How to wash Hey Dudes depends on the upper material: fabric pairs in canvas, jersey or chambray can usually be hand washed or machine washed cold on a gentle cycle in a mesh bag, then air dried, while suede, leather and wool pairs should be spot cleaned only.
Before you start, check the care label inside your shoes or the brand’s current care instructions, since guidance can vary by style. This routine follows the same gentle principles as our main guide on how to wash clothes: cool water, mild detergent and no high heat.
Quick answer
- Identify the upper material first; fabric uppers tolerate water, while suede, leather and wool do not.
- Remove laces and insoles, use a mesh bag and a small amount of liquid detergent, and wash cold on gentle.
- Hand washing with mild soap and a soft brush is the safest method for any washable pair.
- Never use hot water, chlorine bleach or the dryer; heat can shrink, warp or loosen glued parts.
- Stuff shoes with paper and air dry for 24 to 48 hours away from direct heat.
Can You Wash Hey Dudes? (Quick Answer)
Yes, most fabric Hey Dudes can be washed. Canvas, jersey, chambray and similar textile uppers usually handle a cold, gentle machine cycle or a hand wash. Suede, leather and wool uppers should not be submerged; spot clean them instead. Always confirm with the care tag or the brand’s current guidance for your specific pair.
Check the Material First
The upper material decides the cleaning method. Look at the product name, the inside tag or your order details to confirm whether your pair is canvas, knit, chambray, suede, leather or wool. When in doubt, treat the shoe as delicate and hand clean it rather than putting it in the washer.
| Upper material | Machine washable? | Best method |
|---|---|---|
| Canvas or cotton | Usually yes | Cold gentle cycle in a mesh bag, or hand wash |
| Jersey or knit | Usually yes | Cold gentle cycle in a mesh bag, or hand wash |
| Chambray or denim-look | Usually yes | Cold gentle cycle; may fade slightly |
| Suede | No | Dry suede brush and eraser |
| Leather | No | Damp cloth and leather cleaner |
| Wool or felted wool | No | Spot clean with cool water and wool-safe soap |
How to Wash Hey Dudes in the Washing Machine
To machine wash fabric Hey Dudes, remove the laces and insoles, place the shoes in a mesh laundry bag with a couple of old towels, add a small amount of mild liquid detergent, and run a cold, delicate cycle with a low spin. Then air dry. This method is for washable fabric uppers only.
Remove Laces and Insoles
- Knock off loose dirt with a dry brush.
- Pull out removable laces.
- Lift out removable insoles to hand wash separately, since foam can lose its shape in a machine.
Use a Mesh Bag and Liquid Detergent
- Put the shoes in a zippered mesh laundry bag, laces in a small separate bag.
- Add two old towels to balance the load.
- Use a little mild liquid detergent; powder can leave residue.
Wash Cold on Gentle
- Select the delicate or gentle cycle with cold water and the lowest spin setting.
- Skip fabric softener and chlorine bleach.
- Remove the shoes right away and reshape them by hand.
Stylist’s tip
If your machine has no gentle setting or your pair is older and worn, hand wash instead; it puts far less stress on seams and glued soles.
How to Hand Wash Hey Dudes
Hand washing is the gentlest and most reliable way to clean fabric Hey Dudes. Mix a few drops of mild dish soap or laundry detergent into a sink of cool or lukewarm water, scrub the uppers with a soft brush, rinse with clean water and air dry. It takes about 15 minutes of hands-on time.
In the Sink
- Remove the laces and insoles.
- Fill a sink with cool water and a few drops of mild dish soap.
- Scrub the uppers in small circles with a soft brush dipped in the suds.
- Scrub the soles with a slightly stiffer brush.
- Rinse under cool running water until it runs clear.
- Press out water with a towel; never wring the shoe.
The 5-Minute Spot Clean
For a small mark, blot it with a soapy microfiber cloth from the outside in, wipe with a clean damp cloth, and run a melamine sponge over the soles.
Cleaning Suede, Leather and Wool Hey Dudes
Suede, leather and wool Hey Dudes should be spot cleaned, never machine washed or soaked. Water can stain suede, dry out leather and felt or shrink wool. Use a dry brush and eraser for suede, a damp cloth with leather cleaner for leather, and a cool, gentle dab of wool-safe soap for wool.
- Suede: Let mud dry, brush in one direction with a suede brush, and rub scuffs with a suede eraser.
