How to Clean White Shoes in a Washing Machine (The Method I Actually Use)

Last spring, my son came home from the playground with his white Vans looking like he’d been mud wrestling. I tried wiping them down, scrubbing with a toothbrush, even a magic eraser — and they still looked gray and sad. 

I was one wear away from tossing them and buying new ones, until my neighbor told me she just threw hers in the washing machine. I was skeptical. I pictured a washer full of shoelaces and a broken machine. 

But I tried it anyway, and honestly? Those Vans came out looking almost brand new. Since then, I’ve done this with canvas sneakers, my daughter’s school shoes, and my own beat-up Keds — and it works every single time, as long as you do it right.

If you’ve been Googling whether it’s actually safe to machine wash your white shoes, I get it. Here’s the exact, no-guesswork method I use.

Table of Contents

• Is It Actually Safe to Machine Wash White Shoes?
• What You'll Need
• Step-by-Step: How I Wash White Shoes in the Machine
  • 1. Remove the laces and insoles.
  • 2. Knock off loose dirt and debris.
  • 3. Pre-treat any stubborn stains or scuffs.
  • 4. Put the shoes in a mesh laundry bag.
  • 5. Add a couple of towels to the load.
  • 6. Wash on cold, using the gentle or delicate cycle.
  • 7. Skip the spin cycle if your machine lets you.
  • 8. Air dry only — never use the dryer.
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• When NOT to Machine Wash Your Shoes
• The Bottom Line
• Quick FAQ

Is It Actually Safe to Machine Wash White Shoes?

Yes — with a few conditions. This method works well for canvas, cotton, and fabric/mesh sneakers like Vans, Converse, Keds, and most kids’ school shoes. 

It is not safe for leather, suede, or shoes with glued-on decorations, which can warp, peel, or fall apart in water. If you’re not sure what your shoes are made of, my general guide on how to clean white shoes breaks down the safest method for every material.

Assuming your shoes are washer-friendly, the key is protecting both the shoes and your machine — which is exactly what the steps below are for.

What You’ll Need

• Mild laundry detergent (I use the same one I use for clothes)
• A mesh laundry bag (this is non-negotiable — more on that below)
• An old toothbrush or soft-bristle brush
• A few old towels
• Baking soda or a stain remover stick (optional, for tough scuffs)

That’s it. No special shoe-cleaning products required.

Step-by-Step: How I Wash White Shoes in the Machine

1. Remove the laces and insoles.

This is the step I skipped the first time, and I regretted it — the laces got tangled and twisted around the drum. Take them out and set them aside. If your laces are grimy too, toss them in a small mesh bag or just hand-wash them in the sink with dish soap.

2. Knock off loose dirt and debris.

Before anything touches water, bang the shoes together outside or brush off dried mud with your toothbrush. Wet, packed-in dirt is much harder to fully remove, so getting the loose stuff off first makes a real difference.

3. Pre-treat any stubborn stains or scuffs.

For grass stains, scuff marks, or yellowing around the toe, make a quick paste with baking soda and a little water, and scrub it into the stain with your toothbrush. Let it sit for about 10–15 minutes before washing. This step alone fixed most of the “impossible” stains on my son’s shoes.

4. Put the shoes in a mesh laundry bag.

Seriously — don’t skip this. The bag protects the shoes from getting banged around (and torn up) by the drum, and it protects your machine from the noise and impact of shoes bouncing around loose. If you don’t have a mesh bag, an old pillowcase tied shut works in a pinch.

5. Add a couple of towels to the load.

Throw in two or three old towels along with the shoes. This balances the load so the machine doesn’t shake or bang loudly during the spin cycle, and it also cushions the shoes.

6. Wash on cold, using the gentle or delicate cycle.

Cold water is important — hot water can warp glue, shrink fabric, or set stains instead of lifting them. Use your regular detergent (no bleach, even for white shoes; it can yellow certain glues and rubber soles over time).

7. Skip the spin cycle if your machine lets you.

If you have the option to turn off or shorten the spin cycle, do it. High-speed spinning can be rough on shoe soles and stitching. If your machine doesn’t allow this, don’t stress — it’s not a dealbreaker, just an extra precaution.

8. Air dry only — never use the dryer.

This is the step most people get wrong. Heat from the dryer can warp the shape of the shoe, melt glue, or shrink fabric. Instead, stuff the shoes loosely with paper towels or a dry towel to help them hold their shape, and let them air dry somewhere with good airflow. I usually set mine outside in the shade or near an open window. It takes about 24 hours, but it’s worth the wait.

For fabric-heavy sneakers specifically, I’ve got a whole breakdown in how to clean white fabric tennis shoes that covers drying tricks to prevent that dingy off-white look after washing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using hot water. It can damage glue and shrink fabric — always go cold.
• Skipping the mesh bag. Loose shoes banging around can damage the drum and the shoes.
• Tossing them in the dryer. Heat is the #1 shoe-ruiner. Air dry, always.
• Using bleach on rubber soles. It seems logical for “whitening,” but it often causes yellowing over time instead.

When NOT to Machine Wash Your Shoes

Machine washing is fantastic for canvas and fabric sneakers, but it’s not a universal fix. Skip this method if your shoes are:

• Leather or faux leather (water can crack or warp them)
• Suede (water leaves permanent stains and texture damage)
• Decorated with glued-on rhinestones, sequins, or trim (these often fall off in the wash)

For canvas specifically, I have a more detailed method in how to clean white canvas shoes that covers pre-treatment tricks for canvas that’s yellowed over time — which the washing machine alone won’t always fully fix.

The Bottom Line

Those muddy Vans I mentioned earlier? They’re still in regular rotation, more than a year later, and they still get washed the same way every few months. It sounds like a big process written out step by step, but in practice, it takes about five minutes of prep — the machine and air-drying do the rest. If your shoes are the right material and you follow these steps, you really don’t need to worry about ruining them or your machine.

Quick FAQ

Will machine washing shrink my white shoes?
Not if you wash them in cold water. Hot water is usually the cause of shrinkage or warping, not the washing motion itself.

How often can I machine wash the same pair of shoes?
I wouldn’t do it more than once every few weeks. Frequent washing can wear down glue and stitching faster, even with gentle settings.

Can I use bleach to make them extra white?
I’d avoid it. Bleach can weaken fabric fibers and cause yellowing on rubber soles over time — baking soda paste is a safer whitening option.