Save Kids Shoes From Scuff Marks and Make Them Last Longer

Kid's shoes are forever being scuffed, beaten and battered, and a lot of the time the rest of the shoes are perfectly fine! Extend the life of your kid's shoes with this easy project by filling holes or weak areas.

Sugru is awesome:

- It sticks to most materials including textile, material and some plastics
- It is flexible when cured so is ideal for shoes
- You can create any colour or shade that you like to match your material exactly

Sugru is available from our online shop.

*Note that sugru will wear away pretty quickly if used on the soles. However it is perfect for edges and the exterior :)

You will need:

- The scuffed or ripped shoes
- 1x minipack of sugru, or more if you want to colour match an exact shade
- Scissors
- Dry tissue paper

Start by giving the scuffed area a wipe down with some dry toilet paper, this will remove grease and residue. Then cut open your minipack around the dotted line and remove the sugru.

If you want to colour mix this is your opportunity: check out our colour mixing guide at sugru.com! I've set myself the challenge of mixing this hot pink: white and a little red will make the pink, but it is a warm shade so I might also add a splodge of yellow.

For colour mixing it is easier to start with the lightest shade and slowly add in the darker colours. I have begun by kneading a small blob of red into the white, and added a little more until it looks similar to the shoe colour. Finally I mixed in a tiny piece of yellow - the colours are almost identical!

As always, if the sugru is sticking to your fingers then give them a wipe with toilet paper which get rid of any sugru residue :)

Okay, now it's time to start applying the sugru to the shoes! I recommend creating a base layer. To do this use a pea-sized amount and smudge it into the scuffed or weak area to create a really strong bond between the sugru and material. Pat it down so it is flush with the material.

Then you can fix the scuff or rip! Take another small piece and pat it down to the base layer you have created. Cover the worn part and a bit of the surrounding area. Smooth the sugru down at the edges.

The final stage is creating a nice surface finish. Roll your finger over the sugru to create an even surface. Lightly rub your finger over the surface to get rid of any marks and fingerprints. If you're a bit of a perfectionist then you can use some soapy water to make it really smooth and glossy as well!

Now your shoes are done! Just leave them aside for 24 hours before you use them. The sugru will cure into a flexible silicone, so won't crack or crumble when the shoes are being flexed. It is waterproof, so can be wiped down, and will extend the life of your kid's scuffed shoes by adding extra protection to the weaker areas.

Now you can sit back and enjoy the satisfying feeling of this repair!