How to Repair a Frayed Shoelace Tip in Under 5 Minutes

The Frustration of the Frayed Shoelace

We’ve all been there: you’re trying to thread your shoelace through an eyelet, but the plastic tip—known as the aglet—is cracked, crushed, or completely missing. Instead of a clean thread, you’re left with a fuzzy, frayed mess that refuses to cooperate. Before you throw away a perfectly good pair of laces, you can easily repair them at home in under five minutes. Here are three highly effective, quick-fix methods using basic household items.

Method 1: The Sticky Tape Quick-Fix (Best for All Laces)

This is the fastest and easiest method, requiring only a roll of clear adhesive tape (like Scotch tape or packing tape) and a pair of scissors.

• Step 1: Prep the tip. Trim away any extremely loose or wildly frayed threads from the end of the lace with sharp scissors, leaving a clean, straight edge.
• Step 2: Apply the tape. Cut a small piece of clear tape, about 1 inch long and slightly wider than the lace. Place the end of the shoelace in the middle of the sticky side of the tape.
• Step 3: Roll it tight. Wrap the tape tightly around the end of the lace. Roll it between your thumb and index finger to compress the fibers into a firm, solid cylinder.
• Step 4: Trim the excess. Snip off any excess tape extending past the end of the lace. Your new DIY aglet is ready to slide through any eyelet.

Method 2: The Heat-Melt Method (Best for Synthetic Laces)

If your shoelaces are made of synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester (common in athletic shoes and hiking boots), you can use heat to fuse the fibers back together. Do not use this method on cotton laces, as cotton will burn rather than melt.

• Step 1: Check the material. Hold a flame near a tiny loose thread to see if it melts into a bead. If it burns and turns to ash, it is cotton; stop and use Method 1 or 3 instead.
• Step 2: Apply gentle heat. Hold the frayed end of the lace about an inch away from a lighter flame or a lit match. Do not put the lace directly in the flame; let the heat shrink and melt the fibers.
• Step 3: Shape the tip. As the synthetic fibers begin to melt and liquefy, quickly remove the heat. Carefully roll the hot tip between your fingers to shape it into a point. Safety tip: Dampen your fingers with water first to prevent the hot plastic from sticking to and burning your skin.

Method 3: The Super Glue Method (Most Durable)

For a permanent fix that works on both cotton and synthetic laces, household super glue is your best option. It hardens the fibers into a rock-solid tip.

• Step 1: Saturate the tip. Apply a few drops of liquid super glue to the frayed end of the shoelace (about half an inch of the tip).
• Step 2: Wrap and compress. To avoid gluing your fingers together, wrap a small piece of plastic wrap or wax paper tightly around the wet, glued tip.
• Step 3: Twist and mold. Squeeze and roll the plastic-wrapped tip between your fingers to compress the fibers and shape them into a smooth, thin cylinder.
• Step 4: Let it dry. Peel off the plastic wrap immediately before the glue fully cures. Let the lace sit for two minutes to dry completely. Once dry, trim any rough edges with scissors.