Content

• To step
• Tips

Buttons ensure that your shoes stay on your feet, that a clothesline hangs and that you can sail a boat. In other words, they are great. However, when things go wrong with a knot, loosening the knot can be a laborious and frustrating task, especially with shoelaces and thin strings. The thinner the string, the more difficult it can be to untie a knot when it is tight. However, almost all knots can eventually be untied with a little patience and cleverness.

To step

1. Try to understand the knot. If you don't know anything about button theory, this can be tricky. However, loosening a knot is a lot easier if you know which loops hold the knot together and where the lace crosses itself. Study the knot for a while and try to figure out which direction to pull the loops to loosen the knot.
2. Grab a regular corkscrew. You can also use another thin metal object like a needle to loosen smaller knots. Just be careful not to poke or damage the lace or string.
3. Pull the corkscrew to loosen the knot and loosen it as you normally would.

Tips

• Make sure the lace or string is not wet before you begin, as this may help secure the knot.
• Some strings are too thin to loosen with your hands. Use two needles and a magnifying glass to untie the knot.