Dirty shoelaces can make even expensive shoes look cheap and worn out – but cleaning them takes just 20 minutes and makes your entire pair look brand new. Most people never wash their laces, yet they’re one of the dirtiest parts of your shoes, collecting mud, grass stains, and bacteria with every wear.
The good news? You probably have everything you need to clean them sitting in your laundry room right now. Regular detergent, a bowl of warm water, and an old toothbrush will handle most laces perfectly. Machine washing works great for cotton and synthetic laces, while leather ones need a gentler wipe-down approach.
Cleaning Methods by Material Type
Different shoelace materials require different cleaning approaches to avoid damage and get the best results.
- Cotton Shoelaces: Cotton laces are the easiest to clean because they’re incredibly durable and can handle strong cleaning agents. You’ll find these on most casual and athletic shoes. They absorb dirt easily but respond well to both hand and machine washing. White cotton laces can even tolerate bleach without falling apart.
- Synthetic Shoelaces (Polyester/Nylon): These water-resistant laces are tougher against stains but more sensitive to heat than cotton. Found mostly on sports shoes, they clean up nicely with mild detergent and cool water. Never put them in the dryer or use hot water – the plastic tips can melt and the fibers might shrink or fray.
- Leather Shoelaces: Leather laces need special care since they’re essentially strips of treated animal hide. Never soak or machine wash them. Instead, wipe them down with a damp cloth and a tiny bit of leather cleaner or mild soap. After cleaning, apply leather conditioner to keep them soft and prevent cracking.
White vs. Colored Shoelaces: Cleaning Differences
The color of your laces determines which cleaning products are safe to use and how aggressive you can be with stain removal.
- White Laces: White laces show every speck of dirt but can handle the strongest cleaning methods. Use chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or oxygen bleach to get them bright white again. Clean them as soon as they look dirty – waiting lets stains set permanently. Always rinse thoroughly after using any bleaching agent to prevent the fibers from weakening.
- Colored Laces: Dark or bright laces need gentler treatment to prevent fading or color bleeding. Skip the chlorine bleach completely and stick to mild detergents or oxygen-based (color-safe) bleach. Wash them with similar colors to prevent dye transfer. Test any cleaner on a small hidden section first if you’re unsure about colorfastness.
Step-by-Step: Machine Washing Shoelaces
Machine washing works great for cotton and synthetic laces when you follow these steps.
1. Remove the Laces from the Shoes
Take the laces completely out of your shoes before washing. This lets the machine clean all sides of the lace evenly and protects both your shoes and your washer from damage.
2. Pre-Treat Excess Dirt or Stains
Rinse muddy laces under cold running water to flush out loose dirt. For visible stains, work a bit of liquid laundry detergent into the spots with an old toothbrush. Let it sit for 10 minutes before washing.
3. Place in a Mesh Laundry Bag
Put your laces in a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase tied shut. This prevents them from tangling around the washer’s agitator or getting lost. It also protects the plastic tips from damage.
4. Wash on Gentle Cycle
Run a gentle cycle with cold water and regular laundry detergent. Include the bag of laces with a load of similar-colored towels or clothes – this provides cushioning and helps scrub the laces clean.
For white laces, you can add oxygen bleach for extra whitening power.
5. Air Dry the Laces
Never put shoelaces in the dryer. The heat will shrink cotton laces and melt plastic tips. Squeeze out excess water, blot with a towel, then hang them up or lay flat to air dry completely.
Step-by-Step: Hand Washing Shoelaces
Hand washing gives you more control and works for all lace types, including delicate leather.
1. Remove Laces and Prep
Pull the laces out of your shoes completely. Shake or brush off any loose dirt over a trash can before you start washing.
2. Prepare a Soaking Solution
Fill a bowl with warm water and add a few drops of mild detergent or dish soap. Swish it around to create a soapy solution. For white laces, add a teaspoon of baking soda for extra whitening power.
3. Soak the Shoelaces
Submerge the laces completely and let them soak for 15-20 minutes. This loosens embedded dirt from the fibers. Extremely dirty laces can soak up to 30 minutes.
Stir them around occasionally to help the soap penetrate.
