Lanyards are hugely popular with employers and event promoters. They’re a quick, easy way to display credentials, area passes, and other important information. Many employees wear their lanyards every workday. But do you know how to clean a lanyard? 

We’ve created this guide on how to wash a lanyard to keep your lanyards in top condition. We’ll show you how to properly wash different types of lanyards and keep your lanyard looking its best for years of use. 

As our name suggests, we’re the #1 choice for all types of lanyards. We’ve been selling custom lanyards for almost 20 years and counting. Count on Custom Lanyard for all your lanyard needs! 

Can You Wash Lanyards?

Lanyards collect sweat and oils from your skin. They also pick up dirt and dust from the air and germs from your hands. Your work lanyard will soon start looking filthy if you don't wash it.

We know how important your lanyard is for your professional life. So, can you wash lanyards?

Benefits of Washing a Lanyard

You don't want to be walking around with a dirty lanyard full of bacteria and germs. Washing your lanyard isn't just good hygiene. It protects your customers and coworkers from disease. 

You wouldn't wear unwashed clothes to the office. Why would you wear a dirty, stained lanyard in front of clients and coworkers? When you know how to wash a lanyard, it will always look its best. 

Dirt particles can damage your lanyard as they rub against the fabric’s fibers. Washing your lanyard regularly removes sharp-edged grit and prevents fraying and weak spots. 

Can You Wash Lanyards in the Washing Machine or Should You Hand-Wash Them?

Can you wash lanyards in a machine? Most nylon and polyester lanyards can handle a gentle machine wash. But put your lanyard in a small mesh laundry bag first. This keeps the lanyard from getting tangled around other clothes.

That said, we generally recommend hand washing a lanyard. Hand washing is easier on the lanyard material. It’s also less likely to ruin the printed logo or delicate lanyard parts. 

How to Clean a Lanyard: Step-by-Step Guide to Washing a Lanyard

Washing a lanyard is easy and safe! Just follow these simple steps for how to clean a lanyard. In no time at all, you'll have a clean, bright lanyard with no worries about damaging the color, print, or quality. Here’s our professional guide to how to clean a lanyard.

Step 1: Check the Material and Attachments

The first step in understanding how to clean a lanyard is figuring out what materials you are working with. 

Most lanyards are made from nylon or polyester. If your lanyard is made of a less common material like leather or silk, you will need to spot clean it with a specialized cleaner. 

Take off the metal clip, plastic breakaway buckle, or clear vinyl ID holder before washing a lanyard. This will protect the metal from rusting or the plastic from getting scratched or damaged. If you can’t do this, you will need to wash your lanyard by hand.

Step 2: Choose the Right Cleaning Method

We recommend hand-washing lanyards. It gives you complete control over the washingprocess. You can gently scrub any stains as you see them, something you can't do with machine washing. Hand washing is also much easier on lanyards as it does not stress buckles or clips. 

If you must clean a lanyard in a washing machine, place it in a protective mesh laundry bag first. Always wash in a gentle cycle with cold water. But you'll get much better results, and run less risk of your lanyard getting stretched out of shape, with hand washing.

Step 3: Wash With Care

Start with mild dish soap or detergent in lukewarm water to clean your lanyard thoroughly and safely. Let your lanyard soak for 10 to 15 minutes.

Use a soft-bristled brush (like a toothbrush) after soaking to get rid of the dirt and oils. You don't have to scrub hard, as the soaking loosens the grime.

Step 4: Rinse and Dry Properly

Hold the lanyard under cool running water. Make sure all soap suds are washed out. 

Then once the rinse is complete, you can remove water by lightly squeezing the lanyard from top to bottom. For best results, lay the lanyard flat on a clean dry towel and press down firmly. Don’t twist or wring the lanyard. Let it air dry completely.

Step 5: Check for Wear and Tear After Washing

Check the lanyard for frayed edges, loose threads, or fading. Make sure your clip spring is still strong. 

You should get a new lanyard if you notice significant issues. Replacing your lanyard now is better than losing your keys or ID badge when your current lanyard fails. On that note…

Signs Your Lanyards Are Past Their Prime and Should Be Replaced

Knowing when to replace your lanyard is important. A frayed, stained, faded lanyard not only looks bad. It also puts the safety of your ID or keys in jeopardy. 

Here are some things to watch out for:

  • Are your lanyard edges badly frayed? 
  • Do you notice thin or weak areas in the fabric? 
  • Is the color dull, faded or stained?
  • Is the company logo or text faded, peeled, or cracked?
  • Does your metal clip feel loose or fail to spring back?

Knowing whether you have a nylon vs polyester lanyards is important. Nylon lanyards last approximately 50% longer than polyester. If you’re looking for a new lanyard that you will be using regularly, choose nylon for the best results. 

If it’s time to replace your old lanyard, don’t worry. We’ve got a great selection of lanyards suitable for every business need right here at Custom Lanyard.   

Trust CustomLanyard.Net for All Things Lanyards Online!

Not sure what lanyard best suits your needs? Custom Lanyard’s friendly customer service team will walk you through your options. 

We’ve helped more than a million customers with custom orders and we’d be happy to help you with yours. Our customization process is easy and intuitive, so you’ll have no trouble making your custom vision a reality. 

We offer the lowest prices and shipping, guaranteed, for every customer. You get bulk discounts, but even our smallest orders are within reach of your organization or business.

Whether you need custom woven lanyards, custom sublimation lanyards, custom polyester lanyards or custom nylon lanyards, we have what you’re looking for. We’ll help your company speed up the sign-in process and provide great brand identification. Call us today! 

Final Words on How to Wash a Lanyard

Can you wash lanyards? Follow our guidelines on how to clean a lanyard and you can wash any lanyard you own without worrying that it may get damaged. And if you need new work lanyards, look no further than Custom Lanyard.

We have you covered whether your organization needs 25 lanyards or 25,000. We’ve worked with multinational corporations and local businesses to provide the best custom products. Count on CustomLanyard.Net for all your custom product needs.