How to Wash On Cloud Shoes in Washing Machine Safely

Let’s be honest: there is nothing quite as crisp as a fresh pair of white On Cloud shoes. And there is nothing quite as heartbreaking as looking down two weeks later to see they’ve turned a sad shade of city-gray.

If you are wearing your On Clouds for what they were designed for—running, walking, traveling, or just surviving the daily commute—they are going to get dirty. The breathable mesh that makes them so comfortable is also a magnet for dust and mud.

Over the last two decades running a shoe store, I’ve had countless customers walk in holding a battered pair of Cloud 5s or Cloudmonsters asking, “Can I just throw these in the wash?”

The short answer is yes, but you need to be careful.

Here is the quick answer for those in a hurry:

Yes, you can wash On Cloud shoes in a washing machine, but only using cold water, a gentle cycle, and proper protection (like a mesh bag). Never use heat, never use fabric softener, and never put them in the dryer.

In this guide, we are going to break down exactly how to wash On Cloud shoes in a washing machine without ruining that signature CloudTec® sole or warping the upper mesh.

Can You Put On Cloud Shoes in the Washing Machine?

Before we start the spin cycle, we need to address the elephant in the room. If you check the official On Running website, they will likely tell you to hand wash only. Why do they say this?

Because they don’t trust your washing machine, and honestly, they usually don’t trust you to use the right settings.

In my years handling footwear, I’ve seen what happens when people get this wrong. I once had a customer who washed his Cloud X runners on a “Sanitize” cycle (super hot water) because they smelled bad. The heat deactivated the glue holding the sole together, and the shoes basically disintegrated.

However, machine wash on cloud shoes is perfectly safe if you treat them like delicate lingerie rather than heavy denim.

When is it Safe?

• Synthetic Materials: Most standard On models (Cloud, Cloud X, Cloudflow) are made of antimicrobial mesh and synthetic overlays. These handle water fine.
• Stitched Construction: On shoes are durable, but the “Clouds” (the pods on the bottom) can snag if not protected.

When should you NOT machine wash?

• Waterproof Models: If you have the “Waterproof” version of the Cloud 5, avoid the machine. Submerging them can compromise the waterproof membrane.
• Leather/Suede Accents: If your model has leather panels (like the Cloud Roger or some lifestyle versions), keep them out of the washer. Water ruins leather.

I was reading a thread on Reddit the other day in r/Runners where a user complained their “pods ripped off” in the wash. Turns out, they washed them with a load of jeans. The zippers on the jeans acted like little saws against the foam. Don’t be that person.

What You Need Before Washing

You wouldn’t cook a meal without ingredients; don’t start cleaning without the right tools. To learn how to wash On Cloud shoes in a washing machine effectively, gather these items:

1. A Mesh Laundry Bag: This is non-negotiable. If you don’t have one, use a pillowcase and tie the top with a hair tie or rubber band. (I saw a brilliant hack on Instagram where someone used a zippered cushion cover—worked like a charm).
2. Mild Liquid Detergent: Avoid powdered detergents; they can clump up in the mesh and leave a gritty residue.
3. Old Towels: You need 2-3 old bath towels to act as buffers.
4. Soft Brush: An old toothbrush or a sneaker brush works well.
5. Shoe Trees (Optional): Helpful for the drying process later.

Critical Warning: Do not use bleach or fabric softener.

• Bleach turns white rubber yellow over time.
• Softener coats the technical mesh, killing its breathability and sweat-wicking properties.

Step by Step: How to Wash On Cloud Shoes in Washer

Follow this process exactly. This isn’t just theory; this is the method we’ve recommended to thousands of customers to extend the life of their footwear.

Step 1: Prep the Shoes (The Pre-Wash)

Never throw muddy shoes directly into the machine. You’ll turn your washing machine into a swamp, and the mud will just settle deeper into the fabric.

• Clap the soles together outside to knock off dried dirt.
• Use your soft brush to scrub away surface mud from the mesh.
• Check the grooves in the CloudTec® sole. These pods love to trap rocks and twigs. Pick them out now, or they might damage your washing machine drum.

Step 2: Remove Laces and Insoles

This is the step most people skip, and it’s the most important.

• Insoles: Take them out. If you wash them inside the shoe, they get waterlogged and take days to dry (which leads to mold smells). Wash insoles by hand in the sink with a little soap.
• Laces: Take them off. If you leave them on, the shoe tongue won’t get cleaned properly. Put the laces in a small mesh bag or a pocket of your pants so they don’t get lost in the drain filter.

