With their clean, sleek designs, brands like Nike, Adidas, and New Balance are often the focal point of a stylish outfit. But, pairing them with dirty laces can instantly detract from the overall aesthetic, making your expensive kicks look less than impressive. So, should you be washing your shoelaces? Absolutely!
Washing your shoelaces regularly can help to eliminate bacteria, prevent odour, and keep your shoes looking their best. While you may not think your shoelaces are a major source of dirt and grime, they can accumulate sweat, dirt, and other contaminants over time. Washing helps to keep your shoes clean and fresh.
Here’s how to keep your shoelaces looking their best
- The first step is to remove your laces from your shoes and brush off any stuck-on debris. Sometimes, simply running laces under warm water will remove a lot of the dirt. Of course, if your laces are really dirty, they may need some extra love and elbow grease, apply a stain-removing solution as you would on other clothing items.
- Now you have a choice: you can hand wash your shoelaces in warm, soapy water or toss them into the washing machine with a load of laundry.
To handwash your laces, simply fill the sink or a bucket with warm water. Add enough dish soap to the water to create bubbles, and submerge your laces. Soak them for 15 to 20 minutes, moving the laces through the water with your hands every so often. Any stains should scrub away easily with an old toothbrush. Rinse when clean.
If you prefer a hands-off approach and decide to wash your laces with a load of laundry, Nike suggests placing shoelaces in a mesh bag to keep them from tangling up in other laundry items.
- The last step is to lay your shoelaces flat on a clean surface to air dry. Avoid using a dryer, as the heat can damage the material.
Additional Tips for Washing Shoelaces
- Check the care label
Before washing your shoelaces, check the care label on your shoes for specific instructions.
- Use a gentle detergent
Opt for a mild detergent that won’t damage the shoelaces.
- Wash with similar colours
If you’re machine washing your shoelaces, wash them with similar colours to prevent bleeding.
- Replace worn-out laces
If your shoelaces are frayed or worn out, no amount of washing is going to help. It’s probably time to replace them with new laces.
Photo by Alekon pictures on Unsplash
