So you bought a pair of TOMS Shoes. You feel warm and fuzzy inside because you’ve just helped put a brand new pair of shoes on the feet of a child in need somewhere out in the world. Not only that, you are now part of the happening TOMS trend, strutting around totally conscious of the little blue and white flag on the backs of each heel. Good for you for doing a good deed and staying fashionable all at the same time! But uh oh, Houston we have a problem. You are so in love with your TOMS Shoes that you hardly go a day without wearing them – which means dirty, stinky shoes. Not that we are saying you have stinky feet! But, lots of TOMS Shoes wearers have reported having this problem, even if they have never had sweaty or stinky feet before. Not to worry though, there are a couple of ways to remove stains and odor from your beloved pair of TOMS.
First, let’s take a look at what the TOMS Website had to say about how to clean your shoes:
“We highly recommend hand washing TOMS in cold water with a gentle detergent and let them air dry. We do NOT recommend putting TOMS in the dryer under any circumstances. Please note that fading can be expected (especially from sun exposure) and does not compromise the durability of the shoe.”
Ok, so hand washing shoes is probably not the quickest way to clean your TOMS in time for you to wear them again tomorrow, but it is most likely the best way to wash your TOMS without compromising the structure and adhesives of the shoe. However, many a TOMS Shoe fan with a blog have advised that it is possible to wash TOMS in the washer and dryer – but be careful!
Photo credit: mtorbin.blogspot.com
Here’s what to do if you are going to go the machine wash route:
- Use a soft bristle brush to remove any surface dirt or dust from the shoe.
- Turn your machine on to the most gentle cycle you have, either gentle or handwash cycle, and make sure the water is cold.
- When the machine is half full, add a small amount of gentle detergent.
- When machine is ¾ full, add the shoes.
Now there are several ways to dry your TOMS, the most recommended being to dry them in the sun. This ensures that the shoes are not torn up in the dryer, but also allows the sunlight to kill any foot bacteria that may be growing in your trusty TOMS. Some even recommend stuffing a dryer sheet in each shoe while they air dry to kill any remaining odor. If you feel that you must go the machine dryer route however, then please do remember to dry on low or on a no heat setting.
Another option is to actually do as TOMS says and hand wash your shoes! If you’re just terrified of ruining your beloved TOMS and refuse to put them in any machine cleaning unit (we completely understand your concern) then this is the way to go.
Here’s what to do if you are going to go the hand washing route:
Photo credits: mtorbin.blogspot.com & seventhgeneration.com
- Use a soft bristle brush to remove any surface dirt or dust from the shoe.
- Put a little cold water in a bucket or bowl and a very small amount of unconcentrated dish soap, such as Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid which can be found at stores like Whole Foods. You want just enough water and soap to make a small amount of bubbles.
- Dip your brush in the water (make sure the dirt from step 1 is gone from the bristles), and placing your hand inside of your shoe, gently scrub at the material of the shoe. Scrub until you’re satisfied you have removed all the dirt and stains you can, and then allow to air dry.
- For deodorizing the insides of your TOMS, put a good amount of Baking Soda in a sachet (a piece of cloth tied up to hold the contents) and place inside each shoe. You can also read our “Smelly Feet” article for more odor eating ideas.
Note: Do not sprinkle baking soda directly into your TOMS. The insole is made of leather and will become dry and brittle after repeated and direct contact with Baking Soda!
You paid for them, they make you feel good, they symbolize your contribution, so take care of your TOMS!
**Use at your own risk. These cleaning methods are strictly recommendations/suggestions and are not surefire ways to clean your TOMS. The Shoe Digest is not liable for shoes damaged while performing any of these procedures.
{ 219 comments… read them below or add one }
Not everyone has a washer like that… What about a front washer?
What if u have a old washer and you put the toms in there wood it still make a difference ? And I just got mine 3 days ago and I love them but the got really dirty from school . So should I hand wash them or the washer?
Wait, what happens if you want to hand wash your shoes, but you have tried already and the tire stains didnt come off? Im worried about them too, because im scared if the designs on them ware away. Please reply!!! Thanks. And by the way my TOMS are white too.
Hey. Thanks for the advice. I just got my toms 2 days ago and they are the blue jean toms. Will my toms get destroyed if I do the washer method? I know some pairs of toms ( like the red) fade Out so I wanna know if my toms could end up like that too. Also any other tips about drying and about the leather getting wet? Thanks.:)
i have those too and i was also wondering if that would happen could someone please answer! thanks
i had the same problem but do you know how to clean the smaller toms with the rubber i want to wear mine to school tomorrow but there so dirty.
You should hand wash them. The easier method is just take a wash cloth wet it in warm&cold water then add a little bit of soap,and rub it on the shoes. In side and out of the shoe.Finally let them set outside to AIR dry. I tried it worked great!!
I would definitely, wash the Toms by hand, just to ensure that I would not encounter a big problem. But my biggest concern is that my Toms are black and they have already began to fade away and I do not want them to continue to fade away. Does anyone have black Toms? If so, have you tried washing them by hand and what were the outcomes?
There going to fade besides the point and there black how would they be dirty? Wash them dunk them in soapy water and let them sit in your house and dry. Simple.
TRUE 100 %
A friend of mine was telling me he washed his. I took a chance, washed pair of khaki and black in the washing machine on gentle cycle and dried them in the dryer on low heat and they came out fine. I do use eco friendly detergent so maybe thats why they didn’t fade. They weren’t completely dry when the came out of the dryer so, I stuck a dryer sheet in them for the next day while they dried out. Good luck!
you should totes handwash them! my sister used oxyclean on hers, and taht worked great, but i think i’d stick with soap and water.
Great question Lexie, because there certainly is a difference!
The bonus of using a front-loading washer is that the dry time needed for your shoes will be greatly reduced, as front-load washers spin almost twice as fast as top-load washers which means less water in the material when they come out of the wash!
