Have you ever experienced having a pair of beautiful white or colored sneakers, only to find that the shoelaces are dirty and faded? Well, there are a few great tips that can teach you how to clean shoelaces. Here is everything you need to know about cleaning your shoelaces and making them look brand new once again.
How to clean your shoelaces with bleach
You should use this method for cleaning only your white shoelaces, as you are using bleach in this method. Here is how you can clean your laces with bleach:
- Remove your shoelaces from the shoes first, as it is easier for you to clean your shoelaces this way.
- Take an old toothbrush and brush off any grime, dirt, or stuck on mud you see on your laces. Use a scrubbing motion to brush off the dust but be careful not to damage your shoelaces.
- In a bucket, add one gallon of water and 3 tablespoons of bleach. Now, add a few squirts of detergent into this mixture and mix it up well. Remember to do this in a well-ventilated room as the bleach causes irritation in your eyes.
- Now, place the shoelaces in a small mesh laundry bag first. Wear protective rubber gloves for the next step, as you are dealing with bleach solution.
- Place the mesh laundry bag with the shoelaces into the bucket of water and bleach solution. Use a spoon or a spatula to stir the laces in the solution gently.
- Remove the shoelaces from the laundry bag and place them into your washing machine, along with other white-colored towels or clothes if you want.
- Complete a rinse cycle and remove your shoelaces.
- Hang them outside to air dry completely.
How to clean your shoelaces with soap and water
Here is an easy and effective method to clean your white or colored shoelaces using just soap and water. Here is how you can do it:
- Remove your laces from the shoes and place them in your sink or in a bucket of warm water.
- Add a few drops of laundry detergent into the bucket and stir it to create a soapy, sudsy solution.
- Allow your shoelaces to soak in the soapy water solution for a few minutes. You will see your laces slightly swell up, making it easier for you to clean out the dirt and grime from them.
- Take an old toothbrush and start to scrub your shoelaces. Make sure you wash the entire front and back surface of your laces thoroughly to remove all the grime. However, be careful when you do this as you don’t want to damage your laces by scrubbing them too aggressively.
- Rinse out your shoelaces in clean, fresh water.
- If you find any remaining dirt on your shoelaces, repeat the steps again with the toothbrush to remove any remaining dirt and grime.
- Rinse off your laces and hang them to dry.
How to clean your shoelaces with vinegar
In this method, you can use a mild vinegar solution to remove any stubborn marks, grime, dirt, and stains from your shoelaces. The technique will work with both colored as well as white laces. Here is how you can do it:
- Remove your shoelaces from the shoes and place them in your sink.
- Take a small bowl and add white distilled vinegar and water and mix it up well to create a solution.
- Dip a cotton piece or a clean cloth into the vinegar water solution.
- Use this cotton or the fabric to blot out the stains and marks from your shoelaces.
- Fill up your sink with fresh water and add a few drops of laundry detergent or dishwashing soap into it.
- Take an old toothbrush and scrub the shoelaces gently to remove any stubborn dirt, grime, and marks from the laces.
- Finally, rinse out your laces in fresh water and hang them up to air dry naturally.
How to clean your shoelaces with baking soda
Here is another excellent method to clean your shoelaces using baking soda and water. Here is how you can do it:
- Take a small bowl and add equal parts of baking soda and dishwashing soap into it. Now, add some water and mix the solution well.
- Remove your shoelaces from the shoes and place them into this baking soda solution for a few minutes. Allow it to soak properly.
- Take an old toothbrush and scrub the shoelaces gently to remove any stuck up pieces of dust, dirt, mud, and grime from your laces.
- Rinse off your laces in fresh water and allow it to dry naturally by hanging them outside.
- If any marks remain, repeat the steps again to remove them altogether.
How to clean your shoelaces with hydrogen peroxide
An alternative to cleaning your shoelaces is to use a solution of hydrogen peroxide to loosen up dirt and grime from them and then clean them. Here is how you can do it:
- Take a bucket and fill up half a gallon of water into it. Now, add a ½ pint of hydrogen peroxide into the water and mix it up well. If you are mixing the solution with your hands, make sure you wear protective gloves first and then do this step.
- Remove your shoelaces from the shoes. Remove as much dirt as you can first using a clean, old toothbrush to brush away the visible dirt, grime, and mud from your shoelaces. Scrub your laces in one direction only. Otherwise, you might loosen up the fibers of the shoelaces and damage them.
- Now, place your shoelaces into your hydrogen peroxide solution. You can keep them in this solution overnight, but make sure to check that the laces are not discolored.
- Rinse out your shoelaces under running water to remove any of the dirt and grime stuck to them. Use your fingers to scrub the laces while rinsing them gently.
- Allow your laces to air dry by hanging them outside.
