We’ve all been there. You go out for a run in your favorite athletic shoes, and you accidentally spl...
We’ve all been there. You go out for a run in your favorite athletic shoes, and you accidentally splash right into a mud puddle. Maybe you’ve finally purchased those gorgeous leather boots you’ve been pining for all season, and you wear them out on the town without checking the weather report first.
Shoes keep our feet clean and safe from outside hazards, which means your shoes are right in the danger zone for mud, dirt, puddles, rain, snow, etc.
Whether you’ve had to wash your shoes or they’ve just gotten wet from an unexpected April shower, you’ll need to dry them. Quicker may seem better, and maybe you remember the thunk, thunk, thunk of your mom drying your shoes in the dryer.
But before you toss your shoes in the dryer for a hot tumble, know it’s not safe to dry all shoes this way. Read on to learn the best way to dry your shoes.
It might seem like a no-brainer to put wet shoes under heat to dry them faster, keep bacteria from growing, or ensure they’re ready for work or school tomorrow. However, if you put the wrong kind of shoes in the dryer, you could ruin them.
The heat and motion of a dryer can melt glue, break down the structure of a shoe, or warp the materials it’s made from. If your shoes have washing instructions on their label or the brand’s website, always refer to those instructions. But here are the basics for knowing if you can put your shoes in the dryer.
It depends on what materials they are made of, though it is best to avoid this drying method for running shoes. The heat of a dryer can damage the glue holding the shoe together and can also cause the fabric of the shoe to shrink.
Never put leather shoes in the dryer. The heat will ruin the leather, and you will probably be very mad at yourself.
Nike doesn’t recommend putting their shoes in the dryer. However, if you need to, they suggest putting them on low heat, in a mesh bag, or hanging them over the dryer’s door by their laces.
Again, it depends on the materials used for the tennis shoe or sneaker. Typically shoes made from canvas or cotton, such as Keds or Vans, will fare better in the dryer than other types of shoes.
If you’ve determined your shoes are safe to dry in the dryer, or you are up against a time crunch, and your shoes are not made of animal leather. Here is the best way to get them dry in the dryer.
Make sure your shoes are clean before putting them in the dryer.
Air-dry them before if you can so they won’t have to spend as much time under heat.
Tie your shoe laces together and drape them over the dryer door. When you close the door they will be secure, and you won’t run the risk of damaging your dryer.
You can put shoes without laces in a mesh bag.
Use the lowest heat setting. Whether it’s “air dry” or “low,” ensure your shoes are getting the gentlest amount of heat.
Check your shoes after 20 minutes in the dryer. If they are not dry, check them every five minutes.
There are a couple of methods that are perfectly safe to use to dry any type of shoe, the newspaper method and the fan method.
Newspaper isn’t as easy to come by as it used to be, so if you don’t have a newspaper, you can also use rags, microfiber towels, or anything absorbent that you can crumple up to fit inside your shoes.
Make sure you’re starting with clean shoes.
Remove the insoles and the laces. These will dry faster separately and they will make sure moisture doesn’t get trapped in the shoes.
Stuff your shoes with newspaper or rags, making sure to get all the way to the toes. When done, wrap each shoe in a towel and place it somewhere dry and away from direct sunlight. Putting them near a fan or vent pushing warm air will help them dry faster.
Check your shoes every few hours. If they were extremely wet, you might need to change out the newspaper. Check for dryness after around 12 hours though they might dry faster or slower.
Like the newspaper method, the idea here is to air-dry your shoes. The fan speeds up the process a little bit.
Again, make sure your shoes are clean.
Remove the insoles and either loosen or remove the laces.
Keep your shoes away from direct sunlight and place them near a fan or vent.
You can also hook your shoes onto the grill of a large table fan or floor fan. Use wire, or a hanger to fix them into place. Place a towel underneath your shoes to keep your floor or drying surface safe.
From there, keep your shoes in the airflow of the fan until dry.
Use a combination of the newspaper and the fan method for the best results. Be gentle and take care of the leather on your shoes. After they are dry, treat them with a leather conditioner.
Your shoes take care of your feet, so when it comes to taking care of your shoes, you want to make sure you’re cleaning and drying them safely.
While you can put shoes in the dryer if they’re made of certain fabrics, even cotton or canvas shoes shouldn’t be thrown in the dryer too often.
Luckily with a little know-how, you can dry all your shoes while keeping them safe for years of adventures!
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Innovative and accomplished shoe designer with 18 years of experience in the footwear industry. I have dedicated my career to creating exceptional shoe designs that blend style, functionality, and market appeal.
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Experienced brand manager with a successful 10-year tenure in the shoes manufacturing and trading industry. I possess a strong passion for brand development that drive business growth and market expansion.