Also, because front-load washers use gravity instead of agitators like top-load washers, the wash cycle will be much gentler on your TOMS. And since you asked Lexie, we can assume you know what kind of detergent to use in a front-loading washer, but for the those who are unfamiliar it is strongly recommended that HE low-sudsing detergents are used.
Hope this was helpful Lexie, and again, thanks for posting!
If any of our readers have any other questions about how to clean TOMS shoes, please do not hesitate to ask! We’re here to help
-Shoe Digest
I want to try this front loader technique… do you have to wash the shoes alone, or can it be with other clothes? I’m not one to waste water and energy unless I have to!
Is it bad for the inside leather of the shoe to get wet?
Yes! The leather can dry out, become distorted, etc. We recommend avoiding at all costs but if it can’t be helped, then we would suggest patting them dry with a paper towel of a rag or something, and maybe using a hair dryer on cool or low to help the drying process along.
Perhaps using Bagbalm (a petrolium based salve used for cow’s udders) might help. Sold in the pet department of any major chain superstore or pet stores.
this article really helped me ! thanks alot !
glad that is helped you heba! thanks for reading!
I got my TOMS shoes just about 2 weeks ago. I have just recently (accidentally) stained my TOMS shoes with Ketchup and mustard that dripped off my hotdog, right on top of my shoe! I tried Spot cleaning them and using Palmolive dish liquid it didn’t work to well. I can still see somewhat of a left over stain. Are any suggestions on how to remove this stain? I really LOVE my TOMS and would hate to look down and see this stain every time I wear them :/
use spray n wash.. it is formulated to pull protein off clothes
We’ve heard some great things about mixing baking soda and peroxide, or even dish soap and peroxide. We will be testing this theory this weekend and will be posting the results on Monday! Stay tuned!
baking soda and peroxide mixed together might as well be named Old Faithful. when nothing else seems to work, you can usually rely on baking soda and peroxide. dish soap should be used on oily stains. for example, if you drop a greasy french fry on your shoes/clothes, put dawn dish detergent on the stain, let it soak a while before washing, and the grease will come right out.
You can try mixing blue Dawn, peroxide, and white distilled vinegar. The Dawn and the vinegar are SUPER degreasers. It also doesn’t hurt that vinegar is a natural anti-everything (anti-viral, -bacterial, and -fungal) It kills everything. I use it in my entire house. Hope this helps.
http://www.ehow.com/how_6120763_remove-stains-canvas-material.html
I would recommend stuffing a paper towel in the shoe and rubbing some baking soda and water paste on the area. Let it sit for a few minutes before wiping with more water. Be careful not to get the sole wet!
Yeah, this didn’t help for my poor toms.
I was trying to get some dirt off the front of my shoes. I made sure to use cold water to keep the color from running (since they’re red Toms) and used a soft toothbrush to clean them. I didn’t even bother with the soap. No matter how lightly I scrubbed, the color came out. I got them two days ago too! Super bummed. :/
Lauren we are so sad to hear about your TOMS! We too cherish a pair of red beauties and would be heart broken if this had happened to them.
We’re sorry that the cold water didn’t work, some dyes are finicky like that. The only homespun remedy we are aware of for setting fabric dyes is soaking the fabric in vinegar but this has reportedly not worked for some. If you choose to try it, soak the TOMS upside down in a cold water and vinegar mix as to not get the leather insole wet.
Another tip: In the case of mustard, it might have been useful to let the mustard dry first and then take a stiff bristle brush while it’s dry and try to “scratch” the dried mustard off.
There is also the option of re-dying the fabric. Not sure how this would work. Does anyone have any suggestions for Lauren?
When my TOMS become discolored, I run over the area with a crayola marker of the same color! It works well, but you have to be careful of two things: 1. If you get caught in the rain, it may come out/ get on your feet. 2. NEVER USE SHARPIE! It is a slightly different color and makes the shoe look really odd!
Does the top-load washer method only work with the basic low cut TOMS or do the high-top wool inside ones work too? And should I take out the laces?
Laces – Yes. You can soak these in a tub of soapy hot water and wash the grime away.
Wool Lined Shoes – Maybe. If you’ve ever washed a faux fur/real fur lined hoodie then you know that you can’t dry them. However, any detergent you use might make the wool a little filmy.
Does anybody have experience with wool care to help Aidan out?
Use lukewarm to cool water for wool and don’t agitate. Warm water combined with agitation and soap or detergent can felt wool! Wool is somewhat self cleaning if you put it in a sink or bucket with lukewarm water and a bit of dish detergent (Dawn and Joy brands do not leave a residue). Let soak (if your shoes are upside down, with a little gentle swishing, the dirt will drift out and fall to bottom of sink). and then fill bucket or sink with fresh water the same temperature as the wash water, that is the temp the water has become after soaking. You might want to repeat the rinse a couple times. Don’t swish them around too much. I have no idea how it will affect the soles or any leather lining. No dryer. From a spinner, weaver, knitter, and dyer of wool.
I heard that setting TOMS in the sun can fade them. Is there a better way, other than the dryer to dry them affectively?
A great drying tip we have found is to put the shoes in a pillow case and safety pin the top and bottom together to create a loop. Sling the loop over the dryer door with the safety pins on the outside and add any clothes you may need to dry. Lay the case with the soles of the shoes flat against the dryer door and dry on a low or medium setting. We wouldn’t recommend high as this can really dry out the leather insole. You might want to try starting out on a low setting for 20 minutes and seeing how that does.
Good luck!
for best results in washer place tom in a pillowcase with a tied off or simply the TOMS bag that comes with each pair of shoes
Is there a way I can wash my white toms with baking soda or bleach because I washed my toms in washer once it was fine but I don’t wanna try it again cause it may rip I’m not sure
We have heard that baking soda works, but we would recommend steering away from the bleach as this can discolor them (even white ones). We’re going to be testing some cleaning methods this weekend so check back in soon!
