To wash Allbirds, take out the laces and insoles, brush off the dirt, put the shoes in a delicates bag or a pillowcase, and run a cold, gentle cycle with a small amount of mild detergent. No fabric softener, no bleach. Shake out the water and let them air dry for at least a day; never use the dryer. Allbirds says they regain their shape after one or two wears.
That is Allbirds's own method, and it is unusual: most sneaker brands tell you to keep shoes out of the machine. The one exception Allbirds names is the Wool Dasher Mizzle, which should be spot cleaned instead. SneakerSalt is not affiliated with Allbirds.
Allbirds washing instructions, step by step
- Laces and insoles out. The insoles are washed separately by hand, as one Allbirds product page specifies.
- Brush off the dirt first. Allbirds says to brush off excess dirt or mud before washing. If the mud is still wet, let it dry; it brushes off far more cleanly.
- Bag them. A delicates bag, a linen bag or a pillowcase. Tie or zip it shut.
- Cold water, gentle cycle. A wool or delicate programme if your machine has one.
- A little mild detergent. Not much. Leave out fabric softener and bleach entirely.
- Shake out the water. Take the shoes out as soon as the cycle ends and shake them.
- Air dry for at least 24 hours. Room temperature, away from heaters and out of direct sun. Stuffing them with paper helps them hold their shape while they dry.
- Wear them. If they look a little out of shape at first, that is expected. Allbirds says one or two wears brings them back.
Lace them back up once everything is dry. The laces themselves can be washed by hand, or given a pass of foam, which is rated Good on laces.
Tree Runners and Wool Runners are not the same fabric
The method is the same, but the material changes how careful you need to be.
| Tree Runner | Wool Runner | |
|---|---|---|
| Upper | Knit of TENCEL Lyocell (tree fibre) and recycled polyester, with a merino-blend lining | ZQ Merino wool |
| Midsole | SweetFoam, a sugarcane-based EVA | SweetFoam, a sugarcane-based EVA |
| Biggest risk | Heat in the dryer | Heat, anywhere. Wool can felt or shrink when it gets hot. |
| Spot cleaning | Takes a foam cleaner well | Cold water and a little mild detergent on a cloth, blotted |
The same applies across the range. A Tree Dasher, Tree Breezer flat, Tree Skipper or Tree Lounger is cleaned like a Tree Runner if its label says tree fibre knit. Anything with wool on the label gets the Wool Runner caution about temperature.
The exception: Wool Dasher Mizzle
Allbirds says to spot clean the Wool Dasher Mizzle rather than machine wash it, to protect its water-repellent finish. Brush off dried mud, then work on marks with a cloth dampened in cold water and a drop of mild detergent, and blot. Air dry it the same way as any other pair. If the label on your Mizzle gives different instructions, follow the label.
Spot cleaning between washes
A full machine wash is overkill for a grey toe or a splash on the midsole. Spot cleaning between washes keeps the pair looking fresh and saves the shoes a trip through the drum.
For Tree knit uppers and the SweetFoam midsole, SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam does it in about a minute: two pumps over the mark, ten seconds, then a dry cloth. Tree knit falls under the mesh and knit row of our tested list, rated Excellent, and on an EVA midsole the foam lifts surface grime. There is no bleach in it, which matters given Allbirds's own rule. Brush and cloth are in the box.
Wool uppers are a different matter. We have not tested our foam on wool, so we don't recommend it there. For a Wool Runner or a Mizzle, use the cold-water method above.
Can you wash Allbirds with other clothes?
The Allbirds steps are written for shoes in their own bag on a cold, gentle cycle. If you add clothes, everything else in the drum has to be happy on that cycle too, with no softener. Heavy items such as jeans add weight and knocking, which is the opposite of gentle. We would wash them on their own; if you do add anything, keep it to light items that suit a cold, delicate cycle. For how other sneakers fare in a machine, see our washing machine guide.
What never to do
- The dryer. Allbirds's help centre says to avoid it "at all costs". A tumble dry is how wool shoes shrink.
- Bleach. Same help-centre warning, even on white pairs.
- Fabric softener. Allbirds says leave it out.
- Hot water. Cold only, especially for wool.
- Drying on a radiator or in strong sun. Room temperature and patience.
Questions people actually ask
Is it okay to wash Allbirds insoles in the washing machine?
One Allbirds product page says to hand wash the insoles separately, so do that with mild soap and water, and let them dry completely before they go back in. If they smell, our insoles and odour guide picks up from there.
How do I get my white Allbirds white again?
Wash or spot clean them as above. That removes the grime that makes white look grey. Bleach is out, by Allbirds's own rule, and no wash reverses discolouration that is in the fibre rather than on it.
Do Allbirds wash well?
By Allbirds's account, yes, as long as the water is cold and the dryer stays off. They may look a little out of shape straight out of the wash and settle back after a wear or two.
What temperature should you wash Allbirds at?
Cold. Allbirds's method calls for cold water, and with wool, heat is the thing that does the damage.
For the grey toe that doesn't justify a full wash: SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam on Tree knit and the SweetFoam sole, $24, free shipping, brush and cloth included, and a refund if it doesn't clean them.
