Third time’s the charm. That’s what I told myself after my third pair of pristine white trainers turned a sad, dingy grey. Not entirely grey, mind you, but a sort of pathetic, mud-splattered shade that screamed ‘I’ve seen better days.’ The culprit? The laces. Or rather, my misguided attempt to clean them.
Loads of people ask, can you wash shoe laces in washing machine? And the honest answer, the one that saved me probably $280 over the years I’ve been wrestling with this problem, is yes, but with a massive asterisk. It’s not as simple as just tossing them in with your t-shirts.
Honestly, I wasted enough time and money on fancy shoe cleaners and specialized brushes that promised miracles. The reality is, a lot of it is just marketing fluff designed to get you to buy more stuff you don’t need. What actually works is surprisingly basic, but you have to do it right.
Laces Are Trash Magnets? Yes.
Look, shoe laces, especially the white ones that come with most sneakers, are basically designed to collect every speck of dust, every drop of mud, and every stray bit of grime within a five-foot radius. It’s like they have a tiny, invisible magnet for dirt. I’ve had laces that, after a single walk in a slightly damp park, looked like they’d survived a desert race.
What do you do? You want your shoes to look good, right? So the immediate thought is, chuck ’em in the wash. It seems like the easiest, most efficient way to get them looking halfway decent again without scrubbing for hours. And, to be fair, they *will* get cleaner. But how clean, and at what cost? That’s the real question.
[IMAGE: Close-up of dirty white shoelaces, some with visible mud stains and scuffs.]
My Laces-Turned-Disaster Story
It was about five years ago. I’d just bought a fresh pair of high-top trainers, the kind that cost a small fortune. The laces were blindingly white. A week later, after a particularly soggy commute where I’d stepped in what I now suspect was some sort of industrial sludge, they looked atrocious. I thought, ‘Easy fix!’ I grabbed them, stuffed them into a mesh laundry bag (because I *was* trying to be careful, bless my naive heart), and threw them in with a load of whites. I even cranked the temperature up a bit, thinking hotter was better for ‘disinfection’.
Big mistake. Huge. When the wash cycle finished, I pulled them out, expecting gleaming white cords. Instead, I found laces that were sort of… fuzzy. The white was gone, replaced by a sickly yellow-grey hue. Worse, the material felt weaker, almost brittle. It was like the washing machine had decided to age them twenty years in under an hour, stripping away not just the dirt but their very integrity. I swear, I heard them sigh. (See Also: Can I Put My Wrestling Shoes In The Washer)
That’s when I realised that just because you *can* wash shoe laces in washing machine doesn’t mean you *should* without understanding the nuances. I ended up spending another $30 on replacement laces, which, of course, got dirty again two weeks later. It was a cycle of frustration I was determined to break.
[IMAGE: A pile of very dingy, slightly fuzzy, grey-ish white shoelaces.]
The ‘everyone Says’ Myth
Everyone says you should just tie them and toss them in. Or put them in a mesh bag. Some even say soak them in bleach first. I disagree, and here is why: bleach, while great for some things, can really degrade the synthetic fibers in many modern laces, making them weak and prone to fraying. And just tossing them in without any protection? That’s how you get the fuzzy, worn-out look I ended up with. The agitation in the machine, especially with hotter water and stronger detergents, acts like sandpaper on delicate threads.
What Actually Works (and Doesn’t)
Forget the fancy sprays. Seriously. Most of them are diluted versions of what you already have under your sink. Here’s the breakdown of what I’ve found, after about seven different approaches, from the ‘quick fix’ to the ‘deep clean’.
| Method | Pros | Cons | My Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toss in Washing Machine (no bag) | Fastest | Laces can snag, fray, become fuzzy, get lost. | Avoid. It’s a gamble. |
| Mesh Laundry Bag | Protects laces from snagging. | Still subject to harsh agitation and heat. Can still get dingy. | Better, but not great. |
| Hand Washing (Dish Soap) | Gentle, controlled cleaning. | Time-consuming. | Good for light dirt. |
| Hand Washing (Oxygen Bleach/Borax) | Effective stain removal without harsh chemicals. | Requires soaking time. | My go-to for tough stains. |
| Scrubbing with Toothbrush | Precise cleaning on stubborn spots. | Tedious. | Useful for small, tough marks. |
[IMAGE: A comparison table showing different methods for cleaning shoelaces, with pros, cons, and a verdict column.]
The Case for Hand Washing
Honestly, for anything other than light dust, hand washing is the way to go. It sounds like a chore, right? Like something your grandmother would have done. But it’s not as bad as it sounds, and the results are way, way better. Think of it like this: would you throw your delicate silk scarf into a heavy-duty jeans cycle? Of course not. Your shoe laces, especially the nice ones, deserve a bit more respect than that.