I’m going to wash my TOMS in the washer on a low setting like you said…I’m probably going to try drying them on a low cycle…is this safe for the leather inside??
As the TOMS website has stated, they do not recommend putting TOMS in the dryer at all – BUT wearers have reported this working for them, as long as the leather soles aren’t exposed to direct heat or heat for long periods of time, you should be ok.
I am super scared to wash my red toms I don’t want them to fade because i just got them a week ago a lot of websites say to hand wash them others say to wash them in the washer. I don’t know which route to take any suggestions that would be great please help! P.S. they’re dirty in the toe area.
Your fear is absolutely understandable and valid Maindi. The red dye in the TOMS classics is finicky and has bled for some of our readers (see comments above). Hold off of any drastic techniques if you can until we have more solid information.
The oil from the leather is released when my Toms get wet from anything is there any way to get it to stop or prevent it. It also makes my feet look gross and black. Slipperyness also occurs. Thanks in advance.
Curious situation Rome, we’re brain storming some ideas, we’ll get back soon!
Same thing happens to me! What I do is set them outside in the sun with washcloths pushed firmly in them to help the leather dry out- but not become to gross! Sometimes, I add a dryer sheet in each shoe; which keeps them smelling fresh! Good luck!
I have to pay to use my washer and dryer, is it okay to wash the TOMS with cloths?
Depends on if they are dyed or not. If they are, then that would be a resounding NO! If they’re cream or white, you should be ok (as long as your clothes don’t bleed). Might be better to go the hand washing route though in this situation.
I hand washed my TOMS, and stuck tissues in the front, inside of the shoe. It protected the inside leather. Works great! (Y)
One solution to drying that worked for me (since it’s too cold and not sunny) was to lay them face down over the air vent for about an hour. That dried the insoles perfectly. I also protect them as best I can by spraying a few thin layers of scotch guard on them when u get a new pair or wash them.
Scotch Guard is a great idea Steph! Nice one!
The air vent method isn’t terrible, just make sure not to forget them – you’ll also want to make sure you don’t have the heat up too high…
I was volunteering at a golf tournnament ,and out of no where it satarted to rain.Two things went wrong-I had mud all over my lite canvas colored toms and it got really hot after.so, my leather inside started to smell like it was molded.What do I do to get these problem solved?
Horrible problem to have Miram, we’re sorry you had to watch your TOMS suffer
Not sure about mold, but you can eliminate moisture by drying as best you can on the inside with a rag or papertowl. Looking into this…
My problem is that I wore my canvas colored TOMS yesterday while it was raining and when they got wet the dye from my bluejeans stained them. So now they have blue stains on the them , how do I get the stain to completely come out?
Now this is a problem we know a little bit about. In our experience, jean dye is a toughie to get out. Since your toms are Canvas colored, we don’t have to worry about the material’s dye itself bleeding out. We have used Greased Lighting cleaner on multiple stains (including pen ink!) with great results. Give that a try and let us know how it goes!
The INSIDE of my toms are dirty haw can I clean them?? The out side looks great but the inside is horrible
Same here i have a pair of pink sparkly Toms and had juice spilled on them. The juice went straight through my Toms and inside them.I don’t know how to wash them without having the sparkles taken out…….
Those sparkle TOMS are a tough one. Haven’t heard any successful techniques yet, still looking!
i hand washed the silver sparkle toms in cold water with gain dish soap and a soft tooth brush work really well no sparkles came off
Great cleaning tip Kristi! Thanks for sharing!!
I’m really worried about the leather part of my toms. I hate to see the black outline of my foot, it looks so icky and dirty! :T
any tips on washing the leather?
On the inside of a TOMS shoe, if it gets Black and Smudgy how would be the safest and best way to clean them?
Hi Jerry,
We have heard from readers that the red dye in the TOMS Classics tends to bleed with cleaning, so be forewarned if you have the red Classics. Otherwise, you might try the tips we give in our “How To Clean Canvas Shoes” article. Let us know how it goes!
Thanks for reading
I have white toms..I just wanted to know if the dry cleaners would be a good idea?
Most likely not Natalie as the dry cleaning chemicals are very different from standard laundry detergents and can ruin certain types of fabric.
I have the laceyy tan toms & i got them two days ago . I was getting into my friends car and my toms touched her tire on the tip /: howw do i get it out ?
Not sure about the methods you should use yet but what we can say: BE VERY CAREFUL! The last thing you want is a hole in your lace. We would avoid any scrubbing or abrasive cleaning techniques, you’ll probably want to spot clean by dabbing only. To be continued…
ME TOO! A tire messed up my TOMS too
did you find a way to clean them out???? Ive been trying for as long as I could, and I barely got them as a gift!!! Mine are white too 
Please help if you have a good solution! Thanks!
hey i have black toms and i stepped in the wet grass and they got a little muddy.. i got most of it off… but some of the leather got a little wet.. i dried it with a hair dryer on high… i stuck the hair dryer inside and it mostly dries… is that okay??!
Oh please be careful Kelci!!!! A dryer on high INSIDE the shoe is way too much hot, direct heat for those leather insoles. Please read the comments and the article carefully for some drying tips, people have put some great ideas out there. If you do use a hair dryer, it is important to remember to keep it on cool. The air will circulate and help stimulate evaporation but hot heat like that will make the leather insole dry and crack and the adhesive keeping it in will become compromised.
I have sparky silver TOMS and someone stepped on the back of them and they left a grass stain . It’s on the sing (the TOMS sign) and i have no idea how to get it out . PLEASE HELP ASAP .
The standard cleaning methods described in the article should help remove the stain from the logo material (luckily this is much easier to clean than the shoe material itself). If that doesn’t work, try Greased Lighting cleaner and spot clean with dabbing motions and small circles.
How do I wash my white glitter TOMS? Can I bleech them? Do the sparkles come out in the washer? I tried lighty scrubing them with a damp wash cloth and detergant and some glitter came off! Some kid stept on them on the bus, they have dirt all over the top! Help!
