How to Clean & Deodorize Hey Dude Shoes – Slip Ons

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

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

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.

Tip: 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.

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, will also work.

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 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 washing machine 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. Don’t use anything other than detergent—this includes fabric softeners and bleach. Run a gentle or delicate cycle.

Take out the shoes after the delicate cycle is done and let them air dry in a well ventilated area. You can also let them dry under direct sunlight.

Note: The Hey Dude 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 washing machine with the shoes in a separate mesh laundry bag. The same goes for their memory foam insoles.

How to Hand Wash Hey Dudes Shoes

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

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

You can also get a dedicated suede cleaner.

How 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

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 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.

Knowing How to Clean Hey Dude Shoes

That’s our guide on how to wash Hey Dude shoes. As you can see, there are several ways to go about washing shoes. For example, you can machine wash them with powdered detergent or liquid detergent or you can wash them by hand.

Just be careful with leather Hey Dudes shoes – you don’t want to clean them with traditional methods due to how delicate the fabric is.