Soaking and Scrubbing: The Real Method
Here’s what I do now. I take the laces off the shoes (this is non-negotiable; trying to wash them on the shoe is just asking for trouble and potentially damaging your shoes). Then, I fill a small bowl or sink with warm water. I add a tablespoon of liquid dish soap or, for tougher stains, about half a scoop of oxygen bleach (like OxiClean, or a generic borax-based cleaner). I let them soak for at least 30 minutes, sometimes an hour if they’re really bad.
After soaking, I grab an old toothbrush and give them a good scrub, paying extra attention to any dark spots or gritty areas. The toothbrush really gets into the weave of the laces. Once I’ve scrubbed them all over, I rinse them thoroughly under cold running water. You have to rinse until you don’t see any more suds. This whole process takes me maybe fifteen minutes of active work, spread out over an hour or so of soaking time. It’s far less effort than trying to scrub out ingrained dirt later. (See Also: Can I Put My Running Shoes In The Washer)
Then comes the drying. Never, ever put wet laces in a hot dryer. The heat can warp or melt synthetic fibers. Just lay them out flat on a clean towel, or hang them up somewhere airy. They usually dry overnight. The difference is, they come out looking clean, the fibres are intact, and they don’t feel like old chewing gum. The initial cost of a good oxygen cleaner is minimal, probably around $15, and that tub will last you for hundreds of washes. I figure I’ve saved myself close to $300 by not constantly buying new laces or fancy cleaners.
[IMAGE: Shoelaces soaking in a bowl of soapy water, with an old toothbrush nearby.]
What About Those Fancy Laces?
You know, the ones that are made of special materials, or have reflective threads, or are super wide and flat. For those, I’m even more cautious. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has guidelines on labeling textiles, and while they don’t specifically address shoelaces, the general principle applies: treat them according to the fiber content. Most synthetic laces are polyester or nylon. These can handle moderate heat, but excessive heat or harsh chemicals can still degrade them.
If your laces have reflective elements, like those sold by brands like Laces Out!, you need to be extra careful. The reflective coating can be sensitive to abrasion and certain chemicals. Handwashing is definitely the safest bet. Treat them like a piece of delicate activewear.
Can You Wash Shoe Laces in Washing Machine: The Verdict
So, can you wash shoe laces in washing machine? Yes, technically. But should you? Not without understanding the risks. The harsh environment of a washing machine can degrade the fibers, cause them to fray, and leave them looking dull and lifeless. It’s a short-term fix that often leads to long-term damage and the need for replacements.
My advice? Unless they are exceptionally dirty and you’re willing to risk it, stick to the hand-washing method. It’s more effective, gentler on the laces, and ultimately saves you money and frustration in the long run. Give them a good soak, a gentle scrub, a thorough rinse, and let them air dry. It’s the most reliable way to keep your kicks looking sharp without constantly buying new laces.
[IMAGE: Clean, white shoelaces laid out on a clean white towel, ready to be re-laced.] (See Also: Can I Put My On Shoes In The Washing Machine)
Can I Just Throw Them in with My Clothes?
Not recommended. While you *can* technically wash shoe laces in a washing machine, simply throwing them in with your regular laundry can lead to them getting snagged, stretched, or even damaged by the other items or the machine’s agitation. Using a mesh bag is a slight improvement, but still carries risks.
How Do I Prevent Shoe Laces From Turning Yellow?
The yellowing often comes from the detergent reacting with minerals in the water, or from the laces absorbing oils and dirt that have built up in the washing machine drum itself from previous loads. Thorough rinsing after washing, and using an oxygen-based cleaner instead of harsh chemical bleaches, can help mitigate this. Always ensure your washing machine is clean.
How Long Should I Soak My Shoe Laces?
For lightly soiled laces, 15-30 minutes might be enough. For moderately dirty or stained laces, an hour or even longer (up to a few hours) is ideal. The longer they soak, the more the dirt and grime will loosen, making them easier to scrub clean.
Final Thoughts
After years of trial and error, and frankly, a lot of wasted money on replacement laces, I can confidently say that while you *can* wash shoe laces in washing machine, it’s rarely the best approach. The risk of damage, the dingy aftermath, and the eventual need to buy new ones just isn’t worth the convenience for me anymore.
My go-to now is a simple hand-wash. It’s not complicated, and the results speak for themselves. You get cleaner laces that actually last longer, and you avoid that weird fuzzy texture that machines seem to inflict.
So next time your laces look like they’ve been through a mud wrestling match, try the soak-and-scrub method. It’s a small change that makes a surprisingly big difference to how your shoes look and how long they stay looking good.
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