January 19, 2024
As the summer months approach us, it's pretty inevitable that you'll buy yourself or a member of your family a new pair of canvas shoes. Whether it's girls canvas shoes or boys canvas shoes, it's important to take care of them in the correct way.
Here we're going to take a look at some of the best ways to look after your canvas shoes, the tips and techniques that will help make your canvas shoes last longer as well provide you with some great ideas on how to customise them for that truly unique vibe… and don't think it has to be all sequins and bows, even mens canvas shoes can be customised!
Kids canvas shoes are probably the most likely to get dirty, so it's imperative that you have your collection of cleaning hacks to hand so that they can be rescued when needed.
When it comes to washing your canvas shoes, the easiest thing to do would be to just throw them in the washing machine along with the rest of your laundry but this might not be the best thing for your canvas shoes. Over time, putting canvas shoes in the washing machine will reduce their lifespan, so though this might be convenient, we would recommend hand washing them where you can.
Hand washing canvas shoes doesn't have to be an arduous task, there are lots of hacks available but we think the one below is the one that gets the best results:
Create a cleaning paste with washing detergent and water, then use a toothbrush to massage the solution into the shoes and to lift any ground on dirt. Once done, turn them upside down and place them into a shallow bowl of water, avoid putting the soles of the shoes in the water. Leave them to soak for around 15 minutes.
TOP TIP: Remove laces before cleaning and wash these separately to avoid any stains being left behind.
If it's white canvas shoes that you want to brighten up and it's a sunny day, pop them outside in the sunlight for around 60 minutes, the sun will lighten the canvas and give them the boost they needed! Don't be tempted to try this with coloured canvas shoes though, it's possible they may fade!
Prevention is better than cure, right? The first thing that we would recommend when it comes to preventative measures is waterproofing. The great British weather isn't the most predictable and it's not unknown for a nice, sunny day to turn into something a little less desirable. With that in mind, it's always worth using a protection spray on a brand new pair, ready for the first wear. The trick to using a protection spray is to go thinly and evenly, leaving them to dry completely in a clean space before wearing them. A protection spray will help resist against dirt, grime, and water (to a degree!).
Another great method to protect against the elements is beeswax, using clear wax to cover the whole of the canvas shoe, and then using a hairdryer to melt the wax, will effectively seal the shoes. Be sure to keep them away from any heat source though as it may cause the wax to melt… getting wax all over yours or anyone else’s carpet is not what you want!
Other than being comfortable, stylish and easy to wear, canvas shoes lend themselves particularly well to customisation. Customising womens canvas shoes and childrens canvas shoes has become an art form in itself in recent times.
The beautiful thing about canvas shoes is that they can easily be customised in a multitude of ways. Below are some that we feel are the easiest yet most effective ways to customise them:
Draw or paint – Regardless of whether you think you can draw or not, just let your imagination run wild with those marker pens or paint brushes and create your own little masterpiece. Once your design is done, let them sit for at least a day for the ink/paint to fully dry. Once dry, spray with protection spray to keep the colours bold and free from dirt.
Go diamante crazy –Most girls out there love a bit of glitz and glam, but why should this start and finish with your typical party shoes? If you want to add a little (or a lot!) sparkle to yours or your little one’s canvas shoes, diamantes can be purchased from most reputable craft stores and all you'll need to get going is a hot glue gun, some tweezers and the patience of a saint. Once your design is done and everything has dried, coat the area with a good layer of clear nail polish, using a glitter polish will add even more sparkle to your glitzy shoes!
Bows, bows and more bows – If you want your canvas shoes to really stand out, big bows will definitely do the trick! You could buy ready made bows from a craft store, or why not give making your own a go? The bows can then either be stuck on with hot glue or if you fancy your chances with a needle and thread, sewing them on will add a little more security. You could really go to town and add some beads and buttons too!
Decoupage! What's that? – Some of you may not be aware of the term, but you'll most likely have seen the results. Decoupage is where you use pieces of fabric or paper built up in layers creating a new picture, using a glue such as PVA to ensure they stick. One common theme for this method is comic books, though any design can be done… It might be that your little one wants a pair of Disney princess shoes but they don't have their favourite character, decoupage is the perfect technique to create a totally unique pair of shoes.
Canvas shoes are a summer wardrobe staple for all the family, they also make the perfect footwear for those that want to get a little more creative. Use our tips and tricks for customising canvas shoes and you'll never want to one a different type of footwear again!
Check out the shoezone blog for more style tips and footwear suggestions for every occasion.