How to Clean & Deodorize Hey Dude Slip On Shoes

Hey Dude Shoes is a company that’s dedicated to selling the most comfortable of footwear. Not only do they offer men products, but they also sell shoes for women and children. On top of that, they sell a variety of insoles—including ones for vegans.

More About Hey Dude Shoes

Hey Dudes Shoes was established in 2008. Based in Italy, the brand eventually hit the market in early 2009. From there, they opened their first U.S. branch in the spring of 2010. Since then, they’ve also expanded to Europe, Eastern Asia, and South America. By 2011, they had sold more than 1 million pairs of shoes worldwide.

Nowadays, their products can be found at a number of stories including Zappos, Dillard’s Schools, Glik’s, and more. Of course, you can also buy them directly from their online store. 

More About Hey Dude Products 

The company sells a variety of shoes including slip-ons, boots, sandals, and sneakers. Recently, they also came out with the Mistral collection, which is designed for water activities. Not only does it dry quickly, but it also features a poly mesh sole, which allows water to escape freely.

One of their selling points is the price—that is, all of their shoes are very affordable. You’re looking at less than $60 for a pair of slip-ons and around $40 for a pair of sneakers. What’s more, is that their products go on sale regularly. In fact, they have a permanent sales section on their website that you can check out!

Taking Care of Hey Dude Shoes 

Now you’re probably wondering, “what does that mean in terms of quality?”. Well, you’ll be happy to know that all of their shoes are built to last. For one thing, they won’t come apart after just a few weeks. In fact, you’ll probably be able to get at least a couple of years out of them—that is, if you take good care of them.

In other words, you want to wear them properly. For example, don’t be lazy and have your heel out at the back—that can easily bend and warp the material. Another thing that you want to be careful with is washing. Yes, you should be washing them regularly and no, you can’t just throw them into the washing machine with your clothes. Things like that can easily wear down the shoes prematurely.

Want to know the best way to wash them? If so, you’re in luck—because that’s what we’ll be talking about in this post.

Materials Used By Hey Dude Shoes

Before we check out the washing instructions, let’s take a look at what materials they use for their shoes. That’s one of the things that determines how you wash an item. For example, you wouldn’t want to put a pair of shoes in the washer if they’re made from leather.

Flexwood

Hey Dude recently developed a new material called Flexwood that’s made from real wood. Repurposed from flexwood material, it’s combined with hand-selected veneer, which gives it a one-of-a-kind texture. What’s more, is that a portion of sales goes towards Kiwi’s for Kiwi, a charity that aims to support kiwi conservation projects.

Cocosoul

Coco Soul is a material that they use for insoles. More specifically, it’s used in the ones that come with their flexwood shoes. Made from real cork, they’re sealed with coconut oil to maintain freshness. No animal by-products are used.

Eco Knit

Their Eco-Knit collection is made from repurposed “environmental waste.” In other words, they’re made from 100% recycled fiber. In doing so, they’re doing their part to reverse the plastic epidemic. Material-wise, it’s not only soft, but it’s durable as well—just like the rest of their shoes.

How to Wash Hey Dude Slip On Shoes

Hey Dude is perhaps best known for their slip-ons. As with all shoes, however, they will need a wash every once in a while. Why? The material will get dirty from regular use. This is especially true if you wear them without socks (which is often the case with slip-ons) as the sweat from your feet will be absorbed by the shoes.

There are a few ways that you can wash them—we’ll be going over them below.

Can You Put Hey Dude Slip-On Shoes in the Washing Machine? 

Yes, Hey Dude shoes can be put in the washing machine. Before you go that route, though, remove all the surface dust or dirt. You can do that by using a soft bristle brush. It’s important that you avoid those with hard bristles as they can damage the upper. As for the soles, you can clap them together gently to remove debris.

Once you’ve done all that, put them in a mesh laundry bag and set them aside. A pillowcase, as long as it’s large enough, can also work. For the best results, do not wash the shoes with clothes—separate them into two different loads. However, you can put a few towels in to balance the load. In fact, it’s highly recommended. Without them, there’s a good chance that your shoes will bang around, which can damage the inside of the machine.

Next, set your washing machine to the gentlest setting. Make sure that the water is cold, otherwise, you risk damaging the shoes. Wait until the washer is half full before adding a scoop of ACTIVE detergent. From there, wait again until it’s 3/4 full and place the slip-ons (in the laundry bag) in. Do not use anything other than detergent—this includes fabric softeners and bleach.

Note: The insoles should be taken out prior to washing so that you can clean them separately. You can either soak them with a soap solution or put them in the washer with the shoes in a separate mesh laundry bag.

Take out the shoes after the cycle is done. Do not leave them in there, otherwise, you’ll end up having to wash them again. As far as drying goes, the best method is to dry them in the sun (not under direct sunlight). That will prevent them from getting damaged in the dryer. The sun’s rays will also help to kill off any bacteria that are in your shoes.

The Hand Washing Route For Hey Dude Slip-On Shoes

It’s also possible to wash their shoes by hand. Similar to machine washing, you want to start by removing all dirt and dust with a soft bristle brush. Once you’ve done that, take out the insoles. Next, fill a bucket or sink with cold water—approximately half full. Add a scoop of ACTIVE detergent and swish until soap suds are visible.

Place the slip-ons in the sink and scrub with a soft-bristled brush to remove the dirt and stains. When you’re finished, allow them to soak for at least 30 minutes. The insoles can also be cleaned with the same solution—just put them in next to the shoe.

The next step, after soaking, is to rinse them with water. For that, take the slip-ons and place them under running water. Continue to rinse until the water is no longer sudsy. The same thing goes for the insoles. Once they’re clean, let them air dry in the sun. Avoid putting them in the dryer. You can stuff the shoes with newspaper to hasten the process if necessary.

How to Deodorize Hey Dude Shoes

There’s a high chance that your shoes will develop some sort of odor after a while. Don’t worry, that’s normal. Here are a few ways that you can tackle this problem.

Deodorizing With Baking Soda

Baking soda can be used to deodorize the inside of your Hey Dude shoes. Simply add it to the shoes and leave it in overnight. Dump the powder the next morning. Alternatively, you can put the soda in a sachet or plastic bag—that way, you won’t have to worry about dirtying the shoe with the powder.

Rub the Inside with White Vinegar 

White vinegar is another excellent deodorizer. Don’t pour it directly onto your shoe though as that’ll damage it. What you want to do instead is to swab the inside with the liquid. to do this, dampen a cloth with the vinegar. Do not use balsamic or apple cider vinegar as both can cause staining. Rinsing is not necessary—simply let the shoes air dry afterward. You can stuff it with newspaper to help extract the moisture.

Use Dryer Sheets 

Have some dryer sheets lying around? You can use them to deodorize your shoes! Just stuff one into each shoe and leave them in overnight. Take the sheets out and put them in the trash the following morning. For the best results, use the ones that are scented. Unscented works too but they won’t make your shoes smell as fresh.

Put the Slip-ons in the Freezer 

Believe it or not but you can actually freshen up your shoes by putting them in the freezer. Make sure to put them in a plastic bag first, though—you don’t want to get the freezer dirty. Ultimately, how it works is that the cold temperature will kill off the odor-causing bacteria in the shoes.

Tips On How to Reduce Shoe Odor

Here are some things that you can do to reduce feet odor.

• Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes two days in a row so that they can dry properly
• Always wear socks when wearing Hey Dude shoes—they’ll absorb the sweat instead of your shoes
• Air out your shoes properly after each wear
• Consider using a shoe deodorizing powder or spray after each wear
• Opt for shoes that are made from breathable materials
• Dry your feet properly after washing