text: can converse shoes be thrown in the washing machine?   http://www.chucksconnection.com/tips.html  according to this website: "do not use a bleach or any washing compound containing a bleaching agent as it will decrease the tensile strength of the fabric.  it is perfectly safe to use a mild soap and water solution to wash out dirt and at the same time reduce the effect of perspiration absorption. the shoes can be put in a washing machine if desired. (note that this may dilute the color of the canvas, especially bright and dark colors)  after washing, the shoes should be dried at normal temperature away from excessive heat such as stoves or steam pipes. do not dry shoes in automatic dryers.  a liquid chalk-type shoe cleaner is recommended for whitening shoes.  a wet sponge or cleaning cloth with a little soap if desired can quickly clean up dirt or spills on your toe caps or rubber foxing on the sides of your shoes."