iaomi launched crowdfunding in China for the specialized vertical Mijia Shoe Washing Machine 3kg at a starting price of 799 yuan, with a recommended retail price set at 1,299 yuan. The appliance takes up just 0.18 m² of floor space, letting you cram it onto a modest balcony or into a bathroom corner, and handles a 3 kg load. For a single run, the manufacturer suggests washing between two and four pairs of shoes.
Full-fledged automatic sneaker washing has moved out of the realm of exotic experiments and into the category of affordable home appliances you can run at home. But spending money on a separate gadget only makes sense for those whose wardrobe consists entirely of unpretentious textiles.
Cleaning mechanics and programs
Inside the drum, a three-dimensional brush system with 360-degree circular rotation goes to work: the cleaning elements are located at the bottom and on the side walls, making direct contact with different areas of the shoes. Additionally, a built-in rotating impeller creates a water jet that helps wash away accumulated dirt from the upper, the sole, and the inner textile lining.
Three-dimensional brushes with 360-degree rotation and an impeller scrub the sole and upper of the shoes through mechanical friction under a targeted water stream.
Inside the device's arsenal are 8 working programs, including a standard mode, intensive treatment, quick rinse, spin cycle, and a self-cleaning scenario. A short cycle takes exactly 20 minutes, and a 24-hour delayed start timer is provided for convenience.
Antibacterial effect and strict prohibitions
To wash away remaining sand and dirt, a drum cleaning program is used, which protects subsequent batches from re-contamination.
The manufacturer claims the destruction of up to 99% of the fungus Trichophyton rubrum and up to 99.8% of bacteria, but demands washing only unpretentious everyday items.
However, this is where the main catch lies: Xiaomi explicitly recommends against loading leather, expensive, fading, or water-sensitive shoes into the drum. The machine is designed strictly for simple canvas shoes, textile sneakers, children's boots, and sports slippers. Buying a separate appliance at full retail price for cheap flip-flops and a pair of fabric sneakers looks like a dubious investment, since you'll still have to wash all your valuable sneakers by hand.
What’s behind it
A dedicated appliance promises to eliminate manual sneaker scrubbing, yet Xiaomi expressly warns against washing leather and expensive footwear inside it. As a result, the Mijia Shoe Washing Machine 3kg claims 0.18 m² of floor space purely to wash basic textile sneakers. The full retail price of 1299 yuan turns this specialized washer into a hard sell for owners of delicate shoes. Will Xiaomi customers embrace this 799-yuan crowdfunding machine when their most valuable pairs still require manual care?