How to Clean Shoelaces: What Nine Guides Say

How to Wash Shoelaces: Nine Guides Compared

We read nine guides from Nike, Cleanipedia, Hibbett, Lace Lab, Vessi, Start-Rite, LoveToKnow, Branch Basics and SneakERASERS. They agree on removing the laces first, using a mesh bag in the machine and air drying. They disagree on bleach, water temperature and whether sunlight is fine.

Most of these sources sell shoes, laces or cleaning products, so some product advice is tied to their own range. None publishes lab tests of cleaned laces.

How to Clean White Shoelaces

This is where the sources split. Seven give a chlorine bleach soak for white laces, with different strengths and times, and two warn against it:

Bleach-free options. The sources offer several:

• Baking soda paste: Nike uses 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 4 ounces of water, 15 minutes. Branch Basics uses 3 to 4 tablespoons with enough water to spread, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Baking soda and vinegar: Cleanipedia mixes equal parts into a paste and leaves it about an hour. Start-Rite names it as a gentler option.
• Vinegar: Nike rubs a 1 to 1 vinegar and water mix onto stains. Branch Basics soaks in 1 to 1 for one to several hours for heavy soil.
• Hydrogen peroxide: Lace Lab soaks 30 minutes in 1 part peroxide to 4 parts water. Branch Basics says 3% peroxide dwells 5 to 10 minutes. Branch Basics warns that peroxide must never be combined with vinegar because it creates a toxic gas.
• Oxygen-based whiteners: SneakERASERS says to pre-soak about 30 minutes in warm water with a sodium percarbonate whitener. Branch Basics soaks in its oxygen product for an hour or overnight.
• Lemon juice: Branch Basics sprays it undiluted or 50 to 50 and scrubs, with a 15 to 30 minute dwell for stubborn grime.

General advice: if you use any bleach, keep to the short end of the times above, wear gloves and rinse well. Never combine cleaners.

Step by Step: Washing Shoelaces

The shared method, with who says what:

1. Take the laces out. Start-Rite says this stops dirt spreading to the shoe, especially canvas. SneakERASERS adds that a fraying aglet can be wrapped in clear tape first.
2. Brush or shake off loose dirt. Nike uses a spare toothbrush. Start-Rite says to shake off loose mud outdoors. Hibbett warns that scrubbing too hard loosens the fibres.
3. Pre-treat stains. Nike says to use a stain remover on stubborn spots. LoveToKnow treats discoloured spots with stain treater for 20 minutes.
4. Soak or machine wash. Use the table above. Put laces in a mesh bag, pillowcase or a sock.
5. Rinse until clear. SneakERASERS says to rinse under cool water until it runs clear. Start-Rite says to squeeze out water without twisting firmly.
6. Air dry. See the drying section.

Hibbett says stubborn marks that survive the wash can be treated with a shoe cleaner foam. Branch Basics says to check laces before drying and use another method if they are not clean, because heat can set stains.

Care by Lace Type

Not every lace takes the same treatment:

Vessi cleans leather laces with saddle soap on a damp cloth, then rubs on a natural oil such as olive or coconut oil, lets it soak in for at least an hour, and wipes off the excess. For conditioning leather shoes themselves, see our leather conditioning guide.

How to Dry Shoelaces

Every source that covers drying says to air dry. They differ on sunlight and speed:

• Nike: air dry to prevent shrinkage and keep the aglets intact.
• Start-Rite: air drying is “the safest and most reliable method.” Lay flat on a towel or hang near a radiator, not on it. It also says you can peg laces outside in sunshine.
• Cleanipedia: dry naturally away from direct sunlight, which can fade colours. For leather, avoid blow drying and sunlight.
• SneakERASERS: lay flat on a towel, roll gently to press out water, avoid direct sunlight because it fades dyes and yellows whites. Blot and use a nearby fan to speed up.
• Lace Lab: air dry flat away from direct sun.
• Vessi: air dry over a towel, which can take several hours.

General advice: three sources say avoid sun and one says sunshine is fine, so keep coloured and white laces out of direct sun until dry. Do not re-lace damp laces into leather shoes.

How Often to Wash and When to Replace

Only SneakERASERS gives a schedule: every 1 to 2 months for everyday use, every 2 to 4 weeks for athletic or outdoor use, and about every 2 weeks for white laces. Cleanipedia says dyed laces hide dirt and can go longer between washes, and suggests keeping spare laces, wearing darker laces where stains are likely and avoiding muddy areas.

When to replace. Start-Rite says frayed or thinning laces can affect fit and safety and should be replaced. Hibbett says replacing worn laces is an easy, cost-effective way to update shoes. SneakERASERS says chlorine bleach shortens lace life.

Where the Sources Disagree

Bleach. Nike, Cleanipedia, Hibbett, Vessi, Start-Rite, Lace Lab and LoveToKnow describe it for white laces. Branch Basics and SneakERASERS warn against it. LoveToKnow, citing Clorox, warns that too much exposure weakens the fibres. General advice: try an oxygen whitener or baking soda first, and keep bleach for white cotton as a last step.

