It is very nice to wear clean shoes!! However, it is also important to know what to do after washing your best sneakers. The next step is just as crucial as the washing itself: drying! Even though washing shoes is known to be one given and challenging chore, one cannot simply know how to properly dry washed shoes without leaving them damp and spongy. Oh no! Well, we are here to assist you (or should we say to assist your feet?).

Here are some valuable tips that you can follow to ensure that your Vessi shoes, or any other pair, looks and feels as good as first needed: Let's start now!

How Long Will My Shoes Take to Dry? 

With regard to the shoe drying, it is impossible to have a general rule here. The duration that the pair of shoes takes to dry depends on other factors such as the material used in making the shoes and the relative atmospheric humidity. However, the type of drying you apply always plays a very important role in this process.

Image Source: shoewash.ca

Expect to require at least:

• 20 minutes if you use a clothes dryer

• 2 hours if you use rice

• 2-3 hours if you use a fan

• 8 hours if you use newspapers

• 3 hours if you use a shoe dryer

Method 1: Using a Clothes Dryer

Every footwear is different; therefore, prior to drying shoes in a dryer, it is recommended to consult the shoe label depending on dryer use advice. In the shoe tongue if it has a square with circle in the center, then you can place the shoes in the dryer. If you see a square with a dot, then you can put the shoes in the dryer and set at low heat. In contrast, if you notice a square with an “X”, then the shoes should not be dried with the dryer.

Image Source: homesandgardens.com

If there is no label, do not risk it and do not dry the shoes in a dryer and use other techniques instead.

Step 1: Loosen the laces and remove the insoles

Make sure that the laces of the shoes are loose enough so that you will be able to make some room for yourself. If the insoles are removable, they should be removed and taken to another location where they should dry.

Step 2: Fill the shoes with cloth towels or socks

It will be useful to fill these shoes with these materials in order to reduce the time that the fabric shoes will take in the dryer and to prevent shrinkage of the shoes. You can also put some towels and socks in the dryer; this will also help to muffle the noise, just in case the shoes became a bit loose and jiggling.

Step 3: Hang your shoes inside the dryer

First, fold one end of the shoelace in a loop and then another end of the shoelace in another loop and then tie both the ends of the shoelace together. Then open the dryer door, while holding your shoes with the laces and put the soles on the inside of the door. Ensure they are hanged and close the door of the dryer, if any.

Step 4: Run the dryer for 20 minutes

If your washing machine does offer an air-dry setting, then by all means select this one. Otherwise choose the lowest temperature so as not to harm the clothing through heating, to fade, shrink or wear out. If the shoe feels damp, place it back in the dryer for another 20 more minutes and check it again.

Method 2: Using Uncooked Rice

Image Source: tips-and-tricks.co

Step 1: Remove the insoles and shoe laces

When washing the shoes, it is advisable to take the laces and the insoles; however, once washed, they should be placed in a well-ventilated area. However, if there is enough room in the box of rice they should place the socks beside the shoes.

Step 2: Cover the bottom of a box with 2.5 cm (1 inch) of dry, uncooked rice

Make sure you choose a basket that will fit the shoes or a shoe box if you prefer to use one. Moreover, that box should have a cover since rice is useful in preventing moisture from shoes through proper absorption of moisture by rice.

Step 3: Put your wet shoes open-side down in the box

Open up the shoes and pour some rice and move it all around the inner side in order to get it well dried. Then they flip them over and pour more rice into them so that the pieces are submerged to the depth.

Step 4: Close the box tightly and wait for 2 hours

Leave it there for about 2 hours give or take so that the rice grains can have a soaking through the shoes. Well in case you want to check them out after you were; after 2 hours. If they are still damp, then, more time will be required in order to get all the units thoroughly dry. When it is fully dried pour it in the box and replace with fresh portion of the dried grains so that it can reduce the time spent on drying.

Method 3: Using a Fan

Image Source: factoryoutlet.asia

Step 1: Remove the shoe laces and insoles

Remove the shoelaces and the insoles from the shoes and allow them to dry on an open air shelf. Or it can be hung somewhere that they don’t create a loop such as above the shower curtain or a clothes hanger.

Step 2: Look for a standing/table fan

If you can find a strong fan taller than your shoes, use it occasionally. To dry your shoes, put them on the fan.

Step 3: Set the fan to medium or high

Keep on running the fan for another 2-3 hrs or until all the shoes are dry. After that, one has to change the laces and insoles, and get ready for an exciting trip.

