School shoes can take a real battering over the school year; from scuffs through to stains, broken laces and more – even the most robust leather shoes or PE shoes can get hammered with day-to-day use. Check out our guide below to some of the more common issues parents face with school shoes and our tips and tricks for either prevention or fixes.

Whether it’s scuffs in the toe box of their leather shoes, through to scrapes on the side from rubbing together – its inevitable our active kids will find a scuff in their leather shoes at some point during the school year.

Black Polish – Ensuring that your kids school shoes have a weekly polish can support their upkeep and help make them last longer. Not only can polish help their school shoes look tidy, but you can also use it to gently buff out scuffs and scratches.

Magic Eraser – for those parents who have this stashed in their cleaning cupboard, a magic eraser can also potentially help clean up scratches on synthetic or rubber soles. Not just for cleaning stains from walls.

You can’t beat stocking up on a spare pair of laces for your kid’s school shoes. However, you can add some preventative techniques to avoid snapped or loose shoelaces, including:

Double Knots: A double knot can work wonders, after all, loose shoelaces from a single knot can become a tripping hazard. Once your kid is comfortable with the transition from self-fastening to tying laces, offer to teach them how to do a double knot to help keep their laces secure.

Fresh new pair: At the first signs of fraying, it might be worth switching out the laces for a brand-new pair. Here at The Athlete’s Foot, we have laces for both school shoes and active shoes, a great reason to stock up before back to school starts.

Sometimes your kids’ shoes will smell – it’s the way it goes. Especially in hot weather, when they’re wearing their leather shoes day in and day out. There are some easy fixes for this.

Baby Powder: Sprinkling a little bit of baby powder is a great way to absorb smells – and it’s probably just lying around the home too.

Deodorising Balls – A pair of deodorising balls are a great accessory to pick up and use to hammer out stains. Our balls are designed to fit into tight places a typical spray freshener won’t fit. Simply twist to open and release their odour fighting powers.

PE Shoes can take knocks from all angles whether its rain, mud or even our kids spilling juice from their water bottle. Some simple fixes from goods around the home can sort out these little stains:

Soap and Water: If the stain isn’t overly harsh, using a small sponge/toothbrush and some soapy water you can gently buff that stain out. Just remember to leave the sneakers to air out afterwards. 

White Vinegar: By diluting some white vinegar into water, you can even tackle grass and mud stains! Just gently scrub with an old toothbrush and wipe away with a damp cloth.