How to Wash Shoelaces: by Hand, in the Machine or Replace Them?

Dirty laces instantly make a clean shoe look less sharp. Luckily, learning how to wash shoelaces is easy. Sometimes replacing them is the smarter move, for example when the aglet is broken or the lace starts to fray. In this guide you will learn how to wash laces by hand or in the washing machine, which laces you are better off not washing and when a new lace is the better choice.

In short

• Polyester laces can be washed by hand or in a laundry bag in the washing machine at 30 degrees.
• Cotton laces are best washed by hand. Do not wash waxed and leather laces. Wipe them with a damp cloth instead.
• Always let laces air dry, never in the tumble dryer or on the radiator.
• If the aglet is broken, the lace frays or a stain will not come out, replacing is the better choice.
• Choose a replacement in the same shape and width and measure the old lace from aglet to aglet.

How to wash shoelaces: each type at a glance

Not every lace handles water and soap equally well. This overview shows what works best for each type.

Lace type	Wash?	How to do it
Polyester laces	Yes	By hand or in the washing machine in a laundry bag
Cotton laces	Yes, gently	Preferably by hand in lukewarm water, then air dry
Waxed laces	No	Wipe with a damp cloth
Leather laces	No	Wipe with a damp cloth and let them dry
Elastic laces	By hand	Lukewarm water, no wringing and no tumble dryer

Washing laces by hand

Washing by hand is the safest method, because you decide how hard you scrub. Here is how:

1. Take the laces out of your shoes. Inside the shoe you will never get the stains near the eyelets properly clean.
2. Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and a little mild soap or detergent.
3. Let the laces soak for fifteen minutes so the dirt loosens.
4. Rub the laces between your fingers or with a soft brush. Focus on the ends and the spots where the lace runs through the eyelets.
5. Rinse them well with clean water until no soap remains.
6. Press out the water with a towel. Do not wring the laces, as that pulls them out of shape.

Can you wash laces in the washing machine?

Polyester laces can go in the washing machine without a problem. Put them in a laundry bag or an old pillowcase so they do not wrap around the drum or get stuck in the rubber seal. Choose a gentle programme, such as a delicate wash at 30 degrees. A higher temperature can shrink cotton and loosens the aglets faster.

If you are washing your shoes in the machine as well, always take the laces out first. That way both the shoes and the laces come out cleaner.

Drying: air dry, not in the tumble dryer

Let your laces air dry, for example over a drying rack or a towel rail. Do not put them on the radiator or in the tumble dryer. Heat can shrink cotton, make elastic laces lose their stretch and deform plastic aglets. Only lace them back in once they are completely dry. A damp lace inside a shoe dries poorly and starts to smell musty sooner.

How do you get white laces white again?

Let white laces soak longer, overnight if needed, in lukewarm water with detergent. Then scrub stubborn spots with a soft brush and rinse well. Do not use bleach. It weakens the fibres and can actually turn synthetic laces yellow. If a grey haze or a stain will not come out, replacing them is the quickest route to a fresh-looking shoe.

Do not wash waxed and leather laces

Waxed laces have a wax coating that gives grip in the knot and a crisp look. Water and soap wash that coating out. So wipe waxed laces with a damp cloth and let them dry.

Leather laces cannot handle soaking. The leather hardens, shrinks or cracks when it gets too wet and dries too quickly. Wipe them clean with a slightly damp cloth and let them dry at room temperature. If you use leather care on your shoes, you can treat the laces along with them now and then.

When should you replace your laces?

Washing helps against dirt, but not against wear. In these cases a new lace is the better choice:

• The aglet is broken or missing. Without an aglet the end frays and the lace barely goes through the eyelets anymore.
• The lace frays in the middle. This usually happens at the eyelets, where it rubs the most. That is also where it will eventually snap.
• The discolouration will not come out, not even after several washes.
• The lace has stretched or thinned and no longer stays tight.
• The lace is too short or too long for the way you wear your shoe.

If in doubt, keep in mind that new laces cost little compared to your shoe. With a fresh set a shoe instantly looks well kept again.

Choosing the right replacement

Choose a new lace in the same shape and width as the old one. That way you know it will fit through your eyelets. Lay the old lace flat and measure it from aglet to aglet. If you end up between two lengths, take the longer one. A slightly long lace can be double knotted, a short one cannot. If you no longer know the length, count the eyelets and check our shoelace length guide. For most sneakers 120 cm is the standard.

For most sneakers and casual shoes, basic flat laces of 8 mm make a good replacement. If your shoe has round laces, take a look at the round laces.

You can read how to lace the new lace step by step in how to replace shoelaces.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wash laces together with my clothes?

You can, as long as you put them in a laundry bag and the rest of the load goes on a low temperature. Avoid washing white laces with dark clothes, because they will turn grey.

How often should I wash my laces?

Wash them when they look dirty, or when you are cleaning your shoes anyway. There is no fixed schedule.

My aglet is broken. Can I repair it?

You can wrap the end tightly with tape as a temporary fix. That works for a while, but a new lace is the proper solution.

Do laces get shorter after washing?

Cotton laces can shrink a little, especially when washed hot or dried in the tumble dryer. Polyester laces usually keep their length well.

Are your laces beyond saving? Browse every shape and material under laces by type and pick a new set.