How to Clean Baby Shoes Safely: What Shoe Makers Say About Washing and Drying
Quick answer: check the label first. pediped says to machine wash only shoes with the machine-washable symbol, alone, in cold water on a gentle cycle, with no bleach, and to air dry out of sunlight. Wipe leather with mild soap and water, rub suede with a suede eraser, and clean fabric with a damp cloth and mild soap.
We compare a baby shoe maker with Clarks and Clorox and show where they differ.
Check the Label, Then the Material
Start with the shoe itself. The baby shoe maker pediped says to machine wash only shoes marked with the machine-washable symbol. Clarks (Australia) says canvas, sneakers and water-friendly shoes can often take a gentle machine wash, while leather, suede and shoes with intricate embellishments should not. Clorox says light-up shoes and leather or suede should be spot-cleaned.
| Topic | pediped (baby shoes) | Clarks Australia (kids) | Clorox (kids sneakers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine washing | Only shoes with the machine-washable symbol. Alone, cold water, gentle cycle, regular detergent, insoles out. | Canvas and sneakers often fine on a gentle cycle, cold or warm. Mesh bag or pillowcase. Not leather, suede or embellished shoes. | Mesh bag or pillowcase, cold water, gentle or delicate cycle. Not light-up, leather or suede shoes. |
| Leather | Wipe with mild soap and water. Baby wipes also work. | Use specialised cleaners to clean, condition and protect. | Spot-clean. |
| Suede and nubuck | Rub marks with a suede or nubuck eraser, back and forth. | Specialised cleaners, no machine. | Spot-clean. |
| Fabric | Damp cloth and mild soap, then air dry. | Treat stains with a gentle stain remover before washing. | Wipe off residue, pretreat toe caps and uppers. |
| Bleach | Do not add bleach. | Not mentioned. | Only on durable, bleach-safe white canvas, diluted, never mixed with other cleaners. |
| Drying | Air dry away from sunlight with hook-and-loop straps open, then reinsert insoles. No dryer. | Air dry only, stuff with newspaper or soft towels. No dryer. | Air dry completely. No dryer unless the maker says so. |
Step by Step
This is the common ground between the three sources.
- Check the label. Look for a machine-washable symbol or care tag (pediped). If there is none, hand clean.
- Brush or wipe off loose dirt, and take out laces and insoles (Clarks).
- Wipe leather with a cloth, mild soap and water (pediped). Baby wipes also work on leather (pediped).
- Rub suede or nubuck marks with a suede eraser, back and forth (pediped).
- Clean fabric with a damp cloth and mild soap, then air dry (pediped).
- Dry away from sunlight with straps open, stuffed with newspaper or soft towels if needed (pediped, Clarks).
General advice: baby shoes spend time near mouths and hands, so rinse any soap off well and let the shoes dry fully before they go back on. This is our own reading, not a claim from the sources.
Can You Wash Baby Shoes in the Washing Machine?
pediped is the strictest: only shoes with the machine-washable symbol, washed alone in cold water on a gentle cycle with regular detergent, no bleach, insoles removed and no dryer. Clarks and Clorox add a mesh bag or pillowcase and a gentle cycle. Clarks says not to overcrowd the machine. Clorox says washing shoes with clothes is generally best avoided.
For full machine settings from appliance makers, see our washing machine guide.
White Baby Shoes and Stains
Clorox gives the only stain-specific steps. It suggests wiping mud and sticky residue with a wipe before washing, then applying a colour-safe stain remover to toe caps or fabric uppers for 5 to 10 minutes. For hand washing it uses warm water with 1 capful of liquid stain remover per 1 quart of water, with laces soaked separately, a soft brush, and a clean-water rinse. Clorox says diluted bleach is only for durable, bleach-safe white canvas and gives no ratio on the page, and warns never to mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners. pediped says not to add bleach to its shoes.
Since two sources disagree, the safer course for baby shoes is the maker’s instruction. For more on white shoes, see our white shoes guide.
Leather and Suede Baby Shoes
For leather and suede baby shoes, pediped and Clarks both keep water use low. Our guides for leather shoes and suede shoes go through those materials in more detail. pediped also says to spray new shoes with a non-toxic waterproof protectant, and polish leather to prolong life and remove scuffs.
How to Dry Baby Shoes
All three say air dry and no dryer. pediped adds to keep shoes out of sunlight and to open hook-and-loop fasteners before reinserting insoles. Clarks says to stuff shoes with newspaper or soft towels and allow enough time before reattaching laces and insoles, with no specific duration given. Clorox says hand-washed shoes can be stuffed with paper towels, kept out of sunlight, and placed in a warm room with a fan nearby. For faster ideas, see our guide to drying wet shoes.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Machine washing without the symbol. pediped says to avoid it.
- Machine washing leather, suede or light-up shoes. Clarks and Clorox say to spot-clean instead.
- Bleach on non-bleach-safe shoes. pediped says no bleach. Clorox limits it to durable white canvas.
- Mixing cleaners. Clorox warns that mixing bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners can create dangerous fumes.
- The dryer. All three say no.
- Direct sunlight while drying. pediped and Clorox say to keep shoes out of it.
- Overloading the machine. Clarks says to avoid it.
How we checked this
- Steps come from pediped (a baby shoe maker), Clarks Australia and Clorox. We name who says each thing.
- The sources differ on bleach and machine washing, so we show both. Our own reading is labelled general advice.
- None of the pages gives wash times or drying durations. We have not tested any of these methods.
Cleaning Helpers for Baby Shoes
A mesh bag, a mild detergent and a suede eraser cover most baby shoes. These are listed on Amazon.
Mesh shoe wash bags
Mesh bags for machine-washable pairs only. Check the label first.
Check it on Amazon
Woolite Delicates Laundry Detergent
A gentle liquid detergent for delicate fabrics.
Check it on Amazon
Angelus Suede and Nubuck Cleaner Kit
An eraser block and a nylon bristle brush for suede and nubuck baby shoes.
Check it on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
Can you put baby shoes in the washing machine?
pediped says only shoes with the machine-washable symbol, washed alone in cold water on a gentle cycle with regular detergent and no bleach. Clarks and Clorox suggest a mesh bag or pillowcase.
How do I clean leather baby shoes?
pediped says to wipe with mild soap and water, and that baby wipes also work.
How do I clean suede baby shoes?
pediped says to rub marks with a suede eraser back and forth. Clarks and Clorox say not to machine wash suede.
How do I clean fabric baby shoes?
pediped says to rub gently with a damp cloth and mild soap, then air dry.
Can I use bleach on baby shoes?
pediped says do not add bleach. Clorox allows diluted bleach only on durable, bleach-safe white canvas.
Can baby shoes go in the dryer?
No. pediped, Clarks and Clorox all say to air dry.
How do I get stains out of white baby shoes?
Clorox suggests a colour-safe stain remover on toe caps and uppers for 5 to 10 minutes before washing.
How do I dry baby shoes after washing?
Air dry out of sunlight with straps open (pediped), stuffed with newspaper or soft towels (Clarks).
The Short Version
Read the label, use mild soap, keep leather and suede out of the machine, skip bleach unless the maker allows it, and air dry out of sunlight.
