How-to

Clean Sneaker Laces Separately: Six Steps from Handwashing to Air-Drying

Dirty laces do not always mean your entire shoe needs a wash. Take the laces out, identify their material, clean regular fabric laces gently and let them dry completely before rethreading.

6 min read2026-10-26

Highsnobiety's beginner sneaker-care video; see manufacturer links for lace-specific details.

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01

What you need

Regular dirty fabric shoelaces
Cool or lukewarm water
A small basin and mild detergent
A soft brush and clean towel

02

How to

1. Take the laces completely out of the shoes and identify the material. Photograph the original lacing pattern if you may forget it. Ordinary cotton or polyester laces can often be washed with water, but leather, waxed and specially coated laces need their own care instructions and may not tolerate soaking.
2. Shake off loose dust while the laces are dry. Use a soft brush lightly on visibly dirty areas. If a plastic tip is split, avoid tugging it hard and consider replacing the lace.
3. Prepare a little mild detergent in a small basin of water. Nike describes hand-cleaning removed laces using a mild cleaning solution. This beginner method omits bleach, which could damage colors or incompatible materials.
4. Gently work ordinary fabric laces through mild suds, lightly brushing only stubborn spots. Rinse thoroughly, then press against a clean light-colored towel to check for detergent residue or bleeding dye.
5. If ordinary fabric laces remain dirty and their care directions permit it, put them in a mesh laundry bag and select a gentle, cool wash. Nike also describes this optional method for laces. This does not mean the shoe itself should go in the washing machine.
6. Press excess water out with a clean towel and let the laces air-dry fully in a ventilated, shaded place. Both Nike and adidas include air-drying in their footwear care advice. Avoid tumble-dryer heat that could warp lace tips; rethread only when completely dry and check for fraying.

One more tip

These steps are intended mainly for ordinary cotton or polyester laces. Follow product-specific directions for leather, waxed, reflective or coated laces rather than soaking or machine-washing them. Avoid tumble-dryer heat, which can deform plastic lace tips.

03

Photos, videos, and links

OriginalNike lace-washing and air-drying guideNike — How to Clean Football Boots

Originaladidas photo guide for cleaning lacesadidas — How To Clean Shoes

Sources and media

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