How to Wash Allbirds

Co-authored by Penny Simmons and Eric McClure

Last Updated: March 4, 2023

Allbirds is an American shoe brand that uses wool to craft eco-friendly shoes made for running and daily wear. They’re stylish and feel good on your feet, but they can get pretty dirty just like any other shoe. Luckily, washing Allbirds is a pretty straightforward process. To wash the shoes, start by removing the laces and insoles. Put the sneakers in a mesh bag if you have one, and wash them in a washing machine using the wool, delicate, or gentle setting and the coldest available temperature. Then, let your shoes air dry for at least 24 hours before lacing them back up and wearing them around.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Disassembling and Brushing Your Shoes

1
Untie your shoes and pull the laces out of each shoe. Start at the top of a shoe and work one lace all the way out of each hole until you’re at the bottom. Repeat this process with the other end of the lace, pulling the top out of the top hole and working your way down. Pull the lace entirely out of the bottom hole. Repeat this process for each shoe to remove the laces.^{[1]
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- You cannot wash Allbirds laces without damaging the material. Consider replacing the laces if they’re really dirty—a new set will only cost around $10 (USD).
Tip: You can take a photo of the laces if you want to make sure that you put them back in the exact same way after you wash them.
2
Take the insoles out of each shoe. Lift the tongue for your first shoe up and away from the sole. Pull lightly on the 2 sides of the shoe to open the middle up a little bit. Use the tip of your dominant index finger to dig under the insole where it rests between the heel and the ankle. Once the back of the insole is pulled up a little, simply lift the entire piece out of the shoe. Repeat this process on the other shoe.^{[2]
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- Similar to the laces, Allbirds insoles are not designed to be washed. If the inside of your shoes are especially gnarly, consider replacing them entirely. A new set will only cost around $15 (USD).
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3
Brush the exterior of each shoe with a soft brush to remove dried dirt. Stick your nondominant hand into a shoe to brace it from the inside and hold it still. Use a soft-bristled hand brush and back-and-forth strokes to remove any dried dirt, dust, or debris from the shoe. This will make the wash cycle more efficient. Repeat the process for each section on both shoes.^{[3]
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- Do this outside to prevent getting dirt and debris all over your home.
- You should brush your shoes like this once every 2-3 months to keep them clean in between washings.
4
Spot clean stains with a soft towel and cold water. Use a soft towel to lift any stains off of the fabric before you wash them. Run a towel under cold water and wring it out in a sink. Spot clean each dirty area with the wet towel by rubbing it in a circular motion until the majority of the stain is removed.^{[4]
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- Even if you don’t get all of the stain out, you’ll weaken the stain considerably and make the wash cycle more effective.
- Don’t use dish soap when doing this.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Using a Washing Machine

1
Place your shoes in a mesh delicates bag if you have one. While not mandatory, you may save the wool from getting snagged on something if you place your shoes in a delicates bag. Put both shoes inside of the mesh bag and close the zipper or clip to secure the bag.^{[5]
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- A delicates bag is sometimes called a wash bag or lingerie bag.
- You can skip this step if you don’t have a laundry bag.
2
Put your shoes inside the washing machine. Don’t throw any other clothes in with your shoes if you aren’t using a delicates bag. If you do have a bag, feel free to throw the shoes in with a normal load of laundry.^{[6]
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- Don’t put anything else in the delicates bag with your shoes.
3
Add a small amount of gentle detergent to the washing machine. If you’re washing a full load, use your normal amount of detergent based on how full your machine is. If you’re washing the shoes alone, fill the cap on your detergent bottle up to the first hash mark and add it to the machine. Only use a gentle laundry detergent to wash your shoes.^{[7]
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- If your cap doesn’t have hash marks for measuring detergent, play it safe and fill the cap 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) with detergent.
- Avoid using the detergent pods unless you absolutely have to. The detergent may be too strong for the Allbirds.
- Do not use any fabric softener in the load.
4
Set the water temperature to the coldest setting. Your specific laundry cycle may not let you customize the water temperature settings for automated washes like “wool” or “delicate.” This is fine, since an automated cycle in one of the appropriate categories is automatically going to use cold water. If you have manual control over the water temperature settings, turn the dial to the coldest setting.^{[8]
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- The wool could shrink if you wash your shoes in warmer water.
5
Turn the dial to the wool, gentle, or delicate cycle to wash your shoes. If you have a newer machine, you may have a dedicated wool setting. If you do, turn the dial to this setting and start your machine. If you don’t, turn the dial to “delicate” or “gentle.” Start your machine and let the cycle go through to completion before removing your shoes.^{[9]
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- As long as you use cold water and a gentle cycle, you can wash your shoes multiple times to get tougher stains out.
Warning: Never use bleach on your Allbirds. Bleach will permanently destroy the fabric and color of your shoes.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Drying and Reassembling Your Shoes

1
Let your shoes air dry for 24 hours in a well-ventilated area. Once your wash cycle is done, set your shoes out next to a fan, open window, or on your porch. Let them naturally dry on their own. Wait at least 24 hours before wearing them again.^{[10]
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- If you can, keep them out of the sun or intense heat while they dry.
Waring: Under no condition should you put your Allbirds in the dryer. You will permanently destroy your shoes.
2
Inspect your shoes for snags or loose threads. Allbirds are fabric shoes, which means that individual threads can become unraveled or destroyed when they’re exposed to heat, friction, or damage. Check your shoes to see if any threads became loose or unraveled during the washing process. Snip any loose threads off with a pair of scissors.
- Because Allbirds advertises this washing method on their website, you may be entitled to a replacement pair if you contact them directly. Call 1-888-963-8944 to reach the Allbirds customer service department.
3
Soak your insoles in baking soda before putting them back. If you don’t want to replace your insoles but you want to give them a new life, fill a large plastic bag with some baking soda. Stick your insoles into the bag with the top of the insoles touching the baking soda. Seal the bag and leave them alone while the shoes air dry.
- Shake the excess baking soda off before you put the insoles back into the shoes.
4
Reinstall the insoles and laces before wearing your shoes again. Slide your soles back into the bottom of each shoe. Then, lace the shoes up. Put the shoes back on and walk around a little to make sure that the insoles are comfortable. Once you settle in to them, they should be as good as new!^{[11]
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- Get good quality shoes because they last longer.
- Try them and find shoes of the correct size.
- It is better to buy shoes towards the end of the day when you have walked for some time.