Keeping your kids' school shoes looking clean and tidy is a great way to make sure they look smart while aligning with school guidelines. Since they wear their school shoes basically all day, 5 days a week, it's important to keep them clean and as long-lasting as possible.
Here are our top tips on how to polish your kids' school shoes, making sure the leather is protected and shiny, just how it should be.
How can you make school shoes look brand new?
Ensuring your kids' school shoes are clean and in good condition is the only way to keep them looking brand new. If you don’t clean your kids' school shoes or look after them correctly, it can lead to them ageing much quicker and therefore, show signs of wear and tear.
Polishing your shoes is a great way to keep them looking brand new, however, we know not every child has leather shoes, which is why we have a specific guide on cleaning school shoes.
How to polish school shoes at home
Since most school guidelines require your kids to have black, leather or faux leather shoes, one way to make them look brand new is by regularly polishing them.
First, start by removing any excess dirt from your kids shoes. You can do so by using a cloth dampened with warm water and gently wiping down the exterior of the shoes. You can use an old toothbrush to brush down any stubborn areas. You can then leave the shoes to air dry, ensuring they aren’t in direct sunlight.
After the shoes are dried, you can then apply a leather polish all over the outer surface of the shoes. This will help them to keep their shine, stay healthier for longer and prevent the material from ageing or cracking.
What products should you use to polish school shoes?
There are a few different products you can use to polish school shoes. One of the most popular types of polish are traditional wax based products. These can be found quite easily in stores and online and they usually come in a kit with a bristle brush to apply it.
Other types of polish also come in a liquid or cream solution, and some come in handy bottles with an applicator already attached to them. Regardless of what type of formula you choose, make sure that it is suitable for the material of your kids' school shoes.
How often should you polish school shoes?
How often you polish your kids' school shoes really depends on how much wear and tear they get. Generally speaking, you should polish school shoes at least once a month.
This will help to ensure that the leather stays healthy and shiny. This will also help to remove any scratches and scuffs and keep them looking brand new.
When should you polish school shoes?
It's a good idea to polish your kids' school shoes before the first time they wear them, as this will help to give them a protective coating. In terms of throughout the school year, it’s a good idea to give them a good clean and polish during half terms. This will allow the shoes to have plenty of time to dry fully, and you may even be able to give them a deep clean too.
Make sure that the shoes are fully dry every time before you polish them, otherwise the polish may not adhere properly to the shoes.
Should you polish new school shoes?
Yes, it is a good idea to polish new school shoes as this will help to add some level of protection on them before they are worn.
New shoes will usually have little to no shine on them, and they probably won’t be as shiny as you’d like, so we always recommend polishing them before the first wear.