10 Helpful Shoe Hacks for Busy Moms

If you’re a mom, then you know that every second of your time is absolutely precious. From getting the kids ready to getting yourself ready, there is always a way that you can shave time off of the process. Shoes might be overlooked when it comes to ways to “hack” an easier life, but they definitely shouldn’t be. As any mom with a crazy life knows, time and convenience are hard to come by. These 10 shoe hacks will help you, and your little ones, spend less time worrying about shoes and more time together.

1. Get Rid of Smelly Feet with Essential Oils

Both you and your little ones probably suffer from smelly feet every once in awhile—whether it’s from them running around, orfrom youchasing after them. The solution? Essential oils. Essential oils are great for more than anti-aging remedies. Essential oils are the perfect way to kill foot odor naturally, and it’s very simple. All you do is choose your favorite essential oil, put 4-6 drops of the oil on the paper towel, fold it so that it’s roughly the size of the shoe, and leave the paper towel inside the shoe overnight.

2. Waterproof Shoes with Beeswax 

Your kids’ shoes will get ruined quickly if they aren’t waterproofed, and who wants to go through multiple pairs of shoes for a kid whose feet are only going to keep growing? Instead of repeatedly replacing shoes ruined by water damage, why not waterproof them with a safe, natural ingredient? Beeswax is an affordable, safe, and effective way to waterproof your kids’ shoes, so you don’t have to replace them every time they jump in a big puddle. All you do is rub the shoes with beeswax, and then dry the beeswax with a hairdryer on a cool setting.

3. Use Elastic to Turn Any Shoe into a Slip-On 

Getting (and keeping) shoes on kids is not an easy task. Doesn’t it sound nice to never have to tie (and untie, and then tie again) another pair of shoes for your little one? Well, it’s possible, and it’s easy too. All you do is take out the regular shoelaces and replace them with elastic. Then, tie the elastic as you would a regular shoelace but sew the knotted part, so it doesn’t come undone, and voila! An easy way to ensure that you never have to tie those tiny shoes ever again.

4. Prevent Blisters with Deodorant

A mom on the go does not have time for blistery feet. Lucky for you, though, there is a really easy way to prevent blisters with a product that you already have in your medicine cabinet: deodorant. Deodorant, when applied to the areas of the feet where a pair of shoes tend to rub, can protect against the friction that causes blisters to occur. This way, instead of hobbling after your kids, you can walk confidently and without pain.

5. Use Vinegar to Remove Grass Stains from Shoes

So, you made the mistake of buying white canvas shoes for your kid. Luckily, there is a way to save their white shoes from the ever-stubborn grass stain. For this trick, you’ll need white vinegar, water, and two washcloths.

First, mix ⅓ cup of white vinegar with ⅔ cups of water. Then, dip the first washcloth into the mixture and use this to dab the mixture onto the grass stain. After the stain is thoroughly soaked, blot the stain with the second, dry washcloth to remove. Rinse the shoe under water and repeat the process as necessary.

6. Use Sandpaper to Add Traction to Shoes

If you bought a new pair of shoes for yourself or your kid and they don’t have a tread on the bottom, you know how precarious walking around in those slippery shoes can be. Luckily, there is a simple way to add a little bit of traction to the bottom of shoes—rub them with sandpaper. This will create small scuff in the bottom that will add a little bit of traction.

7. Break in New Shoes in the Freezer

This might sound bizarre, but busy moms often don’t have the time to break in new shoes. You can break in new shoes without even having to put them on by using your freezer. All youdo is place tightly sealed bags filled halfway with water into the toes of the shoes. Freeze the shoes overnight, and then slide the bags out of the toes in the morning. This should stretch out the shoes, making them more comfortable to wear.

8. Clean Ballet Shoes with Toothpaste 

If your child keeps coming home with dirty leather ballet shoes, don’t worry! There is an easy fix for this, using a product that you already have in your bathroom: toothpaste! This bizarre combo works wonders for getting stains out of those light pink leather ballet shoes.

Simply work a little bit of toothpaste into the stain, and then gently wipe it off with a damp paper towel. For tougher stains, it might take a couple of tries, but the grit of the toothpaste along with the whitening power help to remove even the toughest stains on ballet shoes.

9. Use Pool Noodles to Help Boots Maintain Their Shape

If you live somewhere where it gets cold during the winter, then you have winter boots for both yourself and your kids. However, when these boots are not in use, they can become misshapen from being stored. There is a simple solution for this: pool noodles!

Simply cut off a portion of the pool noodle that is slightly taller than your boot and insert it into the boot. This helps the boot keep its shape when not on your foot. For little ones whose feet are not wide enough for pool noodles to fit inside the boot, try using paper towel rolls instead.

10. Write Your Phone Number Inside Your Kid’s Shoes

Kids can get themselves into some crazy situations, ones that sometimes involve losing their shoes. To make it easier for those shoes to be returned to you, write your phone number on the inside of the shoe in Sharpie. This is also good for a situation where your child needs to call you and can’t remember your phone number—they’ll always know where to look!

Final Thoughts

 Being a mom means saving time and stress wherever possible, and with these shoe hacks, we’re hoping you are able to save plenty of time to spend with your little ones!

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About The Author

Ogam Igam is a Cardiff based unique, bespoke shoe store for kids & Women. Providing professional brands.

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