Hey Dude shoes arguably have the comfort, style, and airiness that’s second to none. You, however, can only savor those advantages by keeping these casual shoes clean, which elicits the question, ‘Can you wash Hey Dude shoes?’
You can wash Hey Dude shoes by hand or washer (using a gentle wash setting and cold water), but not leather, wool, and suede options. Such materials require special cleaners, and it’s thus best to avoid getting your Hey Dudes wet.
The best material to wash is canvas, but again, you must observe a few care practices. That includes not putting the shoes in the dryer and, as I highlighted, using a gentle setting and cold water.
In a few, I’ll explain more about what to do in each case. Moreover, we’ll look at how to clean these shoes, even if it means not using water. So, let’s dive in!
Can You Wash Hey Dude Shoes in The Washer?
Before you decide to wash Hey Dude shoes with a washer, you should consider the following:
1. Shoe Material
Not all Hey Dude shoe materials should be wet. Nowadays, Hey Dude makes water-ready shoes that you can easily wet and wash. But overall, the best Hey Dude shoe material to wash is canvas.
Options like leather, wool, and suede shouldn’t get wet – at least not with water, as water can easily damage them.
2. Washing Machine’s Setting
The washing machine settings aren’t the same. Some settings are only best for delicate fabrics, and they are the best for washing Hey Dudes. Depending on your washer, that could be a Delicate or Gentle setting. If you use a non-gentle setting, you may end up damaging the fabric due to the aggressive nature of the setting.
3. Water Temperature
To avoid wrinkling, wrapping, and excessive bleeding (fading) of the shoes, you shouldn’t use hot water to clean your Hey Dudes. Use cold water instead, as it combines better with a gentle setting to preserve the shoes’ texture, appearance, and sturdiness.
4. Detergent Type
You must also consider the detergent you use, as some detergents are more abrasive than others. Ideally, Hey Dude recommends using smaller amounts of mild liquid detergent. But still, you can use regular dishwashing soap due to its gentle nature.
Generally, you can wash Hey Dude shoes in the washer as long as:
- They are of canvas material
- You use a gentle/delicate wash setting
- You use cold water
- And you apply mild liquid detergent or dishwashing soap
Let’s now talk about how to do it next.
How to Wash Hey Dude Shoes in Washing Machine
Now that you know what to consider when deciding if to wash Hey Dudes in a washer or not, here’s how to do it:
Step 1 – Remove the laces and inserts
Untie the laces from the shoes to prevent them from tangling up around the shoes and interfering with the wash cycle. Also, remove the inserts and set them aside, as you’ll need to wash them by hand separately. Then, load the shoes in the washer.
Step 2 – Clean the soles, inserts, and laces
Lightly scrub the inserts after applying small amounts of detergent using a soft nylon brush, and wash the laces by hand. Then, brush off dust and dirt from the soles, and if they are heavily stained, use Magic Eraser to remove the stain.
Step 3 – Apply liquid soap
Put a small amount of liquid soap or dishwashing detergent into the washer.
Step 4 – Run the washer
Put the shoes into a mesh laundry/wash bag and load it into the washer. Then, choose a delicate/gentle setting and cold water and run the wash cycle. Wait for the cycle to complete, but in the meantime, wash the insoles and laces separately by hand.
Step 5 – Air-dry the shoes
Hey Dudes shouldn’t be put in a dryer. The heat can be too much for their delicate fabric and could damage them. Furthermore, you relinquish the warranty once you do that while the shoes are yet to hit six months.
Instead, air-dry them. You can do it indoors or away from direct sunlight. The direct rays from the sun can also damage the fabric.
Can You Wash Hey Dudes by Hand?
While there are many restrictions when washing Hey Dudes with a washing machine, there aren’t many when doing it by hand. You must be sure about the shoe material, water temperature, and detergent.
When it comes to the shoe material, consider canvas as it’s water-ready and as for the water temperature, you can use warm water. And lastly, choose a mild liquid soap as it’s the case of machine wash.
How to Wash Hey Dude Shoes by Hand
After the above considerations, here’s how to wash your Hey Dude shoes by hand:
Step 1 – Remove the laces and inserts
Untie the laces if applicable and put them aside for later cleaning. Also, remove the shoe inserts/insoles and set them aside.
Step 2 – Prepare warm, soapy water in a basin
Warm, soapy water is best for washing Hey Dude shoes by hand because it’s gentle on your hands and the shoe fabric. And, of course, you need mild liquid soap to get rid of the dirt.
