How to Clean Kids Shoes: A Step-by-Step Guide for All Types of Footwear

Here is how to clean kids shoes. 

Step 1: Make a solution of dish soap and warm water.

Step 2: Dip a piece of clean cloth in it, and then wring it off.

Step 3: Take your child’s leather-made shoe, rub the damp cloth on the shoe and wipe it to clean the dirty areas. If this is a fabric-made shoe, soak the pair into the solution for 30 minutes, then rinse it with clean water and let it dry in the natural air. 

Step 4: Let the shoes air-dry naturally.

It’s not been an hour and my son has already got himself covered with mud. 

Children will naturally get dirt, mud, sand etc on their clothing, shoes, and even food. And this is like an incessant process. 

We can’t stop the work, but what we can do is make it easier. 

On that note, in this article, I will describe how to clean kids shoes. You will know about the cleaning process of fabric shoes, canvas, leather shoes, party shoes, what material you can use to clean and most importantly, how to teach your child to get ”less dirty”. 

So, let’s begin. 

Best Ways to Clean Kids Shoes

Cleaning children’s shoes should be done with as much care as we do for their clothing. Avoid any harsh cleanser or detergent for washing their shoes. As children’s skin is sensitive, they may develop any skin rash due to the cleaning item you are using. 

So, I will guide you on how I do the cleaning process for my children. 

How to Clean Babies’ Canvas or Fabric Shoes? 

Here is how I wash my children’s canvas, fabric shoes or tennis shoes. 

Step 1: Dissolve a child laundry detergent, soap or kids-conducive cleanser in water. If the shoes are white, then you dissolve the detergent into warm water. 

Step 2: separate each of the parts of the shoes, the shoelaces, insoles etc. Soak the pair of shoes and shoelaces into the detergent mix water for half an hour. Don’t put your insoles there. 

How to Clean Insoles? 

Cleaning insoles is really difficult. Sometimes no matter how hard I scrub, the dirt doesn’t go away. But I found an easy way to clean insoles. Here is how. 

Step 1: Get your insoles soaked and then put the detergent directly on it. Then rub the insoles with your hands or use a brush. The specks of dirt will start to get rid of. When you are satisfied with the cleaning level, wash it off. 

Step 2: Soak your baby’s insoles in water + vinegar or water + baking soda solution for a few hours. By applying this process, you can clean your kids’ stinky shoes as well. 

Step 3: Rinse the pair of shoes well and let them dry in the air. 

Note: Don’t use bleaching powder to wash baby shoes.

How to Clean Kids’ white shoes? 

• Clean White Canvas or Sneaker Shoes: Make a liquid mixture of detergent or dish soap and warm water. Soak your shoes in that solution after you have brushed off the loose specks of dirt and debris. Later clean it off with water. 

• Clean White Leather Shoes: Use a soft brush or sponge and rub it on the spots where the debris has accumulated. If the debris doesn’t go away, soak a brush or sponge in a soapy solution and rub it just on the dirty part of the shoe. Hopefully, you will get clean shoes.  

How to Clean Children’s Leather Shoes? 

Leather shoes don’t need whole soak-in cleaning like canvas shoes do, because the leather needs to keep its quality and appeal. Rather, these need a bit of a more gentle cleaning process. 

Allow me to tell you how to clean kids’ muddy shoes that are made of leather. 

Step 1: Remove the shoelaces and insoles. Clean them separately in the washing machine or hand wash them. 

Step 2: Take a piece of clothing, brush or sponge, to remove debris, and specks of dirt from the shoes. If you are using a brush, then brush off the shoes from every side to get rid of the loose debris. Do it as gently as possible, otherwise, it may cause a scratch on the leather. 

Step 3: If you get difficult marks that are stuck, you need a soapy water solution. Many people use dish soap to clean leather shoes. When the solution is made, take a piece of clean cloth, soak it in the liquid solution and wring it off. Use that damp cloth to clean off the hard particles that are stuck in the shoes. 

