A STAGGERING 45% of parents are planning to put their children’s back to school costs on a credit card before September.
And that’s because they can end up spending hundreds of pounds decking their little ones out for the new school year.
Shoes are one of the priciest parts of the process, but there’s a clever hack that means you might not have to shell out on new footwear.
According to one expert, there’s a 20p hack that can help restore scuffed school shoes to near-new condition.
And it uses a product you’ve probably already got in the house.
“Rather than buying a fresh pair before September, a pencil eraser could be all you need to bring them back to life,” Julian, a footwear expert at A Fine Pair of Shoes , explained.
“You can pick up a pack for as little as £1.60 from Staples, and your child will need them for their pencil case anyway.”
All you need to do is gently rub the eraser on the scuffs in small, circular movements.
“The rubber buffs out marks and leaves the shoe looking fresher,” Julian added.
“Just wipe away the eraser bits with a tissue afterwards.”
Parents are already using the clever hack, and have been taking to their social media pages to praise it.
On a Reddit thread, one person called it a “life changer”, as another added: “I’ve been using an eraser on boots for years!”
And on Mumsnet’s Housekeeping forum, when one person asked for advice on how to remove marks from patent shoes, a mum who “used to run a shoe shop” suggested using a “bog standard pencil eraser”.
“This trick isn’t just for school shoes, it works for trainers too,” Julian said.
“An eraser can refresh suede, leather, patent or canvas, without damaging the material,” Julian continued.
“Just make sure it’s a white eraser.”
If you’re not keen on trying the eraser hack, there are some others you can give a go.
For dirt and mud, use an old toothbrush or small shoe brush to “sweep away grit, starting at the sole and moving upwards in circles”.
How can I save money on school uniforms?
IF you are struggling to afford the cost of school uniform or PE kit, you may be able to apply for a grant from your local council - but the criteria vary from council to council.
This is usually in the form of a one-off payment paid directly into your bank account. Some councils will reimburse payments made to approved retailers.
You can ask your local council what help is available and when you need to apply.
If you can’t get targeted help from your council, there are other options to get cheap uniform.
Speak to your school to see if they can offer you some clothing.
Some charities offer help to families in need too. Charity Turn2Us has a free grants search tool on its website which you can use to find out what help is available to you.
Charity shops can also be a good place to find cheap school uniform.
“Keep a damp cloth nearby to wipe away the excess,” Julian said.
If you’ve got sweaty shoes to deal with, you can use a mild soap such as washing up liquid.
Just use some of the product with a damp cloth, and wipe the inside.
Then, let them air dry for 24 hours before you wear them again.
And if the school shoes have Velcro fastenings that have lost their stickiness, you can use tweezers to pick out the larger bits of fluff.
“Then go over the strip with a toothbrush or small wire brush to restore grip,” John concluded.
