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BOLG ⇨ SHOE CLEAN

Fastest Way To Dry Shoes Overnight

Co-authored by Rio Jongsae Kim
Last Updated: 4 Mar, 2025 ⊜References

Usually, it takes about 24 hours for shoes to dry. But in many cases, we don’t have that much time. If you are faced with a situation where your shoes are wet, and you have to wear them after a night out, then you might wonder if there is a fastest way to dry shoes overnight. Luckily, I have found 5 fastest ways to dry shoes overnight, which you can use to easily dry your shoes overnight using things you have at home like newspapers, dryer sheets, and more.

methods

❶ Newspaper
❷ Clothes Dryer
❸ Fan

other sections

Expert Q&A
About This Article
video
Related Articles
References

In a short time

Stuff your shoes with newspapers and after a few hours, change the wet sheets until the shoes are dry.
As an alternative to paper, hang your shoes before a fan for 3-4 hours to dry.
If your shoes are made of fabric, such as: cotton, canvas, nylon, polyester, dry them in the dryer on low heat for 30 minutes.
Also, to dry wet shoes, put them in a large box of uncooked rice and leave them for a few hours until they dry.

Method 1: Newspaper

1 Newspaper Throw away pages with lots of dark or colored ink, like pictures or large headlines that have a lot of ink in one place. Pages with pictures can leave ink stains on your wet white or light-colored shoes. So try to use blank pages instead.

You can use newspaper on all types of shoes or materials. In addition to speeding up the drying process, newspaper will also absorb bacteria and prevent odors.
If you notice ink stains after drying leather shoes, buff them off with a cotton pad dipped in isopropyl alcohol (don’t just use it on the soles).

2 Remove the insoles and laces from your shoes to dry. Untie the laces and remove the removable insoles, then hang them in a well-ventilated area to dry. Consider hanging your shoelaces on a hanger like a wet cloth. I hope you know how to clean shoes, if you want to clean your shoes while they are wet, then clean them with a toothbrush and dishwashing soap.

3 Stuff the newspaper up to the toes of the shoe. papers into a ball and insert them as far as possible into the toes of the shoe, adding more paper until the entire shoe is filled. Usually, two large newspapers are enough to fill a shoe.

4 Wrap the shoes in 3 layers of thick newspaper. Make a sheet of newspaper 2-3 layers thick. Then, wrap each shoe as tightly as possible to absorb more moisture. Then, secure the newspaper to the shoes with a rubber band.

You can use a cloth towel instead of newspaper. Consider microfiber towels in this case.

5 Place the shoes in a well-ventilated area to dry. Place a tabletop or countertop under your ceiling fan and place the shoes on top. -Stay away from cold or damp places like basements or bathrooms.

6 After a few hours, check to see if the paper is wet. Check to see if the paper wrapped around the shoes or the crumpled paper inside is wet. If it is, replace the paper with new paper. This will speed up the drying process. Typically, this process can take anywhere from a few hours to overnight to dry your shoes.

fastest way to dry shoes overnight – some tips

Drying time depends on the material of the shoe, the humidity, how much paper you have stuffed in it, and how often you have replaced the paper.
If you want to give your shoes a fresh scent during this process, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to one of the last newspapers you replaced.
When the shoes are dry, finish by adding dry clean insoles and laces. Do not add wet insoles as this can cause your shoes to smell bad.

Method 2: Clothes Dryer

1
Check the shoe label to see if the shoes are dryer-safe. This is the fastest way to dry shoes overnight, but you need to be careful not to ruin your shoes. The label is usually located on the inside of the shoe’s tongue or heel. If the label has a square with a circle, the shoes are dryer-safe. If there is a square with a dot instead, they can be dried in the dryer on low heat, and a square with an “X” means they are not for the dryer.

If your shoes don’t have a label or it is faded, assume the shoes are not dryer-safe.
Cloth shoes such as cotton, canvas, polyester, or nylon are safe to use in the dryer, unless they have a hard or gel heel, sole, or decoration.
Suede, foam, gel, leather, lace, or shoes with embellishments such as appliqué, gemstones, glass, or glitter should never be machine dried.
Do not put high-quality running shoes in the dryer. The heat can fade the gel, foam, and adhesive in the shoes.

2 Untie the shoelaces to the end. And if your shoe insoles are removable, remove them and let them air dry. Leave the shoelaces partially open. The long ends of the laces will help them dry in a drawer if your drawer doesn’t have a rack. Optionally, if there is still dirt or mud on the shoes, use a damp cloth or a small cleaning brush with dish soap to scrub them.

3 Stuff your shoes with rags or socks to speed up the process. Stuff dry towels or socks inside your shoes. This will reduce drying time, as well as prevent your shoes from shrinking or changing shape. Throw some towels and clothes in the dryer as well. These will absorb some of the moisture and reduce noise if your shoes start to loosen up.

