Cleaning Your Hey Dude Shoes: 3 Methods

1. 1

   Take off or rinse your shoes of any extra mud or dirt. Even though Hey Dude shoes can be thoroughly cleaned in the washing machine, try to remove any large mud or dirt clumps before washing the shoes. Your machine will only be slightly less stressed as a result, and your shoes will be much cleaner. [1]1

2. 2

   Canvas Hey Dude Shoes should have their laces and soles removed. Pull each shoelace out of the eyelets by untying one of the knots at the end of each one. Next, insert your hand into each shoe and remove the thin insoles. Launder the shoes first, then put the laces and insoles aside. [2]1

   • Hey Dude, since insoles are made of memory foam, washing them in a washing machine will cause them to lose their shape. If you can't get the insoles clean, you can wash them by hand in soapy water or buy new ones.

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3. 3

   Your washing machine should be filled with liquid laundry detergent. Use less liquid detergent if your washing machine is high-efficiency (HE), about 1 tablespoon (15 ml). Use liquid laundry detergent instead of powdered detergent because it is less abrasive and won't harm your shoes. [3]1

4. 4

   Hey Dude shoes should be washed in cold water using the delicate or light cycle. Avoid using warm or hot water because these temperatures will cause your shoes to shrink or warp. Add a towel to the load to prevent the shoes from banging around in the machine. [4]1

   • Put the laces in a pillowcase or delicates laundry bag and tie it closed if you want to wash them with the shoes. When you start the wash cycle in the machine, place the bag or pillowcase with the laces inside.
   • Only machine-wash their canvas shoes, advises Hey Dude; don't put their suede, leather, or wool shoes in the washer as you risk damaging them.

5. 5

   Outside, away from direct sunlight, let the shoes air dry. Unfortunately, using the dryer to dry Hey Dude shoes could cause damage. Alternatively, place them outside where there will be airflow or hang them from a clothesline—Hey Dude shoes typically dry in 2 hours. After that, tie the laces and wear your freshly cleaned Hey Dude shoes. [5]1

   • If the laces were cleaned, hang them up to dry with the shoes.
   • Before drying the shoes, place a shoe tree inside or stuff them with plain crumpled paper to help the shoes maintain their shape.

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1. 1

   Rinse or wipe away any extra mud or dirt. Big clumps of mud or dirt should be wiped or rinsed off to greatly improve the cleanliness of the shoes. Use a cloth, rag, or outdated towel instead of brushes because brushes wear out shoes.

   • You can skip this step and move directly to washing your Hey Dude Shoes if they aren't too dirty.

2. 2

   In a bucket of lukewarm water, combine a few drops of laundry detergent. Swish the water in the bucket with your hand after adding the laundry detergent until you see soap suds. [6]1

   • Add a few more drops of laundry detergent if you don't get any suds.
   • Use liquid laundry detergent rather than powdered detergent because it dissolves more quickly in lukewarm water.

3. 3

   Clean the shoes by dipping an old towel or cloth in soapy water. To remove dirt and grime, take the soapy cloth and rub it against the sides of your Hey Dude Shoes. Then, take a close look at the shoes and gently scrub any areas that appear to be slightly soiled.

   • To keep your shoes clean and prevent spreading dirt around, frequently dip your cloth back into the soapy water.
   • Hey Dude shoes shouldn't be cleaned with a bristle brush because the bristles can damage the shoes' sides.
   • It's acceptable to use a bristle brush to clean the soles of your shoes. Scrub the soles with the cleaning agent after dipping them in it.

4. 4

   Use a fresh, wet towel to wipe the shoes down. Squeeze out a little of another cloth or towel after dipping it in lukewarm water so that it is damp but not wet. To get the soapy residue off your Hey Dude shoes, dab the cloth on the shoes.

5. 5

   Dry your Hey Dude shoes on a rack. To help the shoes dry more quickly, hang them up or place them somewhere with good airflow. Keep them out of direct sunlight if you place them outside, as this could cause the shoes to fade. Hey Dude, footwear usually dries in two hours. [7]1

   • Run a fan while air drying your Hey Dude shoes indoors to hasten the drying process.
   • Before drying the shoes, place a shoe tree or some plain crumpled paper inside to help the shoes maintain their shape.

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1. 1

   To remove dust and dirt, use a suede brush on your dry shoes. Brush the sides of the suede Hey Dude shoes gently with a natural bristle or brass bristle suede brush. Be careful to brush in a single direction rather than sweeping the brush across the surface repeatedly. Brush the shoes until they appear clean. [8]1

   • Use the suede brush on any scuff marks you notice on the suede. Brush ferociously to remove the scratches.
   • You may see suede brushes with rubber on one side; however, this side of the brush is more appropriate for cleaning nubuck leather and not suede.
   • A suede brush is available from shoe shops, department stores, drugstores, and online retailers.

2. 2

   Using a wet nail brush, eliminate water or oil stains. Brush any stains with a soft brush after dipping it in clean water. Grease stains may require a little force to be removed.

3. 3

   Overnight, wipe the shoes with a dry cloth and allow them to air dry. Avoid putting them in the dryer because they might shrink. Simply leave them in a well-ventilated area overnight to dry. [10]1

   • Use a shoe tree if you have one to dry your Hey Dude shoes so they maintain their shape.

4. 4

   Spray a suede protector on your freshly cleaned shoes. Reduce stains and guard against water damage for your Hey Dude suede shoes. Hold a can of suede protector at a distance of approximately 6 inches (15 cm) from the shoes. Before wearing the shoes, evenly coat each shoe with the spray and allow it to dry for 30 minutes. Advertisement

   • When the waterproofing starts to deteriorate, reapply the suede protector spray so that water beads will sit on the shoes or soak into them rather than running off.

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