How to Make Shoes Dry Faster

Wet shoes are miserable. Whether you got caught in the rain, stepped in a puddle, or just washed your sneakers, soggy footwear ruins your day. The good news is that you don’t have to wait two days for them to dry. There are several fast, safe methods that will have your shoes ready to wear again in a few hours. Here is exactly how to make shoes dry faster without wrecking the materials.

Remove the Insoles and Laces First

This is the single most important step. If you leave the insoles and laces inside, they trap moisture and double the drying time. Take them all out before you do anything else. This opens up the shoe so air can circulate through the whole interior.

Insoles are usually made of foam or fabric, which soak up water like a sponge. Laces are thick cotton or polyester that hold moisture for hours. Lay them flat on a dry towel. They will dry much faster than they would inside the shoe. If the insoles are heavily soaked, press them between two dry towels to squeeze out excess water before air drying.

Stuff Shoes with Newspaper or Paper Towels

Newspaper is the old-school trick that still works better than almost anything. Crumple sheets of newspaper and stuff them tightly into each shoe. The paper absorbs moisture from the inside while the outside air dries the upper. This pulls water out from the deepest parts of the shoe.

Check the paper every 30 minutes. Once it feels damp, replace it with fresh dry paper. You will likely need to do this two or three times for heavily soaked shoes. Paper towels work too, but they are thinner and need replacing more often. Do not use printed glossy magazines — the ink can transfer onto light-colored leather or canvas. Plain newspaper or unprinted packing paper is safest.

Use a Fan for Constant Airflow

Air movement is the fastest natural way to dry shoes. Place your shoes in front of a box fan or oscillating fan. Position them so air blows directly into the openings. This continuous airflow evaporates moisture much faster than still air ever will.

For an even better result, place the shoes upside down on a drying rack or a wire mesh. This lets air hit the soles and the interior at the same time. If you have a shoe dryer with built-in fans, that is the best tool for the job. But a regular household fan works almost as well. Just give it a few hours and check on them periodically.

Try a Shoe Dryer or Boot Dryer

If you deal with wet shoes often, a dedicated shoe dryer is worth the money. These devices push warm air directly into the shoe through tubes that go inside the toe area. They dry shoes in two to three hours, which is far faster than any air-drying method.

Look for a dryer with low heat or no heat options. High heat can damage glue, warp leather, and shrink synthetic materials. Many quality dryers use ambient air or gentle warmth that is safe for all materials. They are especially useful for winter boots, work boots, and athletic shoes that get wet frequently. A good dryer costs between $30 and $80 and pays for itself in saved time and avoided shoe damage.

Speed Up Drying with a Hair Dryer on Cool

You can use a hair dryer, but you must be careful. Set it to the cool or low-heat setting and hold it about six inches away from the shoe. Move it around constantly so heat doesn’t concentrate in one spot. Focus on the interior and the areas that are wettest.

Never use high heat on shoes. It will melt glue, warp synthetic materials, and cause leather to crack. High heat can also shrink canvas and make shoes fit too tight. If you use this method, keep the dryer moving and check the shoe frequently with your hand to make sure it isn’t getting hot to the touch. This method works best for spot-drying small wet areas rather than fully soaked shoes.

What Not to Do: Avoid Heat Sources

It is tempting to throw wet shoes in the dryer or set them on a radiator. Don’t do it. The heat from a clothes dryer, radiator, space heater, or direct sunlight will cause serious damage. Leather will dry stiff and crack. The glue holding the soles on will soften and fail. Synthetic materials can melt or warp permanently.

If you put shoes in a clothes dryer, even on low heat, the tumbling action can break down the structure. The shoes will bang against the drum, causing creases and misshaping. The heat will also ruin the adhesive that bonds the sole to the upper. Your shoes will come out dry but unwearable. Always choose air movement over heat. It takes longer, but it preserves the shape and lifespan of your footwear.

Material-Specific Drying Tips

Different materials need slightly different care. Leather shoes should be wiped dry with a towel first, then stuffed with paper and air-dried at room temperature. After they are completely dry, apply a leather conditioner to restore moisture that was lost. Suede needs extra care — never rub it while wet. Let it air dry, then use a suede brush to restore the nap once dry.

Canvas shoes like sneakers can handle more aggressive drying. They are durable and can be stuffed with paper, placed in front of a fan, or even washed and air-dried. Rubber boots and rain boots just need a wipe down and air dry — they don’t absorb much water anyway. Mesh athletic shoes dry fastest because of their breathable construction. A fan alone can dry them in a couple of hours.