3 Practical Ways to Clean Shoelaces and Brighten Them
If you’ve been able to figure out exactly what you need to do in order to properly clean your shoes and make them look brand new again, you’ll most likely want to clean shoelaces as well. It’s not quite ideal to have clean shoes, but shoelaces that are still dirty and dingy. This is especially the case when the shoes and laces are white. Since white is such a crisp color when it’s clean, dirty shoelaces will not go unnoticed in comparison. Knowing how to clean shoelaces is a handy skill to have.
Now, let’s move on the method of cleaning shoelaces.
Safety Tip: As always, above all else, it’s important to protect yourself and be safe. Regarding any steps that require the use of bleach or any other harmful chemicals, the best way to protect your skin is by using gloves. When you remove the gloves, wash your hands regardless, as it is better to be safe than sorry.
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How to clean shoelaces?
Wash Them by Hand
Washing your shoelaces by hand gives you a little bit more control in the process and can give you the power to really focus your efforts on specific areas that are dirtier if needed.
1. Grabbing a toothbrush, some strong liquid laundry detergent, and stain remover. You’ll also need a large bowl for this method. Fill the large bowl with approximately four cups of hot water before adding about half a teaspoon of your liquid laundry detergent.
2. Before you put your laces in the bowl, run them under some water and treat them with stain remover. Then, allow the laces to soak in the bowl of warm water for about a half hour. If you’re looking to brighten them a little further, add a teaspoon of bleach to the water. If your laces are made out of synthetic fibers, you cannot use regular bleach, you can only whiten them with oxygen-based bleach.
3. When your laces are done soaking, take a clean toothbrush and gently scrub any of the remaining dirt away.
4. Rinse the laces and then hang them to dry.
Machine Wash
Yes, you can clean shoelaces by washing machine! For this method, you’ll need to use some of the same products as mentioned in the previous method, but you’ll also need either a mesh garment bag or an old pillowcase that can be zipped shut. This is important as the laces can get tangled or stuck in moving parts of the washing machine, causing much larger problems than dirty shoelaces.
1. You’re going to want to get your laces wet and scrub away loose debris, treat the laces with stain remover to stubborn areas and allow it to soak in for 20-30 minutes.
2. You’ll put them in your mesh bag or pillowcase and add the zipped bag to a load of white laundry.
3. Add some liquid laundry detergent and wash the load in warm or hot water.
4. When the load finishes, remove the laces, and hang them to dry.
Soak Them
If the previous methods didn’t quite remove the stubborn stains from your white cotton laces, it’s time to bring in the big guns. Per the instructions from Clorox, you should soak your laces in a mixture consisting of a gallon of water and three tablespoons of bleach.
However, before you put your laces in the bleach solution, put them in a mesh garment bag. There’s a chance that the bag will try to float up to the surface, so if you’re trying to keep the bag submerged, you can put a plate on top of the bowl.
Allow your laces to soak for only around five minutes before putting them in the washing machine and hot water. If they’re still not looking quite as white as you’d like, you can add another half cup of bleach to the load.
Conclusion
White clothing, shoes, and even shoelaces can be very difficult to keep bright and white, but with the right tools and guides, you’ll be able to significantly improve the appearance of your white shoelaces. After cleaning, remenber to find a great way to store them to avoid becoming yellow again. If you are still not able to achieve the results that you’re aiming for, it doesn’t hurt to have some extra pairs of white laces on hand, just in case. Most laces are quite affordable and may even be a small price to pay to give your shoes just the refresh that they’ve been needing.
How to clean shoelaces FAQs
What should I look out for when washing colorful shoelaces?
You cannot be as aggressive with your cleaning methods when colorful shoelaces are involved. Anything with bleaching properties can ruin the color of the shoelaces
Can I clean shoelaces in the washing machine?
Yes, shoelaces can be washed in the washing machine. Remove them from the shoes and use a toothbrush to remove as much of the debris as possible. Then, place the shoelaces in a mesh garment bag and add them to a wash cycle.
What temperature should I use when washing shoelaces?
The best temperature to use when washing your white shoelaces is hot, but any shoelaces with color should be washed in cold water.
How can I keep white shoelaces clean?
As is the case with anything white, it’s very difficult to keep white laces white. The best method is to clean them thoroughly when needed. If you cannot achieve the crisp shade of white that you’re looking for, you can always replace your laces with a new pair.
Can I dry my shoelaces in the dryer?
No, you should avoid putting shoelaces in the dryer as the heat can warp the shape of the aglets. The best method to dry your laces is to hang them and allow them to thoroughly air dry.