- Leather: Wipe with a barely damp cloth, apply a small amount of leather cleaner, then condition once dry to keep it supple.
- Wool: Dab spots with cool water and a drop of wool-safe soap, blot dry and let the shoe air dry away from heat.
How to Clean Insoles, Soles and Laces
Insoles, soles and laces need their own care. Hand wash removable insoles with mild soap and let them dry completely, scrub rubber soles with a brush, and wash laces in a small mesh bag or by hand. Baking soda overnight is the easiest way to remove lingering odor.
- Insoles: Scrub gently with soapy water and air dry flat for a full day.
- Soles: Scrub with a baking soda paste, then rinse.
- Laces: Soak in soapy water for 15 minutes, then hang to dry.
Odor Control for Sockless Wear
If you go sockless, sprinkle baking soda inside each shoe at night and shake it out in the morning. Rotating two pairs lets each dry out fully.
How to Remove Stains and Whiten White Hey Dudes
Treat stains before a full wash. Lift mud once dry, pre-treat grass with liquid detergent, and blot oil with dish soap. For white canvas or knit pairs, use an oxygen-based whitener paste rather than chlorine bleach, which can yellow fabric and weaken glue. Dry away from direct sun to prevent yellowing.
| Stain | What to use | How |
|---|---|---|
| Mud | Dry brush, then soapy water | Let it dry fully, brush off, then scrub what remains |
| Grass | Liquid laundry detergent | Work in with a soft brush, wait 10 minutes, rinse |
| Oil or grease | Dish soap or cornstarch | Blot, sprinkle cornstarch overnight, then wash |
| Yellowing on whites | Oxygen-based whitener paste | Apply, wait 30 minutes, rinse well |
For more on keeping fabrics bright, see our guide on how to wash white clothes.
How to Dry Hey Dudes Without Shrinking
Always air dry Hey Dudes. Stuff them loosely with paper towels or plain white paper to absorb moisture and hold their shape, then leave them in a well-ventilated room for 24 to 48 hours. Keep them away from the dryer, radiators, space heaters and strong direct sunlight, which can shrink, fade or warp them.
Do
- Replace damp paper stuffing every few hours.
- Use a fan on low to speed drying.
Don’t
- Put the shoes in a clothes dryer.
- Use a hair dryer or heater vent.
How Often to Clean and How to Store Them
Spot clean your Hey Dudes whenever you notice marks, and give washable pairs a full wash every few weeks of regular wear, or sooner after mud or heavy sweating. Store them in a cool, dry, ventilated place, rotating pairs so each one can air out between wears.
- Store shoes in breathable cotton bags, not sealed plastic.
- Keep a cedar insert inside pairs you wear often.
- Building a rotation? Our guide to types of shoes explains other casual styles.
For care routines on other accessories that face sweat and weather, see our guides to how to wash a hat and how to wash a wool sweater.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put Hey Dudes in the washing machine?
Fabric styles in canvas, jersey or chambray can usually go in the washing machine on a cold, gentle cycle inside a mesh bag, with the laces and insoles removed. Suede, leather and wool pairs should never be machine washed. Check the care tag or the brand’s current instructions for your exact pair first.
Can you use Dawn dish soap on Hey Dudes?
Yes, a few drops of a mild dish soap in cool or lukewarm water work well on fabric uppers and rubber soles. Scrub gently with a soft brush and rinse thoroughly so no soap residue stays in the fabric. Avoid using dish soap on suede, which water and soap can stain.
Will Hey Dudes shrink in the dryer?
Yes, dryer heat can shrink fabric uppers, warp foam insoles and weaken the glue that holds the sole in place. Always air dry them instead. Stuff the shoes with paper, set them in a well-ventilated room and allow 24 to 48 hours for them to dry completely before wearing.
How do I wash Hey Dude insoles?
Remove the insoles and hand wash them separately with a soft brush and a little mild soap in cool water. Rinse lightly, press out water with a towel and let them air dry flat for a full day. Make sure they are completely dry before putting them back in the shoes.
How do I get the smell out of Hey Dudes?
Sprinkle baking soda inside each shoe and leave it overnight, then shake it out. Wash the insoles, let everything dry completely, and rotate between pairs so each one airs out. Wearing thin no-show socks on hot days also absorbs sweat and slows odor from coming back.
