Never Wash Expensive Shoes in the Machine – Here’s a Better Way

Expensive trainers aren’t just footwear—they’re an investment in style, comfort, and craftsmanship 👟✨. But when it comes to cleaning them, one common mistake could ruin them for good: throwing them in the washing machine 🌀.

While it might seem quick and easy, machine-washing your kicks can cause serious, irreversible damage—especially when it comes to high-end materials like suede, leather, or technical mesh. Here's why you should always think twice before pressing that "start" button, plus safer ways to keep your shoes looking flawless 🔥

⚠️ Washing Machines Can Destroy Delicate Materials

Expensive shoes are built with quality—meaning they deserve better than a rough machine wash. Here's what can go wrong:

🥶 Leather: Heat and friction can cause leather to crack, dry out, or warp, ruining both the shape and finish.
🪶 Suede & Nubuck: These soft-touch materials hate water. The washer flattens their texture and often strips away the colour.
🧵 Mesh & Knit: The pressure from spinning can warp or stretch the fabric, destroying the shape and fit.

💡 Rule of thumb? If the material wouldn’t survive a rainstorm, it definitely doesn’t belong in a machine.

🌀 It Warps the Shape of Your Shoes

The aggressive tumbling inside a washing machine can cause:

• 🧵 Misaligned stitching

• 🥴 Warped soles that no longer sit flush

• 🪢 Loose uppers or broken panels

Even one spin can change the structure of premium trainers like Yeezys, Air Max, or designer runners, making them uncomfortable or unsellable.

🔥 Excessive Heat Fades Colour & Shrinks Material

Most machines use warm water or fast spin cycles, which can cause:

• 🌈 Colour bleeding or fading, especially on dyed leathers or mesh

• 🪡 Shrinkage of materials like canvas or soft leather

• 💎 Damage to delicate accents like metal logos or embroidery

Expensive trainers often include premium detailing—machine damage can erase those features permanently.

🧩 You Risk Losing or Breaking Decorative Features

Think beads, zippers, metal tips, or lace locks. The spin cycle can:

• 🪛 Break zippers

• 🧷 Snap off embellishments

• 🧶 Tear tongues or distort overlays

You might not even notice until it’s too late—and by then, replacement parts are rarely available.

🧽 You’ll Ruin the Insole & Cushioning

Expensive shoes often include high-spec comfort systems like:

• 🧼 Memory foam or gel insoles

• 🫧 Advanced cushioning tech (e.g., Air units, Boost foam)

Water and heat can break down these materials, causing:

• 💧 Crumbling foam

• 🧱 Hard, unsupportive footbeds

• 😣 Reduced comfort and support

Even if the outside survives, the inside may never feel the same again.

🧴 Cleaning Kits Do It Better—and Safer

Skip the spin cycle and use methods that actually preserve your trainers:

👐 Hand Washing

Perfect for fabric or rubber—use warm water, mild detergent, and a soft brush.

🧽 Spot Cleaning

For leather, suede, and nubuck—use the correct tools like suede erasers, leather foam, and soft brushes.

🧼 Pro-Level Care with Crep Hero

Use the Crep Hero Cleaning Kit featuring our biodegradable foam cleaner, microfiber cloth, and dual brushes to safely clean all shoe types. It’s eco-friendly, powerful, and trusted by sneaker professionals.

🧠 A Washing Machine Won’t Even Remove Tough Stains

The irony? Machines don’t actually deep clean. They’ll soak your shoes but miss stains hidden in creases, stitching, or textured materials.

🧼 Steamers, precision spot brushes, and foaming agents work way better for real grime and long-term freshness.

✅ What to Do Instead: Protect Your Investment

Washing machines might be fast—but they’re risky, destructive, and ineffective for cleaning high-end shoes.

Instead, use specialist cleaning products, gentle brushes, and the proper technique—or leave it to the professionals 👇

🧼 Professional Cleaning & Repair Service

Expensive trainers need premium care 💎—and our professional cleaning and restoration service is the best in the business.

We handle everything:
✅ Deep cleans, re-gluing, repainting, crease removal, and sole deoxidation
✅ Transparent pricing and updates
✅ Pre-paid labels with a QR code for easy drop-off
✅ 7-day turnaround, with fast-track available 🚀

🛠️ Let us do it for you → Book your clean now

🧪 Our Pro Cleaning Kit List: Secrets from the Experts

Want to see the exact tools and chemicals we use to make your trainers look box-fresh? We’ve listed them all for you.

🔍 From little-known suede restoration tricks to foam formulas you won’t find in stores, we’ve made our full Pro Kit List public right here.

Whether you’re cleaning at home or prepping for resale, this is the kit used by the pros—and now it’s yours too.

🚀 Explore the secret kit → See what’s inside

Your kicks deserve better than a spin cycle 🚫🌀
Show them some love—with the right tools or by booking a pro clean.