How to Dry Shoes in a Dryer (Without Damaging Them)
Wet shoes can take hours to dry, so putting them in the clothes dryer may seem like the quickest solution. But a dryer can damage footwear even when the outside looks sturdy. Heat, repeated tumbling, and contact with the drum can affect adhesives, foam, fabric, and the shape of the shoe.
The safest rule is to use a clothes dryer only when both the shoe manufacturer and the dryer manufacturer allow it. Do not assume that canvas, mesh, synthetic uppers, or a washable label automatically make a shoe suitable for tumble drying. If you cannot confirm that machine drying is allowed, use a ventilated room and moving air instead.
Can You Put Shoes in a Clothes Dryer?
Sometimes, but not every shoe is designed to handle the heat and movement of a household dryer. The answer depends on the shoe's construction as well as the appliance. A shoe may have a fabric upper but still use adhesives, foam, coatings, or structural components that are sensitive to heat.
Before starting a cycle, check two things:
- The shoe manufacturer's instructions. Check the care information that came with the shoes, the product page, or the manufacturer's support guidance. If the instructions say to air-dry only, do not tumble-dry them.
- The dryer's instructions. Confirm that the appliance permits footwear and follow any restrictions on racks, settings, or load placement. Never improvise a shoe-drying setup that conflicts with the appliance manual.
If either set of instructions rules out tumble drying, or you cannot confirm whether it is allowed, choose air-drying. A short cycle is not a reliable way to make an unsuitable shoe safe for machine drying.
Which Shoes Should Not Go in the Dryer?
Material can help you identify possible risks, but it is not enough to approve a shoe for machine drying. Use the following table as a caution guide, not as a substitute for the care instructions for your specific pair.
| Shoe Type or Construction | Recommended Approach | Main Concern |
|---|---|---|
| Leather, suede, or nubuck | Avoid tumble drying; follow the material-specific care guidance. | Heat can change texture, cause stiffness, or dry the material unevenly. |
| Mesh or knit sneakers | Use a dryer only if the footwear and appliance instructions explicitly allow it. | The upper may be heat-sensitive, and the shoe may contain glued or foam components. |
| Canvas or fabric sneakers | Do not assume they are dryer-safe based on fabric alone. | Adhesives, coatings, printed details, and the sole construction can still be affected. |
| Running shoes and cushioned athletic shoes | Prefer air-drying unless the shoe maker approves another method. | Foam, bonding, and shaped components may not tolerate dryer conditions. |
| Barefoot or flexible minimalist shoes | Check the instructions for the exact model before using any machine drying. | Flexible construction does not necessarily mean heat-resistant construction. |
| Shoes with delicate trims, decorations, or loose components | Avoid tumbling unless the manufacturer specifically permits it. | Parts can catch, detach, scratch the drum, or become damaged. |
One important distinction: a shoe that can be washed is not automatically safe to tumble-dry. Washing and drying expose footwear to different kinds of stress. If you are deciding whether your shoes can be washed first, read our guide to washing shoes in a washing machine separately from this drying guide.
How to Dry Shoes in a Dryer If the Instructions Allow It
If both manufacturers explicitly permit machine drying, follow their exact directions rather than relying on a universal temperature or time recommendation. These precautions can help you avoid unnecessary stress on the shoes.
1. Remove Loose Parts and Excess Water
Remove the laces and removable insoles if the shoe instructions allow it. Blot surface moisture with a clean, absorbent towel instead of twisting or forcefully squeezing the shoes. Removing excess water first can reduce the amount of drying the machine needs to do.
Inspect the shoes for loose sole edges, damaged stitching, detached decorations, or other parts that could catch during movement. Do not put damaged footwear into a tumble cycle.
2. Use Only an Approved Dryer Setup
If your appliance has a manufacturer-approved rack designed for footwear, use it only as described in the manual. If the dryer instructions do not permit shoes, do not use a rack, bag, or improvised method to get around that restriction.
Do not hang shoes from their laces over the dryer door unless both the shoe and appliance manufacturers specifically approve that setup. The laces can interfere with the door seal or become caught, and the method may not be suitable for your machine.
3. Select Only a Permitted Setting
Use the exact setting allowed by the shoe and appliance instructions. A low-heat or no-heat option should not be treated as automatic permission: tumbling itself may still damage the shoe or cause repeated impacts against the drum.
Do not assume that a particular number of minutes is safe for every shoe. Drying time varies with construction, moisture level, and the appliance. Manufacturer instructions take priority over generic timing estimates.
4. Check the Shoes During the Process
Where the approved method permits inspection, check the shoes at the intervals specified by the appliance instructions. Stop if the shoes make unusual impact noises, develop a strong hot-material smell, or show changes in their shape, sole bonding, or upper material.
Do not continue a cycle just because the shoes still feel damp. If a permitted cycle is not drying them as expected, switch to a safe alternative rather than raising the heat or extending the cycle beyond the recommended conditions.
