Is it ok to wash runners in washing machine?

Husavik

I read on some American discussion site that the washing machines will damage your runners. There was a variety of alternative suggestions - which I can't remember?

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

First time marathoner.

Irish_polizei

Nah i dont think it is, apparently the smell like cats piss after you wash them, true or not i dont noooo....

Rusty Cogs 08

I would say no, they may lose their integrity and not give the cushioning or support that they are designed for. Especially in European washing machines which seem to work at a much higher rpm than those American top loader jobbies.

Euchrid

One thing is for certain, if you decide to throw them in, don't accidentally set machine for a long, hot dry cycle at the end. Did that once a few years back... they came out very, very clean, but not so wearable! Two big balls of rubber!

gerard65

You'll destroy your runners in the washing machine. All shoe manufactures warn against this. To clean them use a cloth or light scrubing brush with a squirt of washingup liquid in lukewarm water.

herya

It depends, I wash trainers regularly but they are more of a fabric type and wash perfectly well.
Manufacturers never recommend it but it's not in their interest if you can refresh your shoes yourself instead of dumping a dirty pair and buying another from them.

Rusty Cogs 08

I wash my Converse in the machine but that's not what the OP is talking about (I imagine). I don't run hundreds of miles in my converse and my runners don't go in the machine (nor are they replaced because they've gotten a bit dirty).

mloc123

Irish_polizei wrote: »

Nah i dont think it is, apparently the smell like cats piss after you wash them, true or not i dont noooo....

Am I the only person whos runners smell like cats piss anyway?... no socks + running = :eek:

BeepBeep67

I prefer the shower - not sure I'd fit in a washing machine

Husavik

gerard65 wrote: »

You'll destroy your runners in the washing machine. All shoe manufactures warn against this. To clean them use a cloth or light scrubing brush with a squirt of washingup liquid in lukewarm water.

Cheers Ger, I'll try that.

It's all from this trying to run on soft surfaces in our eh.. recent drought conditions!

Thanks for all the other responses.

connie_c

Ive been advised by a friend that putting them inside a pillow case and washing them at 40 degrees works fine.

I will try this at some point. Mine are getting very brown.

--amadeus--

Why would you wash them anyway? As long as they are dry when you put them on what difference what they look like!

Stark

Last pair I put in a washing machine were ruined. Okay for walking in afterwards, but way too limp to run in.

herya wrote:

It depends, I wash trainers regularly but they are more of a fabric type and wash perfectly well.
Manufacturers never recommend it but it's not in their interest if you can refresh your shoes yourself instead of dumping a dirty pair and buying another from them.

First thing that came to my mind was that Lorcan lad from "My super sweet 16: dundalk".

Condo131

mloc123 wrote: »

Am I the only person whos runners smell like cats piss anyway?... no socks + running = :eek:

Nope.....lots of them going round.

To stop your runners starting to smell like cats piss, stuff them immediately (like when you get home - had to get that rider in before BeepBeep67 tookme up on it ) with newspapers when they get wet. The paper absorbs most of the moisture.

Even if you've run through a flood, they'll be dry enough to put on the following day, without feeling that you've put on wet socks. Paper might be pretty wet, but you won't notice the damp shoes.

With runners that already smell, try rubbing in bread-soda (not soda bread!!:D) Never tried it, but I've heard it works.

I've never washed runners I use for running, though I have done with old (clapped out) runners I use for walking/gardening/whatever else. Use a cold wash, NEVER a hot wash. If you do wash them, see newspaper hint above.

Drying: NEVER, EVER use heat, like hotpress/rad etc. The shoes will shrink. They'll also harden, so cushioning will be less afterwards.

No socks!!!! <shocked> Your shoes are gonna smell crap anyway. I suppose you go commando too <even more shocked!>
Shoes tear the crap out of my toes if I don't wear socks!!

Highway_To_Hell

usually only wash my runners if they get muddy and need to wash the mud off, I do this by hosing them down and then leaving the to dry naturally. To keep the smells at bay I would usually air them by leaving the outside for a few hours.

Condo131 wrote: »

No socks!!!! <shocked> Your shoes are gonna smell crap anyway. I suppose you go commando too <even more shocked!>
Shoes tear the crap out of my toes if I don't wear socks!!

Normal enough for triathletes, don't want to waste time in transition tryig to get socks onto wet feet, need to train without socks so your feet get use to it.

MCOS

I'll only wash runners in the wash if a)they are on their last legs in terms of mileage b)they are stinking up the place or c) if I only wear them casually.

When I do its into a pillow case on a low temp cold wash with a short spin.

Even at that if you lob newer runners in the will loose their bounce and cushioning.

Avoid if you can.

Have 2 pairs of runners so that if one starts to pong you can leave outside the door for a couple of days and use the other.

Rotating runners anyway gives them space to breathe

And FFS get some socks!!

Oryx

Ive washed shoes in the washing machine twice. Last pair were Brooks with only about 50 miles on em that had been through 10 miles of wolverhampton mud, and was either try to wash them, or sling them. Delicates wash, in a pillowcase, air dryed em. Came up brilliant, and dont feel any different to wear. Do smell of cats pee, though, but I expect thats the slow drying, rather than the washing.

geld

A true story. The names have been changed in order to hide the identies....

"Johnny" had trained hard for his first marathon.

Mrs Johnny saw the state of his runners the day before the marathon and decided that she wouldn't have her Johnny running with dirty shoes. So as a nice surprise for him she put them in the washing machine!

The morning of the race Johnny was shocked to see his faithful runners. They didn't feel right but he had no choice but to wear them.

He felt the first blister at mile 8. By the half-way stage he was divorcing her. He never got to finish the race...!!

She hasn't washed any of his running gear since!!!

RJC

mloc123 wrote: »

Am I the only person whos runners smell like cats piss anyway?... no socks + running = :eek:

No you're not the only person. Wet runners lead to the cat piss smell. My shoes have to take the walk of shame out of the bedroom.

Dark Passenger

connie_c wrote: »

Ive been advised by a friend that putting them inside a pillow case and washing them at 40 degrees works fine.

I will try this at some point. Mine are getting very brown.

I read, Pillow case, laces removed, cold cycle and air dry. I think if they are that dirty, replace them or chance it, austerity measures are all the rage these days!

Emer911

My top tips:
Rotation - Never wear the same pair of runners 2 days in a row
Cleaning - A wet / damp cloth or brush, some warm water and a tiny bit of soap (if really needed). NEVER in the washing machine! :eek:
Drying - as mentioned in an earlier post, never use direct heat, stuff them with newspaper (and refresh the stuffing after a few hours if they're REALLY sodden) and leave them to dry at room temp.
Smelly - I alway squirt some scholl shoe spray in mine when I take them off. Never had a smell problem?!

and another thing...
All 15 or so pairs of runners in my house (yes there are that many and they're NOT all mine! What can I say, we're an active family) live on a shoe rack in the back kitchen. So if they do get wet / smelly / mucky / etc. there's no excavation from the bedroom required - maybe that's a 'happy family' tip rather than a shoe tip.

Doug89

The heat of a washing machine (and rad/fire for drying) is very bad for the shoes, and converse too!

It wrecks and wears away the glue, so the soles will start to peel.

ThisRegard

When I get them home manky I just throw them in the batch and spray them full power with the shower head, works fine for me.

Sport101

I've found the best way to avoid runners stinking is to remove the insoles after each run and air them separately. Washing machine ruins them in my experience.