Step 4: When all the specks of dirt have been removed, wipe the soapy liquid off of the shoe with another wet cloth or wet tissue. Water isn’t good for leather; so finish the process by drying out the watery area with a piece of dry cloth or tissue. 

Step 5: Let it dry naturally in the air. Don’t use a heater or put it in direct sunlight to remove the water fast. This will harm the leather’s longevity. 

Note: Though oil and vaseline-type products work well for leather, refrain from using these to cleanse the leather shoe as it may cause permanent damage. Also, don’t use bleach on leather shoes.

What to Use to Clean Leather Shoes? 

Here are some common tips to remove stains or marks from leather shoes. 

Tip 1

If you have an oil mark, sprinkle baking soda on it and let it sit overnight. By that time the soda will absorb the oil. 

Tip 2

A mixture of toothpaste, baking soda and water can help remove stains on leather. 

Tip 3

If you have an ink mark, use isopropyl alcohol (also called rubbing alcohol), dip a cotton bar and dab it on the stained part. 

Tip 4

 Use a mixture of lemon juice and cream of tartar. Let it sit on the stained part for half an hour and then wipe it off with a damp cloth. This is a powerful solution and has a bleaching effect. So, use it only for white leather.  

How to Clean Kid’s Sneakers, Athletic Shoes or Running Shoes?

My children’s favourite shoes are sneakers, because they allow them freedom, what I understood. 

Children’s sneakers, athletic shoes and running shoes tend to get dirty very quickly. Let me describe to you real quick how you can clean kids’ sneakers, athletic or running shoes. 

Step 1: First things first, remove the shoelaces and insoles as usual. You can wash those both by scrubbing with detergent or soap liquids. To remove the stain and odour from the insole, you can sprinkle baking soda and wash it. 

Step 2: Then take a brush, and scrub it to remove the loose specks of dirt, and mud from the upper side of the sneaker. 

Step 3: Take a dirt pick or something that has a pointy edge, like a skewer. Use this tool to remove the crevices that are stuck in the tread of the shoe. 

Step 4: Prepare your cleaning solution. Refrain from using any strong cleanser considering the user is a minor. Mix that with warm water. You can use white vinegar to cleanse deeply. This also helps remove odour. 

Step 5: Soak your whole shoe in the cleaning solution for about half an hour. After that, take a brush, sponge or piece of cloth, and scrub the midsole area in a circular way. The loose specks of dirt, marks of mud or other things will start to get removed. For the stubborn marks on the sneaker, use toothpaste and brush it. 

Step 5: Soak the pair of sneakers in vinegar or baking soda and warm water solution for a few hours to remove bad smells of the shoes. 

Step 6: Rinse it very thoroughly. Use a brush to ensure proper cleaning. 

Step 7: Put your shoes in the open air and let them dry. While choosing the location make sure this airflow is at its best, for example, the veranda. 

Note: Crumble old newspaper or paper towel and put that inside the shoe so that it helps absorb the liquid and help the shape retain.

How to Clean Baby’s Sandals or Party Shoes? 

For attending any party you need to clean sandals, and party shoes you don’t have to do the long steps like canvas shoes or sneakers. 

Step 1: Get baby wipes or wet tissues. 

Step 2: Soak it with a tiny bit of cleansing items and then rub the wipe or tissue over the shoes. The marks will start diminishing. 

Step 3: Then with a skewer-like tool, you can get the dirt from the tread of the shoe.  

How Often Should You Clean Kids’ Shoes?

I wash my kids almost every week, as one of my children is going to school and the other one plays outside with other kids. 

Generally, parents clean their kid’s shoes once every 2 weeks. But this will differ based on the regularity of use. For example, if this is the pair of white sneakers your child is wearing at school every day, you must wash it once every week like I do. 

