Loose shoes can definitely cause some damage to your washing machine drum if you place them in to wash. However, there are ways to avoid this damage. If you are choosing to wash your shoes in a washing machine, take care to place them in a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase first. This will not only protect your washing machine drum, but also prevent your shoes from becoming caught in the drum and being damaged. If you want to stop the process being a noisy one, wrap your shoes in a towel before placing them inside the mesh laundry bag or pillowcase. Just take care to use one which is the same color as your shoes to avoid unwanted color transfer.