Can You Wash Toms in the Washing Machine? Here Is What Every Homeowner Should Know
It starts innocently enough. You glance down at your favorite pair of Toms, notice they have seen better days, and think — can these just go in the washing machine? It is a fair question, and honestly, a pretty common one. But before you toss them in with your next load of laundry, there are a few things worth understanding first. Toms shoes are built with materials that do not always respond kindly to the aggressive spin cycles and high heat that most washing machines default to. Getting this wrong can mean warped soles, shrunken canvas, or shoes that never quite fit the same way again. So let us walk through it properly.
What Are Toms Shoes Actually Made Of
Toms originally became popular because of their simple alpargata-style canvas slip-ons. Most classic Toms are made with a natural cotton canvas upper, a thin rubber sole, and an insole that often contains a mix of foam and fabric. That combination sounds straightforward, but it creates a real challenge when water and agitation are introduced. Canvas, especially cotton canvas, absorbs water quickly and can stretch or shrink depending on heat levels. The adhesive bonding the sole to the upper is also vulnerable to prolonged water exposure. More recent Toms styles have introduced suede, knit, and leather variations, which have their own separate and more strict care requirements.
Can You Wash Toms in the Washing Machine Safely
The short answer is yes, but with significant caveats. Classic canvas Toms can survive a washing machine cycle if you take the right precautions. The key variables are water temperature, spin speed, and how you prep the shoes beforehand. The washing machine itself is not the enemy here — it is the settings you choose and whether the shoes are properly protected during the cycle. Many people have successfully machine-washed their canvas Toms without damage, but many others have pulled out a warped, shrunken mess. The difference almost always comes down to preparation and settings.
How to Wash Toms in the Washing Machine the Right Way
If you are going to machine-wash your canvas Toms, follow these steps carefully to give yourself the best chance of a good outcome. Skipping any of these can quickly turn a cleaning session into a replacement shopping trip.
- Remove any loose dirt or debris with a soft brush before placing shoes in the machine
- Place the shoes inside a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase to reduce direct agitation
- Use a small amount of mild detergent — nothing with bleach or heavy fragrance
- Select a cold water, gentle or delicate cycle with a low spin speed
- Avoid the dryer entirely — air dry at room temperature, stuffed with paper towels to hold shape
- Keep them out of direct sunlight while drying, which can cause fading and further material stress
What Types of Toms Should Never Go in the Washing Machine
Not all Toms are created equal, and this is where a lot of people get into trouble. Suede Toms should never go near a washing machine — suede is extremely sensitive to water and will likely be permanently damaged. Leather Toms carry the same restriction. Knit or woven styles can sometimes handle a gentle cycle, but the risk is higher than with plain canvas. Glitter or embellished Toms are also a hard no, since the machine will strip decorative elements almost immediately. When in doubt, check the care label inside the shoe — Toms does include care instructions, and they are worth reading before you make a decision you cannot undo.
The Advantages of Machine Washing Toms When Done Correctly
When the conditions are right, machine washing your canvas Toms has some real advantages over hand washing. The machine can reach areas of the shoe that are difficult to scrub manually, particularly the inner insole and the toe area. It is also significantly faster and requires less physical effort. For households that go through shoes quickly — families with kids, anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors — having a reliable cleaning routine that does not take twenty minutes per pair of shoes is genuinely useful. Done correctly, machine washing can extend the life of canvas Toms by keeping mold, bacteria, and embedded grime from breaking down the material over time.
Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Washing Shoes
Beyond just Toms, shoe washing in the washing machine comes with a set of recurring mistakes that homeowners make. Understanding these can help you protect not just your shoes, but your washing machine itself. Running shoes through with heavy items like jeans can cause uneven loading and put stress on the drum bearings over time. Using too much detergent leads to residue buildup inside the shoe that is difficult to rinse out. Washing shoes with hot water is one of the most damaging choices you can make — heat breaks down adhesives, shrinks fabric, and accelerates sole separation. And perhaps the most overlooked mistake is using the dryer, which compounds every single one of those heat-related problems.
