Nobody likes to hear the sound of shoes being shaken by the dryer. Every knock and metallic noise makes you fear that the appliance is destroying the footwear or vice versa. If your shoes can withstand a drying cycle, know that there are several techniques to avoid all this fuss.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Hanging the Shoes by the Laces
Step 1. Prepare your shoes for drying in the dryer
To avoid the knocks and annoying noises of shoes hitting the appliance's drum, leave them suspended by tying them to the door thanks to the laces. Undo the laces of each shoe and collect all four garments with one hand. Tie them together with a double knot at the end.
Step 2. Hang your shoes on the door
Open the dryer and grab the shoes by the double knot. Lift them up until they are in the center of the door (on the inside) with the tip facing up. Lay the laces over the door and let the knot fall out. At this point, all you have to do is gently close the dryer.
If you can't lock your footwear in this position, add some weight to the end of the laces
Step 3. Let the shoes dry
Set the appliance temperature to minimum, choose a gentle cycle and press the start button. If you use medium-high temperatures or an aggressive drying cycle, you could damage your footwear. Check them periodically during the process to make sure they don't deform. When they are dry, remove them from the appliance and undo the knot at the ends of the strings.
Adjust the length of the laces to limit the movement of the shoes. Depending on their distance from the door, you may still hear some noises. If you hear knocks, stop the dryer, wait for the drum to stop moving, and pull the laces to bring your shoes even closer to the door. Tie the strings again, close the appliance and restart it
Method 2 of 3: Use a Suction Cup, Shoe Bag, or Special Shelf
Step 1. Lock the shoes to the inner wall of the basket
On the market, you can find specific products to fix shoes and other items of clothing inside the dryer, so that they remain stationary. Typically, these are two heat-resistant suction cups that connect to each other with an adjustable strap. Place the shoes in the machine with the tips pointing towards a raised edge of the basket. Attach a suction cup near the center of the shoe closest to you. Pull the strap to firmly lock both shoes and then attach it to the other suction cup located near the shoe furthest away from you. When the drying cycle is over or the shoes are dry, detach the suction cups and take out the shoes.
You may be tempted to use duct tape or an adhesive hook. Know that this solution could work, but it is likely that the glue will yield even at low temperatures and the adhesive tape will melt, staining the drum indelibly
Step 2. Dry your shoes by placing them in a bag hanging on the door of the appliance
Laundry experts have devised a way to dry shoes without them hitting the inside of the dryer. It is a bag that sticks inside the door. In reality, it is a single piece of fabric that creates a "pocket" in which to put the shoes. You can buy this product both online and in home improvement stores.
- Secure the bag to the dryer door; typically, this product is equipped with suction cups and straps.
- Insert the shoes into the "pocket" created between the fabric and the door.
- Close the dryer and set a gentle cycle on cold.
- At the end of the process or when they are dry, remove the shoes from your pocket.
- Remember to arrange the bag so that both shoes rest well on the door and not on top of each other; by doing so, you improve air circulation.
Step 3. Mount a special shelf in the dryer drum
There are many items, such as shoes, which should not be centrifuged in the appliance. Place these delicate or "noisy" items on a special shelf, a sort of rack that fits into the dryer and stays flat. Although there are universal shelves, most of them are specific to the brand and model of the appliance. For more information, you can go to the shop where you bought the dryer. Follow the instructions you find inside the package; once the shelf is installed, place your shoes on it, set the drying cycle with the appropriate temperature and program and finally press the start button. Remove the shoes after the process is complete or when they are dry.
Method 3 of 3: Workarounds
Step 1. Absorb excess water with newspaper
Remove the insoles from your shoes and fill each with two full pages of crumpled newspaper. Let the paper absorb the moisture for an hour. At the end of this period, remove the paper and replace it with two more pages for each shoe. At this point, wait two to four hours. Remove the wet paper and add the new one for one last time, letting it sit overnight. The next morning, take out the newspaper and insert the insoles into your dry shoes.
Step 2. Dry them in front of a fan
This is a cold and very effective method. Set the appliance to maximum speed and place a sheet of newspaper or cloth in front of it. If your shoes have removable insoles, take them off. Place the shoes on the cloth or newspaper page, turn on the fan and wait for the shoes to dry.
Step 3. Put them outside
If you have decided to air dry them, remember that direct sunlight may cause them to shrink. For this reason, place them under an object, such as a table, chair, or in the stairwell to protect them. Insert a cotton cloth inside them to prevent them from deforming.
Advice
- Before washing and drying your shoes, remove the charms or any extra decorations.
- In most cases, it is best to dry the shoes cold or at low temperatures; heat may melt some materials.
- Just put them in the dryer to speed up the process and get rid of excess moisture, then let them air dry.
- If they are heavily soiled with mud or grass, pre-treat the stains with a household stain remover.
- Before washing and drying your shoes, make sure that the material they are made of resists the aggressive action of normal washing machines and dryers. Some shoes are made with delicate products that could break during the process.
Warnings
- Some shoes are made from flammable materials. Before putting them in the dryer, make sure they do not have a layer of wax or polish.
- Do not allow them to dry in direct heat, for example in front of a fireplace or heat pump. Otherwise, the leather would break or the other materials used to make the footwear could melt.
