How to clean and care for school shoes

We understand the feeling: you’ve bought your son or daughter a nice shiny new pair of school shoes for the new school year and they’ve ended up scuffed or split after just a few weeks. Busy parents don’t have unlimited funds to keep replacing school shoes for rambunctious boys and girls who have gone a little overboard in the playground or at the park after school.

Even with that in mind, kids want to run, jump and play and need shoes that will allow them to do that while keeping everyone happy.

Unfortunately there’s no fool proof way to ensure that they’ll look pristine all year; however, there are some simple things you can do to minimise the impact on your bank balance and mean that your child can carry on adventuring.

How to clean school shoes - Methods and tips

How to quickly clean school shoes

It’s a good idea to give school shoes a clean each week as regular maintenance. A quick wipe down with a damp cloth will remove mud, dirt and grime to keep them looking fresh and prevent the material from getting damaged or wearing away. Don’t overload the cloth with water though as that could cause a different set or problems.

How to clean black school shoes without polish

There are many items you might have around the house that can do the job of shoe polish when you’re in a pinch. Although it’s worth saying that these aren’t suitable for canvas shoes or plimsolls and it’s worth spot testing first to make sure they aren’t going to ruin the shoes:
● Banana peel - yes, you read that right. Rub the inside of the banana peel across the shoes and then buff off with a soft cloth until the shoes are clean and shiny.
● Petroleum jelly - you’ve probably already got Vaseline or something similar in the bathroom cupboard, this can be used to shine your shoes. After wiping the shoes to make sure they’re clean, put some jelly on the cloth and rub in small circular motions across the shoe. Once you’re done, use a clean cloth to buff and remove any excess.
● Beeswax - just like the petroleum jelly, you’re applying a thin layer before buffing off with a clean cloth.
● Olive oil - wipe down the shoes with warm water to remove any dirt or mud. Once they’re clean, grab a cloth with a little bit of the olive oil on, not too much otherwise they will become greasy. Leave it to soak in for five minutes, then buff again with a clean cloth.

How to clean black leather school shoes with polish

Shoe polish is a good way to keep school shoes clean and looking their absolute best throughout the school year. It helps protect the leather from stains, keeps it supple and can even enhance the colour. Here’s the best way to shine those shoes:

1. Remove any laces, if they’re dirty you can pop them into the washing machine in a pillow case, or replace them if they’re looking tatty.
2. Use a stiff brush to remove caked on mud or dirt, then wipe with a warm damp cloth to get rid of any stubborn bits of grime.
3. Using a soft cloth, load some of the polish onto the shoe and move in circles over the shoe. Let the polish soak in for a few minutes.
4. Use a soft clean cloth, or buffing brush if you have one, to shine the shoe with short swipes.
5. Let your shoes dry, being careful not to put them in direct sunlight or on a heater, otherwise the leather may crack.
6. Spray with protector spray to keep them looking great for longer and more capable of standing up to the elements (and what your little ones can throw at them!).

How to stop school shoes from smelling

After being worn day in and day out, the school shoes might start to be a bit whiffy - but there are loads of things you can do to stop school shoes from smelling:
● Leave shoes to air as soon as your child gets home and overnight, avoiding heaters or sunlight.
● Sprinkle baking soda in there and leave overnight to soak up any odours or moisture. The next morning you can shake out the excess and wipe inside to make sure socks and tights aren’t left with white marks.
● Pop them in the freezer. Yes, that’s right. Put them in a sealed bag into the freezer for 24 hours to kill any bacteria causing the smell.
● Get odour eater insoles and replace them when necessary.

How to clean velcro

Velcro is great, particularly for little hands, but it can collect fluff from sitting cross legged on carpets or from socks. The best way to get your velcro looking smart again is to take an old unused toothbrush and flick it in one direction across each part of the velcro. You could even get the little ones involved as it can be quite fun!

Can school shoes go in the washing machine?

Sometimes there’s nothing quite like the clean of a washing machine. Leather school shoes absolutely cannot go through the washing machine as it ruins the leather, but canvas shoes and trainers may be able to. Always check the care label of shoes to make sure they’ll be ok and whether you need to do them on a cool wash or gentle cycle.

Our top tip would be to avoid doing this every week as the heat can weaken glue and the tumbling can damage stitching. So, instead, give them a weekly MOT with a warm damp cloth and soap and leave the washing machine as a last resort.

Top tips for making school shoes last longer

Dry school shoes properly

It’s so easy to get the kids home from school on a rainy Friday and prop their wet school shoes upside down on the radiator to dry them over the weekend; however, this is the quickest way to dry out the leather and ensure the shoes look tatty before the Christmas holidays.

A good way of getting school shoes wearable over the weekend is to:

● Give them a clean with a soft brush or sloth (with rain, inevitably comes dirt and mud)
● Stuff them with newspaper to soak up the water naturally
● Leave them by an open window if you can, or a well ventilated part of the house

Never use a hair dryer, the oven or an iron to dry leather shoes as this will make them crack.

Have a supply of spare laces and insoles

Some children take longer than others to get to grips with tying their shoelaces and it’s easy to pull these laces out or lose them. Take our advice, get some spare laces that match the shoes and keep them in a safe place. You’ll be very glad you did this when the shoes inevitably get wet (see above) and the laces take longer to clean and dry.

Wet insoles are also a nightmare to deal with, so it’s best to ensure you have some spares cut ready to insert after a rainy day.

Add a name label

Shoes have a habit of getting lost. They can get mixed up during changing for PE or after school clubs and before you know it you’ve got someone else’s shoes - and they might not be as well cared for as yours. Pop a name label into each shoe to make sure if they get separated from your child, or each other, they can be easily reunited and save you from having to buy new.