Is it possible to wash ballet flats in a washing machine (textile, leather, leatherette)?
Ballet shoes are the most commonly used dance shoes, which come in several types: textile, leather, leatherette, with a rubberized toe, white, black, beige, with or without decorations. How to wash ballet flats in a washing machine and by hand depends on the material, color and quality of tailoring. In any case, it is correct to use liquid detergent and warm water up to 40 degrees for washing. Machine wash is allowed only for fabric ballet shoes without sequins, rhinestones or other decorative elements.
Features of washing shoes for dancing
Dance shoes get dirty less than street shoes, that's a fact. However, the stains on it are more persistent. The dust is mixed with the paraffin used to treat the floor covering and is firmly ingrained into the material.
To clean ballet shoes, be sure to soak them in a soapy solution:
- Dissolve a pinch of washing powder (or 1 teaspoon of shampoo or liquid laundry detergent) in 2 liters of warm water.
- Place ballet shoes in water and lightly rub the dirty areas.
- After 5–10 minutes, wash your shoes using the chosen method.
Manufacturers advise washing ballet flats as rarely as possible. Often it is enough to shake off such shoes by knocking against each other, or wipe them with a damp cloth (if the model is made of leather or leatherette). To make the white material less dirty, it is powdered with chalk before training.
How to wash ballet flats in a machine?
It is recommended to wash dance shoes in a special bag that eliminates friction against the walls of the drum. An old pillowcase (without bright patterns, white or beige) can successfully replace it.
The algorithm is as follows:
- Place the ballet flats in a delicates bag or pillowcase (you can simply place them between terry towels).
- Pour detergent into the compartment according to the instructions.
- Select the “Hand Wash” (“Delicate Wash”) program or set the temperature to 40 degrees and remove the spin.
If there is damage to the ballet shoes, the correct thing to do is to fix them first and then start washing them. Otherwise, the shoes will deteriorate even more.
Handwash
Ballerinas made of leather, leatherette, and with decorative elements are cleaned only by hand. It is optimal to use a foam cleaner, such as Salton for suede, nubuck, leather and textiles. It is enough to apply foam to the stains, wipe with a sponge - and the shoes will be clean again. You can also clean the insoles and the inside of your ballet shoes using the same method.
If you need to wash your dance shoes in the classic way, you should pay special attention to the soap solution. Washing powder must be completely dissolved in water before washing. Otherwise, it will clog the fabric, which will reduce the life of the shoe. In addition, white stains will remain on the black material.
Instructions for hand washing ballet flats:
- Dissolve the detergent in warm water (30–40 degrees) according to the instructions.
- Place ballet shoes in the basin and leave for 5 minutes.
- After the specified time, scrub the stained areas with a soft brush. You can use an old toothbrush.
- Rinse in warm water.
No need to twist out your dancing shoes! You can only blot the pair with a dry terry towel or other highly absorbent fabric.
Drying
It is important to dry your ballet shoes properly so that they do not become rough or deformed. Drying is done at room temperature in a well-ventilated area. For example, on the balcony. You can hang your shoes or place them on a towel. The main thing is that water from the sole does not get on the fabric (brown stains may remain on white textiles). On average, dance ballet shoes dry in 24 hours. To speed up the process, you can stuff them with white paper. But there is no need to dry such shoes with a hairdryer, iron or near heating devices.
The following technique will help restore the pile on the sole. It is necessary to place a paper napkin on the leather insert and touch the hot iron several times. All that remains is to go over the sole with a brush for suede and nubuck - and it will look like new!
Washing ballet shoes is a simple procedure. The general rules apply here and apply to most delicate items. To keep your shoes less dirty and odor-free, it is important to shake off the dust after each workout and store the pair in a breathable bag. By the way, to remove the smell of sweat, just leave fabric bags with baking soda inside your shoes overnight.