How Washing Machine Use Ties Into Home Appliance Care
Here is something that does not come up in most shoe care conversations — washing non-standard items like shoes can actually affect the performance and longevity of your washing machine. Shoes are heavier and structurally irregular compared to clothing, which means they can throw off the drum balance during spin cycles. Over time, repeated unbalanced loads contribute to worn drum bearings, damaged suspension rods, and motor strain. These are not catastrophic issues from a single wash, but they are worth knowing about if you are regularly washing shoes or other bulky items. Your washing machine is a significant household appliance, and how you use it determines how long it performs reliably.
When Your Washing Machine Needs More Than Just Good Habits
Good laundry habits go a long way, but appliances still break down. Washing machines deal with water, heat, friction, and mechanical stress on a daily basis, which means components like the pump, drum motor, lid switch, and control board are all subject to wear over time. When something fails, repairs can range from a minor inconvenience to a major expense. A broken drum bearing replacement, for example, can cost several hundred dollars in parts and labor. That is the kind of unexpected expense that disrupts household budgets without much warning — and it is exactly the kind of situation a home warranty is designed to address.
Why Armadillo Is the Smart Choice for Protecting Your Home Appliances
When you think about everything your washing machine does — and everything that can go wrong with it — having a plan in place matters. Armadillo offers home warranty coverage built around the reality of how homeowners actually live. That means coverage for the appliances you depend on every day, including your washing machine, without the fine print runaround that makes filing a claim feel like a second job. If you have been looking for straightforward, honest home protection that treats you like an adult, Armadillo’s home warranty plans for appliance and system coverage are worth a serious look. And if you want to see what coverage looks like for your specific home and location, you can get a free home warranty quote for washing machine protection in just a few minutes. Your shoes might be the reason you opened this article, but protecting the machine that washes them — that is just good homeownership.
Frequently Asked Questions About Washing Toms in the Washing Machine
These are some of the most common questions homeowners and Toms wearers have about safely cleaning their shoes at home.
Can all Toms shoes go in the washing machine?
No. Only classic canvas Toms are generally safe for machine washing with the proper settings. Suede, leather, glitter, and embellished Toms should never be machine washed as the material damage is often irreversible.
What water temperature should I use to wash Toms in the washing machine?
Always use cold water. Hot water causes canvas to shrink, weakens the adhesive bonding the sole, and accelerates general material breakdown. Cold water on a gentle cycle is the safest option.
Can I put Toms in the dryer after washing them?
No. The dryer should be avoided entirely. High heat in the dryer can warp the sole, shrink the canvas, and cause the shoe to lose its original shape. Air drying at room temperature is the correct method.
How long does it take for Toms to dry after washing?
Drying time varies based on humidity and airflow, but canvas Toms typically take between 12 and 24 hours to dry completely when air dried at room temperature. Stuffing them with paper towels can speed the process and help them retain their shape.
Will washing Toms in the washing machine shrink them?
It can, especially if warm or hot water is used. Cold water and a gentle cycle significantly reduce the risk of shrinkage, but canvas is a natural fiber that always carries some risk of dimensional change when wet.
How do I clean Toms without a washing machine?
Hand washing is a reliable alternative. Use a soft brush or cloth with mild soap and cold water, scrubbing gently in circular motions. Rinse thoroughly and air dry away from direct heat or sunlight.
Can washing shoes damage my washing machine?
Repeated washing of heavy or unbalanced items like shoes can contribute to drum bearing wear, suspension issues, and motor strain over time. Using a mesh laundry bag and selecting a low spin speed helps reduce the mechanical stress on the machine.
How often should I wash my Toms shoes?
This depends on how frequently they are worn and in what conditions, but a general guideline is to clean them when visible dirt or odor becomes noticeable. Over-washing can wear out the material faster than normal use would.
Does Toms provide official care instructions for machine washing?
Yes. Toms includes care labels inside their shoes that provide guidance specific to each style. It is always worth checking the label before deciding on a cleaning method, as material differences between styles can change what is safe.
What detergent is best for washing Toms in the washing machine?
A small amount of mild, fragrance-free liquid detergent works best. Avoid powder detergents, bleach-based products, and anything marketed for heavy-duty cleaning, as these can be too harsh for canvas and the shoe’s internal components.
