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Knot Tying
How to Untie Shoelace or String Knots Download ArticleExplore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Pull gently on 1 end of the knotted string. 2 Try to push some slack into the knot. 3 Soak the knot in water. 4 Chew on the knot. 5 Loosen the knot with a fork. 6 Twist the knot loose with a corkscrew. 7 Pick the knot open with 2 safety pins. 8 Get someone with smaller fingers to help you. 9 Use nylon shoelaces or string to prevent stuck knots. + Show 6 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Jordan Frazier
Last Updated: April 4, 2024 Fact Checked
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This article was co-authored by Jordan Frazier. Jordan Frazier is a Knot Tying Expert based in Middleburg, Florida. He has over 8 years of experience with knot tying–he started out with the craft as a hobby, and has expanded over time into knot tying as a vocation. He is the owner and operator of Paracord and What Knot, an online small business that is a “one stop knot shop”. He sells custom wrapped steering wheels, lanyards, keychains and a variety of other related products. He is skilled in the art of nautical fancywork and accepts custom commissions through his business. He has curated an online community of over 13K followers on Instagram with his knot tying content and how-to’s. In addition to his knot tying work, Jordan has a career as a Machinery Technician with the U.S. Coast Guard, which he has been doing for over 10 years. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 362,857 times.
Knots do everything from keeping our shoes on to holding up clothes lines. Despite how great they are, knots can be really frustrating if you can’t get them undone. If you’re having trouble undoing your shoelaces or a knot in another piece of thin string, don’t give up!
Here are 9 hacks you can try to undo even the most stubborn shoelace or string knot.
Steps
1
Pull gently on 1 end of the knotted string.
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This may be all you need to untie tangled shoelaces or string. Instead of pulling on both ends right away to try and undo the knot, start by grabbing 1 end and pulling on it gently. If the knot is really just a tangled mess of intertwined loops and bows, rather than a tight knot, it should come undone right away.[1]XResearch source
If the knot doesn’t come undone this way, don’t yank on the end of the string you’re pulling on, or you can end up tightening the knot.
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Try to push some slack into the knot.
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Sometimes, pulling on a knot just makes it worse. Instead of pulling on the 2 sides of the knot to try to loosen it up, try to push 1 side back through the other to loosen it up a bit and give yourself some slack to work with. Squeeze, twist, and wiggle different parts of the knot until you’re able to loosen it up enough to untie.[2]XResearch source
If you don’t have any luck with your fingers, you can use a pair of needle-nosed pliers to try and push slack into the knot. Just be careful not to damage your shoelaces or the string by gripping too hard.
3
Soak the knot in water.
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Water can loosen the knot’s fibers. Submerge the knot in water and let it soak for 10 minutes or so. Remove it and try to untie it again by pushing, pulling, and wiggling it from different angles.[3]XResearch source
Advertisement 4
Chew on the knot.
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It might be easier to loosen the knot with your teeth than with your fingers. Bite the knot between your teeth and give it a little chew. Try pulling on the top side of the knot with your teeth as well, twisting and wiggling it in different directions until it comes loose.[4]XResearch source
The saliva in your mouth also helps loosen the fibers of the knot.
5
Loosen the knot with a fork.
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A fork is an easy-to-find utensil that can help wiggle knots loose. Slide the tooth of a fork into the center of the knot and pull up. Wiggle the fork and continue to pull until the 2 sides of the knot are loose enough for you to untie them.[5]XResearch source
If you don’t have a fork handy, you could use another skinny, pointy utensil, like a bamboo skewer, in a similar fashion.
Advertisement 6
Twist the knot loose with a corkscrew.
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A corkscrew is another handy utensil for loosening knots. Poke the tip of a corkscrew under the top shoelace or string and twist it clockwise to work it into the knot. Once it’s fully under the string, pull up to loosen that side of the knot. Repeat the process for the bottom lace or string to fully loosen and undo the knot.[6]XResearch source
The corkscrew on a pocket knife works great for doing this.
7
Pick the knot open with 2 safety pins.
Download Article
The sharp points on safety pins are ideal for undoing stubborn knots. To do so, open up the safety pins and slide the points through the middle of each string on each side of the knot, where you would normally grab the strings between your fingers to untie it. Close the safety pins, then pull on them and wiggle them until the knot loosens and you can finish untying it with your fingers.[7]XResearch source
Advertisement 8
Get someone with smaller fingers to help you.
Download Article
Adult fingers can sometimes be too big to undo tight knots. If you’re at your wits' end with a stubborn knot, get a friend or family member to give it a shot. A new perspective and a fresh set of fingers might just do the trick![8]XResearch source
Someone with fingernails might have better luck than you, too, if your nails are freshly cut.
9
Use nylon shoelaces or string to prevent stuck knots.
Download Article
Nylon has less friction than string or cloth. Consider putting nylon shoelaces in your footwear if you frequently have problems untying knots in your laces. Or, use a nylon cord instead of a regular string for tying things up.[9]XResearch source
You can find nylon shoelaces online in a wide variety of colors, lengths, and thicknesses, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding laces that don’t alter the appearance of your shoes too much.
