22 Clever Ways To Repurpose Shoelaces In Your Home & Garden

Shoelaces are essential for keeping your sneakers from flying off of your feet as you walk around, but all that exposure to dirt and grime can cause them to look dingy pretty quickly. If you've already cleaned your shoes and they're still looking a bit worse for wear, try swapping out the shoelaces for a new pair. Once you've made the switch, hold on to your old shoelaces — they have plenty more uses than you might realize at first glance.

Shoelaces, especially those found on more casual or athletic shoes, are typically made of woven natural or synthetic fibers, then topped off at each end with a small plastic piece called an 'aglet,' which helps hold the raw edge of the shoelace together and make lacing easier. Shoelaces' specialized purpose is, of course, to lace up shoes so they can withstand quite a bit of pulling without snapping, hold knots well, and won't fray easily — qualities that can be incredibly beneficial if you decide to repurpose them for a DIY project. Whether you're looking for a new way to water the plants in your garden or need some new organizing solutions, you're sure to find a shoelace repurposing hack that will work for you.

Hanging planters are a beautiful way to decorate your space, but if you're looking for a more wallet-friendly alternative to store-bought options, consider making your own. There are many different ways to DIY hanging planters, but most require you to get crafty with some string or macrame cord. A shoelace can make for the perfect substitute. Because they're so durable and can easily hold knots, you can rest assured that your plant won't slip or fall once it's mounted. If your shoelaces are too short for this project, you can also tie several together to lengthen the string.

Heading off on vacation might mean a relaxing break for you, but it can spell danger for your houseplants. To ensure they're still in good shape when you get back, consider making a self-watering system from some shoelaces and a watering can. Fill up the watering can — a bucket or large bowl will do in a pinch, too — then wet your shoelaces and secure the ends below the water level. From there, place the other end of the shoelaces in your pots. The water will naturally wick down as the soil dries, keeping everything moist.

Sometimes, plants need support. Whether you're attempting to train the path of a trailing plant or keeping saplings from tipping over with the wind, this shoelace hack can help out. Install your stake or trellis, then cut your shoelaces into shorter pieces. Once they're cut down, use them to secure your plant to the structure. Because shoelaces are made of soft material and can be tied loosely, this is a much gentler approach than using something like rubber bands or wire. After your plant seems secure, you can easily untie the shoelace pieces and reuse them.

Finding convenient storage space for small items can be challenging, but this shoelace hack can help transform your organization. Simply tie a shoelace in a knot, then attach both ends of the loop to your wall with pushpins. The resulting loop can be used as a spot to weave through small, lightweight items like ties, scarves, and belts. If your items can be easily pulled through the loop, you can also attach a few repurposed binder clips to the shoelace to secure the things you're trying to hold more easily.

If you don't have access to a flexible measuring tape but need to determine the size of something that's not a straight line, try this shoelace hack that makes measuring irregularly shaped items a breeze. All you need to do is wrap your shoelace around the item, mark where the material overlaps, and lay the marked shoelace down next to a ruler to get a precise measurement. This idea seems incredibly simple, but you'll likely find that it comes in handy more often than you'd expect, especially if you're a fan of DIY projects or building.

If you have cats, you've likely already learned that their favorite toys very rarely align with what you think they'd like. No matter how much effort you put into selecting the best items at the pet store, they're still more likely to gravitate towards sitting in cardboard boxes and stealing forgotten hair ties. Instead of fighting this, why not give in? An old shoelace can make for an incredibly fun toy for your cat. You can also attach the shoelace to a stick for a bit more control or leave it as-is for a simple source of entertainment.

Gift-giving is all about showing the recipient that you care about them and are willing to put in the effort to find something they would love. While the content of the present certainly matters more, the presentation is a major part of this, too. If you're looking for a ribbon to help spruce up a plain gift but you're not having any luck, consider using a shoelace. It might seem odd, but decorative or colorful shoelaces can look just as good on a present. Bonus points if the item happens to be a pair of shoes.

There are plenty of different ways to support your tomato plants as they grow, but one of the most interesting approaches involves using a trellis made of strings to encourage the plants to grow vertically. In lieu of string, however, you can also use something else that you likely already have on hand: shoelaces. Bury the bottoms of your shoelaces under your tomato plant, then attach the top to a support over the bed. As the tendrils start to grow, clip or tie them to the string to keep them on the right track.

One of the easiest swaps to become more eco-friendly is ditching disposable silverware in favor of bringing your own utensils from home. When you're transporting these items back and forth, however, you need something to put them in to keep them and your bag clean. Create a simple pouch out of some scrap fabric that can fit your most-used utensils, then sew a channel on the top. From there, thread a repurposed shoelace through to act as a drawstring so you can easily open and securely close your pouch as needed throughout the day.

Clotheslines used to be a household essential, but they've become less used over time. When you need a spot to hang dry items that are too delicate for high heat, however, you might find yourself wishing that you still had one installed. Thankfully, it's incredibly easy to make your own in a pinch with just a shoelace. String your shoelace between two items, making sure to keep it taut so it doesn't sag as you start to load it up. From there, simply drape your items over the shoelace or clip them on with clothes pins.