Water temperature. Cleanipedia says a hot wash at 40 to 60 degrees C, and Vessi says hot water for white laces. Lace Lab and SneakERASERS say cold. Start-Rite says very hot water can shrink fibres, and SneakERASERS says hot water shrinks cotton and fades dyes. General advice: warm or cool water is the safer common ground, especially for dyed laces.

Machine washing. Nike, Cleanipedia, Hibbett and Start-Rite are comfortable with it. Lace Lab limits it to fabric laces. Leather and waxed laces should not go in (Cleanipedia, Lace Lab). General advice: always use a mesh bag, and hand wash anything delicate.

Sunlight. Start-Rite pegs laces out in sunshine. Cleanipedia, Lace Lab and SneakERASERS say keep them out of direct sun. General advice: shade or a fan.

Questions People Ask About Shoelaces, Answered

“Can I put shoelaces in the washing machine?”

Yes for fabric laces, in a mesh bag, according to Nike, Cleanipedia, Hibbett, Lace Lab and Start-Rite. Not for leather or waxed laces.

“How do I get white laces white again?”

Bleach soaks of about 5 minutes (Nike, Cleanipedia, LoveToKnow), or bleach-free options such as baking soda paste, oxygen whiteners or peroxide (Lace Lab, SneakERASERS, Branch Basics).

“Can I use bleach on coloured laces?”

No. Nike, Hibbett, Vessi and Lace Lab all say not to.

“Can I put shoelaces in the dryer?”

No source recommends it. Nike, Lace Lab, Start-Rite, Vessi and SneakERASERS warn it can shrink laces or damage aglets.

“How do I clean leather shoelaces?”

Wipe with a damp cloth and do not soak (Cleanipedia, Lace Lab, SneakERASERS). Vessi adds saddle soap and a natural oil afterward.

“Can I mix vinegar and peroxide for extra whitening?”

No. Branch Basics says peroxide must never be combined with vinegar because it creates a toxic gas. Use one, rinse it away, then use the other.

“How long should I soak laces?”

15 to 20 minutes for detergent soaks (Nike, Lace Lab), 10 to 15 (Start-Rite), 15 to 30 (SneakERASERS). Bleach soaks are about 5 to 10 minutes.

“How often should I wash shoelaces?”

SneakERASERS says every 1 to 2 months for everyday use and every 2 weeks for white laces.

“My laces have frayed aglets. What can I do?”

SneakERASERS says to wrap a fraying aglet with clear tape before soaking. Start-Rite says replace frayed or thinning laces.

Mistakes to Avoid

• The dryer. Nike, Lace Lab, Start-Rite, Vessi and SneakERASERS all warn about it.
• Bleach on coloured, printed or reflective laces. Nike, Hibbett, Vessi and Lace Lab say no.
• Soaking leather or waxed laces. Lace Lab and Cleanipedia warn against it.
• Fabric softener. SneakERASERS says it reduces absorbency and makes laces slippery.
• Hard scrubbing. Hibbett says it loosens the fibres. Vessi warns about the aglet area.
• Dropping laces loose into the washer. Hibbett warns about tangling.
• Mixing cleaners. Branch Basics says never mix peroxide with vinegar.
• Bare hands in bleach. Vessi and LoveToKnow say wear gloves.

Shoelace Cleaning Helpers

A mesh wash bag, a mild detergent and a brush kit cover the steps the sources describe. These are listed on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you clean shoelaces?

Remove them, brush off dirt, soak 15 to 20 minutes in warm water with mild detergent or machine wash in a mesh bag, rinse and air dry (Nike, Lace Lab, Start-Rite).

How do you clean white shoelaces?

Bleach soaks of about 5 minutes are described by Nike and Cleanipedia. Bleach-free options are baking soda paste, oxygen whiteners and peroxide (Lace Lab, SneakERASERS).

Can you wash shoelaces in the washing machine?

Yes for fabric laces in a mesh bag (Nike, Cleanipedia, Hibbett). Not for leather or waxed laces.

Can you put shoelaces in the dryer?

No source recommends it. It can shrink laces and damage aglets (Nike, Lace Lab, Start-Rite).

How do you clean leather shoelaces?

Wipe with a damp cloth and do not soak (Cleanipedia, Lace Lab, SneakERASERS).

Can you use bleach on coloured laces?

No. Nike, Hibbett, Vessi and Lace Lab all advise against it.

How long should you soak shoelaces?

15 to 20 minutes for detergent (Nike, Lace Lab), 15 to 30 for SneakERASERS, and about 5 to 10 minutes for bleach.

How often should you wash shoelaces?

SneakERASERS says every 1 to 2 months for everyday use, every 2 to 4 weeks for athletic use and about every 2 weeks for white laces.

The Short Version

Remove the laces, use warm water and mild detergent, protect them in a mesh bag, keep bleach for white cotton only, and air dry out of direct sun.

Keep Reading

Sources

• Nike: 3 easy ways to clean shoelaces
• Cleanipedia: How to clean shoelaces
• Hibbett: How to clean shoelaces
• Lace Lab: How to clean shoelaces
• Vessi: How to wash shoelaces
• Start-Rite: How to clean shoe laces
• LoveToKnow: How to clean white shoelaces
• Branch Basics: How to clean white shoelaces without bleach
• SneakERASERS: How to clean shoe laces