Home Science: Healthy Practices

Subtopic: Care and Cleaning of Shoes 👟👞

Clean shoes keep your feet healthy, make your uniform look smart, and help your shoes last longer. These notes tell you simple ways to care for school shoes, sports shoes and sandals in Kenya. Ask an adult for help when needed.

Why clean shoes? 🌟

• Stop bad smells and germs.
• Make shoes last longer — you save money.
• Look smart for school and special days.

What you will need (common items) 🧰

• Bucket or basin with water
• Mild soap or washing bar (like sunlight soap)
• Old toothbrush or small brush
• Soft cloth or old towel
• Newspaper (to stuff shoes)
• Shoe polish (for leather) or a small jar of black polish
• Extra laces and needle & thread (for small repairs) — adult help
• Baking soda (soda) or powder to stop smells

How to clean different shoes — easy steps

1) Black leather school shoes 👞

1. Remove the laces and knock out loose mud gently.
2. Wipe with a damp cloth and a little mild soap. Do not soak leather.
3. Dry in the shade — never leave leather in hot sun for long (it cracks).
4. When dry, put a little shoe polish on a soft cloth and rub gently. Buff with a dry cloth to shine.
5. Put in clean laces. Store in a dry, cool place.

2) Canvas shoes / sneakers (sports shoes) 👟

1. Remove laces and insoles if you can.
2. Brush off dry dirt. Use a toothbrush with soap and water to scrub stains.
3. Rinse with clean water. Do not use very hot water.
4. Stuff with newspaper to keep shape and absorb water. Dry in the shade.
5. Replace insoles and laces when completely dry.

3) Sandals and flip-flops (thongs) 🩴

1. Wash with soap and water; scrub the straps and grooves with a brush.
2. Rinse and air dry. For rubber sandals, sun can help dry them fast.
3. Store away from very hot places to stop straps from stretching.

4) Gumboots (for rainy season) 🥾

1. Rinse the outside with water to remove mud.
2. Wipe inside with a cloth. If wet inside, stuff with newspaper and dry upside down in shade.

How to stop bad smells 👃

• Air shoes after school — leave them outside under shade or in a well-ventilated place.
• Sprinkle a little baking soda inside at night and shake it out in the morning.
• Use dry newspaper or tissue inside shoes to absorb dampness.
• Rotate shoes — don’t wear the same pair every day.

Fix small problems 🔧

• Loose soles: tell a parent — a cobbler (shoemaker) can glue them.
• Broken laces: replace them or tie carefully until you get a new pair.
• Minor scuffs on leather: use shoe polish to cover and protect.

Good habits to keep your shoes healthy 🗓️

• Clean shoes once a week or when they are dirty.
• Remove shoes at home when possible — this keeps them cleaner longer.
• Keep shoes in a dry place and not on the wet floor.
• Always wash your feet often — clean feet help keep shoes fresh.

Quick checklist (tick when done) ✅

• Wash or wipe shoes this week: ☐
• Stuff with newspaper to dry: ☐
• Sprinkle baking soda for smell: ☐
• Ask an adult to fix big damage: ☐

Try these steps at home. Clean shoes make you healthy and proud of your uniform. Well done! 🌟