The short answer on how to wash Nike shoes in a washing machine is that Nike says not to: its washer guide states plainly that "Nike does not recommend washing shoes in the washing machine." Only the laces are cleared for the machine, on a gentle cycle in a mesh bag. If you put a textile pair in anyway, make it cold and gentle, in a bag, with the laces and insoles out, and never follow it with the dryer.
SneakerSalt is not affiliated with Nike.
What Nike says about the washer and the dryer
Nike's guidance is consistent across its own pages:
- Shoes: no washing machine. Nike's washer article adds that a pair of shoes in the drum can damage the washing machine itself, not just the shoes.
- Laces: fine on a gentle cycle, inside a mesh bag.
- Dryer: no. Nike warns that the dryer's heat can damage or deform shoes, and says to air dry them instead.
Nike is in good company. ASICS says not to use a washing machine or dryer on its shoes, and On's Adam Godfrey says the brand never recommends putting dirty running shoes in the washer, because "the combination of sustained heat and detergent exposure can damage seams, shoe bondings and the overall integrity" of the shoe. The brands that do endorse the machine, such as Skechers with its Machine Washable icon, say so on the specific shoe. Nike doesn't, for any pair.
What the drum does to a pair of Nikes
A sneaker is several materials held together with glue and stitching, and the machine is hard on each in a different way.
| Part | What goes wrong | Who says so |
|---|---|---|
| Seams and glued bonds | Heat and detergent together weaken them | On |
| Mesh | Machine washing can weaken it and wear holes in it | New Balance, about its own mesh |
| Leather | Soaking can damage the upper | Golden Goose, about its leather |
| Suede | Too much water leaves marks | Vans and adidas, about their suede |
| Foam midsoles | Heat can warp them or make them lose shape | On, HOKA |
| The shape | A dryer can deform the shoe | Nike |
None of it is certain on any single wash. But Nike, which knows how its shoes are put together, doesn't recommend taking the chance, and most of the other makers in that table say the same about their own shoes.
Air Max, runners, kids' shoes and Tech Fleece
- Air Max: no exception. Nike's general rule applies, and an Air Max 270, for example, combines a woven and synthetic upper, a two-piece foam midsole and a Max Air unit. That is a lot of separate parts to send through a spin cycle.
- Running shoes such as Free Runs, Pegasus or ReactX pairs: Nike's rule doesn't change for runners. Wash them by hand.
- Kids' and toddler Nikes: the same guidance. Small shoes are quicker to clean by hand anyway.
- Leather pairs: if your Air Force 1s or Dunks are leather, they are the worst candidates of all. Golden Goose, for one, warns that soaking can damage a leather upper. Clean them by hand.
- Tech Fleece, hoodies and ski masks: these are clothing, and the sewn-in care label is the instruction to follow, not this page.
If you wash Nike shoes in the washer anyway
Only consider it for a textile pair, mesh or canvas, with no leather, suede, nubuck or patent anywhere on it. Then, to keep the damage as small as possible:
- Laces and insoles out. The laces go in their own mesh bag, the one part Nike approves. Insoles dry far better outside the shoe.
- Dry brush first. Brush loose dirt off the outsole, midsole and upper so the drum isn't working on mud.
- Bag the shoes. A mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase. Call it a habit rather than protection: no source has tested whether a bag helps.
- Cold water, gentle cycle, a little mild detergent. Heat runs through every warning above, so keep it cold. No bleach, no fabric softener.
- Straight out and into the air. No dryer. Dry as below.
Our guide to sneakers in the washing machine has the longer version, for any brand.
How to dry Nike shoes after washing
Drying is where patience pays: the heat that would speed it up is exactly what the makers above warn about.
- Stuff them with plain paper to hold the shape and draw the water out. Swap it for dry paper when it's soaked.
- Leave them at room temperature with air moving around them. A fan blowing room-temperature air speeds things up without heat.
- Keep them away from radiators, heaters and hair dryers. On warns that direct heat can warp materials.
- Dry the insoles and laces separately, and don't put the shoes on until everything is dry right through.
The quicker way to the same result
Most of what makes a pair of Nikes look dirty sits on the surface: grey mesh, a scuffed midsole, a mark on the toe. Nike's own hand method deals with it: dry brush, a small amount of mild detergent in warm water, air dry. A no-rinse foam does it with even less water. SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam is rated excellent on mesh and Flyknit, white leather, canvas and rubber cupsoles: two pumps, ten seconds, wipe with the cloth from the box, and the pair can go back on. Mesh in particular is covered in our mesh and knit guide, and laces in the shoelaces guide.
Questions people actually ask
Can you put Nike sneakers in the washer and dryer?
Neither, by Nike's account. The washer is not recommended, and the dryer's heat can deform shoes. Air dry them.
How can I tell whether a pair of shoes is machine washable?
Makers that design shoes for the machine say so, on the label or the listing. Skechers marks those pairs with an icon. If the maker is silent or says no, as Nike does, treat the pair as hand-wash only.
Can you put Air Force 1s in the washing machine?
Nike says no for all of its shoes. Clean the upper by hand and let only the laces go in the machine.
Is it okay to put Nike shoes in the dryer?
No. Nike warns that the heat can damage and deform them. Room temperature, paper inside and a fan if you are in a hurry.
Clean the pair without the cycle: SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam, $24 with a brush and a cloth, free shipping, and your money back if it doesn't do the job.
