How to dry sneakers quickly with a clothes dryer

Shoes are meant to be worn on the feet, so many people will be afraid when they hear about how to dry sneakers with a clothes dryer. However, if done properly, you still ensure hygiene and greatly increase convenience.

Sports shoes can be dried with a clothes dryer

Although a clothes dryer can dry shoes effectively, not all types of shoes are suitable for this method.

Before putting your shoes in the dryer, you must sort them carefully to avoid damaging them. You should also pay attention to the information on the shoe’s instruction label to see if they are suitable for drying with a dryer. If suitable, you can apply this drying method.

How to dry sports shoes with a clothes dryer is suitable for:

– Shoes made from synthetic fibers such as polyester or canvas or cotton.

– Shoes with soles made from synthetic rubber or with gel air cushions.

However, drying sneakers quickly with a clothes dryer will not be suitable for products such as:

– Shoes made from thin fabric, natural leather or suede, sports shoes specifically designed for competition.

– Shoes with soles molded from solid rubber, thick or heavy, shoes made from special materials such as heavy-duty foam,

How to dry sneakers with a clothes dryer

To dry your shoes with a clothes dryer quickly and most effectively, you need to follow these steps:

Clean shoes

Before putting them in the dryer, you need to clean your shoes by wiping the surface with a wet towel to remove dirt. This helps the dryer operate more efficiently. If your shoes are very dirty, you need to wash them with laundry detergent or use detergent to remove the stains. You can clean your shoes under running water or put them in the washing machine.

Untie the shoe laces and place the paper inside

After cleaning, remove the laces but don’t remove them all, leaving a few notches. Leave it outside for about 20 minutes for the shoes to drain, then stuff paper inside the shoes to support the moisture absorption process and maintain the shoe’s shape, especially at the heel and toe of the shoe.

Hang your shoes in the dryer

Place the shoe with the toe facing up and the sole of the shoe against the dryer door. Leave the shoe laces hanging out and close the machine door tightly to prevent the laces from tangling inside.

If you want to place your shoes inside the dryer, use a towel to reduce impact and noise and avoid damaging your shoes.

Set the drying mode

Choose air drying mode instead of heat mode to avoid damaging the material of the shoe. Set the drying time for about 40 minutes to let the shoes dry completely.

After that time, check to see if the shoes are dry. If it’s still damp, you can continue drying for about 10 minutes. Remember not to dry for too long to avoid damaging the material, especially the sole.

Although drying sneakers with a clothes dryer is very effective and quick, you should not use it often. Each type of item has its own characteristics, so a clothes dryer is not the optimal device for drying shoes. In unavoidable cases, you need your shoes to dry immediately before going out before using this method.

Especially with shoes that are difficult to care for and expensive, you should go to a professional shoe care shop to get help cleaning them properly.

Some other ways to dry shoes quickly

In addition to drying sneakers quickly with a clothes dryer, you can also do some of the following to speed up the speed:

Dry shoes with a hair dryer

Using a hair dryer to dry your shoes is a simple and convenient solution, especially when you don’t have a clothes dryer. First, clean your shoes by washing or using detergent to remove any stains, and let the shoes drain.

Set the hair dryer temperature to low or medium, and dry the shoe from the inside by placing the dryer in the opening of the shoe and running it until the inside is dry. Then you switch to drying outside. This may take some extra time, but continue drying the shoes from the top and bottom to ensure they dry evenly.

This method is suitable for thin fabric shoes with little foam layer. However, be careful with the hair dryer temperature to avoid damaging the material of the shoe.

Dry shoes with newspaper

To dry your shoes without using a dryer, you can use newspaper. This is simple, quick and suitable for many types of shoes.

First, you need to choose clean newspapers that do not have a lot of ink. Avoid using sheets with bold text or images because they can transfer color to the shoes, especially light-colored shoes.

Peel the newspaper into small sheets and stuff them inside the shoe. Be careful to place the paper evenly and make sure each part of the shoe is fully stuffed. When the paper inside the shoe starts to get damp, replace it with new paper to continue the dehumidification process. This helps shoes dry faster and avoids unpleasant odors.

To dry your shoes faster, place them in a cool place with good air circulation. If possible, place shoes near a window or a place with a door to the outside so the wind can blow through the shoes. 

With this method, you can easily dry your shoes without using a dryer, and is especially suitable for many types of shoes from fabric to suede.

Dry your shoes with salt

Use regular table salt or table salt available in the kitchen, making sure you have enough salt to use for both shoes. Roast a handful of salt in a pan over medium heat until the salt is hot (be careful not to let the salt burn or burn) then pour into two small bags or two clean socks.

Close the bag or sock tightly and place it on both sides of the shoe, ensuring the salt is evenly distributed and in contact with the entire inside surface of the shoe.

After about 1-2 hours, check the dryness of your shoes. If necessary, continue placing the salt bag in the shoe and continue this process until the shoe is completely dry.

Dry your shoes near the air conditioner condenser

Drying your shoes near the air conditioning unit is an effective way to dry your shoes quickly, especially when you need to use them immediately. 

– Place shoes near the air conditioner condenser to take advantage of the heat generated. However, make sure the distance between the shoes and the outdoor unit is not too close to avoid damaging the shoes.

– Monitor the temperature of the air conditioning condenser to ensure that it is not too high. 

– Rotate and change the position of shoes regularly to help them dry more evenly and quickly.

– If you feel the temperature is too hot, adjust the distance between the shoes and the air conditioner condenser to reduce the temperature.

This method is suitable for canvas or cotton shoes. Avoid applying to leather shoes, as high temperatures can damage or remove the natural shine of the leather.