Can I put my shoes in the washing machine?

Check your shoe maker's care instructions. Nike says: Nike does not recommend washing shoes in the washing machine. Allbirds says: our shoes were designed to be washed, with no impact on their performance or shape.

Cat Peed in My Shoes: How to Clean Them

Q: What should I do first when my cat pees in my shoes?

The Cornell Feline Health Center says: Cleaning is most effective when it's done soon after an item was soiled, and odors must be neutralized, not just deodorized, to escape a cat's keen sense of smell. For fresh accidents on carpet and upholstery, Humane World for Animals says: For pet urine removal, soak up as much of the urine as possible.

Q: How do I clean the insoles?

Nike says: If you need to wash the insoles, remove them first and clean them with the solution, making sure to give them time to dry before putting them back into the shoes. It adds: If odor persists, you may want to replace the insoles.

Q: Can I wash suede shoes with water?

Nike says: We don't recommend putting suede shoes in the washing machine or hand-washing them in soap and water. Suede absorbs water, so washing a pair of suede shoes with water can actually cause stains to set in the fabric. Leather UK says: Note: Never put a suede item next to a heater or through a dryer.

Q: Why did my cat pee on my shoes?

International Cat Care says: Common sites for urine spraying inside the home include soft furnishing (sofas, curtains etc) on doors or windows, in hallways, on electrical items and sometimes on items brought into the home, such as shoes or bags. The ASPCA says: When things change, cats can become stressed.

Your cat peed in or on sneakers, leather shoes or suede boots. What to do first, how to follow the shoe maker's care instructions and dry them, and why cats pick shoes, from Nike, Allbirds, Leather UK and cat welfare sources.

First: act soon and soak it up

The Cornell Feline Health Center says: "Cleaning is most effective when it's done soon after an item was soiled, and odors must be neutralized, not just deodorized, to escape a cat's keen sense of smell." It also explains why this matters: "Cats will re-soil and spray areas they have marked with their scent, so cleaning cat-soiled items is crucial for breaking the cycle of elimination."

For fresh accidents on carpet and upholstery, Humane World for Animals says: "For pet urine removal, soak up as much of the urine as possible."

None of the shoe makers' pages we checked mention urine or pets. The shoe steps below are their general cleaning advice.

Sources: Cornell Feline Health Center, Feline Behavior Problems: House Soiling; Humane World for Animals, Get urine smell and pet stains out of carpet.

Check the shoe maker's care instructions

Makers differ on the washing machine. Nike says: "Nike does not recommend washing shoes in the washing machine. Properly hand-washing your shoes is the best way to ensure they won't be accidentally harmed in the process."

Allbirds says the opposite for its own shoes: "our shoes were designed to be washed, with no impact on their performance or shape." Its machine method, which it says applies "with a few exceptions", includes: "Choose a gentle cycle with cold water and a small amount of mild detergent. (Don't use fabric softener or bleach.)"

So look up your own brand's care page or the shoe's label before you choose a method.

Sources: Nike, Can You Put Sneakers in the Washer?; Allbirds, Wash & Care.

Sneakers and canvas shoes: hand wash

On canvas, Nike warns: "While some folks may suggest putting canvas shoes in the washing machine, this method of cleaning can cause unnecessary wear and tear and even damage the construction of the shoe."

Nike's general steps include: "Before getting started, place the shoes in a shoe tree or fill them with crumpled newspapers to help retain their shape during cleaning." For the solution: "Mix warm water with a small amount of mild laundry detergent or dish soap." Its caveat: "On certain materials, using a high concentration of dish soap can cause discoloration or strip out natural oils in the material."

For the uppers: "Brush gently to avoid damaging the material." Then "use a dry microfiber towel or soft cloth to blot and lift as much soapy moisture and dirt from the surface as possible. Repeat if necessary."

Sources: Nike, How to Get Your White Shoes Looking Brand New; Nike, How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps.

Insoles and laces

Nike says: "If you need to wash the insoles, remove them first and clean them with the solution, making sure to give them time to dry before putting them back into the shoes." On smell it adds: "If odor persists, you may want to replace the insoles."

For laces, Nike says: "Remove the shoelaces and apply a small amount of the mild cleaning solution to them. Massage the laces with your hands, rinse, then dab dry with a soft cloth."

