It depends on the material. Canvas and mesh sneakers usually survive a gentle cycle. Leather, suede, and glued embellishments usually don't.
Sneakers get muddy, smelly, and stained in ways a damp cloth can't fully fix, so it's tempting to just throw them in with a load of laundry. Whether that works depends entirely on what the shoe is made of and how it was assembled.
The washing machine's real risks are heat and prolonged water exposure, both of which weaken glue and warp materials that aren't designed to get soaked.
Canvas, cotton, and mesh sneakers are the safest bets for a washing machine, since these fabrics tolerate water and mild agitation without losing shape. Shoes with leather panels, suede, glued-on decorations, memory foam insoles, or light-up soles are poor candidates, since water and heat can degrade the glue, discolor leather, warp suede's texture permanently, and damage any embedded electronics.
Remove the laces and insoles and wash them separately by hand or in a mesh bag; insoles especially hold onto odor. Put the shoes themselves in a mesh laundry bag or an old pillowcase to reduce the banging that can crack soles, chip logos, or dent the drum over a full cycle. Use cold water, a small amount of mild detergent, and a gentle or delicate cycle rather than anything with a high spin speed, which can pull soles loose.
Never put shoes in the dryer. Heat can warp the shape, melt glue bonds, and shrink certain fabrics, sometimes within a single 20-minute cycle. Instead, stuff the shoes with paper towels or a dry towel to help them hold their shape and absorb moisture, then air dry for roughly 24-48 hours away from direct sun or a heater vent, both of which can also cause warping.
Expensive sneakers, anything with leather or suede, and shoes you actually want to last should get hand cleaning with a soft brush, mild soap, and a damp cloth instead. Repeated machine washing, even on gentle settings, gradually weakens the adhesive holding the sole to the upper, and most sneakers can only tolerate a handful of machine washes over their lifetime before that becomes noticeable.
Check the shoe's material, remove laces and insoles, knock off loose dirt outdoors first, and confirm you have a mesh bag before starting the cycle. Skipping any of these steps is where most washing-machine shoe disasters start, and it only takes an extra couple of minutes to run through the list before loading the drum. If a pair has any doubt attached to it, a quick search for the specific brand and model's care instructions is usually faster than guessing and risking a ruined pair.
A gentle cycle can rescue muddy canvas sneakers, but it's a gamble on anything leather, suede, or glued together. When in doubt, hand clean instead.
No. Dryer heat can warp the shape, melt glue, and shrink fabric. Air dry shoes for 24-48 hours instead, stuffed with paper towels to help them hold their shape.
Likely yes. Water and agitation can crack, discolor, or stiffen leather, and heat from drying makes it worse. Hand clean leather shoes with a damp cloth and a leather-safe cleaner instead.
Yes. Insoles often hold odor and moisture longer than the shoe itself and can shift or bunch up during the wash. Clean them separately by hand and let them air dry.
A gentle or delicate cycle with cold water is standard. High spin speeds and hot water increase the risk of warped soles and loosened glue.