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I never took care of my slippers because they were for indoor use, but I noticed they were dirty and smelly. I am sure I am not the only one who has experienced this.
In this issue, we will introduce how to wash slippers, how often to wash them, and easy-to-clean washable slippers!
There are four ways to wash slippers: hand washing, soaking, machine washing, and wiping. For slippers that can’t be passed, try caring for them in a way that suits the material they’re made of!
Causes of Dirty Slippers: If You Don’t Wash Them, They Get Dirty!
You may think they don’t get that dirty because they are worn indoors, but slippers are also covered with many different kinds of dirt.
- Sweat from feet
- Sebum stains
- Foot odour
- Dust
- Floor dirt
If left unattended, any of these stains can cause the growth of bacteria and are difficult to remove.
In addition, continued wearing of dirty slippers can damage the flooring, so slippers should be washed regularly to keep them clean.
Make Sure Your Slippers Are Washable Before You Wash Them!
Some slippers are washable, and some are not, so check the material before washing.
Washable slippers
Slippers used to be made of cardboard insoles, so they could not be washed in water. However, slippers made of urethane and other materials have recently appeared so that some slippers can be washed.
Plant fibres such as cotton and linen and synthetic fibres such as polyester can be washed.
As for wool, it is a delicate material, so hand washing with a mild detergent is recommended.
Slippers that cannot be washed
Slippers made of synthetic leather, natural leather, linen, acetate, and rayon are generally not washable.
These materials can cause loss of shape, colour fading, and shrinkage, so please check the washing label in advance and take care appropriate for the material.
How to Wash Slippers
Here are the methods for washing slippers by hand, machine, and soaking.
How to wash by hand
What to prepare
- Brush
- Detergent
- Container for slippers
- Towel
Procedure for hand washing
- After roughly brushing off the dirt with the brush, fill the container with water and dissolve the detergent.
- Scrub the slippers with a brush as you would wash shoes.
- Rinse thoroughly under running water, and wipe them off with a towel to keep them dry.
- After shaping the slippers, dry them in a well-ventilated place in the shade to complete the process.
How to Put It in the Washing Machine
What to prepare
- Adhesive tape
- Washing net
Procedure for washing in a washing machine
- Remove dust and other debris with adhesive tape or duct tape. (If there are severe stains, scrub with a brush, referring to the hand-washing procedure.)
- After putting it in a laundry net, wash and dehydrate it with detergent as usual on the hand-wash course.
- After removing it from the laundry net, shape it and hang it in the shade in a well-ventilated place to complete the process.
If there are stubborn stains or odours, soak the garments.
If you have time, soak your clothes before washing or putting them in the washing machine!
Soaking in oxygen bleach such as OxyClean will help remove stubborn stains and odours!
Soaking procedure
- Dissolve an appropriate bleach in lukewarm water (40-60°C) and soak the slippers for 6 hours.
- Scrub with a brush and rinse thoroughly if any stains are remaining that you are concerned about.
- Towel and hang dry in the shade in a well-ventilated place to complete the process.
How to Wash Unwashable Slippers
Non-washable slippers with delicate materials or decorations should be cleaned by wiping them down.
How to wash non-washable slippers
- Wipe the bottom of the slipper with alcohol disinfectant spray.
- Wipe the inside and instep with alcohol to keep them clean and deodorized. You can also use baking soda spray. (1/2 teaspoon baking soda to 200 ml water)
- If there are stains, use a few drops of neutral detergent for kitchen use to remove the stains.
- Wipe with a towel wetted with water so that no detergent remains.
- Dry in the shade in a well-ventilated place to complete the process.
For slippers that cannot be washed in cold water, clean them frequently to keep them clean!
If they are made of leather, they cannot be washed in water, and alcohol cannot be used, so please consult a professional such as a cleaner.
How Often to Wash Slippers
If slippers are worn barefoot frequently, they absorb sweat and sebum and become unsanitary.
If you tend to sweat or wear them barefoot often, you should wash them once a week.
If you wear socks, or even in winter when you don’t sweat as much, washing them at least once every two weeks will keep them clean.
Easy to Care
When purchasing slippers, we recommend washable slippers. Here are some pointers on how to choose slippers and recommended washable slippers.
Points on how to choose slippers
- Machine washable
- Material that dries quickly
- Not noisy
We recommend washable slippers to keep your slippers clean.
For something more straightforward, machine-washable slippers are easier to care for than hand-washable slippers!
Slippers made of thicker or firmer material will dry more slowly and are more likely to harbour bacteria.
Slippers should be dried in the shade to prevent sunburn, so choosing slippers made of materials that dry quickly is essential.
Slippers with hard insoles, for example, can make noise every time you walk, which can be a nuisance to your downstairs neighbours.
Conclusion
Many people may think that slippers are indoor shoes, so they do not get dirty, but in fact, they are pretty dirty with sweat, sebum, dust, etc.
However, slippers get pretty dirty from sweat, sebum, dust, etc. In particular, you should wash them once a week during the season when you wear them barefoot or sweat easily.
Depending on the material and design, use different methods of care: hand washing, soaking, machine washing, and wiping.
If hand washing and wiping are too much trouble, machine-washable slippers are recommended.
