I have done this many times. Here Electrolux sell bags, meshbags just for tennishoes. What I also seen are what you were thinking of doing, washing with some towles, that also makes the spinning easyer for the machine.

Last time I did this I just did a pair of shoes and nothing else. I think I used a gentler cycles that uses a bit more water and a slower spin.

I dryed mine in the dryer but on one of those racks so they dont tumble.

I was thinking the same thing as Linus. Mesh bag. I bet they will be bright white when you're done.

T hanks gang....ok I will give it a try tomorrow with some clean old towels. I do plan to spot treat them first and rinse with cool water.

Enduring I hope they will be bright white LOL.

I take the laces out and put them in a mesh which I put in the washer with the shoes and three old towels. They came out just fine and I put them in the sun to dry. Mine have inserts, which I take out of the shoes and throw in the washer with the shoes and towels.

I don't even use a bag. I just toss them in with items of similar color. They always come out clean and nice.

After the long trip overseas, I threw my pink Skechers Go Walk shoes in the washer along with my clothes (I took the memory foam inserts and threw them in the washer instead of leaving them inside the shoes) to be laundered in my LG FL washer. Came out like new! I have done the same with my running shoes as well. They all came out clean.

I do it all the time - no bag, just toss them in with a load of similar color. If they have removable inserts, take them out and put them into the load as well.