This is a tough one beaver. We haven’t figured out a safe way to wash glitter TOMS yet, but we definitely recommend blotting not scrubbing! If you have ever used an at home dry cleaning kit, it’s kind of the same cleaning method. You clean only at the site of the spot and you dab at it to lift out the dirt. If that doesn’t work, you might contact TOMS for recommendations.
Hey! I have a pair of silver glitter toms since last valentines day. The glitter doesn’t fall off anymore but it’s still completely covered with it. They look dirty and smell horrible! Even though I wear peds (socks) with them. I love wearing them to work because they’re so comfortable but after 8 hours of running around the drs office they smell horrible. I want to put them in our front load washer but I don’t want to ruin them. Please help!
I have blue Toms that i just got about 3 weeks ago but i have dirt on the front, on the top and it won’t come off. I used a soft bristle brush to try and gently scrub it off but that didn’t work. Any advice?
The inside of my shoe is also dirty and you can see the outline of my toes and foot, its also starting to stink and ways to help?
Thanks
Lauren,
Welcome to the world of TOMS! Everyone who has ever owned a pair of TOMS has had to deal with precisely these things.
First, since brushing off the dirt didn’t help, it may be time to move up to actually wet washing. Please read the comments and the article here very carefully for what has worked for some and what hasn’t. To start with, try cold water and a little soap.
As for the outline of toes and foot on the leather insole, that just comes with the territory. However, you can care for the leather insole as you would a leather shoe by washing and conditioning with the appropriate leather cleaners. This will help to remove foot/leather oil stains and will also help with the smell.
For continuous odor fighting, try putting used dryer sheets in your shoes near the toe and tucked in around the insole at the heel to help absorb the smell. DO NOT USE BAKING SODA as this will dry out the leather.
Hope that helps! Enjoy!!
Thank you for replying
Thank you for reading Lauren!
I just found mold growing in my daughters smelly Toms! Disgusting i know! I want to trash them and she says no. Is there anything i can do to clean these shoes to ensure mold removal or is the trash our best bet?
James, we can understand both yours and your daughter’s sentiments. There are some options you can try before resorting to disposal. Considering that you say the mold is on the inside of the shoe, we assume that it is around the edge of the leather insole. Since we have a mix of canvas and leather to deal with, there are a couple of things you can try.
First things first you’ll want to use a hard bristle brush (like a hard bristle toothbrush) to remove the visible mold. Do this outside on the sunny day as to not spread the spores around the house. How you proceed with be based upon whether or not the shoe is dyed. If so, use a mild soap and water solution to wash around the insole – be careful as the red TOMS tend to bleed even with this. We recommend a dabbing motion when near the sidewalls, and a gentle rub at the mold site. Again, be careful not to force the insole too much as this can pull away at the adhesive. Let air dry.
If that doesn’t work, you can try a solution of equal parts alcohol and water and rub again but in a circular motion. You’ll want to wash again with soap and water afterwards and again let air dry.
In both cases, you might consider using saddle soap as to not compromise the leather insole.
Another alternative may be to use lemon at the site of the mold and then cover in salt and let air dry, but this should only be used on non-dyed materials. Tred carefully around that dye for any option! And for to keep future TOMS mold free, make sure to keep the shoes in a well ventilated and well lit area with low humidity!
If you are worried about staining up your TOMS the first day you get them there is this awesome stuff called 10 seconds Water Repellent. This sray repels water and prevents stains!!! It works amazingly and it drys really fast and doesnt alter the color of your shoes! I bought it at a Hibbets sports store but I’m sure alot of sports and shoe stores sell it!
Great advice Kelsye!! We are in full support of pre-emptive protection
Hello! I have mostly white toms with purple and blue stripes. People keep stepping on my shoes, causing black smudges. Other than washing the whole shoe, do you have any tips for getting the black smudges out? Thanks – Megan
whats the best way to clean my white leather toms? im mostly just concerned with getting them to not smell on the inside….
For cleaning: I recommend spot cleaning with a damp washcloth for the leather!
As for the smell, something I find to work fabulously is putting a clean dryer sheet in them when you are not wearing them. This works best if you set them out side for a while.
I have to have to wear my toms in about 30-40 mins, but the front toe of the shoe is still wet and the sun is not up yet! How can I get them dry in time?
Sorry we didn’t catch you in time Jordan, but next time you’re in a bind like this go ahead and put them in a pillow case or their TOMS bag, sling the open side over the dryer door, and dry on low. That should help the last of the moisture to evaporate out!
Hand washing worked great. The top is a lot cleaner, but the toe is still really dirty any tips on cleaning the toe better?
I got mud all over the toe part of my toms they are black with silver polka dots is it safe to use bleach????
Bleach probably isn’t a good idea Emma, hard to determine the results. We would recommend trying the hand washing method above first. We’ll be posting on more intensive cleaning tips soon, check back if you need further help!
i have white toms and i was wondering if they get stained is there anyway of dying them to another color like color dye?
So I Love my TOMS I have 16 pair in almost every color you can imagen! One of my favorite pairs are navy blue and I slipped in a puddle and got them all muddy
so what I did and they look absolutely fantastic is brush off the mud when it dried and then put them in my washer and dryer on the lowest setting , after that I let them sit for a day and then I bought inexpensive leather condioner at my grocery store and then took a sponged and layered the cream on the bottom and now they look perfect!
Is there a way to replace the sole/inside of the shoe??
The inside leather of my toms has turned dark brown an is very brittle an hard (not to mention uncomfortable). What can I do to make them softer and more “regular”
Please help me
Thank You Shoe Digest!
OH! I forgot to mention, my TOMS shoes make my white socks turn yellow, is that supposed to happen??
That would probably be due to the oil in the leather I’m assuming .
how fast can the toms to dry after you’ve handwashed them?