Step 3: Bag Them Up

Place your shoes inside the mesh laundry bag. If you are washing multiple pairs, give each pair its own bag. This prevents the shoes from scuffing against each other.

Step 4: The Towel Buffer

Throw 2 or 3 old towels into the drum along with the shoes.

• Why? If you wash shoes alone, they bang loudly against the drum during the tumble. It sounds like someone is throwing bricks down the stairs. The towels cushion the impact and help scrub the outside of the shoes gently.

Step 5: Select the Right Settings

Set your machine to:

• Cycle: Delicate / Gentle / Hand Wash
• Temperature: Cold Water (Max 30°C / 85°F)
• Spin Speed: Low or No Spin

Start the cycle. Now, go grab a coffee. You’ve mastered how to wash On Cloud shoes in washer settings.

How to Dry On Cloud Shoes After Washing

If you take nothing else away from this article, remember this: Heat is the enemy.

Do not, under any circumstances, put your On Clouds in the tumble dryer. The heat will warp the Speedboard® (the stiff plate inside the sole) and shrink the mesh. Your size 10s will come out as size 8s with a curled-up toe.

The Safe Drying Method:

1. Remove Excess Water: Take the shoes out of the washer. Hold them by the heel and shake them firmly to get excess water out of the pods.
2. The Paper Stuffing Trick: Crumple up plain white paper (printer paper or paper towels) and stuff the shoes tightly.
   • Pro Tip: Don’t use newspaper. The ink will transfer to your wet white mesh, and that stain is permanent.
3. Air Dry: Place the shoes in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Sunlight can yellow the glue and foam.
4. Change the Paper: After about 2 hours, the paper inside will be soaked. Pull it out and replace it with fresh dry paper. This speeds up drying time significantly.

Depending on your humidity, they should be dry in 12 to 24 hours.

Looking for more maintenance tips? Check out our guide on How to Clean Shoes and Maintain for longevity tips.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even smart people make simple mistakes when they are in a rush. Here are the “shoe killers” I see most often:

• Using “Oxi” products on colored shoes: While Oxi-cleaners are great for all-white Cloud 5s, they can bleach out the dye on colored models, leaving you with tie-dye spots you didn’t ask for.
• Washing with heavy items: Don’t wash your shoes with heavy blankets or jeans. The weight of wet blankets can crush the structure of the shoe during the spin cycle.
• Ignoring the smell: If your shoes smell like a locker room before washing, add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Detergent alone often masks the smell rather than killing the bacteria.

FAQ Section

Here are some questions we get asked in the shop regarding the can you wash on cloud shoes in washing machine debate.

1. Can I wash the insoles in the machine?

I don’t recommend it. The agitation can shred the foam or peel the top fabric layer off. Hand wash them with a mild soap and a brush; it takes 2 minutes and is much safer.

2. My white On Clouds turned yellow after washing. Why?

This usually happens for two reasons:

1. Detergent Residue: You used too much soap and the machine didn’t rinse it all out. When the soap dries in the sun, it turns yellow.
2. Chemical Reaction: Bleach interacting with synthetic materials can cause yellowing. To fix this, rinse them again thoroughly with water and no soap.

3. How often should I wash my On Cloud shoes?

Try to limit machine washing to once every few months. For weekly maintenance, just spot clean them. Constant machine washing will eventually break down the glue and cushioning.

4. Can I use a dishwasher instead?

I saw a viral TikTok of someone doing this. Please, don’t. Dishwasher detergents are incredibly harsh and abrasive (designed to scrub ceramic plates), and the heat during the drying cycle is intense enough to melt the adhesives in your shoes.

5. My shoes shrank after washing. Can I stretch them back?

If they shrank, it’s likely because heat was applied. Unfortunately, once the synthetic fibers shrink from heat, it’s usually permanent. You might need to check our Shoe Size Conversion Chart Calculator and grab a new pair.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to wash On Cloud shoes in washing machine correctly can double the lifespan of your favorite kicks. It keeps them looking fresh for that office meeting or your next vacation photos.

Just remember: Cold water, gentle cycle, mesh bag, and air dry.

If you are looking to replace a pair that maybe didn’t survive a previous laundry experiment (we won’t judge), or you need more advice on picking the right model for your foot type, check out our Ultimate Footwear Buying Guide.

And if you have a specific stain you can’t get out, or want to know about hand-washing specifically, read our dedicated guide on How to Clean On Cloud Shoes for a manual approach.

Happy Walking!