How to Dry Wet Shoes Without Damaging Them
The short answer: take out the insoles, loosen the laces, stuff the shoes with crumpled paper, and leave them in a well-ventilated room out of direct sun. Swap the paper when it gets damp. Skip the dryer, radiator, oven and hair dryer, because heat is what weakens glue and warps materials. Expect roughly half a day to two days, depending on the shoe.
Wet shoes are a fact of life in New Zealand and Australia, whether it is a Wellington southerly, a Brisbane summer storm or a puddle you did not see coming (see how many rainy days New Zealand gets). How you dry them matters as much as how they got wet. Here is a simple routine that shoe makers themselves recommend.
Step by step: the paper method
- Take out the insoles and loosen the laces. This opens the shoe up so air can reach the inside. Dry the insoles separately, ideally near a fan.
- Knock off the worst of the mud. If the shoes are dirty, a quick clean with a soft brush first stops grit setting in as they dry.
- Stuff them with crumpled paper, right down to the toe. Nike suggests newspaper while avoiding heavily inked areas, and TOMS recommends plain white paper or paper towels for light-coloured shoes to avoid ink transfer. Collonil says kitchen roll or another absorbent material also works. Pack loosely enough that the shoe keeps its shape.
- Put them somewhere airy and indoors. A room with open windows or a gentle fan is ideal. Direct sunlight is best avoided: Nike warns it causes excessive wear, and TOMS notes UV can fade colours and make some materials brittle.
- Change the paper when it feels damp. The first lot soaks up most of the water, so replacing it speeds things up considerably.
- Be patient. Nike puts the newspaper method at around 12 hours depending on how wet the shoes are, while Collonil says full drying can take one to two days for leather.
Faster options that are still safe
If you need them sooner, move air rather than add heat. Nike's second method uses a floor or table fan: with the insoles out and laces open, hang the shoes in front of the fan with a towel underneath and run it for a couple of hours. TOMS also mentions silica gel packets, which pull moisture out without heat, and a dehumidifier in a small closed room, which suits damp climates.
What not to do
Five things to keep away from wet shoes:
- Clothes dryer. Nike says it can damage construction or cause shrinkage, and that even with precautions it shortens a shoe's life. TOMS says it can break shoes down.
- Radiator or heater vent. Collonil warns direct heat can make leather or synthetic materials brittle, with cracks that are often permanent.
- Oven or microwave. Nike and TOMS both say the heat weakens the adhesive that holds soles on.
- Hair dryer. Nike says no more than a few minutes, as it can compromise rubber and glue, and it is a fire risk near fabric.
- Direct sun. It can fade colours and make some materials brittle (Nike, TOMS).
The common thread is glue. Most sneakers are bonded together rather than stitched, so a shoe that has been baked can look fine and then come apart at the sole weeks later.
Why it is worth drying them properly
Nike notes that wet shoes can cause blisters and encourage mould, so drying them fully, including the insoles and the toe box, is worth the wait. If you wear the same pair daily, rotating two pairs gives each one a full day to dry out. Our earlier piece on what waterproof and water-resistant labels really mean explains why even good shoes can end up damp inside after a long soak.
A note on Oszea shoes
Oszea's Tasman and Urban sneakers are built with ZEA-TEX, a four-layer construction that includes a breathable knit outer and a waterproof membrane. They are designed for rain, puddles and wet grass rather than full submersion. For care, we recommend wiping them clean and letting them air dry, with no machine washing and no direct heat. More in our shoe care guide.
FAQ
Can I put wet shoes in the dryer?
It is best not to. Nike says a dryer can damage construction, cause shrinkage and weaken glue, and that even with precautions it shortens shoe life. TOMS does not recommend it either.
How long do wet shoes take to dry?
Around 12 hours with the newspaper method according to Nike, and up to one to two days for leather according to Collonil. Thick or heavily soaked shoes take longer.
Is newspaper really the best thing to use?
It works well because it absorbs moisture, but ink can transfer onto light-coloured shoes. Plain white paper or paper towels are a safer choice there.
Can I dry shoes in the sun?
Brief shade-and-breeze drying outdoors is fine, but direct sun can fade colours and wear materials, so indoors with good airflow is better.
Should I take the insoles out?
Yes. Nike and TOMS both recommend removing them so the shoe and insole can each dry fully and air can circulate inside.
Related reading
- Are waterproof shoes breathable? Why your feet sweat
- Best waterproof sneakers in NZ: an honest shortlist