I have washed my Toms in a front load washing machine on delicate with cold water before and had good results. I tried to set them outside in the sun to dry, but when I went out to check on them an hour later a dog had walked off with one of them!!! Luckily, after a little bit of searching around in the yard I did recover my missing shoe.
So instead of losing my shoes to neighborhood pooches I brought them in and stuck them under the refrigerator where the warm air blows out. And them rotated them after a while so that they could dry on all sides. This worked really well and I had no shrinkage or structure damage.
So word to the wise: If you leave them out in the sun, make sure you leave them where dogs/raccoons/nosey mischievous neighborhood boys can’t get to them…. OR dry them under the frige!
Would you clean them the same way with sparkly toms? Also I put baby power in mine and I didn’t know that’s why the inside got like that
i have extremely sticky stinky toms.. what can i use other than baking soda to help me get rid of the horrible horrible stinch?? it smells like a animal died in there!!!!! even worse!1!!
This is my issue too
i have extremely sticky stinky toms.. what can i use other than baking soda to help me get rid of the horrible horrible stinch?? it smells like a animal died in there!!!!! even worse!1!!
i think a lot of these stinky shoe/insole problems can be avoided simply by wearing footie socks, the ones that are really low cut so they aren’t visible. i could imagine if you wore any pair of sneakers/shoes without socks, how nasty they could get. the only types of footwear that aren’t meant to be worn with socks are crocs and flip flops/sandals. here’s a website where you can buy a good pair of nike footies, which i wear with the 6 pairs of TOMS that i own: http://www.famousfootwear.com/Shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?p=70802&pg=1023774
I have the white glitter Toms and they got dirty really quick. I’ve tried scrubbing them with a wet paper towel but they didn’t really do anything. Can I put them in the washer on a low setting, or will that take the glitter off? What do you suggest?
Heyy, I have the Nordstrom Exclusive Toms with the wool inside. However, the width seems a bit too wide. I’m planning to shrink them. Would it be okay to put them in the dryer? What kind of settings should I use? Please help! Thanks!
Hi!
I’ve recently purchased a pair of ivory glitter toms, and naturally they’ve gotten a little dirty and discolored. Is there a shoe spray (water&stain) repellent that can be used on the toms without them losing their shine?
Thanks!
what about the glittery toms?
Today i got stuck in the rain with my black toms, im afraid that if they dry they’ll smell. Is it safe to put them in the washer even if the leather is exposed and gets wet?
Hi crystal !
You should probably get a small fabric bag and put baking soda and tie it up and stick it in the shoe and it will probably take away the smell … I’m sorry to hear about you TOMS … hope this helped you!
Okay. So I have a pair of TOMS that are light gray/purple. They have gotten dirty and scuffed up at the bottom! I am afraid that putting them in the washer will ruin the bottom even more!! Do you think that it is still okay to put them in washer without any damage?
Thank You!
I got a pair of the black glittery TOMS for Christmas and I love them so much that I’ve barely gone a week without wearing them! Anyways, I live in California and because of all the rain lately, they have gotten really wet and the dirt from previously has become very gross on the inside and I have to try scraping it out with a wipe to clean the soles. I am wondering, if I clean them in the washer, will the sequins come off and is it okay for the leather insoles to get wet in the washer and will it get rid of the odor? thanks so much! this helps a lot!
Cat pee!…all over three pair of my TOMS. Any suggestions before I disown my pet? The shoes affected are all canvas-style and only one pair has a leather insole.
my feet really stink when i wear my Toms, is there any way to reduce the odor. I dont really think you should wear socks but that is one way to reduce stinky feet
What about Glitter Toms? How do you clean/deodarize them? I just got mine today and I am in LOVE with them… But I know with not wearing socks the Stinky Foot Monster will show his ungly head… Any suggestions?
So I was at my friends house and it was raining, i started to run in the house and i ran through the grass, and…….. I SLIPPED AND FELL!!!!!!! My clothes got dirty in mud(which was no big deal…) and sadly my TOMS got all dirty and were covered in MUDDD!!!!!!
I was VERY upset:(
And Now I Need A Solution!!!!
PLEASE HELP!!!!!
I LOVE MY TOMS AND WANT TO
CLEAN THEM SO I CAN WEAR
THEM AGAIN!!!!!!!
Please tell me the best way i could clean them….
Thanks:)
I need to clean my black canvas Toms shoes, but I am scared everyone is saying that the color faded out of them. I do not want that to happen considering i just got them three days ago. Which is better for less/NO fading or decoloring?
does this acuttully work on the sparkle toms or not
I’ve had my TOMS since last summer and I absolutely LOVE them. I haven’t ever tried washing them, but they do have an odor and I have to wash my feet every time I take them off. I’m nervous about washing them for the first time, but mostly afraid of the cork inside the sole bending or wrinkling, should I be worried about that? And will the colors run? I have a front loader and was thinking about machine washing on the hand washing setting then letting them air dry. I have a striped beige pair and a black and white pair. Thanks for any advice.
Part of the leather has come loose in the big toe area. Any way to remedy this. Plus. My feet sweat quite a bit. Is that problematic?
I have a problem. When I wear my toms an outline of my toes goes through the fabric. It bothers because I hate how it looks having my toes stick through my Toms! Help?
I have the same problem with my navy classics!!
i have really light blue toms and i wore them to play flashlight tag in (not a good idea i know!) but now they have grass stains and a little dirt on them. i tried water, shampoo dish detergent and a brush, and it didnt make any difference. im not sure the washing machine would work and i dont want to ruin them, as i dont want to buy another pair
My daughter has a pair of the basic pullon style, sorry don’t know the model name. She needed white for a dance club she’s in and she like the sparkley finish so we got her those. I get the gentle hand wash part but do I need to be concerned about losing the sparkle when I clean them??
I got some canvas TOMS last summer. I was stupid enough to walk around in NYC with the awful heat and now the inside of my shoes are gross looking and smelling. How would I clean the leather of the shoes without ruining them?
i understand that i can wash my toms but i got my toms 2 days ago and the day i got them i put them on and it was muddy and i steppped in mud then i got grease on my shoe from somewhere. WHAT SHOULD I DO ?
sorry forgot to mention somthing there the ash canvas so you can really see the grease!
