Throwing sneakers into the washing machine won’t hurt your machine, but it can be a risky move for your shoes. In fact, experts generally agree that machine-washing is better at removing odors from sneakers than stains—and should be used as a last resort.

But if your machine-washable shoes have a heavily saturated stain or a full-on funky odor that you can’t get rid of with spot-cleaning, here’s how to machine-wash them safely:

1.  Confirm that your sneakers will tolerate the washing machine. Whether your shoes will hold up to a spin in the machine mainly comes down to the materials your sneakers are made of—cotton, polyester, mesh, and canvas are all washer-safe. (In testing, we machine-washed white Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars and fabric Nike Blazers with great results.) Leather sneakers, such as styles from Veja and Golden Goose, are more popular than ever, but they should not go in the washing machine.

2.  Remove the insoles and laces. If the fabric insoles of your shoes are removable, take them out. Remove the laces, too, which will make it easier to clean around eyelets and other areas the laces may cover.

3.  Prep your shoes for the machine. First, clap loose dirt from the shoes. Then, using a soft-bristle brush and a mixture of dish soap and water, clean any marks on the foam or rubber parts of the shoes.

4.  Place the insoles, laces, and shoes into a mesh laundry bag. A mesh garment bag will keep everything contained (looking for laces in the washing machine’s gasket can be a pain). This also keeps the noise of the shoes tumbling in the drum to a minimum.

5.  Add two towels to the drum. This will further muffle the noise.

6.  Pick a detergent. To help enhance odor fighting and stain removal, we used Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent, one of our top laundry detergent picks. If your shoes are a real disaster, try washing with Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent, another of our picks, which is great at eliminating odor as well as mud and dirt stains.

7.  Select a delicate, cold cycle. A delicate cycle will help ensure that your shoes are washed gently. Delicate cycles have slower spin cycles or sometimes no spin cycle at all, which can also help reduce noise.

Be sure to select the coldest temperature available. Though heat is commonly believed to be the best setting for eliminating odor-causing bacteria, a good laundry detergent containing enzymes will work to remove odors even in cold water. Cold water is also gentler overall on fabrics, and it helps to protect the glue on shoes from washing away.

8.  Air-dry your shoes. According to our sources, you should skip the dryer and air-dry your shoes. The glues, rubber, and foam in many sneakers are temperature-sensitive, and a dryer’s heat could ruin them.

Dry your shoes, insoles, and laces outdoors or on the ledge of an open window. (Lay the laces flat to prevent any wet clumps that may invite mildew.) If drying outside is not an option, place them in front of a fan. Be sure to avoid drying them in damp, dark areas where mildew can flourish, lest you undo your efforts.

Tim Barribeau wrote an earlier version of this article. This article was edited by Ingrid Skjong and Marguerite Preston.

Throwing sneakers into the washing machine won’t hurt your machine, but it can be a risky move for your shoes. In fact, experts generally agree that machine-washing is better at removing odors from sneakers than stains—and should be used as a last resort.

But if your machine-washable shoes have a heavily saturated stain or a full-on funky odor that you can’t get rid of with spot-cleaning, here’s how to machine-wash them safely:

1.  Confirm that your sneakers will tolerate the washing machine. Whether your shoes will hold up to a spin in the machine mainly comes down to the materials your sneakers are made of—cotton, polyester, mesh, and canvas are all washer-safe. (In testing, we machine-washed white Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars and fabric Nike Blazers with great results.) Leather sneakers, such as styles from Veja and Golden Goose, are more popular than ever, but they should not go in the washing machine.

2.  Remove the insoles and laces. If the fabric insoles of your shoes are removable, take them out. Remove the laces, too, which will make it easier to clean around eyelets and other areas the laces may cover.

3.  Prep your shoes for the machine. First, clap loose dirt from the shoes. Then, using a soft-bristle brush and a mixture of dish soap and water, clean any marks on the foam or rubber parts of the shoes.

4.  Place the insoles, laces, and shoes into a mesh laundry bag. A mesh garment bag will keep everything contained (looking for laces in the washing machine’s gasket can be a pain). This also keeps the noise of the shoes tumbling in the drum to a minimum.

5.  Add two towels to the drum. This will further muffle the noise.

6.  Pick a detergent. To help enhance odor fighting and stain removal, we used Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent, one of our top laundry detergent picks. If your shoes are a real disaster, try washing with Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent, another of our picks, which is great at eliminating odor as well as mud and dirt stains.

7.  Select a delicate, cold cycle. A delicate cycle will help ensure that your shoes are washed gently. Delicate cycles have slower spin cycles or sometimes no spin cycle at all, which can also help reduce noise.

Be sure to select the coldest temperature available. Though heat is commonly believed to be the best setting for eliminating odor-causing bacteria, a good laundry detergent containing enzymes will work to remove odors even in cold water. Cold water is also gentler overall on fabrics, and it helps to protect the glue on shoes from washing away.

8.  Air-dry your shoes. According to our sources, you should skip the dryer and air-dry your shoes. The glues, rubber, and foam in many sneakers are temperature-sensitive, and a dryer’s heat could ruin them.

Dry your shoes, insoles, and laces outdoors or on the ledge of an open window. (Lay the laces flat to prevent any wet clumps that may invite mildew.) If drying outside is not an option, place them in front of a fan. Be sure to avoid drying them in damp, dark areas where mildew can flourish, lest you undo your efforts.

Tim Barribeau wrote an earlier version of this article. This article was edited by Ingrid Skjong and Marguerite Preston.