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Community Q&A
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Question How do I untie a nylon guitar string? Community Answer Take a bobby pin or a paper clip and poke it through the knots in the string. This should allow you a little space to be able to untie the knots the rest of the way with your fingers. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 17 Helpful 24
Question What if you have a massive knot in thin string? I bought something but the string got tangled and we can't untie it. Community Answer Use a safety pin to slowly pick you way through the knots. This takes patience, but it can be done. If that doesn't work, you may have to cut out the knotted part and add in a new string. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 24 Helpful 13
Question How do I get rid of a really tight shoe knot? Community Answer The finger method from this article would work best. Make sure you have enough time, patience and long enough nails to do the job. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 61 Helpful 18
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Co-authored by: Jordan Frazier Knot Tying Expert This article was co-authored by Jordan Frazier. Jordan Frazier is a Knot Tying Expert based in Middleburg, Florida. He has over 8 years of experience with knot tying–he started out with the craft as a hobby, and has expanded over time into knot tying as a vocation. He is the owner and operator of Paracord and What Knot, an online small business that is a “one stop knot shop”. He sells custom wrapped steering wheels, lanyards, keychains and a variety of other related products. He is skilled in the art of nautical fancywork and accepts custom commissions through his business. He has curated an online community of over 13K followers on Instagram with his knot tying content and how-to’s. In addition to his knot tying work, Jordan has a career as a Machinery Technician with the U.S. Coast Guard, which he has been doing for over 10 years. This article has been viewed 362,857 times. 16 votes - 63% Co-authors: 14Updated: April 4, 2024 Views: 362,857 Categories: Knot TyingArticle SummaryX
You can use the twist and push method to undo a knot in a shoelace or piece of string. Twist one end of the string as tight as you can so that it can’t bend easily. Push the twisted end of the string into the center of the knot, which will loosen the knot. Pull the knot apart once it has been loosened. You can also use the spoon tap method. Place the knot on a flat surface. Use a light yet solid object such as a wooden spoon to hit the knot until it begins to loosen. When you eventually create a small gap inside the knot, place the tip of tweezers or nail scissors into the gap to ease the knot undone. For more tips on untying shoelace or string knots, like how to use a corkscrew to undo a knot, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Anonymous
Feb 13, 2017
"The finger method did not work for me. I was trying to untie my favorite jogging bottoms string. The spoon tap method saved the day. It was a great help."..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Jordan Frazier Knot Tying Expert 16 votes - 63% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 14Updated: April 4, 2024 Views: 362,857
Anonymous
Feb 13, 2017
"The finger method did not work for me. I was trying to untie my favorite jogging bottoms string. The spoon tap method saved the day. It was a great help."..." more
Anonymous
Feb 5, 2018
"The spoon tap method worked great. The tight knot didn't seem to become more loose, but the second I looked at it I saw a very obvious knot to unwind."..." more
Lucas Hyland
Jun 20, 2019
"The first technique was very easy to understand and it helped me untie a stubborn knot. :)"
Anonymous
May 10, 2017
"Thanks for the other suggestions to untie a knot."
Nova Schultz
Jun 4, 2017
"I replaced the tweezers with a pen and it works!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Pull gently on 1 end of the knotted string. 2 Try to push some slack into the knot. 3 Soak the knot in water. 4 Chew on the knot. 5 Loosen the knot with a fork. 6 Twist the knot loose with a corkscrew. 7 Pick the knot open with 2 safety pins. 8 Get someone with smaller fingers to help you. 9 Use nylon shoelaces or string to prevent stuck knots. + Show 6 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Jordan Frazier 
How toTie Laces in a Double Knot 
How to Open a Bottle Without a Bottle Opener 
Easy and Stylish Ways to Wear Your Shoes Untied 
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: Jordan Frazier Knot Tying Expert This article was co-authored by Jordan Frazier. Jordan Frazier is a Knot Tying Expert based in Middleburg, Florida. He has over 8 years of experience with knot tying–he started out with the craft as a hobby, and has expanded over time into knot tying as a vocation. He is the owner and operator of Paracord and What Knot, an online small business that is a “one stop knot shop”. He sells custom wrapped steering wheels, lanyards, keychains and a variety of other related products. He is skilled in the art of nautical fancywork and accepts custom commissions through his business. He has curated an online community of over 13K followers on Instagram with his knot tying content and how-to’s. In addition to his knot tying work, Jordan has a career as a Machinery Technician with the U.S. Coast Guard, which he has been doing for over 10 years. This article has been viewed 362,857 times. 16 votes - 63% Co-authors: 14 Updated: April 4, 2024 Views: 362,857 Categories: Knot Tying Article SummaryX
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This may be all you need to untie tangled shoelaces or string. Instead of pulling on both ends right away to try and undo the knot, start by grabbing 1 end and pulling on it gently. If the knot is really just a tangled mess of intertwined loops and bows, rather than a tight knot, it should come undone right away.[1] 
Sometimes, pulling on a knot just makes it worse. Instead of pulling on the 2 sides of the knot to try to loosen it up, try to push 1 side back through the other to loosen it up a bit and give yourself some slack to work with. Squeeze, twist, and wiggle different parts of the knot until you’re able to loosen it up enough to untie.[2] 
It might be easier to loosen the knot with your teeth than with your fingers. Bite the knot between your teeth and give it a little chew. Try pulling on the top side of the knot with your teeth as well, twisting and wiggling it in different directions until it comes loose.[4] 
A fork is an easy-to-find utensil that can help wiggle knots loose. Slide the tooth of a fork into the center of the knot and pull up. Wiggle the fork and continue to pull until the 2 sides of the knot are loose enough for you to untie them.[5] 
Adult fingers can sometimes be too big to undo tight knots. If you’re at your wits' end with a stubborn knot, get a friend or family member to give it a shot. A new perspective and a fresh set of fingers might just do the trick![8] 
Nylon has less friction than string or cloth. Consider putting nylon shoelaces in your footwear if you frequently have problems untying knots in your laces. Or, use a nylon cord instead of a regular string for tying things up.[9] 
Community Answer Take a bobby pin or a paper clip and poke it through the knots in the string. This should allow you a little space to be able to untie the knots the rest of the way with your fingers. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 17 Helpful 24 
Community Answer Use a safety pin to slowly pick you way through the knots. This takes patience, but it can be done. If that doesn't work, you may have to cut out the knotted part and add in a new string. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 24 Helpful 13