How to dry shoes in winter

When you go out in cold, wet, winter weather, it can be a real challenge to keep your shoes dry. If you have ever come home with soggy trainers after a sudden downpour, you’ll know it can sometimes take an age for them to fully dry.

We know it can be frustrating, but before reaching for the hairdryer and risking damage, take a look at our safe and simple drying techniques. We focus on two easy methods to dry your shoes, protect their material and keep them in good condition.

How to dry shoes in the winter

When shoes or boots get wet after a winter walk, it’s important to dry them out as soon as you can so the water doesn't damage the inside of the shoe or lead to unwanted odours developing.

Being patient and using heat gently is the best way to remove moisture. Rushing the process with direct heat from a radiator or a hairdryer can actually harm your footwear. Some materials, such as leather or suede, can easily become damaged if exposed to direct heat. Quick fixes can also cause shoes to lose their shape, making them uncomfortable to wear and even increasing your risk of blisters, injuries or falls.

Below we have listed two simple techniques you can try at home. These methods work best to preserve both the fit and quality of your footwear.

Using newspaper

If you find yourself with soggy shoes, using ordinary newspaper is a simple and effective way to dry them out. Here’s how you can use this household item to help dry your footwear:

1. First remove the insoles and laces. This will allow air to circulate inside your shoes, ensuring they dry out more thoroughly. 
2. Loosely stuff the inside with scrunched newspaper. The paper will draw moisture away from the material, helping your shoes or boots dry evenly. 
3. Place them in a warm, well-ventilated room at least a few feet away from direct heat sources like radiators. 
4. If your shoes are very sodden, swap out the damp newspaper for fresh paper every few hours. You may need to repeat this step several times until all the moisture is gone.

Newspaper is absorbent, gentle and won’t harm your footwear, making it ideal for winter drying. It can also help your shoes to maintain their shape throughout the process, keeping them comfortable to wear.

Using a fan

If you’d like to get your shoes ready to wear a little faster, a household fan can be a real game-changer. This method is especially handy when you need your footwear dry for the next day or after getting caught in a surprise downpour.

1. Position your shoes in front of a fan and keep them upright so the air can move easily inside and out. This helps moisture escape from every part of the shoe. 
2. Place a towel underneath your footwear to catch any drips or excess moisture. 
3. Set the fan to a gentle or medium setting and let it run for a few hours. Check your footwear now and then. Once they feel dry to the touch, you’re good to go.

This method works really well for trainers or pumps made from synthetic materials. It’s a quick, gentle way to get your footwear dry without applying direct heat.

When your shoes or boots have dried out, we suggest giving them time to breathe overnight before wearing them again. This helps them to keep their shape and makes them more comfortable, ready for your next outing. You can also apply a waterproofing spray or shoe protector to help protect footwear from future rainy spells.

What not to do

Putting your wet footwear on a radiator, or even your slippers in front of a fire, can be tempting when you need to wear them again quickly, but doing so can cause more harm than good. Here are a few things to avoid when trying to remove moisture from your wet footwear:

• Don’t put your shoes on a radiator: The direct heat can cause fabrics to shrink, leather to crack and glue to lose its stickiness. 
• Avoid placing any type of footwear in front of an open fire or heater: Extreme heat can dry out and damage the material, ruining the fit and look of your shoes. In the case of wood fires, you may also find your footwear smells smoky afterwards. 
• Never use a tumble dryer: The heat and circular movement can stretch the shape of your shoes, weaken the soles and cause them to fall apart. 
• Don’t use a hairdryer on high heat: This can overheat the material and make it feel stiff or brittle. 
• Avoid leaving any footwear in direct sunlight: Sun exposure can cause colours to fade, leather to dry out or synthetic materials to shrink.

To keep your shoes from damaging beyond wear so you can stay comfortable wherever your feet take you, we always recommend you stick to gentle methods. Use a fan or some absorbent newspaper; these options are much kinder to your footwear and will help them to last longer so you can enjoy them for years to come.