Washing Vans In The Washing Machine

Vans are classic shoes that last a very long time. They won’t ever lose their functionality due to normal wear. Can Vans actually be put in a washing machine, though? Vans recommend to hand wash your shoes in warm water with a small amount of mild detergent rather than using a washing machine and then properly drying them afterward.

Additionally, they advise against using a dryer to dry Vans shoes; instead, you should use a clean towel to wipe any leftover water off of your damp Vans sneakers before allowing them to air dry away from direct sunlight. Even though Vans shoes were designed to withstand the wear and tear of skateparks, they still need some TLC from time to time.

In our guide, you can see the official DIY guide to clean white Vans and getting your shoes back to their former glory. By the end, you’ll have every way possible to remove surface dirt and clean any Vans model you may have. (Read Washing Machine Drainage Options Guide)

Can You Bleach Vans White Strip?

Most Vans have a white rubber strip encircling the outside of the sole to give them a recognizable edge. Although it might be your first instinct to grab the bleach, doing so could turn your clean white Vans shoes yellow.

Restore yours to a brand-new box fresh condition with these techniques.

What you need:

White Vinegar
Acetone nail polish remover
Rubbing alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide
Window cleaner
Magic eraser
Baking soda
Lemon juice
Water
Bleach (used as a last alternative)

Directions

Place the shoes on a protected work surface.
To protect your shoe from harm from any stray cleaning product, wrap the material with masking tape.
After arranging your canvas sneakers and cleaning product on a fresh towel, apply the cleaner with a small soft brush or shoe brush.
Use an old toothbrush dipped in the cleaning solution to gently rub the white rubber in small circular motions.
Cleaning the outside of the shoes and working around the rubber soles.
Use a damp cloth to clean.
Use a paper towel or kitchen towel that has been mildly dampened with cold water to dry the shoes after washing them.
Your clean white Vans shoes should now have brilliant white rubber strips.

Tip: Use the same method for rubber bottoms but remove loose dirt first. (Read Washing Dishes In Cold Water Guide)

How To Clean Suede Vans or Leather Vans?

Even when subjected to some severe skating punishment, leather and suede Vans shoes may have a worn look, yet they last a lifetime and are far longer than canvas shoes.

Here’s how to give your suede Vans shoes a quick or deep clean.

1. Suede Quick Clean

With a suede brush with soft bristles, remove any excess dirt from your shoes and gently buff.
Using an equal amount of white vinegar and water, remove black stains.
Using a damp cloth, blot the stains.
Clean the rubber strip on the exterior of your suede Vans with a magic eraser.
Keep your Vans out of direct sunlight and let them air dry completely.

2. Suede Vans Deep Clean

Using a soft suede brush, start to clean the tops, the sides, and the bottoms of your shoes to get rid of surface dirt.
You’ll need a toothbrush and a drop of specialized suede cleaner to remove stubborn stains.
Apply this to the stains.
Use soap, water, and an old toothbrush or soft-bristled brush to clean the rubber strip and soles.
Let your Vans air dry.

Deep Clean Leather

Using a shoe brush, clean the sides, tops, and bottoms of your leather Vans shoes of any surface dirt.
Using a synthetic brush and a footwear cleaning gel that is approved, clean your leather shoes.
After cleaning the shoes, treat the leather and stitching with a waterproofing product.
After cleaning, let your shoes air dry for 24 hours.

Follow the steps below to clean your leather shoes quickly; however, skip step 3 if you like. (Leave your shoes overnight to dry.)

How To Clean Canvas Vans?

Once you know how, cleaning your Canvas Vans is simple. The quick and thorough clean methods used here suit synthetic and canvas Vans, as you will see.

Quick Clean Canvas Vans

Before cleaning the cloth, use a brush to remove any loose dirt.
Use warm, soapy water and a small brush or old toothbrush to clean your Vans’s tops, sides, and white rubber strip. When removing tough stains, be gentle.
To remove any soap suds, use a clean, moist towel to wipe down and remove any excess water.
Keep your shoes out of direct sunlight and let them air dry naturally.

White vans need a bit more care as they can fade.

Canvas White Vans Deep Clean

Using a shoe brush, remove loose dirt. Make sure you pay attention to cleaning the rubber bottoms and strips.
Spot clean stubborn stains. Pre-treat it with a stain remover and let it sit for 15 minutes to achieve this.
Remove the insoles and laces; then hand wash the shoes with a small amount of mild detergent and warm water.
Wrap the damp Vans in a towel, then squeeze out the excess water before letting them air dry.
Use warm water mixed with mild detergent to clean your laces.
Using your toothbrush, scrub your insoles with a solution of baking soda and mild detergent. Before you clean them and set them up for air drying, let them sit for 15 minutes.

Note: Vans in the washing machine aren’t recommended for Vans shoes.

In addition, Vans recommend you don’t use any solvent cleaners to clean Vans shoes. (Read Can You Put Baking Soda In The Washing Machine)

Can Vans Go In The Washer?

Can you wash Vans in the washer even though the maker doesn’t recommend it? You might need to use a different technique to clean your Vans shoes, mainly white ones. You may learn how to wash Vans in the washing machine and keep your White Vans shoes clean here.

Keeping White Shoes Clean

Vans white shoes or color canvas can be washed in a washing machine if you wish to. Here are some things to consider before washing your Vans shoes:
Laces and inserts should be removed.
In a laundry wash bag, put on your shoes.
Avoid using hot water to wash Vans. Use warm water on a delicate cycle and a moderate amount of laundry detergent.
Your shoes could be damaged by heat if you put them in the dryer. They should air dry.
Use newspaper, packing paper, or paper towels to stuff your shoes.

After being washed in soapy water on a gentle cycle, white canvas shoes and the white strip may turn yellow or change color because glue spreads over them. Because of this, it may be better to use white vinegar, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, or lemon juice rather than detergent.

How You Clean Inside Vans Shoes?

Mix baking soda and mild detergent into a paste to clean Vans shoes inside. After laying a towel on the work surface, use a soft-bristled scrubbing brush to work the paste into the interior of your shoes. Rinse with warm water for up to 15 minutes, then allow the item to air dry. (Read Can I Run My Dishwasher If My Sink Is Clogged)

More Vans Washing Tips

When hand washing, they shouldn’t be cleaned with laundry detergent or dipped in water.
Use a mild pre-treater to pre-treat stains on your shoes. Use an enzymatic stain remover or another commercial product to lift the stain before washing if you’ve trodden in a lot of mud or got oil or grease on your shoes.
Place the Vans inside a pillowcase. When Vans are washed in a washing machine, many people worry that the glue and seams may come undone. It’s a good idea to keep things padded and to prevent the vans from bouncing around excessively if you lay the shoes in a pillowcase with a few towels before washing them.
If the liners or inserts in your Vans are causing you any concern, it’s usually preferable to remove them completely from the shoe and replace them after washing or to replace them with fresh inserts.
Use about half as much detergent as you typically would. Use a mild detergent for hand and machine washing and put the shoes in the pillowcase and the rest of the laundry.
Wait until the load is half full if you’re using a top-loading washing machine to cut down on the amount of time you soak the shoes.
The shoes won’t sit for quite as long, but they will still get thoroughly cleaned.
Vans that have been washed in a machine and dried outside. Put your shoes in the washer rather than the dryer.
This may cause the canvas and soles to dry out, which may cause cracks to form along the seams. Additionally, it’s a good method to harm your dryer.
Put them in the dryer with a couple of towels to reduce the jostling if you need to dry your Vans rapidly and don’t care if they crack.