use Hot Water.
How to Clean the Rubber on Converse Sneakers?
To clean the rubber on the bottom of your Converse you can use the same method used to remove surface dirt. Warm water, a toothbrush and a paste made of two parts baking soda and three parts white vinegar will work best with a thorough scrub.
How to Clean Dirty Converse in the Washing Machine
We can now move on to the key steps for actually washing your Converse in the washer.
Key Steps to Follow
These key steps work especially well to clean white Converse shoes but you can follow this method for any style of the Converse brand of footwear.
1. Prepare Your Converse Sneakers
You should have already removed the laces and any surface dirt with the use of warm water and a small brush. Once you have allowed your shoes to air dry. You can now move on to Step 2.
2. Protect Your Converse Shoes in the Washer
To protect your shoes in the washing machine you can use a few different methods:
- You can put them in a pillow case.
- You can put the shoes together inside a mesh washing machine bag to protect them.
- If you do not have a spare pillow case or a mesh bag then consider putting them in the washing machine with some towels.
- You can pad out the washing machine drum with the towels to help protect your pair of converse shoes.
3. Use Laundry Detergent to Wash Your Shoes and Sneakers
I recommend using a gentle detergent, ideally a non bio laundry detergent is best to clean your shoes.
4. Which Washing Machine Cycle For Shoes and Sneakers
You need to use a very gentle cycle to wash canvas sneakers. You want a fast and gentle cycle with mild or cold water. Do not use hot water or a high temperature setting as this can cause your canvas sneakers to shrink, it can cause the shoes glue to melt and dye colors to potentially run as well.
5. After the Washing Machine has Finished – Air Dry
Do not put your shoes in the dryer. As with a high temperature washing machine setting, a dryer’s high temperature can also shrink your Converse and cause the other damage as I mentioned above.
It is crucial that you air dry your damp shoes. You can pat down each sneaker gently with a towel or dry cloth once they come out of the washing machine. From there the best option is to leave them outside in the sun as the UV rays well help to make your Converse look nice and bright.
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How to wash Converse Laces?
Ideally I would recommend to buy new laces for your Converse for the best look once your shoes are clean. However if you do want to clean the laces then use some dish soap and warm water.
Add enough dish soap to the warm water to create bubbles, and them submerge your laces in the water. Soak the shoe laces for 15 to 20 minutes, moving the laces through the soapy water with your hands every now and then. Any stains that are still visible should scrub away easily with a spare toothbrush. Rinse with cold water when done and hang out to dry.
Final Thoughts on Cleaning Converse Shoes
By following the cleaning steps in this article you can make your Converse sneakers look nearly new again. If you have found this article helpful then take a look at some other related articles we have written on cleaning and maintaining different types of shoes and footwear.
How to Get Grass Stains Out of Shoes
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