Memory foam sandals are notorious for losing their shape when put through even the gentlest cleaning cycles.
But you’ll get some good use out of household cleaning agents, like baking soda, an all-purpose cleaner, hydrogen peroxide, laundry detergent, and a cleaning toothbrush!
When it comes to cleaning memory foam sandals, make the best out of these inexpensive, comfortable shoes by giving them some TLC.
Go Over It With a Dry Brush And a Damp Rag
Before breaking out the heavy-duty cleaning tools, try to clean off surface-level stains and dirt with a brush and rag. If you get to cleaning soon enough, this simple treatment might be enough to fix up your sandals.
- It’s best to do this over a sink, near a garden hose, or over a bathtub. Anywhere you can flush away the dirt will do.
- Using a brush or an old cleaning toothbrush, make gentle circular motions. This helps lift the loose dirt and grime.
- Take a damp rag, and firmly wipe off any superficial stains. If you’ve dropped any potent staining agents on your sandals, like wine or curry, wipe away the spill as soon as possible. This is even more important if your sandals are light-colored. It’s best to air dry them in direct sunlight when you’re done.
Laundry Detergent And Water
A general washing method that will lift most light stains, without compromising the structural integrity of your memory foam soles.
Here is everything you’ll need:
- Laundry detergent
- Water
- A spray bottle
- A towel
- Make a mixture of 1 part laundry detergent and 2 parts warm water. Pour it into a spray bottle, and shake well to combine.
- Spray the mixture onto your flip-flops, let it sit for a couple of seconds, and then soak and gently scrub with a towel. Do this until the sandals are clean. If you still have some staining, move on to the next cleaning method.
Tip: If you want to prolong your sandals’ life, it’s best to clean them with this solution as soon as you notice any new stains on them. The sooner you catch new stains, the easier it is to remove them.
Baking Soda And All-Purpose Cleaner
Baking soda works by dissolving organic compounds like grease and dirt and providing gentle abrasion and some deodorizing action if you want to clean memory foam shoes. The all-purpose cleaner fights stains on the chemical front without damaging your sandals.
For this method, you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- An all-purpose cleaner
- An old toothbrush
After gathering your things, follow these steps:
- Mix 2 parts baking soda and 1 part all-purpose cleaner of your choice to create a paste. Depending on the consistency of your all-purpose cleaner, you might need to add more or less to achieve the right consistency.
The mixture should be fluid enough to be spreadable, but not runny, so play around with the ratio until you get the desired results.
- Spread the mixture onto the soles of your sandals. Use a generous amount, and make sure to cover the entire surface.
- Take an old toothbrush and scrub your sandals with it. Be firm in your movements, but not aggressive. Give the sole’s entire surface some attention, but focus on the dirtiest areas.
- Let the mixture soak in for 5 minutes. Don’t walk away from your sandals, as letting this paste sit for longer might discolor them.
- Rinse your sandals off with cold water. Let them dry in a place with good air circulation, like on a windowsill.
Hydrogen Peroxide Spot Treatment
Even after thoroughly cleaning your sandals, there are still some stubborn stains that refuse to come out. Hydrogen peroxide is a widely-available cleaning agent that’s tough enough to remove those annoying blemishes without ruining the memory foam.
For this cleaning method, you’ll need:
- Water
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Q-tips
Here is the step-by-step method that targets stubborn stains. Don’t use it on the entire surface of the sole—only the dirtiest parts.
- Make a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 4 parts water. It’s not recommended that you up the hydrogen peroxide to water ratio, as it’ll discolor your sandals and ruin the comfortability of the memory foam.
- Soak a Q-tip in the mixture, and gently rub it onto the stain. Be careful not to overdo it, to avoid lifting the color of your sandals.
- When you’re satisfied with the results, run your sandals under some cold water and let them dry in a well-ventilated area.
Tip: Hydrogen peroxide is a harsh enough chemical to get stubborn stains out without damaging the environment, so don’t substitute it for bleach.
Anything that gets on memory foam is almost impossible to get out. This isn’t a problem when it comes to hydrogen peroxide, but bleach is much more harmful to your skin. Not only that, but it can lift your sandals’ color too.
What About Chucking Them In The Washing Machine?
As comfortable as memory foam is, it’s also very sensitive to even the lowest washing machine settings. It’s made up of many delicate foam bubbles, which are almost guaranteed to break in the washing machine.
If your sandals are nearing the end of their life and you only want them to last for another season, feel free to throw them in the washing machine. Even then, only use cold water and a gentle cleaning cycle.
Which Method Is Best To Clean Memory Foam Sandals?
When it comes to memory foam shoes or sandals, or even slippers, it’s best to start gently and continue with a more aggressive cleaning method if the previous one proved ineffective.
These cleaning methods are listed from least to most aggressive.
The more aggressive the cleaning solution, the more likely it is to damage the memory foam.
None of the aforementioned cleaning methods are particularly damaging, but there’s no need to use hydrogen peroxide on your sandals for stains that could be removed with some laundry detergent and water.
Final Thoughts
This comprehensive guide on how to wash memory foam sandals will help you keep your shoes squeaky clean.
With just a few common household items, you can make your sandals look brand new and feel just as comfortable. Remember to be gentle, never use harsh chemicals, and (almost) never put them in the washing machine.
