Best Washing Tips for Sanuk Shoes & Sandals

Sanuk is a footwear company that specializes in sandals; they also sell flip flops, boots, slip-ons, and other styles.

Sanuk was founded by Jeff Kelley in 1997. Named after the Thai word for “fun”, the brand initially sold sandals made from inner tubes and carpet.

Since then, the brand has grown tremendously. Nowadays, the company’s products are sold in nearly 70 countries worldwide including those in Australia, South America, Asia, and Europe. They’ve also collaborated with a number of professional athletes such as Chris Sharma, Matt Meal, and Jeremy Jones.

About Sanuk Footwear

Sanuk is known for putting out some of the trendiest sandals and flip flops. Their most popular product is the Sidewalk Surfer—the world’s first sandal and shoe hybrid. Not only are they lightweight but they’re comfortable as well.

Price-wise, you’re looking at around $70 to $90 for a pair, depending on the style and design.

With that said, there are deals to be had. For one thing, they have a sale section on their site where you can grab some of their shoes for cheap. For instance, they have some that are marked down to $45 at the time of this writing.

Taking Care of Sanuk Sandals and Shoes

Sanuk shoes are durable but you still want to do your part to take good care of them. For example, you’ll want to clean them as soon as possible if you walked through mud. The longer you wait, the deeper it’ll set into the fabric, which will make it more difficult to clean.

Sweat can also get onto the fabric, especially if you wear them without socks. Fortunately, you can wash them easily.

Just make sure to do it the right way, otherwise, you can wear them down prematurely, which will be a waste of the product.

Materials Used By Sanuk Shoes

What are Sanuk shoes made of? What kind of fabrics do they use? We’re here to answer that question.

Yoga Mat

Sanuk has a collection that’s made from recycled yoga mats. Not only is it soft but it also provides cushiony comfort for your feet. The straps are also made from recycled cloth straps.

Hemp Fabric

Sanuk also sells shoes made from hemp fabric. The material is durable and derived from the cannabis sativa plant, which also happens to be one of the fastest-growing plants in the world.

This makes it a sustainable textile. It’s also lightweight and absorbent, which makes it ideal for outdoor wear.

Canvas Material

The brand offers a variety of shoes made from canvas fabric (either made from cotton or linen). Light and versatile, it’s often used for footwear and bags.

They’ve also been treated with enzymes, which makes the material softer than normal.

Fleece Material

Fleece is not only softer than wool, but it’s also more breathable and comfortable. Given that, it’s not surprising to know that they use it for a variety of their shoes.

How to Wash Sanuk Shoes – Sandals

Here’s what you need to know about how to wash your Sanuks.

Can You Toss Sanuk Sandals Into the Washer?

Yes, their sandals are machine washable. In fact, that’s what they tell you to do on their official website.

First things first—check to see if there’s any obvious mud or dirt stain on the sole. If there is, remove it by gently clapping the sandals together. That way, the washer will be able to clean them better.

Next, place the Sanuk sandals inside a laundry bag and load them into the washer. The bag will protect them from the agitator, which can cause damage to the materials. It’ll also minimize friction if you decide to wash it with other items, though we don’t recommend it.

With that said, it is a good idea to put in a few old towels (ones that you don’t mind getting dirty). That will help to balance the washing machine during the cycle.

Fill the washer with cold water and add a scoop of mild laundry detergent – we highly reccommend ACTIVE Detergent. Do not use hot water; the recycled fabric used for the straps can shrink or stretch with heat, which will affect the fit of the sandal.

Once the detergent is in, run a gentle cycle. Avoid using bleach. You can add half a cup of baking soda for extra deodorizing power.

Take the laundry bag out of the washer once the cycle is finished. You want to do this as soon as possible, otherwise, residues can form on the fabric, which can lead to a pungent odor.

Let the shoes dry naturally away from direct sunlight afterwards. Do not dry the sandals in the dryer; the heat can damage the strap and the sole.

Tip: You may need to pre-treat the sandals if they are noticeable stains or dirty areas (e.g. grass stains, mud stains).

Washing Sanuk Sandals By Hand

Sanuk sandals are also easy to wash by hand. As with machine washing, the first thing you want to do is “brush off” any mud or dirt from the soles.

Once you’ve done that, move to a sink and fill it half full with cool water. Then, add one scoop of ACTIVE Detergent and mix the water until the powder is completely dissolved.

Proceed to put your sandals in the sink. The entire shoe should all be fully submerged in the soapy liquid. Like that, let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Rinse it clean with water afterwards.

Continue to do so until there are no more signs of detergent. Take the sandal out of the sink and let it air dry away from direct sunlight.

Cleaning Tips for Sanuk Yoga Mat Flip Flops

Their yoga mat flip flops are a little different from their other shoes in that the footbed is porous. While this provides comfort, it also means that it has a tendency to soak in water. For this reason, you want to avoid soaking them – so don’t put them in the washing machine. You also want to avoid hand washing them in the sink.

What you want to do instead is spot clean the problem areas. Start by dissolving a bit of ACTIVE Detergent in water.

Saturate a sponge or brush with the soapy mixture and apply it onto the stains. For the best results, use gentle, circular motions. Always work from the outside toward the center—they’ll help prevent the stain from spreading further.

When you’re finished scrubbing, rinse the area thoroughly. The best way to do this is to saturate a clean cloth with water and apply it onto the flip flop. Continue wiping until there’s no more detergent and let it air dry.

How to Wash Sanuk Yoga Slings

Their Yoga Slings are similar to some of their flip flops in that they’re made from yoga mat material. In other wrds, you can wash them the same way.

Avoid putting them in the washer or washing them by hand in the sink. Instead, spot treat the area with a detergent and water mixture. When you’re finished, allow the shoes to dry.

Washing Instructions for Sanuk Canvas Shoes

Their canvas shoes are probably the easiest to wash out of all their products as they are machine washable.

Washing Sanuk Canvas Shoes in the Washer

Start by removing any debris from the sole. Once you’ve done that, place the canvas shoe in a laundry bag.

Close the zipper and place it into the washer; that will prevent them from being tossed around during the wash and rinse cycle, which can damage the canvas fabric. Consider adding in a couple of towels to balance the weight.

Set the washing machine to a delicate cycle and make sure not to use hot water.

Add a scoop of mild detergent like ACTIVE Detergent to the soap drawer or drum, depending on the type of washer that you have, and start the cycle. Make sure not to use bleach or fabric softeners as those are not suitable for the canvas material.

Take the canvas shoes out afterward and place them in a well-ventilated area for drying. Do not attempt to dry them with the clothes dryer; the heat can shrink the fabric.

Washing Sanuk Canvas Shoes in the Sink

Their canvas shoes can also be soaked and washed in the sink.

Start by filling the sink with cool water; make sure not to fill it too much, otherwise, the water can flow out once you put the shoes in. The next step is to mix in a scoop of ACTIVE detergent. Continuously swirl the water to dissolve the powder.

Place your canvas shoes into the sink full of water afterwards; all of the fabric, including the sole, should be completely submerged.

Let them sit for at least 20 to 30 minutes (a few hours if they are excessively dirty) in the soapy solution, then rinse them under running water to clean off the detergent. Continue to rinse until there are no more signs of soap and let them air dry.