If these are sandals, party shoes or baby slippers, those don’t need much cleaning and will do if you do them once or twice a month. 

Encourage Kids to Avoid Excessive Dirt and Mud 

Kids are inseparable from dirt, mud, and debris— I understand you. The more they grow up and know the outside world, the dirtier the clothing and shoes they bring home. 

But, you can train them to be mindful of dirt. How? Here are 5 ways how you can encourage your kids to avoid dirt. 

1. Clean With Them 

I apply this strategy to my kids. Every weekend, when I wash their shoes, I ask them to join me, bring me their shoes, and separate the shoe laces. 

If your child can understand the command, engage them in the work that involves them. You are making quality parent-child time or family time and teaching them how to do the work. 

You can set a time to have a cleaning time. Let’s say every day at noon, you will be washing the kids’ clothing with them and every weekend the shoes. So, when it’s time you call them up and make the washing process a teamwork. 

2. Praise Their Little Accomplishment 

Assign them tasks they can handle, and let them assist you however they can. To make them feel engaged, 

• Assign duties. Instead of letting them watch what you do, encourage them to join you to know how the work is being done. They will learn more by participating directly and working manually. 
• Give choices: Let them pick whichever options they like. This will make them feel like they are involved in some really important tasks. 
• Set a timer: Allocate a time slot, creating a little competition will help them understand the process faster. 

Now that your children know what to do, to retain their motivation for the next time what you can do are 

• Praise them: Whenever they have completed any little tasks, brought you their shoes, or the dish soap, or any task they completed by themselves, admire their effort. 
• Give allowance: Though many parents don’t like children giving money, they think this may create bad habits among them. But, on the flip side, doing it now and then won’t harm. Also, you don’t have to pay them money every time, you can set a goal. For example, at this month’s end, you will buy him his favourite car, or her favourite hair band etc. 

3. Avoid Light-Coloured Shoes 

I know, white, baby pink, baby blue— the shades of light colour all suit babies really well, make the angelic look more obvious. So, if possible make some differences in the usage of shoes according to the purposes. 

Let me simplify. 

Many children have black leather shoes in their schools and many have white. So, there is nothing you can do about it. But if you are buying shoes for their regular playtime, for example, sneakers, canvas shoes, or athletic shoes, purchase the dark-coloured ones. 

Dark coloured shoes or clothing can hide dirt marks well and so, it will cut down your time to wash. If you are washing your child’s white shoes once every week, you can wash the dark-coloured ones once a month. 

4. Don’t Be So Strict, Rather Act on Hygiene 

When you are having them join you, make the whole arrangement of the finishing process fun, not a punishment. Help your child understand the importance of cleanliness and hygiene. Make them understand that wearing dirty shoes will make them sick as germs will enter their body through their feet. Do not be too strict or rude while teaching them how germs effect on kids body.

5. Be There for Them 

Be present and patient with them. You are on a mission to get them used to the task. To make the work more acquainted with them, lead by example. First do the work to show them and then allow them to do it. Whenever they are stuck and don’t know how to proceed, assist them. Be cooperative in your instruction. 

The process will take a while for them to understand, please be patient. Because, they know the fun, if you restrict them from that, it might backfire. My recommendation, make the actions of not being dirty as enjoyable to them as a game they are playing. When they understand the process, they will act to stay clean. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion 

Children have a very magnetic power that attracts all types of dirt. Truth be told, no matter what you do, this is way more difficult for children to stay clean all the time unless they have been trained. 

Not only shoes but also clothes— when you find those are dirty, you have to act first, otherwise the marks might be permanent. To wash off the canvas or any other shoes, use a soapy solution and soak it. If you are cleaning leather shoes, then use a sponge, brush or cloth to get rid of the specks of dirt instead of soaking the shoes. 

I hope my article has helped you find the right solutions you need to sparkle clean your child’s shoes. To find a more helpful guide to better care for your children, keep an eye on our blogs. See you in the next article.