Method 4: Using Newspaper

Image Source: wikihow.com

Step 1: Look for a newspaper and remove pages with a lot of coloured ink

Use the pages with less or no photos that concentrate a lot of ink in one spot. Pages with photos may leak ink onto your white or leather shoes, especially since they are wet.

Step 2: Remove laces and insoles

Remove the shoelaces as well as insoles then place the shoes in an air circulated region but do not place the shoes under direct sun. Furthermore, you should just like wet clothes hang the laces and the insoles on the drying rack.

Step 3: Roll up the newspaper pages and put them in the shoes

Continue to fill the shoes as much as possible by placing small crumpled papers in the toe boxes and packing it with more papers.

Step 4: Wrap the wet shoes in newspaper pages

Take two to three layers of the newspaper and roll it and your shoes as tight as you can in order to soak more water. Tie the newspapers together with rubber bands.

Step 5: Put the wrapped shoes on a well-ventilated area

Ideally, the countertop or tabletop should be in a room filled with fresh and natural light, or it can be a shady terrace during a breezy day.

Step 6: Check and replace the wet pages after every 2-3 hours

In order to shorten the time for the drying process, we recommend that you remove any of the pages which feel wet to touch and replace them with new ones. When you leave wet pages in your shoes, it will take a lot longer. It may take 30 minutes or a few hours to cure or dry depending on the process being applied.

Method 5: Using a Shoe Dryer

Image Source: jlcatj.gob.mx

Step 1: Rub your shoes as dry as possible with a cloth

Don’t rub your shoes with your hands, instead, use a cloth or paper towel to do so to make the insides of the shoes dry when you wear your feet back into the shoes. This will help in shortening the time it takes for the shoes to dry by use of the shotgun method. It will also help to do away with the problem of water dripping, which is of great benefit since most shoe dryers are electrical.

Step 2: Place your shoes on the shoe dryer and turn it on

Place the shoe inverted and tap it gently on one of the high towers which are attached to the base of the machine. Next, turn on the shoe dryer and wait while the machine does its work.

Remember that most shoe dryers tend to warm the towers for drying shoes through convection or circulate hot air through shoes.

Step 3: Check your shoes after 3 hours

Most shoe dryers usually have timers to prevent fire hazards caused by overheating. When it comes to the duration of the timer, this varies but cannot be more than three hours. Last of all, if after three hours you discover that there is moisture in the shoes, take them down from the shoe tree and put them in the shoe dryer for further aeration. At the same time, one could wait until the shoe dryer cools before reheating the dryer until the shoes are dry.

Step 4: Apply leather cream to your shoes (If Applicable)

The heat from a shoe dryer can affect the texture of shoes mostly if they are made of leather thereby making it hard and stiff, thereafter we suggest to apply leather conditioner (especially if it is used on leather shoes) using a clean fabric. This will cause the shoes to return to their original comfort and feel.

What Are the Tips to Keep Your Shoes Dry Inside and Out

Image Source: vessi.com

1. Wear waterproof shoes

For our Vessi shoes, it does not matter that the weather is predicted to rain because they are shoe boots and are 100% waterproof. Yes, you heard me! Say goodbye to pain and soreness, say hello to dry feet and comfy shoes with Vessi waterproof shoes.

We craft our shoes to keep your feet dry and comfortable, no matter the weather. And luckily, they come in different varieties. We have Vessi Everyday Sneakers, Vessi Weekend Sneakers, Vessi Cityscape Sneakers, and Kid's Waterproof Sneakers, to mention a few. No matter the weather, you will always look stylish.

2. Wear breathable shoes

One would consider Vessi sneakers among the top brands that come with the feature of breathability. These shoes have been crafted with a patented knit material with an inner layer where the heat and sweat can be expelled to allow breathability as well as excluding every other element.

Do you know what's cool? Our waterproof shoes are not only insusceptible to water but also allow perspiration. No more feeling of claustrophobia with your fingers cramped inside the shoes.

3. Avoid wearing shoes in inclement weather

If you haven’t gotten a pair of our waterproof shoes, it is best not to wear your shoes in the rain or snow if they are not waterproof. It is always better to prevent than to cure, so make sure you always cover your feet with waterproof shoes!

4. Waterproof your shoes

Here's the deal: to make shoes waterproof, all that one simply needs to do is to spray the shoes with waterproof shoe spray as described on the can. So, remember this – having your shoes waterproofed may slightly reduce the extent of their ability to ‘breathe’. A little sacrifice to have a dry and comfortable feet while walking, running, and enjoying other activities!

Check out the best waterproof shoes for everyday use to save you from all this trouble.