In our daily lives, shoelaces often go unnoticed… until they break or no longer hold properly.
At first glance, they may seem like a minor element, but they serve a vital function: keeping our shoes well-fitting and looking impeccable.
Table of Contents
In this post, we want to help you know when to change your laces by offering clear and useful guidelines. We'll discuss when to replace your laces, how often to change them, and how to know when it's time to replace them.
Frequency of footwear use
To understand when it's time to change your laces , it's helpful to know how many shoes people wear on average and how often they are worn.
According to several studies (and our own observations), a person typically has between 3 and 5 pairs of sneakers in rotation and wears each pair several days a week.
- If we have, for example, 4 pairs and we rotate them evenly, each pair is used about 2 times per week, which adds up to 8 uses per month .
- In one year, that's about 96 uses , and the laces suffer from every tie and untie, in addition to constant rubbing and dirt.
These data are not definitive, but they serve to illustrate that our shoelaces are exposed to intensive use : hundreds of cycles can pass through them every month.
Therefore, paying attention to your condition, even if it doesn't seem urgent, makes a difference.
How often should you change your laces?
Worn or frayed
When the threads begin to emerge and the ends fray, we are seeing a clear sign: the fabric is losing its integrity .
At this point, the laces are more likely to break from repeated stress or friction.
Changing them before they break completely prevents you from walking around with a loose shoe.
They no longer hold properly
If you notice that the knot comes untied or undone easily while walking, or that the laces loosen during use, it means they have lost their rigidity.
This effect indicates that the material has stretched or weakened , and no longer performs its holding function well.
They are dirty and do not clean well.
Laces accumulate dust, mud, soap scum, or even stains that don't disappear with a simple wash.
When the fabric no longer regains its color or feel when cleaned, it's best to replace it with a new one. This also protects the footwear's appearance.
Before doing so, remember to put into practice our tips for washing white laces .
His style has gone out of fashion
Sometimes the change is purely for style: that shade you loved no longer matches your current look, or the material has become dull.
On such occasions, renewing laces provides an immediate aesthetic change : a pair of new laces can completely transform the spirit of the shoe or sneaker.
Final conclusion
In summary, we recommend changing your laces when:
- They are frayed or have tears.
- They don't hold well : the knot comes undone easily.
- They are too dirty or have persistent stains.
- You want to renew the style of your shoes.
Considering average daily footwear use, it is usually appropriate to check the laces every 3 to 6 months , although this varies depending on frequency of use, type of footwear and activities we perform.
The most important thing is to pay attention to the signs: when the laces give clear signs, don't wait for them to break or lose their function.
So pay attention to those little details: well-maintained laces make all the difference in comfort, safety, and aesthetics. 😉
