How to Clean Kids’ School Shoes

A good pair of shoes helps children to feel comfortable and confident as they grow, learn and play throughout the day, but as many parents know, an active, engaged child is often a messy one, too! From running in the playground to exploring arts and crafts, dirty shoes are an unavoidable part of childhood. So, to best prepare for the inevitable, having a selection of handy tips and tricks for the best way to keep your kid’s school shoes clean and comfortable can be a lifesaver. 

At Bobux, we have put together a few simple solutions to help keep leather school shoes dirt and odour-free, and your family’s feet always feeling their best. 

Tricks & Tips to Clean Kids’ Leather School Shoes

Kids Leather shoes are part of the classic school uniform – comfortable, presentable and long-wearing, leaving you with good value for money. There are a variety of ways to maintain and clean kids’ leather shoes, too, without having to invest in expensive cleaners or exhaustive techniques. 

The best way to care for kids’ shoes involves regular cleaning. You can use leather wax or a cleaning product to wipe and buff shoes, leaving it to sit for up to an hour on the shoe’s surface to fully sink in. You can then use a soft brush or cloth to remove any excess residue. Using a brush will help you massage the wax into all the bumps and crevices found in the leather, maximising the effect of your chosen product. 

One of the best ways to manage quick touch-ups and keep leather school shoes looking clean is to use a superior quality polish. Liquid scuff polish is a terrific way to keep kids’ shoes looking smart without having to invest too much time, and the more regularly you apply this, the better the shoes will appear. 

How to Remove odour from Kids’ School Shoes

Wet, soiled school shoes are a breeding ground for different types of bacteria that create unpleasant odours. Knowing how to remove odour from shoes, while still maintaining their integrity, is therefore vital. 

Begin by filling your kid’s wet school shoes with crumpled paper before allowing them to dry naturally. Using a hairdryer, fan, or other kinds of heat sources to dry them out can actually compromise the material, unintentionally causing them to become less stable and look more worn. Getting your child to take their school shoes off as soon as they get home will also allow the shoes to air out and prevent the development of pungent odours from the day. 

If there is already a stubborn odour lingering on the shoes, sprinkle some bicarbonate soda in each shoe and leave overnight to deodorise them. You can even try using the peel of fruits like lemons, oranges and grapefruits, or essential oils like tea tree oil, to get rid of odours. Like the bicarb soda, these at-home remedies work to counteract stubborn smells. Leave the peels in the shoes overnight or apply 3 to 5 drops of essential oils into each shoe twice a week until the bacteria are eliminated, and the odour is gone. 

How to Minimise Dirt & Keep Kids’ School Shoes Clean

The best defense is a good offense, which is why sealing your kid’s school shoes with a protective waterproof spray before they are worn (and then again regularly) will go a long way to helping keep things clean and in good condition. Staying on top of shoe cleaning is a great habit to get into, so each night, give your kid’s shoes a wipe-over with a damp cloth to remove excess dirt. This will help to prevent stubborn build-ups throughout the year. 

At Bobux, we understand that there is no one-size-fits-all care method to suit every type of children’s shoes, so take a look at our FAQs for more information on the best way to clean and care for shoes in a variety of textiles and materials so that your child can enjoy their footwear for longer. 

Shop Our Bobux Range for the Best Quality School Shoes for Your Kids

With our selection of quality kids’ shoes for every stage of development, constructed from the best materials available, you can provide your children with the superior fit and the support they need to live life to the full. Shop our range online today and learn more about what we offer by contacting our team. If you would like more tips beyond how to clean and remove odours from school shoes, explore more of our interesting and useful articles within the Bobux blog:

Guide to Kids Foot Width 

Signs Your Child's Foot Development Is on the Right Track

Best Material For Kids Shoes