Ok guys, I tried this and it worked perfectly. Take an old toothbrush and dip it in a mixture of water and tide or any other clothing detergent. Then scrub the sole of the TOMS and as you scrub off some dirt/foot sweat, take a Bounty and clean off the excess solution before the leather of the sole soaks it up. Your TOMS will be ready to use within a few hours or the next day. Give it a try guys, it worked for me
. As for the outside of your TOMS, you should use a soft bristled brush with the sane solution I mentioned before and lightly scrub it. When you finish doing that, let your TOMS air dry inside your house. Why? Because the sun WILL affect the color of your TOMS and the dryer WILL ruin your them. Hope this helped.
I have a pair of red toms and sadly they have dirt smudges on them. Do u know what i do to get rid the dirt smudges on my shoes without having the dye run?
Thanks
The inside of my Toms are sticky, like the leather part is sticking to the sole of my feet. Is there anyway I can clean them so it doesn’t happen anymore?
If all else fails, you can feel good about passing your Toms on to the Salvation Army (or another worthy place). Go buy yourself a new pair and feel all warm and fuzzy again. You have now allowed 3 other people to have Toms!
How can i wash My white toms? Should i bleach them or hand wash them with soap detergent?
I definitely will try to deordour methods! I second to Maddie’s and Nina’s questions. Thanks!
So it’s not something you can do over night?
I have black glitter Toms that have begun to smell absolutely horrid, if I put them in the wash, would the sequins come off? Do you have any other suggestions?
Savannah, when the insides of my TOMS get nasty, what I’ll do is put a light detergent in some warm water (NOT hot or it’ll ruin the dye) and use either a toothbrush or washcloth to scrape out the nasty dried sweat etc on the inside of the shoe. Then, put a couple dryer sheets inside and let them air-dry in the sun. Works wonders! I would avoid the washer with sequins for sure.
how do you clean wool shoes
I have just bought the new Floral print toms and I wore them out the other night to the bars and then got dirt all on the top of them. Would you recommend me hand washing them due to all the colors having the possibility of bleeding together? Also if I hand wash them is using spray and wash on them okay to do?
What if your toms are clean but just stink
What would happen if you used concentrated soap???
Hello! A couple things– I the brown canvas TOMS and they have been taking quite the beating. Starting with someone dropping their ice cream all over them. Then getting caught in the rain and stepping in a few unavoidable puddles. And most recently, doing a lot of work that involved wet leaves and damp sand. My TOMS are looking pretty worn right now but they’re my favourite shoes and I couldn’t possibly go a day without them! Not to mention the whole smelly feet problem you were talking about is not helping. Any suggestions? A one last question– I’m sure this holds true for a lot of TOM owners; because I wear them so often, you can totally see the weariness of where my toes are with or without them on. Is there any way to fix/ avoid this?
Most TOMS come with cardboard inserts which I put back in my TOMS after I wear them to help them retain their shape and not show toe marks. As for the smell, I usually take a couple of dryer sheets and stick them in my TOMS, and every few weeks, I take some rubbing alcohol and use it on the inside footbed. This seems to help the smell.
Well my toms are dirty , I have the classics ash gray and below the toms logo there’s dirt that I’d like to get rid of but I don’t know how. PLEASE HELP & ANSWER BACK !
i just got a pair of red TOMS from my aunt, she only wore them a couple times but my grandma still wants me to wash them. Would it be okay if i put them in a top load washer with cold water and light detergent and then let them air dry? Or would that just ruin them? Help me please!! Thanks
I just bought a new pair of toms a few days ago and wore them to work for the first time yesterday. i noticed this morning that my heels were all brown, similar to the colour of the leather in the shoe. Is this normal?
What about the wedge version???
Thanks so much. This article has been a great help!! Love my TOMS and wanna take care of them the best way I can.
Okay, so I made the mistake of walking through mud with toms now there all over the side of my shoe!! If I use a wet rag on the outside of the shoe will that work?
That worked on my wife’s brown ones.
My white toms are so dirty I really want to clean them what is the best way I can do that ?
Oh, and by the way, just reply on my e – mail please!!! Thank you! Please help with my white, tire stained TOMS!!! Please?
they are brand new and now they are ruined 
they are the only pair of shoes I have!!!
i have black toms , if i do what you told me to do , will the color fade ?
roar kayla
No. I have the same color abd took yhe risk . Lol. It came.out.great ! Just dry the leather with a paper towel or napkin so the leather doesnt get all crusty
aaa
.
I was out in the rain for about 3 hours and my toms are disgusting! What is the best way to wash them??
I just used this method after having my Toms for 2 Weeks. It worked amazing . Just make sure to dry the leather with a napkin or papertowel . The leather gets all ugly.
Does this work on TOMS that have sparkles?
Do not do it on the TOMS that are glittery if you’re going to do the hand wash with the soft bristle-the glitter sparkles will come off. As for washing machine, I am not sure.
I USED STAIN REMOVER ON MY TOMS !! THEY DON’T LOOK LIKE THEY ARE DRYING WHAT DO I DO ? WAS IT A BAD IDEA?
What if I have natural crochet TOMS?? I don’t want to ruin them:/
I wear my toms like everyday, at school they get super dirty. If i wash them in the washing machine like you said do they have to be by their selves or can i add other items also??
seriously a life saver! but I’ve washed one pair twice & the glue holding down the leather is starting to wear off..
DO NOT-UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES-do the hand wash with a bristle on your GLITTERY shoes. I was barley started on my first shoe and the soft bristles in the brush made my glitter come OFF my shoe! Now I have brown empty holes where white glitter should go… NOT OK! Brand new and now ruined, I wish I could fix it.