4. Scrub Gently
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or your fingers to scrub along each lace. Focus on stained areas with small circular motions. Apply extra detergent directly to stubborn spots if needed.
5. Rinse Thoroughly
Rinse under cool running water until all soap is gone. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear – leftover soap attracts dirt and makes laces feel stiff.
6. Dry Properly
Press laces in a towel to remove excess water, then hang or lay flat to air dry. Keep them away from direct heat or sunlight, especially leather laces which can crack when dried too quickly.
Removing Tough Stains (Dirt, Grass, Oil)
Some stains need special treatment beyond regular washing to come out completely.
- Mud and Heavy Dirt: Blast muddy laces under cold running water at full force to flush out most of the dirt before washing. Pre-treat remaining stains by scrubbing with laundry detergent or enzyme stain remover. Let it sit for 10 minutes to break down the soil, then wash normally.
- Grass Stains: These organic stains respond well to oxygen cleaners and mild bleaching. For white laces, soak in diluted chlorine bleach (1 teaspoon per 2 cups warm water) for 5-10 minutes. For colored laces, use oxygen bleach instead – soak for several hours according to package directions. Enzyme-based stain removers also work great on grass.
- Oil or Grease: Dish soap cuts through grease better than laundry detergent. Apply a few drops directly to the greasy spot and work it in with your fingers. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. For extra stubborn grease, sprinkle baking soda on the soapy area for gentle abrasion, then scrub and rinse with warm water.
Drying and Maintenance Tips
Proper drying and regular maintenance keep your laces looking fresh and prevent damage.
Always air-dry your laces – heat from dryers shrinks fabric and melts plastic tips. Pat out excess water with a towel first, then hang them up or lay flat with good ventilation.
Keep colored and leather laces away from direct sunlight while drying. UV rays fade colors and dry out leather, making it crack.
Apply leather conditioner to leather laces after they’re fully dry. This keeps them soft and prevents cracking over time.
Consider buying spare laces for frequently worn shoes. You can rotate them – wear one pair while washing the other.
Apply fabric protector spray to new laces before wearing them. Products like Scotchgard create a barrier that repels dirt and stains, keeping laces cleaner longer.
If the plastic tips (aglets) start fraying, reinforce them with a drop of super glue or wrap tightly with clear tape. This prevents further damage and makes relacing easier.
Clean your laces regularly before stains set in permanently. Light-colored laces especially benefit from frequent washing. Make it part of your shoe care routine – whenever you clean your shoes, clean the laces too.
FAQs
How often should I clean my shoelaces?
Clean white laces every 2-3 wears or as soon as they look dirty. Colored laces can go longer – about once a month with regular wear. Don’t wait until they’re extremely grimy, as set-in stains are much harder to remove.
Can I use regular laundry detergent on all shoelaces?
Yes, regular laundry detergent works for cotton and synthetic laces. However, use only mild soap or specialized leather cleaner for leather laces, as regular detergent can dry them out and cause cracking.
Why shouldn’t I put shoelaces in the dryer?
Heat from the dryer shrinks cotton laces and can melt or warp the plastic tips (aglets). Synthetic laces may also shrink or become damaged. Air drying preserves the laces’ shape and prevents damage.
What’s the best way to whiten yellowed white laces?
Soak yellowed white laces in a hydrogen peroxide solution (1 part peroxide to 4 parts water) for an hour, then rinse and wash normally. For cotton laces, diluted chlorine bleach also works effectively.
How do I clean shoelaces without removing them from shoes?
While not ideal, you can wipe laces with a damp cloth and mild soap while they’re still in the shoes. However, removing them ensures thorough cleaning of all surfaces and prevents damage to your shoes.
Can I wash different colored laces together?
No, wash laces with similar colors only. Dark laces can bleed dye onto lighter ones, especially during the first few washes. Always separate whites from colors to prevent staining.
What should I do if my shoelaces smell bad?
Soak smelly laces in a mixture of warm water and white vinegar (1:1 ratio) for 30 minutes before washing. The vinegar kills odor-causing bacteria. Ensure laces dry completely to prevent mildew growth.