Have you ever wondered if your kids have been rolling in the dirt after they come home from school? The knees on their pants are ridiculously dingy, and their shoes are often filthy. When they hit the playground, they have F.U.N. Love that!
But because of the "play oh-so-hard" factor, we have school clothes and weekend or playdate clothes. Admittedly, this isn't always the most cost-effective approach — some of my daughter's sneakers are just too cute not to rock as much as possible. Of course, it's always fun to get new items for the new school year, but there are ways to salvage what's already in your children's closets so they get as much wear out of their gear as possible. Here are few tricks I've picked up to keep my daughter's kicks (as well as my own and my husband's) fresh.
Tools you'll need:
- OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover
- 2 small bowls
- Cloth (a washcloth works!)
- White towel
- Paper towels
- Old toothbrush
- (bonus) Medium to soft bristle brush or dishwashing brush
Step 1: Soak the Laces
Grab a bowl, fill it with warm water, and add OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover — add about 1/2 to a whole scoop — unlace those shoes, and put the laces in the bowl. Swirl them around and rub them together to work the dirt out. Then let them soak for a few hours or overnight, especially if they are white.
Step 2: Scrub Those Kicks
After setting the bowl with the soaking laces aside, grab another bowl and make a cleaning solution by mixing warm water with the OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover. I like to use a washcloth to clean washable shoes made from fabrics like cotton or canvas (like the ones above). I dip the cloth in the mixture and dab or scrub in circular motions.
Dampen a clean white towel with water and blot the area to rinse. Dry by blotting with paper towels.
Step 3: Focus on the Soles
The soles of kicks are often the dirtiest and can require much more scrubbing than the rest of the shoe, so be ready to put in some work and pay attention to detail. Use that old toothbrush and dishwashing brush to get all these crevices, nooks, and crannies. Dip the brushes in the solution and make sure to get a good lather going.
Again, dampen a clean white towel with water and blot the area to rinse. Dab dry with paper towels.
Step 4: Finishing Touches
Let the shoes air dry. If needed, you can throw the laces in the washer and dryer. Once those are ready, lace the sneakers back up and nod in approval as you send your little ones back to school in kicks that look good as new!
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