How do you clean your shoes, and what do you do with once-worn clothes??

[PreferredPlanet]

I know it's crazy that I've got to almost 40 without having a "system" for these things, and am hoping for some help.

How do you clean shoes - every day? With soap and water and a cloth, or what - just a hard brush? And what about colours - do you have a separate colour polish for every pair? And is liquid polish with a spongey thing, or tins of cherry blossom better?

And point 2 is clothes -what do you do with clothes that have been worn once but are not "dirty" but can be worn again? At the moment (ok, for the last 25 years ) they just pile up on top of my dirty washing hamper ... which gets depressing when there's a large pile ... and stops me opening the lid of the basket easily ...

I know, I know, I'm a grown woman and should have figured out answers to these minor issues yeaaars, if not decades ago, but now my brain is fuzzy from 4 kids and I have no answers ... so am looking here for some !!

[RuthChan]

I certainly don't clean my shoes everyday.
I might wipe them with a cloth if they get very muddy, but otherwise I don't bother.
They get polished when really needed. Personally, I still use polish in a tin, but I'm sure that's really old-fashioned these days.
You do actually need different brushes for different colours because otherwise your lighter coloured shoes get black streaks.

Once-worn clothes go on a chair in each person's bedroom.
It's a simply and not-ideal solution, but it works for me.

[Pykel]

Same as Ruthchan here

[AMumInScotland]

I clean my shoes when they look scuffed tbh - I prefer the wax polish in a tin over the liquid stuff as I reckon it is more protective, but that's probably because it's what I grew up with . I never use soap on them - a damp kitchen towel if they are muddy, then let them dry before polishing (otherwise you just seal in the damp!)

I have black, light brown, mediium brown, dark brown and neutral, to cover the whole family.

If I have worn something but it doesn't need washed yet, I put it on a chair and try to wear it in the next few days (I have a few things I don't want to wear to work too often, so try to leave it a week or so between wearings) But then I just lob the lot into the next wash if it hasn't come round again naturally.

[dexter73]

Shoes occasionally get wiped with a baby wipe
Clothes that have been worn once go on the banister.

[Indaba]

Shoes....you need tins of cherry blossom in each colour (or neutral) and two brushes per colour.....one to put on the polish, one to shine, then polish with a cloth.......weekly shine ok.....v v satisfying

liquid stuff doesn't protect in same way

if you really want a shine use the back of a teaspoon at end

(guess who went to boarding school!)

[Indaba]

rest of my house is a tip but i have shiney shoes

[girliefriend]

shoes get a polish when they are really scuffed, clothes that are worn but clean go on the back of a chair in the bedroom.

[RantAboutToStart]

Indaba "if you really want a shine use the back of a teaspoon at end"

How do you mean?

[bluebobbin]

I don't clean shoes unless there is something dirty on them in which case I wipe with a babywipe. I don't wear shoes indoors so it doesn't really matter if they are not pristine.

Clothes that have been once worn - decide to either wear them again the next day or put them in the washing. Don't have lots hanging around. I bought DH a thing, I think it is a freestanding towel stand and he uses this to hang his trousers over if they have been worn once (or many more times) so that they can hang nicely until being reworn.

[emilykettle]

cleaning shoes depends on the material :)

if they're canvas - cif or normal shampoo works well.
soft leather - shoe cream, neutral works well for everything and then brush it afterwards to make it shine
hard shiny leather - wax polish.
patent leather - use special patent stuff because otherwise it will crack and lose it's shine
waxed leather - you can use shoe cream or you can get a waxed leather cream which is better at getting rid of scuffs and dry patches

If you use a wax polish on leather that doesn't need it it will dry it out and the leather will crack and bend.

(I work in a shoe shop - I'm not a geek :D) < This doesn't mean my shoes are perfectly clearn either!! Sorry for the information overload :)


Clothes - worn once and if not dirty they're hung up to air before worn again and then washed.

[Indaba]

clean and polish shoes as normal; then use back side of tea spoon and rub...alot....old army trick apparently....worked in hostel for homeless and many were ex forces.....lots of horrid stories but lots of shiney shoes

[peachybums]

Clean all our shoes with baby wipes except for 8 yo DSs he cleans his own with a jay cloth and soapy water because they are filthy after hes been running through the mud all day at school...rotten mother lol.

I have cleaned my brown boots with a banana skin before after my gran gave me a tip, omg soooo shiney! Do this every time now. They dont get cleaned unless dirty, maybe once every 2 weeks, DSs almost every day and DD1 and DD2 every week.

Clothes that have been worn only once get put on the chair, DCs clothes are usually filthy after one wear lol but if not they get hung on a coat hanger on back of the door.

[BsshBossh]

Shoes get polished on a Sunday evening using brush, Cherry polish and buffer. DH does mine with his and likes the ritual of doing it.

I hate clothes hanging around the house so I try and re-wear within a couple of days (ditto DD and DH) then dump in wash whether re-worn or not. I hang on hangers on back of spare bedroom door so I don't have to look at it all.

I am a neat freak!

[needanothacuppa]

I dont bother cleaning school shoes unless they look totally embarrassing , eg battered and scuffed look at dds class assembly in front of other parents so a rushed last minute buff up with a fantastic all in one thing - a quick shine sponge. Lifesaver! Otherwise very occasionally a clean with proper polish, the sort with a sponge applicator, buffing up with old rags (my daughters old knickers!!!) and sometimes a wipe down to get mud off. I can vouch for wet wipes here as a quick fix.

Once worn clothes - a quick check to see if they are smelly/have spills etc, and if not go on a chair in the bedroom folded or draped to avoid the crumpled look or back in the drawer/cupboard, to fool my son. Don't believe in creating unnecessary washing!

Never any help from dh around the house and too lazy busy to spend my life doing housework!!! So the minimum is what gets done in our house!

There are lots of shortcuts to save yourself work, well done you for making it through so far with four children without going totally under!!!

[frankie3]

Am I missing someting here? How often do you all wash your clothes?! Most of my clothes like jeans, cardigans, tops etc just go back in the wardrobe. My jeans are washed probably every 10 wears! Nice tops for going out also go back in the wardrobe - they do not last so well if washed so often. None of my clothes smell - if any are whiffy they go straight in the wash, no draping over chairs.

[mousymouse]

I have to admit to only cleaning the winter shoes/boots. I do that with polish from a tube (some brand from germany) and I have a soft brush to polish.
the dc's shoes get a spray with the shoe spray stuff and a wipe down with a wet cloth if dirty.