HOW TO WASH SLIPPERS

 

If you’ve never slipped your feet into a pair of Vionic slippers, you are missing out! But once you have found your perfect pair, how do you keep them looking and feeling box fresh and fabulous? We are here to show you how!

A good pair of slippers is one of life’s greatest comforts. Not only do they keep you cosy and relaxed, a pair of orthotic slippers provide vital support and balance at home. The human foot wasn’t designed to walk on level, firm surfaces, so it makes good sense to invest in a  pair of quality house shoes, to help you relax and provide support you when you need it most.

Needless to say, it’s easy to get attached to your favourite slippers. Like all footwear, there comes a time when they need to be replaced. However, if they’re a little dirty, scuffed or discoloured, but otherwise in good shape, they might just need to be cleaned.

Machine washing your slippers isn’t recommended in most cases as it can shrink the material and potentially damage the drum of your washer. Hand washing is essential to ensure the long life of your footwear and your washing machine.

 

 

HOW TO CLEAN SLIPPERS WITHOUT RUINING THEM

You’ll probably have the right tools and products around the house to enable you to hand wash your slippers – and some of it might surprise you.  What you use depends on the material and if they’re slippers you can wear outside.

Here is what you may need to clean your slippers:

• A large bowl, plastic tub or sink

• Dish soap or laundry detergent

• Clean cloths

• A large towel

• Baking soda

• A soft toothbrush

• Baby wipes or makeup remover wipes (use the biodegradable ones, if you can)

• Leather conditioner

• A nylon bristle brush

 

 

Leather conditioners can be used to clean suede and leather house shoes and bristle brushes are specifically for suede. Vionic’s Shoe Care includes both plus a protective spray treatment and a footbed deodoriser.

 

How to Clean Cloth Slippers

 

 

If you want to learn how to wash slippers with fabric uppers, you’ll be glad to hear it’s easy to do so. Here’s how to hand-wash cloth slippers:

• Start by wiping down the soles to remove excess dirt, mud and grime. You can use a damp rag, a baby wipe or a makeup remover wipe.

• If your house shoes have spots or stains, as opposed to just being dirty or discoloured, you’ll want to pre-treat the fabric before washing them. Apply a few drops of mild soap, dish soap or mild detergent to the spots, then rub back and forth, and up and down with your fingers or a damp cloth. Let the gentle detergent sit on the material for half an hour or so before moving onto the next step.

• Fill a plastic tub, a large bowl or your kitchen sink with warm water. Add about a teaspoon of dish soap or a drizzle of laundry detergent.

• Submerge your slippers into the soapy solution. Depending on the side of your bowl or sink, you may need to do one at a time.

• Holding your slippers in the soapy water, shake them slightly to agitate them. Then use your fingers to massage the fabric on the uppers and lining to lift the grime.

• Let them soak for 15 to 30 minutes. If they were extremely dirty to begin with, they might need a little longer. After a few minutes, you should start to see the water get darker as the dirt washes out.

• When your slippers appear clean, remove them from the solution and rinse them off. You can rinse them either directly under the tap of your sink or in another bowl of clean, cool water.

• Knead and rub the material a bit to make sure all the soap comes out and no bubbles appear when you press down. It might take a few minutes for them to rinse totally clean, but it’s important all the soap comes out, as it can affect the softness of the material once it dries.

• Wrap your damp slippers in a large towel and gently press down some more to squeeze out any excess water.

• Carefully reshape your slippers. If the uppers don’t stay up on their own, you can stuff a couple pairs of socks in them.

• Set them in a cool, ventilated place and allow them to air-dry.

• Never put your slippers in a tumble drier. The heat can melt the glue that connects the footbeds to the soles and distort the rubber.

• Running a blowdryer on your cloth slippers can speed up the drying process, but air-drying is typically best to avoid shrinking the material.

 

How to Clean Slippers with Fur

 

 

Slipping into a pair of cosy slippers on a chilly day is a true delight. That said, cleaning slippers with fur or faux fur lining can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. Follow our simple steps to ensure your faux fur slippers retain their look and feel.

Here’s how to clean slippers with fur:

• The first thing you need to do is deodorise the furry slipper material. A day or so before cleaning them, sprinkle a little baking soda onto the lining. Allow it to sit for 12 to 24 hours, and then shake out your slippers thoroughly to remove all the powder

• Take a clean, damp cloth and lightly dab it with a small amount of dish soap

• Gently rub the soapy cloth all around the inside of your slippers, paying extra attention to soiled areas and where your toes and heals sit

• For stubborn spots, dab the bristle of a soft toothbrush with soap and gently scrub until the stains lift

• Once the fur lining appears clean, dampen another clean cloth and run it over the material to remove the soapy residue.

• Set your slippers in a well-ventilated area and allow them to air-dry.

Furry clippers can be blow-dried on a low setting to fluff up the material. Having said that, too much heat can damage faux fur, so you may want to stick to air-drying to play it safe.

 

How to Clean Suede Slippers

 

 

The delicate material of suede slippers is delicate and easily damaged, so special care is needed to ensure they retain their original condition. Here’s how to clean suede house shoes:

• Start by gently running a bristle brush all over the uppers without any cleaning solution, focusing on spots, stains, and muck. If dry-brushing doesn’t get all the spots out, you can try using a leather conditioner

• Apply a few drops of conditioner to the brush and then gently rub it into the suede. Add more conditioner as needed, but just a few drops at the time so you don’t oversaturate the material

• Using a dry cloth, wipe away any remaining moisture or residue

• Allow your slippers to air-dry in a well-ventilated area

You can also use a protectant spray like Vionic’s Rain & Stain to create a stain-resistant, water-repellent barrier.

 

WHERE TO BUY THE BEST SLIPPERS AND HOUSE SHOES

 

 

Keeping your house shoes fresh and clean with regular washes and protective treatments will help you get the most out of them. However, like all shoes, old pairs eventually need replacing.

Vionic carries an excellent selection of fashionable women’s slippers and men’s house slippers, as well as unisex indoor/outdoor sliders. We’ve got terrycloth slip-ons and quilted clogs, suede moccasins and mules, and fluffy open-toed styles.

There are a lot of types of slippers to choose from. But, no matter what type of slippers you choose, you can count on Vionic’s in-built technology to provide balance and Each pair of Vionic slippers has contoured arch support, deep heel cups, comfy cushioning, shock-absorbent midsoles and durable outsoles with patterned treads.