Any ideas on how to wash white glittery (bridal) toms?? I just got them not even a week ago and they’re all brown already!
i heard if you hand wash TOMS after there dry your suppose to get a hair dryer put it on cool get baby powder and put it in the shoe and blow it out. Is that true? and is it bad if the lether inside the shoe gets wet?
I just got my toms 3 days ago I took them to school for my social and people were stepping all over my toms I was so mad
the tips of them are starting to turn white what should do?
I tied getting a paper towel and trying too dab the stuff off it didn’t work PLEASE HELP!!!!!! im going to wear them for my movin on ceremony its in 2 days
I used a tide to go pen on mine and it worked great. Even the rubber bottom part.
My boyfriend and I are off to Venice next week and went holiday shopping yesterday and bought a pair of Toms each….. Got home today and our puppy had broken in the spare room and demolished our shopping bags… The toms are ok but she has chewed the insoles (one from each pair).
…can these be replaced?
Please help me! I have navy classics and I have had them for about a week and you can see where my toes are!
I used the tide pen to clean mine (they’re white & navy stripes)
Iwore my Toms before I was aware I had poison ivy. Is there any suggestion short of throwing them our? You can scrub leather shoes to,get rid of PI oils but I am not sure about canvas shoes. Any suggestions?
Wait…so, are these washing tips for the leather sole as well? Or only the side part of the shoe? Because I hate the way mine smell and I’m more than sure the smell is all in the sole
I have the Fluorescent Pink Palmetto TOMS. I got them about a week ago and they got really dirty. So, I hand washed them they way Shoe Digest said to but the pink colour faded at the tips…quite a lott . What can I put on them to keep the colour in?
Please reply!!!
i was just wondering if anyone has tried this with a pair of light blue TOMS and if it has worked for u because im kind of scared. they’ve gotten dirty from mostly just some dirt. but because they’re light blue, it makes them look really gross.
I got the natural crochet TOMS 3 days ago. They were $70 and I’d rather that not be wasted. The problem is, I stepped through some mud… I wiped as much as I could off with a rag, but they’re still somewhat dirty. It’s hard to keep them clean… I’m far too paranoid to put them in the washing machine especially because they’re brand new.
How can I clean them that won’t wreck the soles or tear at the crochet? I don’t want them to unravel or anything.
Has anyone tried anything and have any tips for me? I’m scared to try anything!
Thanks
Hi I have purple canvas and white canvas toms and I got them two datlys ago and the inside have black marks on the leather strip is there any way to clean them? Thanks!
I hand washed my TOMS with a scrub brush but i didnt know i wasnt supposed to get the leather wet. I dont have any method if drying other than air drying because im camping. Is the leather going to be destroyed?
i tried washin them in the dryer i guess i put to much heat. and they faded. how do you bring back the color.
I have a pair of felt and sparkle tom if i machine washed them would it tear of the sparkles ruin the felt and if I let them air dry would it ruin the leather
I just bought a pare of the burlap Toms and want to know if you can hand wash them then add a fabric softner to soften the buerlap a bit
Ok, i have been reading all the comments, and i still cam across 1 question:
Everyone keeps saying that the Leather inside will get ruined if its wet; but it will get wet if we put it in the wash. So, what do i do about that?
And my TOMS have been through a lot, like HUGE rain puddles, and a few rainstorms. they have been stepped on a number of times, and they stink terribly, the smell is very repulsive. Should I be using Baking Soda in a sheet or something?
I want to keep my TOMS looking fresh, clean and new.
Please Reply
I washed my navy classics and the insole was perfectly fine!
I’m about to hand wash my TOMS in Dr Bronner’s pure castile soap! I’m going to wash the outside as recommended here, then for the leather inside I will put a couple of drops on a cloth and rub thoroughly. The oils in the castile soap should keep the leather from drying, while giving it an amazing smell
I’m then going to use Bicarbonate of soda (which is also an amazing deodorant btw!) in a sachet to keep odour away in between wearing them 
Let me know if any of you want to know how I get on with Dr Bronner’s soap. p.s. I just bought my 3rd pair of TOMS! LOVE LOVE THEM!!! 
I personally don’t like to wash them even if they are dirty it gives them character I think. I need to wash them because they are sticky
My mom recently cleaned my red toms shoes. She used a shoe shampoo thing and water. The shampoo is suppose to be okay for all shoes but on the inside of my toms there are red stains. She also got water on the leather on the inside. We couldn’t put them outside yesterday because of the rain so now they are still damp and currently outside (its a nicer day today). Is there any way of getting the red stains out of the inside? Are my toms going to be okay?
I have the white sparkly bridal toms and they are beginning to look dirty. What’s the safest and best way to clean them and hopefully whiten them as well?
Hello I have the classic glitter toms in silver and my friend stepped on them and left a grass stain. Which method do you think well get the grass stain out?
can you use concentrated dish soad for the hand washing method?
can you use concentrated dish soap for the hand washing method?
Dose this also get rid of dog poop stains
HELP!!!……..
.
.
My TOMS stink! Washing them
By hand is deffo not
Going to work lol. I’ve
Only had them for just over a month and can’t bare being without them! I
Would
Rather my feet stink than be without them! Ha ha! I have just fount a site with toms for 28quid so I’m gona pollute my house a little
Longer with the stink untill my new ones arrive and then I
May consider putting my old ones in the washing
Machine ha ha! I will let
You all
Know
How
It goes
Cleaning and treating the leather insole with pig suede cleanser and conditioner may help to tone down the smell, though it won’t remove stains nor protect against them.
Thanks for writing in Steph!
if it is bad for the inside leather to get wet how do you put it in the washing machine ?
This is a great point Samantha, we understand that the directions are a bit redundant. It’s really up to you if you want to risk putting the shoe in the wash where the leather will get wet, the thing about it is though is how the leather dries. A gentle cleanser and conditioner for pig suede (which is what the insole is made out of) is an alternative to machine washing. Though the stains on the insole will not come out nor can you really protect them from setting in in the first place, it’s a good way to keep the leather as clean as possible and thus a bit fresher. Exterior cleaning using the hand washing method is also your best bet if you’re nervous about throwing the shoes in the wash. If you do decide to try the machine, just keep an eye on the adhesive below the insole.
