How to Wash Shoes at a Laundromat: Self-Service Shoe Washer & Dryer Guide (Melaka & KL)

Dirty sneakers, muddy running shoes or smelly school shoes? You don’t have to scrub them by hand. Three Happy Laundromat outlets have a self-service shoe washer and shoe dryer, made for sneakers, canvas shoes and sports shoes: Bunga Raya and Melaka Raya in Melaka, and Nagasari in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. The shoe washer costs RM12 (warm water) or RM14 (hot water), and the shoe dryer costs RM12 (medium temperature) or RM14 (high temperature).

Which Happy Laundromat outlets have shoe machines?

Shoe washer and dryer prices

Pay at the machine by cash, DuitNow QR, Touch ‘n Go, GrabPay, ShopeePay or WeChat Pay. No membership or coins needed.

Which shoes can go in the shoe washer?

Good to wash

• Canvas sneakers (Converse, Vans and similar)
• Running shoes and gym trainers
• School shoes made of canvas or fabric
• Mesh, cotton or synthetic fabric shoes

Better cleaned by hand or by a specialist

• Leather shoes
• Suede or nubuck
• Shoes with glued decorations, sequins or beads
• Shoes with a loose or peeling sole
• Expensive or limited-edition sneakers you are worried about

Not sure? At Nagasari, ask our staff between 10am and 8pm. In Melaka, WhatsApp 017-233 2991.

How to wash shoes in a self-service shoe washer: step by step

1. Knock off the dirt. Tap the soles together, brush off dried mud and pick out small stones from the treads.
2. Take out the laces and insoles. Water reaches the inside of the shoe better, and the insoles dry faster on their own.
3. Pre-treat heavy stains (see the stain tips below), especially grass, oil and scuff marks.
4. Put the shoes in the shoe washer and choose warm water (RM12) for everyday dirt, or hot water (RM14) for very dirty or smelly sports shoes. Use warm water for brightly coloured shoes to reduce fading.
5. Move the shoes to the shoe dryer when the wash finishes. Use medium temperature (RM12) for most sneakers and canvas shoes, and high temperature (RM14) for thick sports shoes.
6. Let them cool, then check they are dry inside before putting the insoles and laces back.

Use the shoe washer rather than the clothes washers: it is designed for shoes, and it keeps mud and sand out of the machines other customers use for their clothes. While your shoes are washing, you can wash and dry your clothes in the 18kg washer-dryer combo (RM16–RM20, about 40–50 minutes).

Removing stubborn stains before washing

• Grass: brush on a mix of equal parts vinegar and water, leave for 30 minutes, then wash.
• Mud: let it dry completely, then brush it off before washing.
• Oil or grease: sprinkle baking soda on the stain, leave for 30 minutes, brush it off, then wash.
• Scuff marks on rubber soles: rub gently with a melamine sponge (“magic eraser”).

Common mistakes to avoid

• Washing leather or suede in a machine — it can crack, stiffen or lose its colour.
• Leaving wet shoes in a bag — dry them straight away to stop smells and mildew.
• Putting the insoles back while still damp — let everything dry fully first.
• Using bleach — it weakens fabric and glue and can leave yellow marks.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I wash my shoes in Melaka?

At Happy Laundromat Bunga Raya (174 Jalan Bunga Raya Pantai) or Happy Laundromat Melaka Raya (314 Jalan Melaka Raya 1). Both have a self-service shoe washer and shoe dryer and are open 24 hours.

Where can I wash my shoes in Kuala Lumpur?

At Happy Laundromat Nagasari, 26G Jalan Nagasari, Bukit Bintang. It is open 24 hours, with staff on site from 10am to 8pm.

Does the Hang Lekiu (Jonker Street) outlet have a shoe washer?

No. The nearest shoe washer and dryer is at Happy Laundromat Bunga Raya, about 700 m away.

How much does it cost to wash and dry shoes?

The shoe washer is RM12 (warm) or RM14 (hot), and the shoe dryer is RM12 (medium) or RM14 (high temperature), so washing and drying a pair costs RM24–RM28.

Can I wash leather shoes at the laundromat?

We don’t recommend it. Leather and suede are better cleaned by hand or by a shoe-care specialist.

Can I pay by e-wallet?

Yes: DuitNow QR, Touch ‘n Go, GrabPay, ShopeePay and WeChat Pay, as well as cash.