If urine also reached socks or clothes, see our guide to getting pet pee smell out of clothes, bedding and towels.

Sources: Nike, How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps; Allbirds, Wash & Care.

Leather shoes

Nike says: "Leather shoes require a little more TLC than canvas sneakers, since the material is delicate and can lose its shape when it gets wet." And: "Avoid scrubbing the shoes too hard, or you could damage the leather."

No shoe source we checked covers urine soaked into leather shoes. For leather furniture, see how to get pet urine out of a leather couch.

Sources: Nike, How to Get Your White Shoes Looking Brand New; Nike, How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps.

Suede shoes

Nike says: "We don't recommend putting suede shoes in the washing machine or hand-washing them in soap and water. Suede absorbs water, so washing a pair of suede shoes with water can actually cause stains to set in the fabric."

Leather UK's care page, on water damage, says: "For wet suede, use a sponge or dry cloth to soak up any excess water. Dab gently until the leather is evenly wet. Leave the shoes overnight in a dry, well-ventilated area." It adds: "Note: Never put a suede item next to a heater or through a dryer." And: "Some types of leather (Nubuck and Suede in particular) will always require specialist cleaning services if there is a major problem."

Nike's suede page goes on to stain steps that use household chemicals, which we do not cover here.

Sources: Nike, How to Get Your Suede Shoes Looking Brand New; Leather UK, Leather care.

Drying: air, not heat

Nike says: "Air dry the sneakers at room temperature." And: "For many shoes, it can take at least 8 hours to fully dry."

Its drying guide says: "Keep your shoes indoors, away from direct sunlight, in an area that is dry and well-ventilated." Allbirds says simply: "Avoid machine drying."

Sources: Nike, How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps; Nike, The 2 Best Ways to Dry Your Shoes; Allbirds, Wash & Care.

Can the shoes be saved?

No source we checked says when cat urine makes a shoe impossible to save. Nike's general advice is: "If shoes still look dirty after following and repeating the recommended cleaning steps, it might be time for a new pair of sneakers." For suede, Leather UK's note on specialist cleaning above applies. If the smell returns after cleaning, see pet urine smell came back after cleaning.

Source: Nike, How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps.

Why cats pee on shoes

International Cat Care says: "Common sites for urine spraying inside the home include soft furnishing (sofas, curtains etc) on doors or windows, in hallways, on electrical items and sometimes on items brought into the home, such as shoes or bags."

Cornell says a cat avoiding the box may leave "puddles of urine or feces on soft surfaces like carpets, beds, or clothing, or on hard surfaces like tile floors or bathtubs."

The ASPCA says: "When things change, cats can become stressed." It lists triggers ending with "even buying a new coat or bringing home groceries in an unusually large paper bag." And: "One of the ways cats deal with this stress is by marking their territory."

For more, see why dogs and cats keep peeing in the same spot and, for young cats, kitten accidents.

Sources: International Cat Care, Soiling indoors; Cornell Feline Health Center, House Soiling; ASPCA, Urine Marking in Cats.

Keep shoes out of reach

Humane World for Animals says: "Keep objects that could cause urine-marking behaviors, such as guests' belongings and new purchases, out of reach." No source we checked gives shoe storage advice beyond this.

Source: Humane World for Animals, Get urine smell and pet stains out of carpet.

Check the litter box

The ASPCA says: "Virtually all cats like clean litter boxes, so scoop and change your cat's litter at least once a day." Cornell says: "Most cats prefer unscented, finer-textured litter about one to two inches deep."

Humane World for Animals says: "If your pet is having regular accidents, have them checked by a veterinarian to rule out medical causes."

See our guide to a cat peeing or pooping outside the litter box. Pet Cleanup Kit also has a guide on getting cat urine smell out.

Sources: ASPCA, Litter Box Problems; Cornell Feline Health Center, House Soiling; Humane World for Animals, Get urine smell and pet stains out of carpet.

Accident on the carpet or couch too?

P-Cleaner is the Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Foaming Liquid from Pet Cleanup Kit. The product listing says: "Works on carpets, upholstery, tile, and more." It is not described for shoes; for those, follow the shoe maker's care instructions above. Follow the directions on the product label.

Buy P-Cleaner on petcleanupkit.com

Quoted from the petcleanupkit.com product listing.