How to Clean White Shoelaces without Removing Them

Do you want to know how to clean white shoelaces without removing them?

This is possible, actually. However, you will have to be keener because white shoelaces are notorious for sustaining stains.

Also, if the shoelaces already have stubborn stains, it is best not to clean them without removing them from the shoes. It would be best to remove them and clean them separately.

If the shoelaces have collected dust and superficial dirt, you can clean them without having to remove them from the shoes.

If you care to put in a little more work, it might be possible to remove stains, without having to remove the laces from the shoes.

How to clean white laces without taking them out

When you have white sneakers or white dress shoes, only white or black shoelaces will go well with them. Well, for some fashionable look, you could create a perfect contrast by using black shoelaces on white shoes and vice versa.

But we are here to find out how to clean white shoelaces without removing them from the shoes. This is possible, if you follow the steps below:

Our recommendation: Clean white shoelaces without getting them out of the shoes only when you are in a hurry. When you can spare the time, please get them out and clean them properly.

Gather your cleaning items

• A soft-bristled brush or toothbrush
• Dish soap
• A small amount of bleach
• Baking soda
• Clean pieces of towels or rags

How dirty are the white shoelaces?

Please note that you cannot clean all white shoelaces without taking them out first. If they are too stained, it might be impossible to remove the stain without removing the laces from the shoes.

If the shoelaces have superficial dirt like sticky mud, first, knock the shoes against each other so that the sticky mud can fall out.

You can also use the soft bristled brush or toothbrush to scrub some of the dirt out, from the shoelaces as well as from the rest of the shoes.

Brush the shoelaces with the toothbrush

If the shoelaces are knotted, please untie them and then insert your left hand inside the shoes. You can then hold the shoes upside down and then scrub the shoelaces with a toothbrush.

The dirt that you are scrubbing away will fall to the floor. You could also hold the shoes on their side so that the dirt you are scrubbing out falls to the floor and does not get back inside the shoes.

Apply more force in the areas that seem dirtier.

Insert a piece of plastic to protect the tongue

You are about to start getting the shoelaces wet. Before you do that, insert a piece of plastic in the space between the shoelaces and the tongue. This will help to prevent the tongue from getting wet

To get rid of the stain in the white shoelaces, place a small amount of dish-washing detergent in a small container. Add a teaspoonful of baking soda into the detergent and then mix to make a paste.

Apply the paste on the stained spots on the shoelaces and then leave it for sometime to break the stain molecules and absorb them.

After 30 minutes or thereabouts, check the shoelaces. The stains will most likely be gone. If you would like to treat the entire shoelaces without removing them from the shoes, make more baking soda mixture and apply it on longer portions.

Cleaning the shoelaces with bleach to make them sparkling white

Something to Note: Only use bleach if the shoes are white and clean. Bleach can affect color and you don’t want your shoes to be spotted.

Bleach is perfect for making the shoelaces white. Luckily, you can still use it even when the shoelaces are still on the shoes.

Mix a little amount of bleach, say two spoonfuls with three spoonfuls of detergent and two spoonfuls of warm water.

Dip a small piece of cloth in the mix and use it to apply and rub in the mixture onto the shoelaces.

You will have to apply this on the entire shoelaces and then give them some time to dry. If they get too wet, use paper towels to dab the excess moisture away.

What is the best way to clean white shoelaces?

If you have the time and you can remove the shoelaces from the shoes, there are a few ways to clean them and make them sparkling white again.

You can clean them in a washing machine

Remove the superficial dirt from the shoelaces by rubbing them together. Put the shoelaces in a laundry bag and zip it. If you clean the shoelaces loosely in the washer, they could get stuck inside the drum.

If the laces have stains, you could soak them in hydrogen peroxide first, for several minutes. Put them in a laundry bag and use laundry detergent.

Cleaning the shoelaces by hand

If you are going to clean your shoelaces by hand, first, you can soak them in a water-hydrogen peroxide solution so that the stains can break away. After that, clean them in water and laundry soap and then hang them to air-dry.

Something to remember – hydrogen peroxide should not come into contact with your skin. Wear gloves or soak the shoelaces in the solution, without scrubbing them. Remove and soak them in clean water.

How to clean white shoelaces at home with bleach

Bleach is perfect for making the white shoelaces sparkle. To clean the laces with bleach, add two teaspoonfuls of bleach into ¼ gallon of warm water.

Add ¼ cup of detergent into the mixture and then dip your shoelaces inside so that they are thoroughly soaked.

Scrub the shoelaces gently so that the fibers do not start running loose. After they are clean, rinse them in clean water and air-dry them.

What cleans white shoelaces?

White shoelaces clean very well when you use bleach, detergent, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and warm water.

The bleach is for giving the laces a sparkle. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are perfect for removing stains.

As outlined in other sections of this post, you could also clean your white shoelaces in the washing machine.

Do not toss them directly into the dryer. Put them in a laundry bag, so that they can clean out without getting all messed up and stuck inside the drum.

If there are stubborn stains, you should apply a baking soda/detergent paste on the stained part and then wait for some time to break the stain.

If your white shoelaces do not have stains, you could clean them with water and laundry soap or detergent.

Knowing how to clean the shoelaces is important. But you have to know how to dry the shoelaces in the right way too.

Don’t dry them in the dryer. It is best to spread them out on a drying rack to dry in the sun. Just make sure the rack is clean because white catches dirt fast.

Conclusion

Cleaning your white shoelaces without getting them out is hard but not impossible. It is in your best interest to know how you can clean shoelaces fast without removing them. You know how fast they can collect dirt because they are always close to the ground.

To keep them sparkling all the time, you can clean them with bleach, or without. It is also best that you don’t make a habit of cleaning your shoelaces without removing them. This is only good when you are in a hurry to wear clean converse shoes or sneakers.

It is best to clean the shoelaces thoroughly by removing them. Do not clean them in the washing machine without putting them in a laundry bag first.