Even if your shoes are clean, sloppy shoelaces can ruin their appearance. Although changing your shoelaces is the quickest solution, there is still a better option for you. You can always use bleach to make your shoes and shoelaces dazzling white. This saves you money on buying new shoelaces when the ones you’re wearing get dirty.
Furthermore, it is essential to consider the sort of bleach you are using to clean your laces as you do not want to damage your shoes in the process of making them bright and appealing.
In this article, we will be discussing various different kinds of bleaches that you can use to bleach your shoelaces. Not only that, we will also be telling you the pros and cons of using each of them. So let’s get started!
Different Bleaches To Whiten Your Shoelaces
When stains remain on shoelaces for an extended period of time without being cleaned, they may appear tough to remove. If you’re having trouble eliminating stains from your shoelaces, try washing them with oxygen bleach, chlorine bleach, or hydrogen peroxide. The type of bleach you use depends on the type of fabric you’re washing. Let’s take a look at each of these bleaches in detail.
Oxygen Bleach
Oxygen bleach is one of the most used bleaches for removing stains from shoelaces. It not only whitens your shoelaces, but also brightens its colour. Oxygen bleach is a non chlorinated bleach, which means it won’t harm your shoelaces or shoes in any way.
Steps To Follow
Here are the steps you need to follow in order to bleach your shoelaces with oxy bleach.
- Measure one tablespoon of oxygen bleach, then mix it with one ounce of water to make a solution.
- Cover your entire shoelaces with the solution, then use an old brush or old piece of cloth to scrub it thoroughly.
- After you’ve covered the shoelaces with the solution, allow them to rest for 15-30 minutes.
- Using a brush, scrub the dried solution from the laces, then rinse thoroughly under a running tap.
Pros And Cons Of Using Oxygen Bleach To Clean
Oxygen bleach is known to be effective in making white shoelaces whiter and is also good to use for cleaning around the house. However, it has advantages and disadvantages you should take note of.
| Pros | Cons |
| It works as a disinfectant for viruses and bacteria that are likely to get on your shoes and shoelaces. | Oxygen bleaching agents are expensive as compared to other bleaching products. |
| Oxygen bleach is both environment and user-friendly. | Although oxygen bleach is known to be very effective, it takes longer to work and show results. |
| Oxygen bleach is not harmful to humans, pets, or animals. | Oxygen bleach is not ideal to be used on finer grades of silk or wool. |
Chlorine Bleach
Like oxygen bleach, chlorine bleach is an excellent product for removing stains. Chlorine bleach has a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite and water. Even though it’s a solution, it is quite strong and must be mixed with water for safe use on your shoelaces and other fabrics.
Chlorine bleach is not only effective when it comes to cleaning dirty shoelaces, but it also works as a disinfectant to kill fungus, bacteria and viruses.
Tip: Always wear rubber gloves while cleaning shoelaces with any type of bleach soaking solution to prevent skin irritation.
Steps To Follow
Here are the simple steps that you need to follow while using chlorine bleach to clean your shoelaces.
- Measure one tablespoon of chlorine bleach per cup of hot water and mix.
- Use paper or an old piece of cloth to apply the solution to the shoelace.
- Wait for 5-10 minutes, then use a brush to scrub off the dried solution.
- Rinse thoroughly over a running tap afterward and dry the shoelaces using a dryer.
- You can also wash your shoelaces in the washing machine. But make sure you put them in a mesh laundry bag before doing so.
Pros And Cons Of Using Chlorine Bleach To Clean
This bleaching product is effective for cleaning dirty shoelaces and shoes. However, it has Pros and Cons you should be aware of.
| Pros | Cons |
| Chlorine bleach is inexpensive and easily available. | It is extremely fickle when mixed with other products. |
| It is extremely effective at cleaning messy shoes and shoelaces | After six months, the bleach loses 20% of its effectiveness and strength |
| It is an excellent bleaching product to kill bacteria, viruses, and fungus from surfaces. | Chlorine bleach can leave irritations on your skin, like itching and dryness. |
Clorox Regular Bleach
Clorox regular bleach is another type of bleaching product that you can use for cleaning your dirty laces. The active ingredient in Clorox Regular Bleach is sodium hydrochloride, which is derived from sodium chloride aka common table salt. This bleach consists of vital ingredients that makes it an excellent choice for cleaning shoes or shoelaces.
Steps To Follow
Here is a small guide on how to wash shoelaces using Clorox bleach.
- Mix 3 tablespoons of Clorox regular bleach with 1 cup of warm water, then soak your shoelaces.
- Let the shoelaces soak immensely in the bleach solution for 10 minutes, then remove and rinse them.
- You can air dry your shoe laces, dry them with a blow dryer or under the sunlight. However, if you are cleaning leather laces, then don’t dry them under direct sunlight or with a blow dryer, as it could weaken them.
Pros And Cons Of Cleaning With Clorox Regular Bleach
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using Clorox regular bleach.
| Pros | Cons |
| 99.9% effectiveness in killing bacterias and fungus. | This bleach doesn’t work on metals, nylon, wool, silk, dyed fabric, and painted surfaces. |
| It has a concentrated formula, which gives you an effective cleaning result. | This bleach cannot be used or mixed with other bleaching products. |
Bonus: Baking Soda And Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
If you don’t have bleach or wish to try something else, then baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is the perfect option for you. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are great cleaning agents when mixed together. These solutions are extremely effective for getting your grimy shoelaces white again.
Steps To Follow
Here are some steps you should follow when using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to clean your white laces.
- Measure one tablespoon of baking soda, one-half tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, and one-half cup of water, then mix thoroughly to make a paste.
- Deep an old brush into the paste and gently brush it over your shoelace.
- Scrub it until the dirt comes off the laces.
- Put your laces In the sun for 2-4hrs until the paste is dry. Brush off the dried paste, then rinse your laces, making your shoelaces brighter as you wish!
Pros And Cons Of Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Here are a few pros and cons on using hydrogen peroxide solution.
| Pros | Cons |
| It is flexible and user-friendly | Hydrogen peroxide has less disinfecting capability than bleaching products. |
| It is an excellent bleaching products to kill bacteria in you laces | It decomposes quickly when mixed with water. |
Conclusion
We hope this article helped you get enough information about how you can easily clean your shoelaces at home. Along with the shoelaces, make sure that your shoes are also clean and dust free. Bright and clean shoes always add up to your style, making you look smarter and cleaner. If you are not sure about using bleach solution to clean white shoelaces, you can also use laundry detergent mixed with warm water.
Never keep your shoelaces around dirty areas of your house. The best way to store your footwear, especially shoes, is to put them in a storage box.
Thanks for reading!