Decorating your space with photos or personal art is one of the easiest ways to make it feel like home, but narrowing down your picks to just one or two special items can be difficult. Instead, try this shoelace hack. Pin either end of your shoelace to the wall, then add another pin in the middle if you feel like it sags too much. Clip your favorite pictures to the shoelace using clothespins. If you want to change the order or swap them out, you can easily alter the design without causing any damage.

Dark, heavy curtains help you unwind during the evening and get a good night's sleep, but completely cutting out natural light during the day can make your space feel drab and dingy. For a quick solution to let some light in, try your hand at making your own curtain tiebacks out of an old shoelace. These shoelaces can be left as-is if you're just looking for a temporary fix, but you can also dye or decorate them to match your curtains if you want something that matches or complements the space a bit better.

Learning to tie your own shoes is a major childhood milestone, but getting the motion down requires practice. With this shoelace activity, you can easily demonstrate how to tie shoelaces while also making use of an item that would otherwise go in the trash. Take a piece of cardboard, draw on some shoes, and poke holes through the material for the laces. You can lace them up yourself if you're just teaching kids how to tie the bow, or you can show them how to weave the shoelaces through the holes as an exercise in dexterity.

Dripping water faucets can be a major nuisance, whether from a minor issue or intentionally left flowing during a freeze. Listening to the repetitive trickle of droplets when you're trying to relax or fall asleep is enough to drive just about anyone insane, but there's a solution that can stop this problem in its tracks. While you wait for the opportunity to fix your faucet or for the weather to pass, tie a shoelace around the spout to silently lead the water to the drain. It will still flow, but it will be completely silent.

Hanging fiber art pieces on your walls is nothing new. Macrame and crochet tapestries are popular ways to bring some more texture to your space, but this idea allows you to experiment with a material that's completely unexpected. If you have some old shoelaces on hand, try weaving them through a canvas to create a piece of art to display on your wall. As with any art project, more complex designs will likely have a bit of a learning curve, but this is a great way to break out of your artistic comfort zone with a new technique.

Caring for children can get incredibly expensive, but keeping them entertained with new and exciting toys doesn't have to be. If you have a stick, some pieces of plastic, paper clips, a bowl, and a magnet, you can easily DIY this carnival-style fishing game. Cut shapes out of plastic and attach a paperclip to create the fish. Next, attach a magnet to the end of the shoelace, then tie the other end to the stick to make a fishing rod. Place the fish in a bowl full of water, and have fun catching them with the rod.

Hanging your items is one of the easiest ways to ensure they're both accessible and out of the way, but many things can't be easily attached to a hook. To bypass this, consider adding a loop made out of a shoelace. Cut out a piece of your shoelace, loop the ends together, and sew or glue it onto your item. Use this hack to replace worn-out loops on oven mitts and potholders, hang garden gloves, or keep towels from falling off of their hooks.

The metal wires attached to the back of picture frames are usually fairly durable but prone to wear and damage over time, especially if you're attempting to hang something vintage. If you need a quick replacement for a wire that's snapped or deteriorated over the years, try using a shoelace. You might have to play around with how much slack you leave in the shoelace since woven fiber is much more flexible than wire, but this replacement should still be able to support quite a bit of weight when securely tied to the D-rings.

There are many ways to DIY coasters to protect the wood furniture in your home, but all of the best ideas involve repurposing materials that would have otherwise gone into the trash. To turn your shoelace into a coaster, you can go for one of two methods. The first is weaving. This will require a bit more research and patience, but the final result will be much more intricate. If you're looking for a simple place to start, however, you can also just form your shoelace into a tightly packed spiral, gluing or sewing as you continue along.

Most lightbulbs nowadays are wired to a convenient switch on the wall, but it's not uncommon to find a lightbulb with a pull switch in a closet or a basement. If this switch is too short to reach without a ladder, tie a shoelace to the end for a more convenient way to turn the light on and off. While this might not be the most fashionable way to solve your problem, it's quick, easy, and doesn't require you to take a trip to the hardware store to invest in a longer piece of chain.

After plugging in a plethora of devices next to your desk or TV console, you'll likely be left with a mess of cords. For a simple solution, consider tying them together with a shoelace. You can use the shoelace as a way to section off cords that go to each specific device, label cords that look similar to each other, or consolidate all of your cords in one area so you can more easily conceal them. Tie your shoelace in a secure bow to ensure it stays in place but is still easy to remove.

If you enjoy hands-on projects like building, gardening, or crafting, you're likely familiar with the strain these activities can put on your hands after working for hours on end. The only way to completely stop this discomfort is to cut down the time you spend on your project, but adding a bit of cushioning can make a major difference. To create a softer buffer between the tool and your hands that doesn't reduce your grip or make it too bulky, try wrapping the handle with a shoelace and securely tucking the ends to make a cover.