UKC

i need to clean my shoes, ive left some to soak before and i have machine washed them before.
but i've got some fairly new shoes which smell like a rotting carcass,
is it a bad idea to try and machine wash shoes??

Go ahead - I suggest putting them in a pillow case to reduce the chance of them jamming between the drum and door and washing them with other stuff (not delicate) to reduce the thumping. I wouldn't do it often but now and again to reduce the smell is ok - dry them well or they will smell quickly!

"trainer balls" are a good solution to smelly shoes as is the "remove them from a bag and let them air / dry them on a radiator" advice.

In reply to bz: I have washed mine in the machine before. I wouldn't recommend doing it often though, the sole does lift.

In reply to trimtram:

After washing my 5.10 Oynx climbing shoes the rubber seems to be much more sticky. Wash without fabric conditioner, just a small amount of powder. As others have commented, stick inside a pillow case and bundle in some other clothes.