Those shiny new school shoes have been tried on and tested for comfort and feel, they're just waiting for a crisp September morning.
Cut to a few weeks later and they have been used as football boots for lunchtime kickabouts, scraped along playground tarmac, and got thoroughly soaked on the walk home.
No shoe is indestructible, and we don't want worries about their footwear to affect how their day goes, but just a little forward planning can make a surprising difference. It's not about keeping children's shoes box-fresh, just helping them stay comfortable, protected, and presentable for as long as possible.
Whether they are traditional school shoes or barefoot school shoes, we've seen first hand what a busy school term can throw at them, Drawing on years of experience and advice from HLS families, here are our top tips for keeping school shoes looking and feeling their best.
Forward Planning
Shoe Accessories | Shoelaces, Insoles, Polish & More
You don't need to wait until shoes are showing signs of wear to think about shoe care. For leather school shoes, applying a protector or conditioner before they start daily wear can help guard against rain, mud, and the constant flexing that comes with active feet.
The Endless Toe Scuff Battle
Garvalin Mary Jane School Shoes | Black Barefoot Kids
Even us grownups aren't immune to scuffed shoes and children do a lot more kneeling, standing, climbing and tripping than we do, so its natural for school shoes to take a lot of punishment.
The best approach is to deal with them early. A regular quick clean and polish of leather shoes helps stop marks becoming permanents and keeps the leather nourished. Leaving them to build up all term makes them much harder to disguise later on.
Staying Fresh
Shoe Accessories | Shoelaces, Insoles, Polish & More
School shoes have to accompany kids on a whole range of activities during their school day - and throughout the week - so by Friday they can develop a bit of a whiff. Airing out in the evening, alternating footwear (if they have spares!) and replacing insoles regularly can all go some way to minimising the school shoe stink.
Weekend Checks
A five minute inspection as part of their uniform gathering on a Sunday evening can often add weeks or months to the life of a school shoe. Watch for:
- Laces that are beginning to fray.
- Mud trapped around stitching.
- Scuffs that need polishing.
- Insoles that need airing.
- Dirt stuck in the tread
Little jobs are always easier to tackle than big ones.
An Essentials Kit
Shoestring Shoe Care Kit | Leather Polish Travel Set
Having the right products at home makes shoe care much less of a faff. A good brush, appropriate protector, cleaning product and polish can help deal with most school shoe emergencies before they become permanent marks. A kit like this makes everything easy to find.
School Shoes are Meant to be Worn
Barefoot School Shoes | Smart Barefoot School Shoes for Kids
The occasional scuff, scrape, or muddy patch is a sign that school shoes are being used properly. The goal isn't perfection, it's maintaining comfortable protection and to help keep them looking smart enough for school for as long as possible.
Tips from Parents
Be Lenka Kids Energise All Black | School Trainers
Baby wipes by the front door. A quick wipe over the uppers while they're getting their coats on in the morning can make getting out of the door a far more pleasant experience for everyone involved.
Barefoot School Shoes | Smart Barefoot School Shoes for Kids
Polish little and often. One customer told us she keeps the shoe polish next to the book bags. Every Sunday, while the reading records are being signed and the pencils sharpened, the school shoes get a once over too.
Get the kids involved. Looking after school shoes doesn't have to fall entirely to parents. Even younger children can help brush off dried mud, wipe away marks, and put their shoes somewhere they can find them the next day. A sense of ownership over their belongings can help children to be more mindful, and encourages independence.
Froddo | Froddo Barefoot Shoes, Boots, Sandals & Canvas
Reima Kids Tepastelu Trainers | Kids Outdoor Trainers
Take spare socks. Wet autumn days mean puddles and that means puddle jumping. Spending the whole day in damp socks can cause all sorts of problems. Keeping a spare pair in their school bag makes the day a lot more comfortable.
Girls' Barefoot School Shoes | Happy Little Soles
Don't forget the wellies for wet days. School shoes have to bear the brunt of all weathers, especially in the UK, but they are rarely as waterproof as a pair of wellies. Switch to wellingtons for the walk to and from school on bad weather days and save the school shoes for indoor times.
Kids Wellies | Warm & Waterproof Wellingtons for Children
School Shoe Care in 5 Simple Steps
Shoe Care Products | Keep Your Footwear Fresh & Protected
1. Start by letting muddy shoes dry completely, then brush or knock off any loose dirt. Trying to clean wet mud usually just spreads it around and makes the job harder.
2. Use a damp cloth to remove any remaining dirt, paying attention to stitching, seams, and those scuffed toes that always seem to take the brunt of playground wear.
3. For leather shoes, a suitable polish or conditioner can help reduce the appearance of scuffs while nourishing the leather at the same time. Regular polishing little and often tends to work better than occasional rescue missions.
4. Remove the insoles if you can and allow them to air out. This is your chance to see what goes on under the bonnet. You'll notice a clear imprint of your child's foot which is useful for discovering how they use their feet during the long school day. Insoles can be a good early indicator that they need to move up a size. Replace often so they keep their efficacy.
5. Once shoes are clean and dry, apply a suitable waterproofing and protection. Reapplying once a week can really help defend against rain, mud, and spills.
You'll find waterproofing sprays, polishes, replacement insoles and other shoe care essentials in our Accessories Section along with elastic laces, insoles, shoe labels, high quality, breathable tights and socks and other school wear essentials.
Shoe Care Products | Keep Your Footwear Fresh & Protected
More Help
We’ve created a space filled with advice to help you get the very best from your barefoot shoe shopping. From detailed sizing guides, resources and blogs, to tips on making the most of our delivery options, you’ll find it all in The Advice Hub.
If you’d like a little more tailored support, do get in touch. Our Customer Service team love talking all things barefoot and are always happy to help.
We hope you love your purchase, but if something isn’t quite right, we offer free returns. For full details, please see our Returns Policy.
