Shoelaces are the finishing touches on our shoes but they can be often ignored. Most times, we wipe our shoes clean once we get home, or during laundry, but we forget that the shoelaces get dirty too. Thankfully, there are a few tricks you can use to get clean white shoelaces out.
10 Ways to Clean White Shoelace
We live in an era where laced shoes play an important role in our day-to-day activities. From Fashion, sporting activities, religious gatherings, and social gatherings down to our educational activities, and most times, we attend these occasions dressed in our sneakers or other laced shoes.
This means that it is in our best interest to keep our shoes clean just as we keep our clothes. Here are ten ways to clean your white shoelace below.
1. Chlorine Bleach
A chlorine-based compound called sodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient in chlorine bleach. It is effective in washing white clothes and white shoelaces aren’t exempt. The use of bleach to wash your white shoelace is highly recommended if its color is faded or if you encounter a tough stain on it. To use chlorine bleach for a white shoelace clean up follow the instruction below:
Step 1: Mix a cup of bleach with two cups of water to form a solution. Soak the shoelace into the solution, and leave it for about 20 minutes
Step 2: Using a toothbrush, gently scrub the lace. Once the stains are fully gone you rinse the lace with clean water. Hang the lace on your cloth line and allow it to dry.
2. Baking Soda
Baking soda is an effective stain remover, cloth brightener, and whitener. To use baking soda follow the instruction below:
Step 1: Soak the shoelace in warm water. Mix baking soda and water in a bowl to create a paste.
Step 2: Dip a toothbrush in paste and smear it on the lace. Use the brush to massage the paste into the shoelaces and leave to dry.
Step 3: Rinse the lace to remove the baking soda residue. If the stain isn’t completely off, repeat the process.
3. Toothpaste
Toothpaste, especially those with bleaching effects has proven to be effective in stain removal. Toothpaste such as Colgate is recommended for this method. Here is how to use toothpaste to clean your white shoelaces below:
Step 1: Wet the shoelaces in warm water and apply the toothpaste on the shoelace and use a toothbrush to scrub it gently.
Step 2: Leave the paste to sit in for some minutes. Using warm water, rinse the shoelaces. Repeat the process if stains remain.
Note: Don’t use colored toothpaste for this procedure as it might stain the lace.
4. Vinegar
Vinegar has proven to not just belong in the kitchen but also in the laundry room. It whitens and brightens clothes while removing stains on the clothes. To use vinegar for a shoelace clean up, follow the instruction below:
Step 1: Mix vinegar in a bowl of water and soak the shoelace in the mixed solution. Leave it on for some minutes.
Step 2: Use a toothbrush to gently scrub the lace then rinse the shoelace and leave to dry.
5. Laundry Detergent
Detergents, both powder, and liquid are must-have items for clean clothes most especially those with stain removal quality. To use laundry detergent to clean white shoelace, follow these simple steps below:
Step 1: Mix your detergent in a bowl with water. Soak your shoelace into the detergent mixture and leave it for about 15 minutes.
Step 2: Use a toothbrush to gently scrub the lace to remove any stains. Rinse the shoelace and leave to dry.
6. Non-chlorine Bleach
Non-chlorine bleach which is also known as oxygen bleach doesn’t contain sodium hypochlorite — the active ingredient in chlorine bleach; their active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide.
Non-chlorine bleach is an effective stain remover and white brightener although it is not as effective as chlorine bleach. To use non-chlorine bleach to clean white shoelace, follow these simple steps below:
Step 1: Mix your non-chlorine bleach in a bowl of water; hot water is recommended to activate the bleach.
Step 2: Soak the shoelace in the solution and leave it for about 30 minutes. Use an old toothbrush to scrub out the dirt stains on the lace. Rinse the shoelace and leave to dry.
7. Lemon Juice
Lemon contains acid just like vinegar and provides the same natural bleaching action. They can brighten and whiten clothes. Here’s how to use lemon juice to clean white shoelaces below:
Step 1: Cut 1-2 pieces of lemon into slices and put the lemon into a bowl of boiling water. Soak the shoelaces in the boiling water.
Step 2: Leave to sit for about an hour then use an old toothbrush to scrub the lace. Rinse the lace with clean water and leave to dry.
8. Dish Soap
Dish soaps are also effective in cleaning shoelaces. Dish soap can fight tough stains and also whiten and brighten cloth. To use dish soap to clean white shoelaces, follow the steps below;
Step 2: Mix your dish soap in a bowl with water to form a soapy solution. Soak your shoelace into the dish soap mixture.
Step 3: Leave it in for about 15 minutes. Use a toothbrush to gently scrub the lace and rinse the shoelace.
9. Stain Remover Stick
A stain remover stick can treat any stain, especially clean white shoelaces. This is how it is used: wet the white shoelaces with water and then apply the stain remover stick to the stains from the inside of the shirt. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the stain and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Rinse and dry.
10. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a good stain remover; it brightens and whitens fabrics and it is pretty easy to use. It can be found in first aid kits or in your nearest pharmacy.
Here is how to use hydrogen peroxide to clean white shoelaces: mix hydrogen peroxide with two cups of water. Soak the shoelace in the solution. Leave it for about 30 minutes. Then scrub the lace with a toothbrush. Rinse the shoelace and leave to dry.
How To Clean White Shoelaces In Washing Machine
If you own a washing machine, it can make cleaning your white shoelaces easier and faster. Here’s how to use a washing machine to wash white shoelaces below:
Step 1: Hold your shoelaces under running water, then use an old toothbrush to scrub on any obvious stain.
Step 2: Apply some dish soap to the laces and allow to sit for about twenty minutes. Then place the laces in a plastic bag and add some laundry detergent.
Step 3: Close the bag and toss it in the washer and run a wash cycle on cold. When the cycle is done, remove the laces from the bag and air dry them.