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How to Clean & Deodorize Hey Dude Shoes – Slip Ons

July 15, 2023

Hey Dudes Shoes was established in 2008. Based in Italy, the brand hit the market in early 2009 and opened its 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 in 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.

About Hey Dude Products

how to wash hey dudes shoes

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!


Materials Used By Hey Dude Shoes

Hey Dudes uses a variety of proprietary materials for their footwear. Here’s what you need to know.

Hey Dudes 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.

Hey Dudes 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.

Hey Dudes 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 Clean Hey Dudes Slip Ons

Most Hey Dudes shoes are machine washable – the only exceptions are those made of suede, leather, and wool.

How to Wash Hey Dudes Shoes in the Washing Machine

If you’re washing white Hey Dude shoes, you may want to ‘pre-treat’ the stains with a brush and some detergent solution before tossing them in the machine.

Step 1: Remove Loose Dirt

shoe brush

Use a soft bristle brush to remove any loose dirt from your canvas Hey Dudes. As for the soles, you can clap them together gently to remove debris.

Step 2: Place Them in the Washer

shoes in washer

Put the shoes in a mesh laundry bag and add them to the washing machine.

For the best results, don’t wash the shoes with clothes—separate them into two different loads. However, you can put a few towels in to balance the weight.

Step 3: Add ACTIVE Detergent

add one scoop of active detergent

Measure one scoop of ACTIVE detergent and pour it directly into the wash tub. Don’t use anything other than detergent; that includes fabric softeners and bleach.

Step 4: Run a Wash Cycle

washing machine settings

Set your washing machine to the gentlest setting and run a cold wash cycle.

Allow the shoes to air dry in a well ventilated area afterwards.

Tools:

  • ACTIVE Detergent
  • Soft bristle brush

Hey Dude insoles should be taken out and washed separately.

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How to Hand Wash Hey Dudes Shoes

Hand washing your Hey Dudes shoes will be gentler than using the washing machine.

Supplies:

  • Soft bristle brush
  • ACTIVE detergent
  • Water
  • Newspaper (optional)
shoe brush

Step 1:

Start by removing all dirt and dust with a soft bristle brush. Once you’ve done that, take out the insoles.

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Step 2:

Fill a bucket or sink with cold water—approximately half full. Add a scoop of ACTIVE Detergent and swish until soap suds are visible.

create a soapy solution

Step 3:

Place the slip-ons in the sink and gently scrub with a soft-bristled brush to remove the dirt and stains. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes afterwards.

fill sink

Step 4:

Rinse the shoes with cold water. Continue until the water is no longer sudsy.

Once they’re clean, let them air dry in the sun. You can stuff them with newspapers to hasten the process, if necessary.

You can hand wash the insoles at the same time as the shoes.


How to Wash Suede Hey Dude Shoes

Suede shoes should never be put in the washing machine. Rather, you want to clean them with a lint-free, damp cloth.

Supplies:

  • Lint-free cloth
  • Water
  • Suede brush
  • Suede cleaner (optional)

Step 1:

Wet it with just a bit of water and gently rub the suede fabric with it to remove dirt.

suede hey dudes

Step 2:

You can also use a suede brush; move it in one direction to remove dirt without pushing it deeper into the fabric.

Using a dedicated suede cleaner is another option.

suede brush

Never wash suede shoes with water; it will cause permanent stains on the surface.


Different Ways to Deodorize Hey Dudes 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 Your Hey Dude Shoes 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

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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

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. The cold temperature will kill off the odor-causing agents in the shoes.


Tips On How to Reduce Hey Dudes 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

Cleaning Hey Dudes Shoes – FAQs

Can you machine wash Hey Dudes shoes with liquid detergent?

ACTIVE Detergent is the best choice for Hey Dudes shoes. Its enzymatic formula will remove stains and odors, giving you clean and fresh shoes.

What’s the best way to clean Hey Dude Insoles?

It’s best to wash the insoles separately from the shoes. For example, you can machine wash them by putting them in a mesh laundry bag. You can also hand wash them in the sink.

We recommend that you let them air dry overnight (or longer) before replacing them back in the shoes.

How can I clean my Hey Dudes leather lined shoes?

Shoes with leather lining should be hand washed with warm soapy water. Leather cleaner can also be used.

Can I use bleach to clean my Hey Dudes shoes?

A diluted bleach solution can be used for more persistent stains. However, it shouldn’t be used regularly as it can cause damage to the fabric over time.

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Picture of Sophia Grant

Sophia Grant

Sophia Grant brings her extensive knowledge of laundry and clothing care to the masses with her intensive cleaning guides. Her thorough understanding of fabrics, detergents, and washing techniques helps readers master the art of maintaining their wardrobe. Sophia's advice ensures that anyone can achieve professional-level results at home, keeping their garments looking pristine and lasting longer.

Comments (10)

  • Kathy Reply

    How do you get the shoe to maintain its shape after washing? I’ve been pushing socks in the ends of the shoe after washing and yes it dries but once I wash the shoes they just crunch down and look bad. Especially at the toe. So how do you get the toes to stand up like new after washing?

    August 27, 2023 at 11:41 am
  • Janice burns Reply

    Is that active wear detergent that same as regular detergent??

    August 5, 2023 at 1:25 pm
  • Kim Reply

    Can you use water repellent on slip on shoes?

    April 4, 2023 at 6:46 pm
    • ACTIVE Support Reply

      Hi Kim, it depends on the material that the shoes are made of. Thanks for asking!

      May 1, 2023 at 12:30 pm
      • Kayleigh O Reply

        What if they are the slip on fabric hey dudes?

        August 4, 2023 at 2:38 pm
  • Tara Reply

    My friends & I take insoles out & cover with no show socks so we don’t have to wear socks. Easier to change those & wash as well

    January 26, 2023 at 3:00 pm
  • Tina Green Reply

    Awesome care instructions on how to care for the slip on hey dudes slip on shoe.

    November 19, 2022 at 10:26 am
  • Brae-Lynn Reply

    my hey dudes have stained very easily .Just walking through grass stained them. I have followed the hey dude cleaning instructions but the stains did not come out. Only had the shoes for about a week.

    July 31, 2021 at 10:10 pm
    • Kayleigh O Reply

      Try not to walk through freah cut grass as it will stain any shoe you wear. I recommend a soft bristle brush and mean green ( the one in the green and orange bottle) use cold water, let them get damp, spray them with mean green, use ur bristle brusg lightly l, and then spray and let set again for 5-10 minutes rinse if you notice stain spreading to other parts of your shoe and repeat as needed. After final rinse leave outaide out of direct sunlight to dry. You can also try dawn diah soap, but just uae as spot treatment. Good luck.

      August 4, 2023 at 2:37 pm
  • KC Reply

    Hello!!!! I usually wear size 13 but I tried my dads on and they were a little tight. I ordered 14’s and of course they are a tad bit 🙄 Any ideas on either switching to 13’s and having them possibly stretch out or washing the 14’s and see if that shrinks them a little?

    June 30, 2021 at 5:51 pm

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