Shoe laces were once made of natural fibers, such as leather, hemp, or cotton, materials commonly used to make ropes. Today, however, the production of synthetic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, has taken hold, considerably expanding the variety of models. If you want your shoes to stay clean and beautiful for a long time, you need to learn how to wash each of the different types of laces properly.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Wash the White Strings
Step 1. Remove the laces from your shoes
Once removed, it will be much easier to wash them and return them perfectly clean.
Step 2. Remove any dirt or grime by scrubbing it with your fingers or a shoe brush
Debris of earth or congealed mud should come off easily by rubbing them a little.
Step 3. Make a whitening solution by mixing 3 tablespoons of bleach with 4 liters of water
Use a basin or fill the sink. If you want, you can add a small amount of soap or laundry detergent to increase the cleaning strength of the mixture.
Step 4. Put the strings in a netting laundry bag, then soak it in the whitening solution for a few minutes
Move the strings in the water using a spatula or spoon. If you want to keep them from floating while they are soaked, you can crush them under a heavy plate.
Note: Wear a pair of rubber gloves to protect the skin of your hands from bleach; otherwise he could become severely irritated
Step 5. Wash them in the washing machine
Without removing the strings from the laundry bag, put them in the washing machine and wash them in hot water after adding the detergent and 120ml bleach.
Step 6. Hang the strings over the tub, sink, or towel, then let them air dry
Do not put them in the dryer, otherwise you risk them shrinking or damaging the reinforcements at the ends. The intense heat could alter the elasticity of the fibers and consequently the shoes could untie more easily. It may take up to several hours for the strings to dry completely.
Step 7. Put them back in your shoes
If the reinforcements were damaged during washing, you can try to reinforce them with duct tape to make it easier to thread them through the eyelets.
Method 2 of 3: Wash the Colored Strings
Step 1. Remove the laces from your shoes
Once removed, it will be much easier to wash them and return them perfectly clean.
Step 2. Remove any dirt or grime by scrubbing it with your fingers or a shoe brush
Debris of earth or congealed mud should come off easily by rubbing them a little.
Step 3. Fill a basin or sink with water, then add a small amount of soap or laundry detergent
The water is used to saturate the fibers of the strings, while the detergent works by loosening the dirt particles attached to the fabric to allow easier and more thorough cleaning.
Step 4. Leave them to soak in the soapy water for a few minutes
Wait for the material to soak deeply. Probably, the strings will tend to swell, facilitating the detachment of dirt. Move them gently in the water to help dissolve any impurities.
Step 5. Scrub them with a small brush or an old toothbrush
Avoid reinforcements at the ends to avoid the risk of breaking or peeling them.
Step 6. Replace the dirty water with clean water to rinse the strings
If they still don't look clean enough, repeat steps two through six until you are fully satisfied with the result.
Step 7. Hang the strings over the tub, sink, or towel, then let them air dry
Do not put them in the dryer or you risk them shrinking or damaging the reinforcements at the ends. The intense heat could alter the elasticity of the fibers and consequently the shoes could untie more easily. It may take up to several hours for the strings to dry completely.
Step 8. Put them back in your shoes
If the reinforcements were damaged during washing, you can try to reinforce them with duct tape to make it easier to thread them through the eyelets.
Method 3 of 3: Wash the Leather Strings
Step 1. Remove any dirt or grime by scrubbing it with an old toothbrush or small shoe brush
This first step allows you to reduce subsequent efforts and not to over-strain the fibers. Leather strings are less absorbent than synthetic ones, so they must be treated differently because dirt is unlikely to penetrate inside.
Step 2. Use a leather cleansing soap combined with warm water
Prepare a bath of hot soapy water, then dip the strings briefly. Gently rub them along the entire surface while keeping them out of the water. Do not leave them to soak so as not to risk damaging or discoloring them. Rinse them off with a damp cloth.
Step 3. Put them to dry on a light cloth or newspaper
Let them air dry, but don't expose them to direct sunlight as they may fade. Before proceeding with the next step, you need to make sure they are completely dry.
Step 4. Treat them with a natural oil, for example olive or coconut
This step serves to make them look as shiny as they were when they were new. Put on a pair of gloves, line your work surface with a cloth or a few sheets of newspaper, then apply the oil to the strings using a clean cloth. Wait for the treatment to penetrate deeply into the fibers, softening and improving the aesthetics of the skin. Gloves and newspaper sheets are especially useful if you intend to use a specially formulated oil to nourish and polish the leather as it may stain.
Step 5. Let them dry for several hours
Wait an hour before wiping off the excess oil with a clean cloth. At this point you have to wait until the laces are perfectly dry before putting them back in the shoes, otherwise you could damage them or stain the shoes. If you've used mink oil, remember that it looks a lot like human sebum, so the strings will stay greasy if they don't have time to absorb it.
