Gentle care: can leather shoes be washed in a washing machine or only by hand?

Most people have leather shoes in their wardrobe, but not everyone knows how to properly care for them.

No matter how carefully a person treats a pair, one day it will still get dirty. Therefore, every owner of leather boots or shoes should know how to clean them and not completely ruin the product.

From this article you will learn whether it is possible to wash leather shoes in a washing machine and by hand, and how to do it correctly so as not to spoil your favorite pair.

Is it washable?

Without exception, all manufacturers of leather shoes prohibit their machine washing. They indicate information about this on a label that is located inside the pair or on the packaging.

Most often, it is encoded with an icon in the form of a circle located inside a square. This image will be crossed out.

Load into drum You can only wear a pair that is made of artificial materials. However, before you start washing, you need to check it for:

• presence of defects,
• protruding threads,
• broken seams,
• shoes must be intact.

• winter boots and boots with fur;
• products decorated with rhinestones, appliqués, and reflective elements;
• deformed shoes;
• boots with a hard last or high heels.

Heavily wet leather shoes tend to shrink, so after drying the boots may become small.

Rules for washing in a washing machine

If you decide to wash your leather boots in the washing machine, you need to properly prepare them.

Recommendations to follow:

1. Remove laces, if present. They are washed separately.
2. Remove the insoles. Not only do they prolong the drying process, but they themselves are a source of dirt. They are processed manually using a brush.
3. Wash the sole. Adhered dirt is removed from it, small stones, crushed stone are removed, chewing gum is peeled off, etc.
4. Wipe the surface of the pair with a damp soft cloth to remove dust.

The next step is to set the washing mode. Basic Rules:

1. Programs that can be used: delicate or gentle wash, “silk”, hand wash. Specific names may vary depending on the brand of washing machine. Sneakers and sneakers can be washed in the “sports shoes” mode.
2. Washing temperature. It should be minimal - no more than 30-40 degrees.
3. Spin. It is turned off. This single rule applies to any leather pair.
4. Washing time should not exceed 30-40 minutes.

When setting up the equipment is completed, you need to start choosing a detergent. Do not use washing powder on leather products.

Means for washing shoes should not contain aggressive bleaches, for example, chlorine, alkalis, acids.

When all the preparatory steps have been completed, you can start washing.

Step-by-step algorithm of actions:

• load the pair into the washing machine;
• turn on the selected washing mode and wait for it to complete;
• allow excess water to drain over a basin or bathtub;
• leave the steam to dry at room temperature.

If you have a bag for washing shoes at home, it is recommended to use this device. It will protect the leather from wear and tear and will maintain the integrity of the sewn elements.

Cleaning by hand

Hand washing does not damage shoes as much as machine washing. A person has the ability to control the force of friction and the duration of cleaning. Thanks to this treatment, you can get rid of contaminants, but not wet the steam from the inside.

To manually clean white leather shoes, you can use products containing mild bleaches. Sometimes they use toothpaste with a whitening component.

1. Remove laces and insoles, wash the sole.
2. Soak the product in soapy water if necessary. When prolonged contact with water is undesirable, proceed as follows: cloth is stuffed inside each shoe, after which the contaminated areas are spot-treated.
3. Stains are removed with a toothbrush.
4. After cleaning is completed, the shoes are rinsed under running water. This point needs to be given special attention, since the remaining particles of the detergent form a white film on the skin after drying.
5. Carefully wipe the surface of the pair with a soft cloth.
6. Dry shoes at room temperature.

How to dry it properly?

Leather shoes need to be dried properly. This is an important point on which the final result depends.

Basic recommendations:

• It is forbidden to place the steam on heating radiators, on cast iron radiators or on a gas stove that is on - they can cause cracks;
• Do not blow your boots with hot air using a hair dryer or heat gun;
• by placing the couple on the balcony, they are protected from the influence of direct sunlight - they lead to skin burnout;
• To maintain the shape of the product, it is tightly stuffed with light-colored fabric, changing it as it gets wet.

You can read more about drying rules Here.

Alternative Cleaning Options

In addition to global machine and hand washing of leather shoes, you can try to get rid of dirt using other methods. These include:

1. Using Melamine Sponge. It is sold in stores, in departments with household chemicals.

   Cut a piece of the required size from it, moisten it in water, squeeze it out and begin to rub the contaminated surface with a corner.

   The sponge copes well with stubborn dirt, grass stains, etc.

2. Cleaning with folk remedies. To remove stains from light-colored shoes, you can use glycerin and ammonia. These components are mixed in equal proportions, applied to the shoes for half an hour, and then washed off using a soap solution.
3. Dry cleaning. This method is suitable for removing dust, surface contaminants and getting rid of unpleasant odors. The powder in its pure form is applied to the surface of the shoe and pressed lightly. Leave it to act for 30 minutes, after which the pair is treated with a dry brush with soft bristles.If necessary, it can be wiped with a damp flannel cloth.

Important Tips

To minimize the chance of damage to leather shoes, The following recommendations must be followed:

1. The less frequently a leather pair is hand or machine washed, the better. Water procedures significantly reduce the service life.
2. It is recommended to wash only one pair at a time, or shoes of the same color scheme.
3. White laundry detergents are not suitable for dyed leather items.
4. It is forbidden to wring out shoes in order to rid them of excess moisture.
5. Laces and insoles are washed separately, by hand.
6. You can't wear wet shoes. All street dust will settle on it.

   In addition, the product may tear or lose its original shape.

The treatment must be completed by applying a cream that should match the color of the shoes. It protects it from dirt, helps repel water and gives it an attractive appearance.

Video on the topic

Is it worth it and how to wash leather shoes in a washing machine, video experiment:

Conclusion

Leather shoes require special care. It tolerates contact with water and detergents, but the less frequently it occurs, the better.. Machine washing should only be done in emergency situations. In all other situations, it is enough to limit yourself to manual cleaning.