Kids will never pass up the chance to jump in a puddle or play hide-and-go-seek in ridiculous nooks and crannies.

All this running around results in some messy, stinky shoes that are in desperate need of a thorough clean. So what’s the best way to clean their shoes?

Because Bobux shoes are made from a variety of leathers and textiles, there’s no one-size-fits-all care method. Find out how to clean kids shoes, muddy leather shoes and grimy canvas shoes, as well as how to banish that stink for good!

How to Care for Suede Soft Sole Baby Shoes

Soft sole shoes are the best shoes you can get for your bub. They help feet to develop and grow healthily, protecting little feet from the elements and providing good grip as they begin to crawl.

You would think at this age it would be unlikely for babies to get their little shoes dirty. How naïve we once were. Even the littlest, cutest babies can find a way to make a mess of their shoes.

Whether they’re kicking them off when you’re out and about, or getting suitably grubby while hanging out outside, you may find those shoes gathering the grime in no time at all.

Bobux soft sole shoes have leather uppers and soft, suede soles. In order to clean these baby shoes, avoid fully immersing them in water, and do not bleach, soak or tumble dry your soft soles.  

Instead, use a natural water-repellent spray on nubuck and suede before wearing and every four weeks following first wear for protection against water damage. Place tissues into the shoes so they don’t lose their shape, and allow to air dry.

We recommend soft soles for newborn babies up until around two years of age, or until your little one is confidently crawling. Shop online or find a Bobux stockist near you.

How to Clean Kids’ Canvas Shoes

Canvas shoes are great everyday shoes for kids. They’re easy to dress up or down, but it’s important to remember they're made of cotton so they can get dirty.

It's not hard to clean canvas shoes, thankfully! If the kids have gone traipsing through mud, wait for the dirt to cake on before giving the shoes a good thump. Most of the mud should just fall off!

But if some stubborn stains remain, dip an old toothbrush in cold water mixed with a few drops of detergent for a gentle scrub or wipe with a damp cloth. 

Do not bleach, soak or tumble dry your canvas kids shoes, allow them to dry naturally and away from direct sunlight. For best care, use natural water-repellent spray on canvas/textile before wearing and every four weeks after.

How to Care for Toddler Leather Shoes

Leather shoes are the hardiest shoes for kids, since they’re easy to clean, and to care for. Often they’ll just require a quick wipe over.

If they need a better clean, you can use a shoe brush to brush away mud and dirt. Then use a damp cloth to wipe away the excess grime.

We reccomend polishing your leather toddler shoes every two weeks to keep the shoes in top condition. You can condition the leather using a specially formulated leather conditioner. Finally, polish them using dubbin or beeswax polish for added shine and to protect them from scuffs. You can also use a coloured nugget or coloured beeswax polish on nappa leather shoes to rejuvenate the leather after scuffing.

If you need to dry the shoes be sure to dry them naturally away from direct sunlight. and do not bleach, soak or tumble dry your premium leather toddler shoes. 

We recommend our i-Walk range for toddlers up until around fours years of age, or until your little one is actively playing. Shop online for leather toddler shoes today. 

How to Clean Shoes with Wool Lining

Shoes with wool lining will keep kids' toes warm but anyone who has ever had a pair will understand how quickly the fur lining can get grubby and stinky!

To clean the wool lining of your kid's boots, brush the insides to release any ground-in dirt, and then turn it upside down for a good shake.

Then, using a damp cloth and a little soap, clean the insides and then go over them with a dry cloth. Leave to air dry. To make the wool fluffy again, you can blow dry on cool.

These shoes can get smelly, so be sure to clean thoroughly every few wears.

Our range of comfortable kids shoes for boys and girls cover styles for all seasons, trainers, boots, dress shoes, lace ups, sport shoes, summer sandals. Shop kids shoes online today. 

Shoe Care Products we Reccomend 

Fend Fabric & Footwear Protective Spray 

We reccomend Fend Fabric & Footwear Protective Spray to give your Bobux kicks a liquid-repelling coating that lasts months to years! Spray on clean shoes, allow them to dry to create an easy-to-clean, stain-resistant barrier that water simply rolls off.

• Suitable for suede, nubuck and fabrics

• Water and stain repellent

• Non-toxic

• Antimicrobial, resists odour

• Eco-friendly

• Not suitable for coated or waxed leathers

Pellé Leather Revitaliser

Like any natural textile, leather can be dried out by sun and heat exposure and prolonged use. To keep your Bobux soft, flexible and looking great, apply the Pellé Leather Revitaliser. The revitaliser restores the original oils that are lost over time, restoring the leather’s colour, flexibility and softness.

• Suitable for waxed, oiled leather

• Formulated with tanning oils

• Restores colour, flex and softness

• Non-toxic

• Not suitable for suede, nubuck or fabrics

How to Clean Stinky Shoes

How on earth do our kids shoes get so smelly? Cleaning kids shoes is probably the most hated part of being a parent (a slight exaggeration perhaps, but the stench deserves it), but it’s also completely necessary.

You can do this in several ways depending how smelly those shoes are. You can put stinky shoes in the freezer for 24 hours to kill bacteria. You can also disinfect insoles by soaking them in vinegar and hot water. Or sprinkle some bicarb soda into the shoes to suck the stench out. Kids feet sweat over twice as much as adults so theres no wonder that their shoes can become a bit woofy! There are also products on the market such as Neat Feet and Grans Remedy which can also be great for treating damp or smelly footwear.

Of course, if all hope is lost, and there’s just no way to clean those grubby, stinky shoes, it might be time to buy them a new pair. Bobux has stylish and comfy kids shoes for your little grub! Browse our range today.