How to Clean Canvas & Suede Hey Dude Shoes

Written by Marc Sigal | Edited by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: February 28, 2023

You probably know how comfy and stylish Hey Dude shoes are, but did you know they're also super easy to clean? If your favorite pair is looking a little worn, you've got a few cleaning options. Grab your shoes and read on—we'll show you how to wash your Hey Dude shoes in the washing machine (as long as they're not suede) or by hand. If you've got suede Hey Dude shoes, we'll show you how to clean them, too!

This article is based on an interview with our shoe care specialist, Marc Sigal, founder of ButlerBox. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

Throw your canvas Hey Dude shoes into the washing machine and run a delicate or light wash using cold water. Then, air dry the shoes since you can't put them in the dryer.
Fill a bucket with warm soapy water if you want to hand-wash canvas Hey Dude shoes.
Brush suede Hey Dude shoes with a suede bristle brush to remove dirt.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Machine-Washing Hey Dude Shoes

1
Wipe off or rinse excess dirt or mud from your shoes. Although the washing machine does a great job of cleaning Hey Dude shoes, try to get rid of clumps of dirt or big patches of mud before you wash the shoes. This just makes it a little easier on your machine and your shoes will get a lot cleaner.
2
Remove the laces and soles from canvas Hey Dude Shoes. Untie 1 of the knots at the end of each shoelace and pull them out of the eyelets. Then, reach into each shoe and pull out the thin insoles. Set the laces and insoles aside while you wash the shoes.^{[1]
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- Hey Dude insoles are made of memory foam, so if you wash them in the machine, they'll lose their shape. You can wash the insoles by hand with soapy water, or purchase new insoles if you can't get them clean.
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3
Pour liquid laundry detergent into your washing machine. Use around 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of liquid detergent—less if you have a high-efficiency (HE) machine. Don't use powdered laundry detergent because it's more abrasive and could wear down the shoes.^{[2]
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4
Wash the Hey Dude shoes on the delicate or light cycle with cold water. Avoid using warm or hot water since these temperatures will shrink or warp your shoes. To stop the shoes from banging around in the machine, add a towel to the load.^{[3]
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- If you want to wash the laces along with the shoes, put them into a delicates laundry bag or a pillowcase and tie it shut. Throw the bag or pillowcase with the laces into the machine when you run the wash cycle.
- Hey Dude recommends machine washing their canvas shoes only—don't toss their suede, leather, or wool shoes in the machine or you may damage them.
5
Air dry the shoes outside away from direct sunlight. Unfortunately, you can't toss Hey Dude shoes in the dryer or you could damage them. Instead, set them outside where they'll get some airflow or hang them from a clothesline—Hey Dude shoes usually dry within 2 hours. Then, thread the laces and enjoy your clean Hey Dude shoes!
- If you washed the laces, hang them to dry along with the shoes.
- To help the shoes keep their shape, stuff them with plain crumpled paper or insert a shoe tree before you dry them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Hand-Washing Hey Dude Shoes

1
Rinse or wipe off excess dirt or mud. You'll get the shoes a lot cleaner if you wipe or rinse off big clumps of dirt or mud. Use a cloth, a rag, or an old towel, but avoid using brushes because they'll wear out the shoes.
- If your Hey Dude Shoes aren't too dirty, you can skip this step and go straight to washing them.
2
Mix a few drops of laundry detergent in a bucket of lukewarm water. Once you've added the laundry detergent, swish the water in the bucket with your hand until you see soap suds.
- If you don't get any suds, add a few more drops of laundry detergent.
- Use liquid laundry detergent as opposed to powdered detergent since liquid detergent dissolves faster in the lukewarm water.
3
Dip an old towel or cloth in the soapy water and blot the shoes. Take the soapy cloth and wipe it against the sides of your Hey Dude Shoes to wash away dirt and grime. Then, look carefully at the shoes and gently scrub spots that still look a little dirty.
- Dip your cloth back into the soap solution frequently, so your shoes are getting clean and you're not just spreading the dirt around.
- Avoid using a bristle brush to clean your Hey Dude shoes since the bristles can wear out the sides of the shoes.
- If you want to clean the soles of your shoes, it's fine to use a bristle brush. Just dip it in the cleaning solution and scrub the soles until they're clean.
4
Blot the shoes with a clean wet towel. Dip another cloth or towel into plain lukewarm water and squeeze it out a little so it's damp, not wet. Dab the cloth onto your Hey Dude shoes to remove the soapy residue.
5
Air dry your clean Hey Dude shoes. Hang them or set them somewhere with good airflow so the shoes dry faster. If you put them outside, keep them out of direct sunlight, which could fade the shoes. Hey Dude shoes typically dry within 2 hours.
- If you're air drying your Hey Dude shoes indoors, run a fan to speed up the drying process.
- To help the shoes keep their shape, insert a shoe tree or plain crumpled paper before you dry them.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning Suede Hey Dude Shoes

1
Brush your dry shoes with a suede brush to remove dust and dirt. Take a natural bristle or brass bristle suede brush and gently brush the sides of the suede Hey Dude shoes. Take care to brush in the same direction instead of working the brush back and forth. Keep brushing until the shoes look clean.^{[4]
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- If you see scuff marks on the suede, you can also use the suede brush on them. Brush vigorously to lift the scuff marks.
- You may see suede brushes that have rubber on one side—this is more for nubuck leather than for cleaning suede so you won't need this side of the brush.
- You can buy a suede brush from shoe stores, department stores, drugstores, or online.
2
Remove water or oil stains with a wet nail brush. Dip the brush in clean water and gently brush it on any stains. You may have to be a little forceful to remove grease stains.^{[5]
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3
Blot the shoes with a dry cloth and let them air dry overnight. Don't stick them in the dryer or they could shrink. Just set them somewhere with good ventilation and let them dry overnight.^{[6]
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- If you have a shoe tree, use it to dry your Hey Dude shoes, so they keep their shape.
4
Spray your clean shoes with a suede protector spray. Minimize stains and protect your Hey Dude suede shoes from water damage. Shake up a can of suede protector and hold it about 6 inches (15 cm) away from the shoes. Apply the spray in an even layer to the entire surface of each shoe and let them cure for 30 minutes before you wear them.^{[7]
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- Reapply the suede protector spray whenever you notice the waterproofing starting to go—you'll see beads of water sitting on the shoes or soaking into them instead of running off.

Warnings

If you machine wash your Hey Dude shoes, you won’t be able to return the shoes and you’ll void the warranty policy.

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