This week we have been to get the boys fitted and to buy their new school shoes I believe that good quality school shoes are an investment and want them to last as long as possible and If your children are anything like my boys, then their shoes will take a real battering at school. But there are a few things that you can do to make those shoes last longer and look good for as long as possible.
- Protect them – give the shoes a good start by giving them a layer of protective spray.
- Label them – chances are other children will have the same school shoes, so make things easy by labelling them, the last thing you want is to lose them.
- Air them out – I get the boys to take their school shoes off as soon as they get home this way any moisture or sweat inside the shoe can dry out before the next morning
- Dry them out – If their shoes are wet, I stuff them with newspaper or any old paper I have and leave them to dry. Never dry them in a warm place as this will crack the leather
- Remove Dirt – I encourage the boys to wipe their feet, but if they come home muddy then I give the a wipe with a damp rag
- Clean and polish – Once a week I clean and polish their shoes. I use a coloured shoe wax to restore them. After applying the wax with a soft shoe brush, I use a clean rag or cloth to buff the shoes back to a shiny new look. Using a cream conditioner with a soft cloth every couple of months will help to protect the shoe from the elements and prevent the leather from drying out. I also use a waterproof spray after cleaning them each week.
- Deodorise – Once a week after cleaning I pop some bicarbonate of soda in the shoe to take away any smell.
- Quick fixes – I also have a scuff polish with a sponge applicator that I will use as and when required to keep the shoes looking OK.
