Can You Put Sneakers in the Washing Machine? How to Do It Safely

Quick answer

Only when the shoe’s maker says you can. Makers disagree on this, so the label for your exact pair matters more than any general rule.

Nike does not recommend washing shoes in the washing machine. It says hand washing is the best way to avoid harming them, and that bulky items like sneakers can damage the machine.
Allbirds says its shoes, with a few exceptions, are designed to be washed in the machine with no impact on their performance or shape.

If the maker prohibits machine washing, use its approved alternative. If you cannot identify the material or find instructions, pause before wet cleaning and ask the maker. A laundry product does not make an unknown shoe washable.

What the makers say

Maker	Machine washing	Maker’s method	Drying
Nike	Not recommended	Brush with a mild solution by hand	Air dry; dryer heat can damage shoes
Allbirds	Its shoes, with a few exceptions	Insoles and laces out, delicates bag, cold gentle cycle	Air dry with good airflow; no machine drying
Reshoevn8r (cleaning products)	Sells a laundry system for sneakers	Laundry bag, plastic shoe trees, cold water	Air dry; never the dryer

From each maker’s care pages, checked October 5, 2026.

How to choose: machine wash or hand wash

Start with the shoe maker. A cleaning product can’t make a shoe washable. Allbirds’ product pages, for example, say when a shoe is washing machine approved. Nike favors hand cleaning, but suede and specialty finishes still require their own method.

Keep suede and nubuck out. Nike doesn’t recommend machine washing suede shoes, or hand washing them in soap and water, because suede absorbs water and washing can set stains. Reshoevn8r says to avoid washing suede, wool and nubuck because they are prone to color transfer and bleeding. Allbirds, which makes wool sneakers, says most of its shoes can go in the machine, so follow the maker of your pair. For suede, use the suede cleaning steps instead.

Think twice about canvas, prints and older pairs. Nike says machine washing canvas shoes can cause unnecessary wear and tear and even damage the shoe’s construction. Reshoevn8r warns that printed canvas shoes may smear when wet, and that shoes over 10 years old may show some sole separation after a wash.

Wash dark or heavily dyed pairs on their own. Reshoevn8r recommends washing shoes of different colors, or heavily dyed shoes, separately.

How to machine wash sneakers when the maker allows it

These steps combine the points the makers agree on. Where they differ, follow the instructions for your shoe.

Prep the shoes. Allbirds says to remove the insoles and laces and brush off excess dirt with a towel or soft brush.
Check any pre-treatment separately. Use only a cleaner and method approved for the shoe’s material. Do not add a baking-soda or vinegar recipe from a different care routine to a machine-wash load.
Bag them. Allbirds uses a delicates bag or a pillowcase. Reshoevn8r says its Sneaker Laundry Bag (Search Amazon for Reshoevn8r Sneaker Laundry Bag ) keeps shoes from being snagged or damaged by the machine, and has a pouch so the laces can be washed with the shoes. Reshoevn8r uses its washable plastic trees in its own system; that is not permission to put any plastic, wooden or metal insert in the washer.
Use cold water. Allbirds and Reshoevn8r both specify cold water, and Reshoevn8r says it keeps the shoes from shrinking. Allbirds also calls for a gentle cycle.
Go easy on detergent. Allbirds uses a small amount of mild detergent and says not to use fabric softener or bleach. Reshoevn8r’s Sneaker Laundry Sheets are made for this step; the maker says half a sheet cleans up to three pairs and is safe on most materials, including mesh, knit, canvas and leather.
Air dry. Allbirds says to shake out excess water and dry the shoes somewhere with good air movement, such as outside, in front of a window or under a fan. Reshoevn8r says to take the shoes out of the washer promptly. Allbirds adds that its shoes regain their original shape after one or two wears.

Do not assume that top-loading machines are always suitable or front-loading machines are inherently unsafe. Allbirds gives the same washing method for front- and top-loading machines. Check both the shoe and washer instructions for the load, cycle and permitted items.

If machine washing is not permitted

Nike’s alternative is to brush the shoes with a mild cleaning solution and let them air dry. It says sneakers made from cotton, nylon, canvas or polyester are typically safe to hand wash with a mild solution, and that leather and suede need extra care. Allbirds also offers hand washing as the gentler option for its own shoes.

The white sneaker cleaning guide walks through Nike’s hand-washing routine for leather, mesh and canvas. For a ready-made kit, compare the beginner sneaker cleaning kits . If the problem looks like yellowing rather than dirt, the white cleaner material guide explains what cleaning can and can’t fix.

Laces and insoles

Nike says laces can be washed by hand in a mild soap or detergent solution, or put in a mesh laundry bag on the washing machine’s gentle cycle. Let them air dry, because Nike says heat can deform the plastic tips. Allbirds hand washes laces in warm, soapy water.

For insoles, Nike says to take them out, clean them with the same solution you use on the shoe and let them dry completely before putting them back. Allbirds says to remove insoles and laces and hand wash them separately from the shoe.

FAQ

Can you put sneakers in the dryer?

No maker here recommends it. Nike says the dryer’s heat can damage shoes, Allbirds says to avoid machine drying, and Reshoevn8r says never to put shoes in the dryer. Air dry them instead.

Should shoe trees go in sneakers in the washing machine?

Reshoevn8r includes its adjustable trees in its own laundry system. That does not make every plastic insert washer-safe or every shoe machine-washable. Use only the exact compatible accessories and follow both the shoe and washer instructions.

Can you machine wash suede sneakers?

No. Nike doesn’t recommend putting suede shoes in the washing machine, and Reshoevn8r says to avoid washing suede and nubuck because they are prone to color transfer and bleeding.