5. Let the Shoes Cool and Inspect Them
When the approved process ends, let the shoes cool before checking them. Look at the sole edges, seams, upper shape, and any attached components. Feel inside the shoe, including the toe area and footbed, because a dry-looking upper does not prove that the interior is dry.
If the shoes are still damp, do not automatically run another cycle. Finish drying them in a ventilated area unless the manufacturer provides a different approved instruction.
How to Dry Shoes Faster Without a Clothes Dryer
Air-drying is the preferred fallback when tumble drying is not approved. It may take longer, but it avoids the additional heat and repeated impacts of a standard dryer.
- Blot the outside. Press a clean towel against wet areas to absorb surface water. Avoid wringing or bending the shoe out of shape.
- Remove removable insoles. Let the insoles dry separately if their care instructions allow it. Loosen the laces and open the tongue area so air can reach the inside.
- Use clean absorbent paper if appropriate. Loosely place plain, unprinted paper or a clean absorbent cloth inside the shoe if the material can tolerate it. Do not pack the toe box tightly, and remove the stuffing if it becomes saturated.
- Improve air circulation. Put the shoes on a rack in a dry, ventilated room. A fan can move air around them without directing strong heat at the materials.
- Rotate and check. Change damp paper or cloth, reposition the shoes if needed, and check the tongue, toe area, and footbed. Allow more time if moisture remains inside.
Keep shoes away from radiators, open flames, hot-air vents, and other direct heat sources. Avoid leaving them in strong direct sunlight for prolonged periods, especially when the material or color may be sensitive to heat or light.
If you are drying shoes after washing, the cleaning method matters too. Our guide to washing sneakers covers cleaning decisions, while cleaning white fabric shoes focuses on keeping light-colored fabric looking fresh. The drying guidance here is about choosing a safe method, not repeating those cleaning steps.
What If Your Shoes Are Still Wet Inside?
Do not judge by the surface alone. The upper may feel dry while the insole, lining, padding, or toe area still holds moisture.
- The outside feels dry, but the footbed is damp: Remove the insole if permitted, increase room airflow, and give the interior more time.
- The shoes are soaked through: Blot the exterior first and replace saturated paper or cloth. Do not jump to high heat simply because the shoes need more time.
- The shoes feel stiff or look misshapen after drying: Stop using heat. Let them cool and check for changes to the sole, seams, or upper. Do not force a damaged shoe back into shape.
- The shoes smell unpleasant after drying: Make sure the interior and removable components are fully dry before wearing or storing them. For persistent odor or visible contamination, follow material-appropriate cleaning guidance rather than soaking the shoes in an unverified home mixture.
For material-specific care, see our guides to cleaning suede boots and cleaning leather shoes. These materials need different treatment from washable fabric sneakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Dry Sneakers in a Dryer on Low Heat?
Only when the sneaker manufacturer and dryer manufacturer both permit it. Low heat does not remove the risk from tumbling, impact, or damage to glue and foam. If you cannot verify that the specific shoes are dryer-safe, air-dry them instead.
Can You Put Shoes in a Dryer Without Heat?
A no-heat setting may reduce heat exposure, but it does not automatically make tumble drying safe. Shoes can still strike the drum repeatedly or become caught. Follow both sets of instructions and use air-drying if the method is not approved.
How Long Does It Take to Dry Shoes in a Dryer?
There is no reliable universal time for all shoes. Construction, how wet the shoes are, and the approved appliance setting all affect drying. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and check for moisture inside the shoe rather than relying only on the outside or a fixed number of minutes.
Can You Put Shoes in the Dryer After Washing Them?
Not automatically. A shoe that has been washed may contain more water, but that does not make machine drying safer. First follow the shoe's drying instructions. If tumble drying is not explicitly allowed, finish drying with room-temperature airflow.
Will a Clothes Dryer Damage Running or Barefoot Shoes?
It can. Running shoes and barefoot-style shoes may have glued components, foam, flexible soles, or shaped uppers that are not designed for dryer heat or repeated impacts. Check the care guidance for the exact model, and use air-drying if the instructions do not approve machine drying.
Final Takeaway
When deciding how to dry shoes in a dryer, start with permission rather than a temperature setting. Check the footwear instructions and the appliance manual. If both allow machine drying, follow their conditions and inspect the shoes during and after the process. If either says no—or the guidance is unclear—use a ventilated room, absorbent materials, and moving air instead.
If you regularly wear shoes in wet conditions, check a shoe's intended use and care guidance before buying a replacement. You can compare the HOBIBEAR barefoot shoe collection or review the specifications for Tannin waterproof barefoot shoes. Waterproof construction does not automatically mean a shoe is safe for machine drying, so continue to follow the care instructions for the model you choose.
About Walker George
Walker George is a footwear content specialist at HOBIBEAR, focused on wide toe box, barefoot, minimalist, and everyday footwear.
