I got caught in a downpour three blocks from home. No umbrella. No jacket. By the time I reached my door, my sneakers squished with every step. I had a meeting in two hours and no backup shoes. These sneakers needed to be dry and wearable fast.

Newspaper saved me. Not the dryer — that would have melted the glue. Newspaper and a fan. The shoes were dry in ninety minutes.

Why the Dryer Will Destroy Your Sneakers

The heat of a dryer melts the adhesive that holds the sole to the upper. It also warps the midsole cushioning and can shrink synthetic uppers. The tumbling beats the shoes against the drum, scuffing the exterior and loosening the stitching.

One cycle in the dryer can take a year off your sneakers’ lifespan. Maybe more. I learned this on a pair of running shoes that came out of the dryer with the sole flapping like a mouth.

The Newspaper Method

1. Remove the insoles and laces. These dry separately and faster on their own. Lay them flat on a towel.
2. Wipe the exterior with a dry towel to remove standing water.
3. Stuff the inside of each shoe tightly with crumpled newspaper. Really pack it in. The newspaper pulls moisture out of the lining and padding through capillary action.
4. Change the newspaper after thirty minutes. The first round will be soaked. Replace with fresh dry newspaper.
5. Position a fan pointed directly at the shoes. Moving air evaporates moisture faster than still air, even at room temperature.

If You Do Not Have Newspaper in 2026

Most of us do not get a physical newspaper anymore. Paper towels work. So do microfiber cloths or clean cotton rags. The key is something absorbent that can be packed tightly into the shoe cavity. Avoid anything that sheds lint — you will be picking fuzz out of your insoles for weeks.

Uncooked rice in a sock also works. Fill a thin sock with dry rice, tie it off, and stuff it into the shoe. The rice absorbs moisture. This is slower than newspaper but works overnight.

Suede and Leather Need Different Treatment

Suede should never be packed tightly with anything. The nap can be permanently flattened. Stuff very loosely with paper towels and let air-dry. Brush the nap back up with a suede brush once dry.

Leather shoes should dry slowly away from direct heat. Heat cracks leather. Stuff loosely to maintain shape and let them dry at room temperature with a fan on low.