How to Wash shoelaces
Last Updated: feb-17, 2025
Considerations Before You Get Started
Before you learn how to wash shoelaces, consider the following:
Lace Material: Different laces require different cleaning methods to maintain their quality. For example, fabric laces can withstand soap and water, while leather laces require different care. I’ve found that brightly colored and round, narrow white laces are usually made of synthetic fibers, while most flat white laces are made of cotton. We’ll discuss shoelaces in more detail below, as this is very important before we look at how to wash shoelaces.
Lace Color: You can use bleach in addition to washing your white laces with soap, but bleach can bleed through colored laces, so be careful when considering the color of the laces.
Lace Condition: If your shoelaces are frayed or very worn, washing them can make them look worse. In some cases, replacing them may be the best option.
Understanding Different Types of Shoelaces
Cloth shoelaces
Pros: Cloth shoelaces are the most common, coming in a variety of colors and designs. They are easy to clean and durable enough to withstand regular washing.
Cons: I have found that cloth laces tend to fade over time, especially if harsh cleaning agents are used. The downside is that they can absorb stains more easily than other materials, which can be more difficult to clean if left dirty for too long.
Synthetic shoelaces
Pros: These laces are made of materials like nylon or elastic. These laces are very durable and water and stain resistant. They are also less likely to fray than cloth laces.
Cons: Although durable, synthetic laces are less comfortable than fabric laces. They can also become stiff over time if not cleaned properly.
Leather shoelaces
Pros: Leather laces are usually found on expensive shoes. Leather laces require extra care. They give a sophisticated look and are quite durable if maintained properly.
Cons: Leather is more sensitive to water and chemicals, so it can tear or lose its shape if not cleaned with special care.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- A soft brush (like an old toothbrush)
- Small bowl or sink
- Mesh laundry bag (for machine washing)
- Washing machine (optional)
- Cloth or sponge (for leather laces)
Materials
- Mild laundry detergent or dish soap
- Baking soda (for tough stains)
- White vinegar (optional for deep cleaning)
- Natural oil (for conditioning leather laces)
- Old towel or newspaper (for drying)
Instructions
How Often to Wash As needed
How to wash shoelaces
Hand wash method
1. Prepare the laces for washing
2. Mix a cleaning solution
In a small bowl or sink, mix 1 or 2 teaspoons of liquid detergent with 4 cups of warm water. If your laces are very dirty, add a teaspoon of baking soda for extra cleaning power.
- If you decide to wash several pairs of laces, double the amount of water and detergent.
3. Soak the laces in the solution
Sink the laces in the prepared solution. Use your hands to loosen the dirt.
- Soak for 20-30 minutes.
4. Test the laces
Take the laces out and test them. If there are still stains, gently scrub them with a toothbrush.
- If they don’t look clean and bright, soak them in a chlorine or oxygen-based bleach solution for a few more minutes.
5. Rinse and dry
Rinse the shiny laces thoroughly with cold water. Hang them to dry.
- For faster drying, place the laces on a microfiber towel, wrap them in the towel, and squeeze. Then, hang them up.
Washing Machine Method
1. Remove the laces from the shoes
2. Remove loose dirt
Hold the laces under a cold running tap at full power to remove loose dirt from the laces.
- Or, with a scrub brush, gently scrub the laces that have dried and caked on with dirt or mud.
3. Soak in a solution
In a bowl or sieve, make a solution of 3 tablespoons (44.4 ml) of bleach to 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water. Soak the laces for 10 minutes.
- You can apply detergent directly to both sides of the laces and leave them for 10 minutes.
- If you have a lot of laces, you can add one teaspoon of detergent to the solution.
4. Wash the laces in the washing machine.
To prevent tangling in the washing machine, place the laces in a mesh laundry bag. Wash in the washing machine with detergent and 1/2 cup of bleach in hot water.
- Keep the washing machine cycle on a gentle cycle.
