All care for sports and fabric shoes consists of cleaning and periodic washing. The first method is able to eliminate minor stains, the second - long-lasting and stubborn marks. For washing shoes in a machine, there is a special bag that will prevent deformation and protect against damage.
Features of the shoe bag
A bag is understood as a special container of various shapes with foam inserts. They are located around the entire perimeter of the product and create the necessary rigidity - the sneakers are maximally protected from damage and are less susceptible to deformation.
Polyester is considered the most popular. It is quite wear-resistant and has a long service life. The fabric can differ not only in type, but also in structure - it can be solid or cellular.
Housewives often confuse a shoe bag with a regular linen cover for delicate fabric. In fact, these two products are different from each other. The cover is a shapeless fabric structure, most often made of mesh fabric.
The case also has a zipper located on the side.The main difference is the absence of reinforced elements.
Why you should use a bag
Shoe care professionals consider it necessary to use a bag to wash shoes in the washing machine. Even branded sneakers can lose their appearance if all care conditions are not followed. After the seventh water procedure, they may fail.
Some people prefer to use manual mode. This method is considered more gentle, but has some disadvantages. For example, shoes take longer to dry because they are not fully wrung out due to the nature of the manual mode. Stains may appear on fabric moccasins or sneakers for the same reason.
Why is it better for housewives to use a special bag:
- during the process, the sneakers rub against the corrugated surface of the drum, which leads to a loss of their appearance;
- small parts can come off and cause damage to the washing machine;
- When spinning the drum without special protection, solid elements pose a threat to the machine.
Varieties of pouches
Today the choice of shoe bags is quite large. There are four popular brands that guarantee quality. These include:
- Wrowas. This is a laundry bag made in Europe. It is distinguished by high cost and good quality. Protects sneakers from mechanical wear during the process. If the powder particles are poorly dissolved, the fabric of the structure does not allow them to pass through. This protects the surface of the product from damage. The peculiarity of Wrowas is that washing occurs quietly, without any extraneous noise.
- Metaltex. It is considered a simpler option compared to the first model. It looks like a bag-like mesh. A special feature of Metalex is the material itself - its characteristics are similar to rubber.This prevents mechanical damage and significantly reduces vibration and impact.
- Rayen. Another bag model that has thick rubber veins. Country of origin: Spain. The material ensures the safety of sneakers or sneakers. It allows only soapy water to pass through, and retains undissolved powder granules. Rubber inserts provide protection against impacts against the drum walls.
- Eve. This is a Russian-made laundry bag. The main advantage of this model is the price - it is 3 times lower than foreign analogues. Provides good protection against undissolved powder granules. The degree of protection of Eva from mechanical damage is average.
You can purchase a similar product in departments with household chemicals, supermarkets, sportswear stores, or buy it in some online store.
When choosing a design, pay attention to its shape/size, type of fastener, fabric. Before purchasing a Chinese product, you need to check the quality and tightness of the seams to prevent tearing during washing.
What shoes can be washed in a machine?
Many manufacturers indicate acceptable cleaning methods on the label, but some do not display this information on the labels.
Products that are best not washed include:
- leather – does not combine well with detergents, does not like and does not need to be washed, with the exception of combined models (leather and material);
- damaged – if there is foam sticking out in the sneakers, there are small cracks and other flaws, they will become even larger in the process;
- with decor – additional elements in the form of lighting, buttons and rhinestones, reflectors may not withstand the load and fall off.
Features of using the product
To get the expected result, you need to use the special bag correctly. Before loading the sneakers into the machine, you need to prepare them. This will take every housewife no more than 10 minutes.
Manufacturers often include instructions for use and useful tips.
You can use general rules that guarantee a good result.
- To begin, you need to remove the sneakers from the laces and remove the insoles. These parts can be easily washed by hand.
- Next, you need to get rid of the stuck dirt, stuck resin, pebbles and leaves in the sole. They can be easily removed using a knitting needle or a stiff brush.
- Before loading the sneakers, you should rinse them under running water. This will remove any remaining dirt and dust.
- After all the preparatory stages, they are placed in a special bag.
The drying speed is adjusted - set to 400 revolutions or turned off completely. Pay attention to the detergent. A special delicate gel or neutral powder will do.
Budget alternative to a pouch
Experts still advise using a specialized bag rather than making a replacement from improvised means.But there are times when the old cover is lost or torn, and there is no way to go to the store for a new one.
In such situations, you should use the following simple method:
- take a small pillowcase and fill it with clean rags (you can sew your own bag with a zipper);
- prepare shoes according to the above rules;
- mark it between the rags in the pillowcase;
- fasten the pillowcase with a zipper/buttons (if any) or baste it with longitudinal stitches;
- Additionally, put towels in the drum, then the bag itself.
Shoe care rules require the use of special bags. They allow you to preserve the appearance of the product and protect the machine from breakage and damage. You need to choose only the right model and use it with pleasure, extending the life of your sneakers and equipment.
