16 Genius Hacks for Old Shoelaces That Will Make You Feel Like MacGyver

The other day, I was gathering old clothes and shoes for recycling – always one of my first steps for a closet organization. I collected a few pairs of worn-out gym shoes, but couldn’t bring myself to toss the shoelaces with them! I just knew I would find a way to use them. I ended up finding lots of clever ideas for their use (and reuse) and will be carrying around a shoelace in my purse from now on, just in case!

1. Retrieve Dropped Items:

If you ever drop a ring or earring down the drain, don’t panic! Just attach a magnet to the end of a shoelace to fish out those precious items from hard-to-reach spots.

2. Silence a Drip

To stop the sound of an annoying leaky faucet while you wait for a repair, tie a shoelace around the faucet so the water wicks silently down the string and into the drain.

3. Flexible Measuring Tape

When you need to measure something oddly shaped and can’t find your cloth tape, just wrap a shoelace around it. Mark the length on the lace, then lay it flat against a ruler for an easy, accurate reading.

4. Simple Cat Toy

Create a quick and easy toy for your feline friend by tying a few laces together. You can dangle the ends from a stick or hang them from a cat perch for hours of batting fun.

5. Fix a Hoodie String

Don’t toss a sweatshirt just because the drawstring came out! Tie a shoelace to the old string to pull a new one through, using a safety pin on the end to help guide it.

6. Emergency Belt

If you find yourself in a clothing emergency with loose pants, a sturdy shoelace makes a great makeshift belt to keep everything in place until you get home.

7. Glasses Strap

Keep your glasses from slipping during yoga or a hike by tying a lace to the arms to create a DIY strap. It’s a simple way to keep them secure and right on your face.

8. Quick Headband

Use a colorful shoelace as a headband to keep hair out of your face, or tie a second lace into a bow for a cute accessory for the little ones.

9. Book Carrier

If you have a stack of books to move but no bag, you can use a shoelace to create a quick carrier that makes transporting them a breeze.

10. Durable Bookmark

A flat shoelace makes a perfect bookmark because it won’t fall out or get bent inside a backpack, keeping your place perfectly every time.

11. Organize Small Items

Keep your junk drawer tidy by stringing small items like binder clips, bobbins, or washers onto a shoelace. It’s a great way to keep everything together so you can find what you need at a glance.

12. Gift Ribbon

Save money on gift wrap by using a fun, patterned shoelace as a decorative ribbon on a present. It adds a unique, handmade touch that looks just as good as the store-bought stuff.

13. Support Tomato Plans

Use soft shoelaces to gently tie your tomato stems to a stake or garden trellis. The fabric won’t cut into the delicate plants like wire does, allowing them to grow naturally.

14. Curtain tiebacks

For a quick, “no-drill” update, wrap a colorful shoelace around your curtains and tie it in a pretty bow. It’s a budget-friendly way to let in more light without permanent hardware.

15. Replace wires on frames

Swap out snapped or wall-scuffing metal wires with a clean, sturdy shoelace threaded through the frame’s D-rings. Secure it with double knots for a soft hanger that safely supports your favorite photos.

16. Extend short pull chains

Make hard-to-reach ceiling fan or light chains more accessible by knotting a shoelace onto the end. Using different colors for each chain can also help you quickly tell the fan and light apart.

What do you save old shoelaces for?

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