Can you wash shoes in a washing machine?

What actually happens in the drum

Warm water softens the glue holding the sole on. The spin cycle bashes the shoe against the drum, again and again. Foam midsoles drink water and take days to dry, and in a damp Mumbai flat during the rains they often start to smell before they are even dry. All that, for a wash that barely touches the insole.

Pairs we would never put in

Leather. Suede. Nubuck. Anything with a stitched sole. Running shoes with fancy foam. Football boots. Basically, if it cost more than a nice dinner out in Bandra, keep it out of the machine.

If you are going to anyway

We get it, sometimes you just want the canvas shoes clean. Take the laces and insoles out. Put the shoes in a mesh bag with a couple of old towels so they do not bang around. Cold water, gentle cycle, and skip the spin if you can. Afterwards, paper inside and a fan, not the balcony in afternoon sun.

Why we do it by hand instead

Each material gets its own cleaner. Insoles come out and are washed separately. Soles get scrubbed where the dirt actually sits. Drying is slow, with moving air and no heat. Takes longer. It is also why shoes come back to you in one piece.