To further reduce drying time, empty your dryer’s lint trap before putting your shoes in.

4 Hang your shoes inside the dryer using a ribbon. First, tie a knot in the 4 ends of the ribbon. Then, open the dryer door and hold your shoes by placing the top of the ribbon outside the drawer so that the soles hang toward the inside of the dryer door. Close the door in this position. One advantage of hanging your shoes with ribbons is that they will stop the shoes from banging around inside.

If your dryer has a drying rack, place the shoes on the rack. And select the appropriate setting for drying according to the instructions.
If your shoes don’t have a dryer rack and your shoes don’t have laces, place them in a mesh laundry bag and put them in the dryer like regular clothes.

5 Run the dryer on low heat for 20 minutes to dry the shoes. If your machine has an air dry setting, use that. If not, choose the lowest temperature to minimize possible shrinkage, heat damage, or damage. To test the shoes, turn off the machine and grab the part of the lace hanging outside the door before opening the door.

If the shoes are still wet, test the process again.

Method 2: Fan

1 Remove the laces and insoles and let them dry separately. Place the shoelaces and insoles in a place where the air can reach the foam.
Or hang them somewhere where they won’t get tangled, such as on a clothes drying rack or shower curtain rod.

For shoes made of leather, suede, or anything else that won’t go in the dryer, use a fan.

2 Buy a sturdy fan that’s longer than the length of the shoes.A box fan is strong enough to support the weight of the shoes and stand upright. The bigger the better. Place the fan in a place where the noise and wind won’t bother you, and place a towel under it to prevent water dripping from your shoes from spreading around. If you don’t have a fan, place your shoes in front of a refrigerator vent (usually found under the refrigerator door). During the cooling cycle, the vent blows warm, dry air.

3 Cut two 6-inch (15 cm) lengths of sturdy wire. Many hangers have this type of wire. Use a wire cutter to cut these sections. Wear a pair of thick, protective gloves for protection while cutting.

4 Bend the cut wires into an “S” shape. Use your hands to bend the wire. If the wire is too difficult to bend by hand, use a pair of pliers to help you. One small hook to hang on the fan and one large hook to go inside your shoes.

5 Hang the small hooked ends over the front of the fan. Leave about 9 inches between the two wires so there is enough space for air to circulate between and around the shoes. In this case, tie a 9-inch (23 cm) thin piece of wood or something sturdy between the two ends.

6 Hang the wet shoes on the large hook on each wire. Pull the tongue of the shoe up to keep them as open as possible, which helps air flow inside them and dry them faster. Hang the shoes from the inside of the heel so that the open parts of the shoes are facing the fan blades.

7 Set the fan to medium or high and let it run for a few hours. Let the fan run until the shoes are completely dry. Once completely dry, replace the insoles and laces. Then, put the shoes on in the morning and go outside.

Expert Q&A

Question

Can wet shoes be worn?

Wearing wet shoes can damage your feet, leading to swelling, blisters, and unpleasant odors.

Question

Should I use a hair dryer to dry shoes?

Avoid using high-heat appliances like hair dryers. They can cause shoes to lose their shape and quality.

Question

Do you need to remove the insoles and laces while drying shoes?

Yes, removing them allows light and air to enter the shoes more effectively, helping them dry quickly.
Caution: If the insoles are not removed, moisture may remain inside even after the upper part of the shoe is dry, which can cause a bad odor later

Question

Can newspaper be used for drying shoes?

Yes, newspaper is a very effective method for drying shoes. Place the newspaper inside the shoes, wipe the moisture from the shoes with a cloth, and let them air dry. For more details, refer to the advice given above.

Question

Is it safe to dry shoes in a dryer?

It is safe, but please refer to the advice above. Directly drying shoes in a dryer can affect their shape and shorten their lifespan.

Question

How long does it take to dry shoes normally?

It depends on several factors, including the type of material the shoes are made of and the drying method. It usually takes about 12 hours, but they can dry in a few hours with sunlight or a dryer.

Question

How to dry shoes quickly?

Fast drying can be done with high heat, but it may spoil the quality and appearance of the shoes.

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About This Article

Co-authored by:
Rio Jongsae Kim

Designer Shoe & Bag Care Specialist

Rio Jongsae Kim is a Designer Shoe and Bag Repair Specialist and the Owner of Kim’s Shoe & Bag Repair in Vancouver, BC, Canada. With over 40 years of experience, Rio and Kim’s Shoe & Bag Repair specialize in the repair and reconstruction of leather and luxury goods including shoes, handbags, and accessories. Rio’s experience and dedication to quality repair and restoration have led to his work being featured on Yahoo, Insider, and MSN.

Co-authors: 2
Updated: February 17, 2025

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