Gentle care: can leather shoes be machine washed 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 couple, one day it will still get dirty. Therefore, every owner of leather shoes or shoes should know how to clean them and not completely ruin the product.

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

Is it washable?

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

Most often it is encoded with a circle icon inside a square. This image will be crossed out.

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

• presence of defects,
• sticking out threads,
• loose seams
• shoes must be intact.

It is strictly forbidden to automatically wash the following pairs:

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

Heavily wetted leather shoes have the ability to shrink, therefore boots may become small after drying.

Washing rules in a washing machine

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

Recommendations to follow:

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

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 the washing machine. Trainers and trainers can be washed in the Athletic mode.
2. Washing temperature. It should be minimal - no more than 30-40 degrees.
3. Spin. It is turned off. This uniform rule applies to any leather pair.
4. Washing time should not exceed 30-40 minutes.

When the setting of the technique is completed, you need to start choosing a detergent. Do not use washing powder for processing leather products.

Means for shoe washing must not contain aggressive bleaching agents such as chlorine, alkalis, acids.

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

Step-by-step algorithm of actions:

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

If your home has a shoe washing bag, it is recommended to use this device. It protects the leather from wear and tear and preserves the integrity of the sewn elements.

We clean by hand

Hand washing does not ruin your shoes as much as a machine. The person has the ability to control the force of friction and the duration of cleaning. Thanks to this treatment, you can get rid of dirt, but not wet the inside of the steam.

For manual cleaning of white leather shoes, you can use products containing delicate bleaches. Sometimes they use toothpaste with a whitening component.

Hand wash instruction leather shoes:

1. Remove laces and insoles, wash the sole.
2. Soak the product in soapy water, if necessary. When prolonged contact with water is undesirable, they proceed as follows: a cloth is stuffed inside each shoe, after which the contaminated areas are worked out pointwise.
3. The stains are removed with a toothbrush.
4. After completing the cleaning, the shoes are rinsed under running water. This point must be given special attention, since the remaining particles of the detergent after drying form a white film on the skin.
5. Wipe the surface of the pair thoroughly with a soft cloth.
6. Dry the shoes at room temperature.

How to dry properly?

Dry leather shoes properly. This is an important point on which the final result depends.

Key recommendations:

• it is forbidden to put steam to heating radiators, to cast-iron radiators or to a switched on gas stove - they can cause cracks;
• do not blow hot air through boots using a hair dryer or heat gun;
• putting a 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 a light cloth, changing it as it gets wet.

Read more about the drying rules. here.

Alternative cleaning options

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

1. Using a melamine sponge... It is sold in stores, in departments with household chemicals.

   A piece of the desired size is cut off from it, moistened in water, squeezed out and rubbed with a corner of the contaminated surface.

   The sponge does an excellent job of removing 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 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 pure powder is applied to the surface of the shoe and pressed lightly. Leave it to act for 30 minutes, after which the steam is treated with a dry brush with soft bristles. It can be wiped with a damp flannel cloth if necessary.

Important recommendations

To minimize the chances of damage to leather shoes, the following recommendations must be observed:

1. The less often the leather pair is hand-washed or machine-washed, the better. Water treatments 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. Detergents for white laundry are not suitable for dyed leather.
4. It is forbidden to wring out the boots in order to rid them of excess moisture.
5. Laces and insoles are washed separately by hand.
6. Do not wear wet shoes. All street dust will settle on it.

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

To complete the treatment, apply a cream that should match the color of the shoe. It protects it from dirt, helps to repel water and gives it an attractive appearance.

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Conclusion

Leather shoes need special care. She tolerates contact with water and detergents, but the less often it happens, the better... It is only necessary to resort to a machine wash in an emergency. In all other situations, it is sufficient to confine yourself to manual cleaning.