Lace Care
How to Clean Shoelaces (and Whiten White Laces)
Grubby laces can make a clean pair of shoes look tired. Here's how to get them fresh again — the simple soak, how to whiten whites, what's safe in the machine, and the one rule for waxed and leather laces.
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The short answer
Most laces come clean in ten minutes.
Everyday clean
Remove laces, soak in warm soapy water, scrub, rinse, air-dry
Whiten whites
Diluted bleach, or baking soda for a no-bleach option
Golden rule
Never soak or bleach waxed or leather laces — wipe only
Always
Air-dry — heat can shrink laces and damage the tips
How to clean shoelaces (the basic method)
This works for everyday cotton and polyester laces in any colour.
- Take the laces out of your shoes — they always clean better out than in.
- Fill a bowl with warm water and a little laundry detergent or dish soap.
- Soak the laces for 10–15 minutes to loosen the dirt.
- Scrub along their length with an old toothbrush or nail brush, paying attention to the worst spots.
- Rinse thoroughly in clean water and squeeze out the excess.
- Hang them to air-dry. Done.
How to whiten white shoelaces
White laces go grey and yellow over time. Two methods bring them back — pick whichever you're comfortable with.
With bleach (fastest)
Mix about one part bleach to ten parts cold water, soak white laces for 5–10 minutes, then rinse very well and air-dry. Only on white cotton or polyester — never on coloured, waxed or leather laces. Work in a ventilated spot and wear gloves.
No bleach (gentler)
Make a paste of baking soda and a little warm water (a splash of white vinegar helps), work it in with a brush, leave 15–20 minutes, then rinse. Oxygen bleach (the "oxi" powders) is another gentle, colour-safe option.
Tip: dry white laces in the sun if you can — natural light helps lift the last of the yellow.
Can you machine-wash shoelaces?
Yes, cotton and polyester laces machine-wash fine — with two precautions. Put them in a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase so they don't tangle or disappear into the drum, and wash on a cold or warm cycle with a normal load. Then air-dry only — skip the dryer, as heat can shrink laces and melt or crack the plastic tips. Don't machine-wash waxed, leather or silicone laces (see below).
Cleaning by material
The method depends on what your laces are made of. This is where most people go wrong.
| Material | How to clean |
|---|
| Cotton | Soak, scrub, machine-wash in a bag. Bleach or baking soda for whites. |
| Polyester / nylon | Same as cotton — hard-wearing and colour-fast, so they clean easily. |
| Waxed | Wipe with a damp cloth only. Never soak or bleach — it strips the wax. Re-wax if needed. |
| Leather | Wipe with a barely-damp cloth and a little leather conditioner. Never soak or bleach. |
| Silicone / no-tie | The easiest — rinse under water and wipe. They shrug off dirt. |
Clean, or replace?
Cleaning is worth it until the lace itself is worn — fraying ends, a lace that's gone permanently grey, stretched elastic, or tips (aglets) that have split so they won't thread. At that point a fresh pair is quicker, cheaper and looks far better than a tired set. A new set of laces is the easiest way to make an old pair of shoes look new again.
Fresh whites
Flat laces
Crisp white and every other colour — a cheap, instant refresh for tired sneakers.
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Low-maintenance
Waxed laces
Shed dirt and water, so they stay looking clean with just a wipe.
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Rinse clean
No-tie laces
Silicone and elastic styles that wipe clean in seconds — and never need tying.
Shop no-tie laces
Frequently asked questions
How do you clean shoelaces?
Take them out of the shoes, soak in warm soapy water for 10–15 minutes, scrub with an old toothbrush, rinse and air-dry. Cotton and polyester laces can also go in the machine inside a mesh bag.
How do you whiten white shoelaces?
Soak white cotton or polyester laces in diluted bleach (about 1 part to 10 parts water) for 5–10 minutes and rinse well, or use a baking-soda paste for a gentler, no-bleach option. Air-dry, ideally in the sun.
Can you put shoelaces in the washing machine?
Cotton and polyester laces, yes — in a mesh bag or pillowcase, on a cold or warm cycle, then air-dry. Don't machine-wash waxed, leather or silicone laces.
Can you wash waxed or leather laces?
Only by wiping with a damp cloth — never soak, bleach or machine-wash them. Soaking strips the wax from
waxed laces and ruins leather. A little leather conditioner keeps leather laces supple.
When should I replace my laces instead of cleaning them?
When they're fraying, permanently discoloured, stretched, or the tips have split so they won't thread. A fresh
set of laces is a cheap, instant way to make old shoes look new.