5. Hang the laces to dry
From the washing machine, remove the mesh bag, remove the laces from the bag, and hang them on a drying rack or something to dry naturally.
- Never put laces in a hot clothes dryer. The plastic tip of the ribbon (known as an aglet) can melt under heat.
How to wash Colored Laces
Prepare the Cleaning Solution
Make a solution of soap and water in a bowl. Remove the laces from the shoes, brush off any loose dirt, and then soak the laces in the solution for a few minutes.
- The soap helps loosen dirt particles from the lace fabric.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach, vinegar, and baking soda, as they can fade the color of the laces.
Swirl and Scrub
Swirl the mixture in a circular motion. This helps the laces absorb the soapy water, which will remove dirt from the surface of the laces.
- Scrub gently with a small scrub brush (or an old toothbrush). Then rinse thoroughly with clean, cool water.
- Once clean, hang the laces up and let them air dry.
Be careful with the aglets, which can crack or peel if handled too vigorously. Do not put the aglets in the dryer to avoid damaging the aglets and shrinking them.
Reattach the Laces
Tie the shoes with the laces. If the laces get damaged during cleaning, you can wrap the ends of the laces with a piece of scotch tape so that they can easily fit through the eyelets.
How to wash leather shoelaces
Leather shoelaces are usually found on more formal or rugged shoes. With a little extra care, they can last longer. Leather shoelaces are not as absorbent as synthetic shoelaces, so they don’t require as much cleaning. Let’s take a look at how to wash leather shoelaces.
Remove Loose Dirt
After removing the leather shoelaces from your shoes, use a microfiber towel, toothbrush, or similar small brush to remove loose dirt from the laces.
- These shoelaces are not as absorbent as synthetic shoelaces, so they don’t require as much cleaning.
Clean with a Soap Solution
Make a solution by mixing a little saddle soap or castile soap with warm water. Apply the mixture to a microfiber towel and gently scrub the entire length of the shoelaces to remove dirt.
- Do not soak the leather in the soap solution, as this can damage the leather’s material and may discolor it.
- You can use a leather cleaner instead of soap.
Dry the Shoelaces
Lay the shoelaces on an old towel or newspaper to dry.
- Let them air dry.
- Keep them out of direct sunlight to preserve the color of the shoelaces.
Restore Shine with Oil
Once completely dry, apply a natural oil like olive oil or coconut oil to restore the shine of the leather.
- This treatment will soften the leather shoelaces and improve their appearance.
- You can use a leather conditioner instead of oil.
Final Step
Leave the shoelaces to absorb the oil for a few hours. Since oil can stain the shoelaces, wipe off any excess oil after the first hour.
Treating Stains on Shoelaces
If your shoelaces still have stubborn stains after regular cleaning, you may need to take special care to remove them:
To remove stains from white cotton laces:
- Add two cups of warm water and one cup of chlorine bleach to a bowl, then stir well to mix.
- Add the laces to the bowl and soak for five minutes.
- Scrub the stains with a small brush.
- Rinse the laces in cold water once they are clean.
If you are bleaching several pairs of laces, double the amount of water and bleach.
To remove stains from colored laces:
In a plastic or glass bowl, combine two cups of warm water and one tablespoon of oxygen bleach.
Add the laces and soak for at least two hours (up to eight hours if desired).
Rinse with clean water and allow them to dry.
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About This Article
Co-authored by:
Rio Jongsae Kim
Designer Shoe & Bag Care Specialist
Rio Jongsae Kim is a Designer Shoe and Bag Repair Specialist and the Owner of Kim’s Shoe & Bag Repair in Vancouver, BC, Canada. With over 40 years of experience, Rio and Kim’s Shoe & Bag Repair specialize in the repair and reconstruction of leather and luxury goods including shoes, handbags, and accessories. Rio’s experience and dedication to quality repair and restoration have led to his work being featured on Yahoo, Insider, and MSN.
Co-authors: 2
Updated: February 17, 2025