How To Clean Vionic Insoles

A few months ago, I was sent a pair of Orthaheel slippers to try out. (Side note: they are now known as Vionic with Orthaheel technology.) It took some time to break them in, since you need to wear them for a few hours a day until the orthotics conform to the shape of your foot, but I've been practically living in them ever since. You may have seen me photograph them on Instagram (and Facebook and Twitter) or wear them at holiday parties and family gatherings. (Sensory issues – I don't mind taking my shoes off at the door, but I hate the feel of the floor through just socks!) Anyone who's seen them in person has expressed surprise that they were slippers and not regular shoes. They're nice and sturdy, and they really have made a difference in my foot and leg pain. (Affiliate link incoming, in case you want to buy them…)

Orthaheel Alta Mary Jane Slipper

So I've been wearing them pretty much all day long, working from home as I do…and they stank. I've been begging Tom to take out the garbage, run a load of dishes, do whatever he could to see if we could get rid of the bad smell I kept smelling. It wasn't until our first nice, spring day this week, when I'd opened the windows and sprayed some Oust around the house that I realized I was carrying the bad smell with me.

How to Wash Vionic Slippers

As it turns out, the official word on keeping any Vionic with Orthaheel technology footwear clean is to wipe them with a damp cloth and air dry in indirect sunlight. I was way past the point where this method of cleaning was going to be of any use. To get gross for a minute, I had the beginnings of mildew inside my slippers. (I can't help it if my feet get sweaty a lot!) So I did a quick Web search and found that many people had the same question. If you're not supposed to toss them in the washing machine or otherwise submerge your slippers in water, how in the world do you get them clean? After all, these aren't cheap slippers.

Heed this advice at your own risk.

Though not condoned by the brand itself, I read an old forum post that suggested putting your slippers in the dishwasher, but not putting them through the heated dry cycle. I gave it a try, and it worked! Here are the instructions for how I did it:

Place your Vionic slippers in the dishwasher by themselves. Make sure none of the points of the dishwasher rack are poking into the orthotics; I placed mine on their sides in the largest row on the bottom rack.
If you want to use dishwasher detergent, make sure it is mild. Remember that the official cleaning instructions recommend against any type of solvent.
Run your slippers through the normal setting of your dishwasher, avoiding the highest temperatures.
Do not dry your slippers in the dishwasher. (Burning rubber smells bad.)
Allow your slippers to air dry outdoors in indirect sunlight. Depending on the wind and weather, it could take 24 hours or longer for them to dry. Mine required about 18 hours to dry when I set them outside before bed at night.

My slippers did not get perfectly clean using this method, but I don't mind having a few scuff marks on the outsides. The important part is that they don't smell anymore! The orthotics still "remember" my feet properly, and it doesn't feel like there was any shrinking. Which is good, because I'm not sure how I could go back to regular slippers at this point. My old slippers never did this:

Orthaheel Orthotics

Thanks again to Vionic/Orthaheel for sending me the slippers to wear in the first place. I'd be happy to test out any other footwear for them any time!

Christina Gleason (975 Posts)

That's me: Christina Gleason. I'm a professional copywriter, editor, and blogger. My company is called Phenomenal Content. (Hire me!) I'm a multiply disabled autistic woman doing my best in this world built for abled people. I'm a geek for grammar, fantasy, and select types of gaming, including Twitch Sings and Plants vs Zombies 2. I hate vegetables. I have an intense phone phobia, so I'll happily conduct business over email or IM instead.