How to Take Care of School Shoes So They Last Longer

Have you just forked out a small fortune on school shoes? Me too. The good thing is that I have a few tricks up my sleeve to take care of your child’s school shoes, so they last that bit longer.

It’s back-to-school season. You’ve got the school uniform, and the school supplies, and then you’ve spent an eye-watering amount of money on school shoes that they will immediately be given a good beating. Whether it’s jumping in puddles, playing in muddy grass, or games in the playground, school shoes get put through a lot.

Whilst kids are not known for their respect for footwear, the good news is that with a little bit of love and care, you can make your kids’ school shoes last as long as they fit in them.

How To Look After School Shoes So They Last Longer

Here are eight tips I use to prolong the life of my kids’ shoes:

• Label Them
• Use A Waterproof Spray
• If They Do Get Wet, Dry Them Properly
• Treat Scuffs
• Tackle Bad Smells Naturally
• Keep Them Clean
• Teach The Gentle Art Of Shoe Removal
• Repair Before Replacing

Label Them

Kids are notorious for losing stuff. Especially when it comes to PE time, it’s easy for shoes to get lost or mixed up with others. I lost count of the times my kids came home in their gym shoes – especially in the early primary years – as they’d lost a shoe or two!

To help avoid this, add a name label to the inside of each shoe, or simply write their name using a permanent marker on the inside. When this starts to fade, make sure to re-write their name. This is the first step in this guide because you can’t care for your school shoes and make them last longer if they are lost!

Use A Waterproof Spray

Waterproofing your school shoes is essential to help keep the elements out and to keep them looking their best for longer. Water causes leather to shrink, and it may dry the leather out over time, so it really pays to waterproof them.

Before you reach for any old waterproofing spray, bear in mind that some waterproof shoe sprays are better than others. Look for a PFC-free and fluorine-free waterproof shoe spray.

PFC stands for per- and poly-fluorinated chemicals, which are used to weatherproof clothing and shoes. This sounds innocuous; however, these chemicals accumulate in the environment.

In fact, for some PFCs, there is evidence that they cause harm to both the hormonal and reproductive systems in both humans and animals, as well as being carcinogenic. They’re often referred to as forever chemicals because of how persistent they are in the environment.

I’ve been using a PFC-free weatherproofing spray on our leather shoes. I reapply this spray regularly for best results: it’s not something you can spray on once.

If They Do Get Wet, Dry Them Properly

Kids’ shoes get wet; these things happen. Whether it’s jumping in puddles or walking home on a really soggy day, they can get a bit sodden.

When their shoes do get wet, as tempting as it is, I don’t recommend drying them in the tumble dryer, or on a radiator or other heat source. This could damage them by causing the rubber or leather to crack.

Instead, the best way to care for your kid’s school shoes is to crumple up sheets of newspaper into balls and pop them into the shoes. Then allow the shoes to dry naturally. The newspaper will absorb the water and won’t cause the leather to crack or dry out. Replace the paper when it’s very wet, to help them dry out faster.

Treat Scuffs

School shoes get scuffed. It’s a fact of life. The easiest way to care for them is to buy a scuff cover. These products quickly and easily cover scuff marks and help restore colour and shine, to help keep your shoes looking smarter for longer.

I don’t have any specific recommendations yet – I’m trying out a few different ones. However, I will update you in due course on which ones I feel work the best. In the meantime, if you have any recommendations, then I’m all ears!

Tackle Bad Smells Naturally

If your kid’s shoes start to develop an unpleasant odour, then fear not. You can tackle these bad smells in shoes naturally with bicarbonate of soda.

Simply sprinkle in a little bit of bicarbonate of soda (enough to cover the insole). The next morning, empty out the bicarbonate of soda. The odour should be gone. Magic!

Keep Them Clean

To care for your kid’s school shoes, don’t let dirt and mud settle on them. Giving them a good wipe, with a soft, damp cloth, at least once a week (or more) helps the dirt from becoming ingrained.

Occasionally, you may want to bust out the leather cleaner. I’m working on a homemade leather cleaner as we speak. In the meantime, shop-bought leather cleaners can easily be picked up. I like to use a soft brush and cloth, in conjunction with the wax, to really get them clean and keep them conditioned.

Teach The Gentle Art Of Shoe Removal

If your kids are anything like mine, then they probably kick their shoes off as soon as they come home without undoing the straps or laces, before requesting a snack!

I always try remind to them to take a few seconds to undo the straps or laces, as otherwise being rough can pull at seams and distort the heel, shortening the lifespan of the shoes. They don’t always listen, but it’s always worth a try!

Repair Before Replacing

Finally, school shoes are put through a lot, and sometimes they need a bit more intervention than a clean or a polish. If something breaks on the shoes, then all is not lost. It’s always worth making a visit to your local cobbler.

It could be a quick fix that is cheaper than you might think. The cobbler will be able to give you an upfront price, so you know what you will need to pay. And that visit could mean fewer shoes in landfill, and be cheaper than a new pair.

Your Top Tips

Any further tips on looking after your kids’ shoes that I’ve missed? Do pop them in the comments below!