Step 3 – Start cleaning
Start cleaning the shoes by gently scrubbing them with a soft nylon brush. Once through, wash the laces and inserts. Don’t forget to rub the insoles gently to remove the stains. If they are too much, use the Magic Eraser.
Step 4 – Rinse everything
Rinse the shoes, inserts, and laces using clean running water. That ensures they don’t remain with any streaks, which could make them look dirty. You can apply some anti-odor solutions in the final rinse to mask any potential smell.
Step 5 – Air-dry the shoes
Just like in the case of the machine wash, air dry your Hey Dudes.
Can You Wash White Hey Dude Shoes?
White Hey Dudes are probably the trickiest to clean because they show dirt quickly. But overall, you can wash them with a washer or by hand as long as they aren’t leather, suede, or wool and you use mild liquid detergent.
Here’s how to wash Hey Dude white shoes:
- Remove the laces and inserts to wash them separately
- Pre-treat the shoes with Dawn Power Wash and wait for it to act for 1 hour
- Add 1 cup White Bright in a ½ sink full of warm water and soak the shoes there for 2 hours
- Toss the shoes in the washer and choose a cold water setting
- Run the wash cycle and air dry the shoes after its completion
- Use Magic Eraser to get rid of stains on the outer sole
How to Clean Non-Canvas Hey Dude Shoes
We’ve already seen that it’s possible to wash canvas Hey Dude shoes by hand or washing machine, but you shouldn’t wet suede, leather, and woolen options. Let’s see how you can clean the three.
a) Suede
You can clean Hey Dude suede shoes without soaking them in water or using the washer. That’s because water damages suede, shortening the shoes’ lifespan.
Here’s how to clean your suede Hey Dudes:
- Brush off dust and dried-on dirt with a suede cleaning brush
- Apply a thin water layer using a soft nail brush
- Mix water and vinegar at a ratio of 1:1 and use the solution to dampen a piece of cloth that you’ll use to wipe the shoes.
- Thoroughly by gently wipe off stains and dirt
- Consider using a suede cleaner on stubborn stains
- Brush the shoes gently one more time after air-drying using a suede cleaning brush.
b) Leather
The leather also doesn’t need to be soaked in water or loaded into the washer as that damages it. However, you can clean your Hey Dude leather shoes using a standard leather shoe cleaner, which you can buy from your local store. Remember, however, to apply the leather cleaner according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
c) Wool
You also should wash Hey Dude wool shoes by hand and avoid the washer as it could damage them. However, you should use the cleaning solution the manufacturer recommends and follow its cleaning instructions.
Can You Put Hey Dudes in The Washer and Dryer?
While putting Hey Dude shoes in the washer is possible, you shouldn’t do it in the dryer. The dryer will damage the fabric or cause it to shrink or warp excessively. While you can wash them with a washer, it’s not all Hey Dude shoes. Only wash canvas, as options like leather, suede, and wool aren’t the most water-friendly.
People Also Ask
1. Is It Safe to Put Hey Dudes in The Washer and Dryer?
You can put canvas Hey Dudes in the washer but not suede, wool, and leather options. However, you shouldn’t put any Hey Dudes in the dryer. It’s unsafe to do that as the heat from the dryer could damage the shoes. And if you opt to wash your canvas Hey Dudes with a washing machine, do it less frequently and use a cold water setting, gentle cycle, and mild liquid detergent.
2. Can You Wash Hey Dude Shoes Insoles?
Generally, it’s possible to wash Hey Dude shoe insoles, but you should do it separately. You’ll need to first pre-treat the insoles using small amounts of liquid dish soap and apply a thin layer using a soft nylon brush. Then, lightly scrub the insoles and rinse them with clean water before air-drying them overnight.
3. Do Hey Dudes Shrink When Washed?
Yes, Hey Dudes can shrink if you wash them with hot water. Ideally, you should wash them with cold water (when using the washer) or warm water (when washing by hand) to avoid shrinkage, warping, and excessive bleeding.
4. How Do You Keep Hey Dudes from Stinking?
You can keep your Hey Dudes from stinking by washing and drying your feet and wearing absorbent socks to soak up sweat. It may also help to apply foot spray, baby powder, or baking soda. And when it comes to cleaning the shoes, use an anti-odor or disinfecting spray to mask the foul odor.
In summary, can you wash Hey Dude shoes?
As shared, you can wash canvas Hey Dude shoes by hand or washing machine. You’ll need to use warm water when washing them by hand and cold water when using the washer. As for the other fabrics, avoid soaking them in water and instead wipe off the stains and dust.
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