Cleanliness
It’s important that the secondhand shoes are clean before your little ones starts wearing them, inside and out! You don’t want to share any nasties, especially if you don’t know where the shoes have come from.
Check out these cleaning tips*:
Inner soles
Many leather and canvas shoes have removable inner soles which means they can go through the wash. If they don’t have a removable inner sole and they are not too dirty, just give them a wipe with a cloth and some detergent or something to kill the germs.
You can use baking soda to help get rid of the smell, but it won’t get rid of the germs. You can also use a small amount of hand sanitizer (not too much as they are often alcohol based) or disinfectant spray. Unscented is great if you can get it, if it’s scented you will have to live with the smell!
Avoid alcohol based products as they can soften the glue.
Outside of the shoes
With leather shoes, creme cleanser and a damp cloth will clean the outside really well, even white leather comes up a treat. Most little shoes should be soft enough not to need moisturising or conditioning after being washed. However you can always use a specially formulated shoe moisturiser or hand moisturiser to help soften them.
Very dirty shoes
With very dirty leather or canvas shoes, the entire shoe can be hand washed in a bucket or put through a gentle wash in the washing machine (although this maybe a little harder on the shoes). Use cold water only and a soft detergent such as a wool wash or face wash so as not to strip the shoes’ natural oils.
Drying your shoes
Don’t use direct heat to dry the shoes and try drying them in the shade or in the hot water cupboard. Take them out whilst they’re a little damp as you don’t want to dry them out completely as this will make them hard. Pop the shoes onto your little one’s feet as soon as you can so they can mold and soften up straight away.
Tip
Try to have two pairs of leather shoes on the go so you can alternate them daily and let one pair dry out completely before re-wearing the other. This helps to stop them growing smelly and reduces their wear and tear.
Important
If your little one seems to have problems with their feet or with walking, take them to a paediatrician for a check up. Wearing secondhand or hand-me-down shoes may not be an option for them as they may need to wear specific shoe styles.
* These cleaning tips apply to genuine leather shoes and are based on Bugalugz personal experience. The tips are to be used as a guide only as the same outcome on all shoes cannot be guaranteed.
At Bugalugz we have hand-picked great quality shoes for babies, toddlers and preschool kids that are soft and healthy for little feet. All our stock is held in NZ and couriered with minimal packaging. Plus you’ll receive FREE SHIPPING in NZ for orders over $75. For more information visit www.bugalugz.co.nz or email us at info@bugalugz.co.nz. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
Would replacing the insoles negate or lessen the impact of the secondhand shoe?
I understand that second hand shoes have their pros & cons but I think is is a great thing that so many used shoes are provided to needy children and their families. Great article!