No, you should not put real suede sneakers (trainers) in the washing machine, because soaking, detergent and tumbling can shrink the suede, fade or bleed the dye, leave it stiff and loosen the glue that holds the sole on. Clean suede by hand instead: brush it dry, treat marks with small amounts of liquid on a cloth, and only machine-wash the parts that come out, such as the laces and some insoles.
Key takeaways
- Real suede is leather, and leather does not cope well with being soaked and spun.
- The most common results are stiffness, shrinkage, colour loss and a sole that starts to lift.
- Check the care label: some suede-look trainers are synthetic microsuede and may be washable.
- Laces and removable fabric insoles can usually be washed separately.
- If a pair has already been through the machine, dry it slowly with paper inside and brush the nap once it is dry.
Can suede go in the washing machine?
Real suede should not. Suede is the underside of a leather hide, sanded to make the soft, fuzzy surface called the nap. Leather is tanned to stay supple in normal wear, but a full wash cycle soaks it right through, washes out some of its natural oils and then dries it in one go. That is very different from the light dampening suede can tolerate during hand cleaning.
Trainers add a second problem. Most are built from several materials joined with glue and stitching: suede panels, a fabric lining, foam padding, a stiff heel counter and a rubber sole. Each of these reacts to warm water and spinning in its own way, so a shoe that goes in as one piece can come out with parts that no longer sit together neatly.
What happens if you put suede trainers in the washing machine?
Results vary from pair to pair, and some people get away with it once. The risks are real, though, and most of them cannot be fully reversed.
| What you might see | Why it happens | Can it be fixed at home? |
|---|---|---|
| Hard, cardboard-like suede | The leather dries out and the fibres bond as they dry | Partly, with brushing and gentle flexing |
| A tighter fit | Leather can shrink as it dries after a soaking | Sometimes, by wearing in or using shoe trees |
| Patchy or faded colour | Detergent and water carry dye out of the suede | Rarely without a recolouring service |
| Dye on the sole, stitching or other panels | Wet dye moves into lighter areas | Hard to remove fully |
| A sole that lifts at the toe or heel | Heat and water weaken shoe adhesives | A cobbler can often re-glue it |
| A flat, matted surface | Tumbling presses the nap down | Usually, with a suede brush |
The drum can also be affected. A pair of trainers thumping around on a spin cycle is hard on the machine, and loose grit from the soles ends up in the filter.
What about suede trainers labelled “washable”?
Always follow the care label or the maker’s instructions first. A few trainers have uppers in synthetic microsuede, a polyester fabric brushed to look like suede. These can sometimes be washed on a cool, gentle cycle because there is no leather to dry out. If the label or product page says “genuine suede” or “leather”, treat it as real suede and keep it out of the machine.
If there is no label, look at the inside of the tongue and the box for the materials list. When you still cannot tell, assume it is real suede. Hand cleaning works on both materials, while machine washing only suits one of them.
What should you do instead of machine washing?
Hand cleaning takes about as long as a wash cycle and keeps you in control of how much water touches the suede. The general order is simple: dry methods first, liquid only where needed, and a slow, cool drying time.
- Let any mud dry completely so it flakes off rather than smearing.
- Take out the laces and insoles and set them aside.
- Brush the whole upper with a suede brush or soft toothbrush to lift loose dirt.
- Rub small marks with a clean white eraser.
- Dab stubborn stains with a cloth just dampened with water or a little white vinegar. Test on a hidden spot first.
- Scrub the rubber soles separately with a toothbrush and soapy water, holding the shoe so the suede stays dry.
- Stuff the shoes with plain paper and let them dry at room temperature, then brush the nap back up.
Our Journal has a full walk-through of these steps, including grease and water marks, in the guide to cleaning suede at home.
Which parts of suede trainers can you machine-wash?
Laces
Cotton and polyester laces usually wash well. Put them in a small mesh laundry bag or tie them inside a pillowcase so they do not tangle round the drum, and wash them with similar colours on a cool cycle. Hand washing in warm, soapy water works just as well for a single pair.
Insoles
Fabric-covered foam insoles can often be hand washed with mild soap, then pressed in a towel and left to air-dry flat. Leather or cork insoles should only be wiped with a damp cloth. Check that insoles are fully dry before putting them back, or the inside of the shoe can start to smell.
Odour inside the shoe
Smell usually comes from the lining and insole, not the suede. A light sprinkle of baking soda inside the shoe overnight, shaken out in the morning, is a gentle option. Rotating between two pairs so each gets a day to air out helps more than any wash.
I already washed my suede trainers. What now?
Do not put them in the tumble dryer or on a radiator to speed things up, since fast drying makes stiffness and shrinking worse. Work through these steps instead.
- Press out excess water by wrapping each shoe in a dry towel and squeezing gently. Do not wring them.
- Stuff the shoes firmly with plain white paper or paper towels to hold the shape and soak up moisture from inside. Swap the paper when it gets damp.
- Leave them to dry slowly at room temperature, out of direct sun. This can take a day or two.
- Flex the uppers by hand every few hours as they dry to stop the leather setting hard.
- Brush the nap once they are completely dry, working in several directions to lift the fibres.
- Check the sole for gaps at the toe and heel. A cobbler can usually re-glue a lifting sole.
If the suede has dried hard, keep wearing and brushing it, as some softness often returns with use. Uneven colour or dye that has bled is harder to correct at home, and a shoe repairer who offers suede recolouring is the best option for a pair you care about.
How to keep suede trainers clean so they never need a wash
A suede protector spray applied to clean, dry shoes helps light rain and spills bead on the surface instead of soaking in. A quick brush every few wears stops dirt from settling into the nap, and dealing with a mark on the day it happens is far easier than tackling it weeks later.
Storage matters too. Keep suede trainers out of damp hallways and away from radiators, with paper or shoe trees inside to hold the shape. On wet days, a pair in smooth leather or a rubber-soled shoe saves the suede altogether.
If a pair is past saving and you are choosing a replacement, check your size with the shoe size converter, as sizing can differ by up to half a size between brands. Our current suede trainers are in the shop.
FAQs
Can I hand wash suede trainers in a bowl of water?
It is best avoided. Submerging suede has much the same effect as a machine cycle, just with less tumbling. Use a damp cloth on the marks you can see and keep the rest of the shoe dry.
Will a cold or delicate cycle make it safe?
A cool, gentle cycle reduces the risk to the glue and colour, but the suede is still soaked through and dried in one go. For real suede, a delicate setting lowers the odds of damage without removing them.
Can I put suede trainers in the tumble dryer?
No. The heat and tumbling can leave suede hard, shrink it and weaken the sole adhesive. Air-drying at room temperature with paper inside is slower but much kinder to the shoe.
How do I tell if my trainers are real suede or microsuede?
Check the label inside the tongue, the box or the product description. Real suede usually has a slightly uneven, natural feel and smell, while microsuede tends to look very uniform. If in doubt, care for it as real suede.
Can a professional clean suede trainers?
Yes. Many cobblers and specialist shoe cleaners offer suede cleaning and recolouring. It is worth considering for an expensive pair or for stains that have not shifted with careful home cleaning.