Cleaning Kids Shoes After a Muddy Walk

Autumn and Winter walks are the perfect way to break in your gorgeous new boots. But the weather means this transitional footwear is almost definitely going to get wet and/or muddy.

As a result, you need to know how to clean your kids shoes, especially when they’re covered in intricate details, sequins, and glitter. So read this guide, containing all of our top tips for cleaning wet and muddy kids shoes. 

The best shoes to put your kids in for a muddy walk

For kids on muddy walks, we’d recommend wellies or boots. 

 

First, check out the Unicorn Toggle Top Wellies. These wellies don’t just protect from muddy puddles, they encourage splashing in them! The drawstring toggle tops ensure your feet remain dry at all times, and fleece lining ensures warmth in even the coldest weather. 

 

Another great option is our new Justine Side Zip Boots. These water-resistant boots come in black or pink, with a glittery contrast upper which means Autumn-Winter footwear doesn’t have to be boring! 

 

Cleaning mud from kids shoes: Our tips

Cleaning mud from kids' shoes isn’t always as easy as throwing them in the washing machine, or rinsing them off, here are our top tips for cleaning mud from kids shoes:

• Let the mud dry - Attempting to wipe off excess mud whilst it’s still wet could lead to soaking it further into the material of the shoes. 
  
  

• Scrape off excess mud - Use a soft-bristled brush or old toothbrush to scrape off excess mud. 
  
  

• Use mild soap and warm water - For remaining mud, use a mixture of mild detergent/soap and warm water to scrub gently. Avoid using hard bristled brushes or harsh chemicals which could damage the shoes. 
  
  

• (Optional) use paste of baking soda, soap, and warm water - For more stubborn stains, we’d recommend using baking soda, soap, and warm water in a paste to attack the mud. 

• Rinse and air dry - Use a damp cloth to remove excess soap, and wipe down the shoes one last time. Then, allow the shoes to air dry completely, avoiding radiators or direct sunlight as this can damage the materials. 

 

How to clean muddy shoes when they are light coloured

For all light coloured shoe types, you want to begin by allowing the mud to dry, removing laces and insoles, then brushing off as much of the dried mud as possible. 

The next steps depend on the material of the shoe. 

For canvas shoes, the best bet for light colours is scrubbing gently with a baking soda and water, before rinsing and leaving to air dry. For stubborn stains, mix baking soda with a small amount of white vinegar and blot using a damp cloth.

If you’re dealing with leather or patent leather shoes, the same process applies but just using mild soap and water, and gently scrubbing. Mud should come away from leather footwear relatively easily, and we’d recommend using a leather conditioner after the cleaning process to maintain the integrity of the material. 

How to clean muddy shoes with sequins/glitter

The beauty of Lelli Kelly sparkly shoes can make them slightly more tricky to clean. If mud has creeped between sequin details or glittery surfaces, don’t worry, because we can still get them clean.

The key is to get as much mud as possible loose just by using a dry, soft bristled brush, after the shoes have been allowed to dry. You’ll find that most debris just comes off quite easily. For the bits you’ve missed, a toothbrush is your best friend. 

Using some soap or light detergent on a damp toothbrush, gently scrub in those tight areas to remove the final dirt. A toothbrush is important because the bristles are not too tough, and they’re the best way to get into every nook and crevice. 

Cleaning products you need to remove mud from kids shoes

Here is a comprehensive list of all the products and tools you might need to remove mud from kids shoes and return them to their original shiny and sparkly condition:

• Mild soap or detergent

• Soft bristled brush

• Toothbrush

• White vinegar

• Water

• Cloth

• Baking soda

• Leather conditioner

In most cases, you won’t need all of these items, but thankfully you’re likely to have many of them lying around the house anyway. 

Check out our range of baseball boots, trainers and canvas shoes perfect for muddy walks.