No, you shouldn't wash cleats in the washing machine. Nike's cleat guide says to hand-wash them only, because "Washing machines can damage cleats and may damage the washer." That holds for soccer, football, baseball and softball cleats alike. The laces are the exception: they can go in a mesh bag on a cold, delicate cycle.
SneakerSalt is not affiliated with Nike. We quote its cleat guide because it answers this question directly.
Why the washer is a bad idea for cleats
Nike's warning cuts both ways: the cleats can be damaged, and so can the machine. The reasons on the cleat side are easy to see once you look at what a wash cycle is.
- It's a soak. Nike says knit uppers like Flyknit and Gripknit shouldn't be soaked. A wash cycle soaks them and then agitates them.
- Warm water is heat. Nike lists heat among the things that damage cleat materials.
- The glue. Cleaning-industry advice is that detergent and agitation can damage leather and adhesives, and one sportswear maker says wash temperature and detergent attack the bond between sole and upper. A cleat depends on exactly that bond, between the upper and the studded plate.
Soccer, football, baseball, metal: same answer
The question gets asked about every sport's cleats, and the answer doesn't change with the sport. A football cleat and a soccer cleat are both an upper on a studded plate. Metal-spiked baseball and softball cleats add nothing that makes the washer safer, and they need drying completely before they're bagged either way.
What can go in the machine
- Laces, yes. In a mesh bag on a cold, delicate cycle. Then air dry them: Nike says dryer heat can damage the plastic tips or shrink the laces.
- Insoles, by hand. Take them out and clean them with mild soap and water, then let them dry completely before they go back. If they still smell after that, replace them.
- The cleats themselves, no.
What to do instead: ten minutes by hand
- Studs first. Let the mud dry, knock it out against a wall or step, and run a stick or flat screwdriver between the studs.
- The plate. A gentle brush over the soleplate.
- The upper. A cloth wrung out in warm water with a little mild laundry detergent. On knit, a soft brush instead of a scrubbing one.
- Take the soap off. Wipe again with a cloth damp with plain water.
- Dry indoors. Paper inside, until fully dry, before you wear or bag them.
On knit, mesh and white leather uppers, our foam covers steps three and four in one go: two pumps, ten seconds, a dry wipe, nothing to rinse. It's rated Excellent on those. Test an inside panel first on coloured leather. Synthetic leather can take it as well, once it passes a test on an inside panel. We haven't tested it on the plate and studs, so those stay with the brush.
Our washing machine guide covers what the drum does to ordinary sneakers, for comparison.
The dryer is worse
If the washer is a bad idea, the tumble dryer is a worse one. Nike rules out the tumble dryer, the hair dryer and direct sun for cleats, because heat damages the materials. The laces don't go in either.
If it's the smell you're trying to wash out
Often that's the real reason the washer comes up. Most of the smell sits in the insoles and the lining rather than on the outside, so it needs a different fix.
- Take the insoles out after every game and let them dry separately.
- After a hand clean, do what Nike does: mist the inside with equal parts white vinegar and water, then let the cleats air dry.
- Once they're dry, a little baking soda inside overnight, shaken out in the morning.
- Never leave them zipped in a bag damp. Nike warns that storing cleats damp encourages bacteria.
Our foam cleans the grime that holds smell, outside and on removable insoles; it isn't a deodoriser. Our insoles and odour guide goes further.
"But my mate washed his and they were fine"
Maybe they were. People do put cleats through a wash and post about it. The trouble is you can't tell in advance whether yours will come out fine or come apart, and the company that built the cleat says not to risk it. Ten minutes by hand is cheaper than a new pair.
Questions people actually ask
How do you dry cleats quickly?
Without heat. Insoles out, paper stuffed in, fresh paper once the first lot is damp, and a room with moving air; a fan helps. Radiators and hair dryers damage the materials.
Can sports shoes be washed in the washing machine?
That's the maker's call, and many say no. Nike doesn't recommend it, and ASICS says to avoid it, although it concedes a cold cycle probably won't do much harm. A few brands allow it for specific shoes. Check the label before you try.
Can you machine wash adidas shoes?
adidas's own guides disagree. Its general care guide says not to machine wash, its running-shoe guide allows a cold, gentle cycle in a bag or pillowcase, and its basketball guide says no washer or dryer.
The ten-minute alternative, minus the rinse: SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam, $24, free shipping, comes with a brush and a cloth, and you keep the bottle with a full refund if it doesn't clean your cleats within 30 days.