Can anyone here provide any insight into how to repair or strengthen an insole adhesive?
Thanks for commenting Samantha!
you can clean toms by putting them in a pillow case and wash them and then after i scrubbed then with hairspray
Interesting Mia, what does the hairspray do?
I just bought my tons. They are aqua blue. My nephew was over n got into my markers. He left a blue one open next to my find. It was touching the fabric. Now my heel is turned blue. Any idea how to get it out. Uggghhhh.
Grease Lightening has been instrumental in many of our strain removing attempts, we’d start there. After that, do some research on removing ink from canvas fabric. Sorry about the luck!
I have a pair of the neon pink TOMS. I was running through the airport and some suitcase tires ran over my toms. I’m worried the color will fade if I wash them and I just got them last week. Has anyone else tried washing them and/or have any advice about the best way to clean them without fading the color?
Make sure you use cold water and dab lightly, making sure not to saturate the fabric with too much water. You want just enough to pull the marks out. Good luck!
I’ve had my Toms for a little over a month and they smell really bad. How can I get the stink out of the insoles? I don’t want to ruin them.
Well you can put feet deodorant on your feet before you wear them,I prefer Dr.Scholls.To get rid of the smell already in them you might want to put them in the laundry on a low setting with a gentle wash cycle with a gentle detergent.Then after if they are still smelly put a strong purfume on them it worked for me
I have a pair of black multi glitter TOMS, and it has been raining here so much. I went in my best friends backyard with my TOMS on and there was mud everywhere, so all along the edge of my TOMS is mud. What do i do to get it off..?
I’ve had my black toms since march and the insides have turned dirty and somewhat brown!! What can I do to get them back to white?
I have The beige canvas style one and I have grass stains and also a weird black mark that I don’t know where it’s comes from, how can I get it out?
What if they are glittery TOMS do you think the glitter will come off in the washer please respond,?
Ugh ! I don’t know what to do ! I don’t wanna ruin my BOBS ! The inside of them smell like rubber for some reason… I swear it’s not my feet ! Please help me ! :/
Well I just washed mine grey ones (hand washing) and they totally got discolored.. I’m so disappointed! I only put a little of soup and water and now they look horrible.. They were my favorite :,(
I bought a pair of Toms canvas shoes when I was out of town. After I was home and wanted to wear them the first time, they had a terrible strong skunk odor! Can’t find anyone that has had this problem. Tried spraying them with Odorban every day for a week, dryer sheets, newspaper. Still have odor. Never heard of such a thing. Help!
for anyone who is reading please help, i own TOMS that are very stinky after wearing everyday and what to know how to rid of that PLEASE HELP(:
I have Toms that are like a newspaper design that says “Carpe Deim” a ton of times and I just recently accidentally got them rain drenched. They were super wet, and so I set them out to dry. Now they’re all stiff and not at all the soft material that they were. Is there anyway I can fix it so that they’re back the way they were?
Hi. I just successfully washed my toddler’s sparkly pink toms in the washing machine. It is a front loader and I used the Tom’s canvas bag. I washed them in cold water with TiDE cold water detergent in the gentle cycle. Air dried. No loss of sparkles. My daughter had an accident and I needed to thoroughly remove the urine from the shoes. I was so worried that they would be ruined since these are her absolute favorite.
I have a pair of green toms and they got a white spot on one side.. So I grabbed a face cloth and lightly tried to rub it out because I figured if I cleaned it too much it would fade. It ended up fading anyways! So I just wanted to know how to get the colour back or even out the fading?
I’ve had my toms for a while and never had problems or had to clean them but they look faded is this just dust or are they faded and if they are faded is their a way I can clean them or do I need to buy a new pair? I love my toms and would hate to have to throw them away oh and they are navy !!!
How do I clean velvet toms?
I don’t have seventh generation detergent I have Palmolive can I use that to hand wash my toms or I have laundry detergent called “just the basic”it’s a Cvs brand could I use that to put in my washer machine and I have a delicate cycle on my washer machine
Ok, so I actually went ahead and washed my 1 year old, very stinky TOMS (Navy Canvas Classics) very successfully. Here’s what I did:
- I sprinkled some eucalyptus oil on the leather innersole of the shoe (6-8 drops, be liberal)
- I placed them in a lingerie bag and in my front-loading washer
- I used normal clothes washing detergent and fabric softener, I placed half a capful of eucalyptus oil in with the fabric softener
- I washed them on a normal cycle (with nothing else in the machine)
- Left them to dry on my windowsill, in afternoon sun
Here is some extra info:
- It seems to me that TOMS fade more from the sun than from washing. Washing them did not fade them any further at all (remember mine are a year old)
- The leather innersole seemed fine after washing and drying, it did not go ‘hard and crispy’ as it could have. If it did I would simply rub some olive oil spray into it later with a paper towel (easy!)
- Any ‘stains’ that end up on the innersole from dropping eucalyptus oil onto it disappear in the wash, so no oil stains either
- This process has all but eradicated the stench and I would do it again without a worry
- I would think twice before washing prints, remember, mine were plain.
Hope this helps, good luck!
I have red toms and I’m afraid they will bleed on my clothes. Should I was them with towels or what do you reccomend? I have a front load dryer.
I have a pair of the artist painting TOMS and they got this black stain on the top of them. I’m afraid if I hand wash them that the paint strokes could come off. What do I do to get rid of the stain without ruining the design?
I have washed both pairs of my toms in the wasing machine on a 40 degree wash, i just threw them in with clothes too, then left them to dry in the airing coupbourd, there good as new!
would this work if i have navy toms, & the flour dust got on them so now they kinda white, cause of the flour, would it work hand washing them like ya’ll have already said ?
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