How to Wash Toms Shoes

Co-authored by Carroll Kelly

Last Updated: September 16, 2021

Toms shoes are comfortable and fun to wear, so they're probably going to get dirty from a lot of wear. You can wash them by hand using a simple cleaning solution, or you can pop them in your washing machine. Let them air dry – the dryer can ruin the fabric. If you need to freshen up the leather soles, mix up your own deodorizing powder.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Your Toms by Hand

1
Use a soft and dry bristle brush to dust your Toms. It’s important to use a soft bristle brush – like a nail brush – on your Toms.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Carroll Kelly
Shoe Care Specialist
Expert Interview. 17 December 2020.} Otherwise you might ruin the fabric. Starting at the heel and moving toward the toe, brush all of the dirt and dust you can from the shoe.
2
Pour cold water into a bowl. You won’t need much water unless you’re cleaning multiple pairs of shoes. Start with 1 c (240 mL) and add more if you need it.

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3
Add a few squirts of mild detergent to the water. You can use a mild laundry detergent or dish soap. Squirt a couple of squirts of detergent into the cold water. You should only use enough to make a few bubbles when the solution is mixed.
- Easy Cleaner shoe cleaner can clean all types of canvas shoe colors and materials without damaging them.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Carroll Kelly
  Shoe Care Specialist
  Expert Interview. 17 December 2020.}
4
Use the brush to apply the solution to your Toms. Clean up the brush you used to dust your Toms. Once it’s clean, dip it in the cleaning solution. Place your hand in your shoe, holding it from under the fabric. Gently scrub the fabric until it comes clean.
- If you have Toms with sequins, make sure you brush in the same direction the sequins lay. Otherwise you might pull a few off.
5
Let your Toms air dry. If you put your Toms in the dryer, the fabric will shrink and they might not fit, so it's better to let them air dry. How long they’ll take to dry depends on how much scrubbing you had to do. They should be completely dry after a few hours.
6
Spot clean stubborn stains. If your Toms dry and they're still stained, you'll need to repeat the cleaning process. Instead of cleaning the whole shoe this time, just spot clean the stubborn areas. If that still doesn't work, you can throw your Toms in the washing machine.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning Your Toms in the Washing Machine

1
Set your washing machine to a gentle cycle with cold water. You should choose the gentlest cycle your washing machine has. It might be marked with a label like “delicates” or “lingerie.” Set your washing machine to the coldest water setting it has.^{[3]
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2
Use 1/4 of a regular dose mild detergent. Add the soap to the washing machine. Make sure you pour it on the bottom of the machine. This way all of the soap will be covered with water and easily create bubbles. Use about a quarter of the amount of liquid soap you would for a regular load of laundry. The detergent should be mild, but not include bleach.^{[4]
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3
Let the washer fill 3/4 of the way full. Turn the washer on and watch the water level fill up. Once it’s about ¾ of the way full, put the shoes in. Then let the washing machine do the rest!^{[5]
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4
Let your Toms air dry. If you put your Toms in the dryer, the fabric can shrink and rip. Instead, take your shoes out of the washing machine and let them air dry overnight.^{[6]
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5
Spot clean stains. If you take your Toms out of the washer and they are still stained, spot clean them. Mix together cold water and 2 squirts of a mild dish soap. Dip a soft-bristle brush into the mixture and scrub the stain. Then put your Toms back in the washing machine.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Deodorizing the Leather Soles of Your Toms

1
Mix your own deodorizing powder. Add 1 c (240 mL) of cornstarch, 0.5 c (120 mL) baking soda, and 0.5 c (120 mL) baking powder to a resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag and shake it to mix the 3 powders together well. The mixture will act as a deodorizer.^{[7]
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2
Add essential oils if you want to add fragrance. Lavender and sage oils have antibacterial properties, so they'll make good additions to your deodorizing powder. You can add your favorite essential oil just to scent the deodorizing powder. Add 5 drops to your mixed deodorizing powder, reseal the container, and shake it well to mix.^{[8]
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- Don't dump straight baking soda into your Toms. By itself, it can dry out the leather.
3
Sprinkle the powder into your Toms and let sit for 8 hours. Sprinkle just enough in each shoe to cover the sole. Then let the powder sit overnight. If your Toms are really stinky, you can let the powder sit for a full day.^{[9]
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4
Remove the powder In the morning. After you've let the powder sit in your shoe, use a soft-bristle brush to gently brush the soles. That should get up anything stuck to the sole.Dispose of the powder.^{[10]
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Community Q&A

Question

It says to fill the washing machine with 3/4 of water, but what if I have a front-loading washing machine?

Community Answer

It doesn't really matter. I have a whole collection on Toms shoes. I prefer hand washing them and then throwing them into the machine for a quick cycle. Make sure to set your spin setting on high to release any excess water hiding in the soles.