As you’re preparing to get back into the everyday grind, you may have noticed those $120 leather school shoes you purchased just a few months ago are already looking like they’re ready to be replaced. Yikes.
Yep! They need some expert school shoe care, pronto!
Although the kids got ‘the talk’ about how they need to take care of their belongings and treat them with respect, at the end of the day kids will be kids.
To avoid buying more than one pair of school shoes per year, experts advise there are many ways to refresh and restore your children’s shoes, as well as provide added protection during the upcoming winter months.
“When you invest in maintaining the state of your children’s school shoes you will ultimately save money as giving them the right care consistently will increase the longevity of the shoes,” says shoe care specialist, Mister Minit’s Kylee Young.
“Many parents find it challenging to find a school shoe that’s the right fit and that they’re child is happy with, so it’s only natural to want to hold on to them, especially as school shoes can be a sizable investment. Giving school shoes a once a term facelift is a cost-effective way to maintain your school shoes and ensure their longevity,” says Kylee.
Five top tips on making your children’s school shoes ‘go the distance’…
[mc_block_title custom_title=”1. Prevention is better than cure”]
When it comes to extending the life of your children’s school shoes, preventive care is key. So if you’ve gone out and bought a new pair over the holiday break, get an anti-slip sole or toe piece put in the shoe before you let them out the front door. Leather wears down quickly and anti-slip soles and toe pieces not only prevent the original sole from losing its shape, but they also prevent water from seeping in, prolonging the life of your footwear.
[mc_block_title custom_title=”2. Weatherproof”]
Spray shoes with Mister Minit’s water and stain protector before the first wear to guard them against grime and watermarks. The fine mist particles ensure you won’t overspray your shoes, giving materials like leather a chance to breathe and retain their texture. If they are visibly dirty, it’s a good idea to clean them first, then apply a leather conditioner to protect shoes and boots, keeping leather moisturized, waterproof and vibrant. Repeat the process every school term for ideal protection.
[mc_block_title custom_title=”3. Repair wear and tear”]
By nature, school shoes are more vulnerable to damage than many other types of shoes. Mister Minit recommends using a stitching service to repair any tears and rips. For shoes that need a complete overhaul, patching can be used to replace leather and restore life to your footwear.
[mc_block_title custom_title=”4. Correct storage”]
To guarantee your children’s school shoes will be in fine form when you pull them out at the start of each new term, insert a blow-up booty shaper to allow the shoes to contract and dry out to their ideal shape. Keep shoes away from sunny spots and hot areas. To avoid leather cracking and to preserve the materials’ integrity, apply leather conditioner every 6-8 weeks. Should your children’s school shoes get wet, pack them up with newspaper to help draw out excess moisture inside the shoe.
[mc_block_title custom_title=”5. Take your shoes into the shoetician for some TLC”]
Just like you, your shoes need support to look their best. If DIY is not for you, Mister Minit has a Shoe Revival Package, which is an in-store service where experts will clean, buff, polish, deodorize, and waterproof your shoes on site for $15 stand-alone, or individual components available from $5.00
Taking care of your child’s expensive school shoes week-to-week is the guaranteed way to make them last a whole year – as long as you don’t experience an epic growth spurt! Even the experts can’t save you from that!
For shoe repairs and advice, visit one of Mister Minit’s stores nationally.
