Quirky hacks professional cleaner swears by to clean shabby school uniforms

Parents are rolling into term four and with these tips, the kids will look like they just started the school year!

After just two days, you can almost bet that my children will come home with scuffed school shoes. And yes, we're talking the brand new kind... in term one!

And it's the first of many uniform mishaps us parents have to face with our school children. Throughout the year, we are also dealt with lunch stains on white collars, grass stains on shorts, and other general spills on school bags.

But cleaning up the most common spills and stains don't have to be a chore. In fact, according to a professional cleaner in the UK, we can easily solve these problems with common pantry staples. 

Here's how to tackle them... and what to fish out from the cupboard.

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You can clean everything from uniforms to their school bag. Image: iStock

How to keep white shirts white

According to blogger Fiona Naughton, making sure our whites stay the brightest white they can be all year 'round, is a tricky task. But with a bit of dishwashing liquid, the problem could be solved. 

“Adding a squirt or two of washing-up liquid to your washing machine drum will instantly brighten them up," she told The Sun. 

“I use it in all my white washes but be careful not to put too much in or you’ll get too many suds. A third of a cap-full will do the trick. You can also add a cup of ­distilled white vinegar to your dark wash to prevent jumpers, skirts and trousers from fading.”

Turn to booze for stubborn pen stains

Fiona claims a little bit of vodka is a handy trick to turn to when you have a stubborn ink stain on a uniform that just can't be removed. 

“Pesky black whiteboard markers can be removed with a splash of vodka because it’s the alcohol that does the job. Put white kitchen roll under the garment, splash vodka on to the stain and blot with kitchen roll. Add a little more vodka before putting it in the wash," she said.

“To remove ballpoint pen, use hairspray. Spray on the stain, wait 30 seconds for it to do its magic then wipe off with a damp cloth. Grass stains will come out with a rub of a white vinegar and baking soda mixed into a paste before going in the washing machine.”

OK, we hear you loud and clear. But it's only a waste if you don't have a little nip for yourself while you add it to the cleaning!

RELATED: 10 quirky cleaning hacks that actually work a treat

Stains can be removed with alcohol and whites can be washed in dishwashing liquid. Image: iStock

Removing scuff marks on black school shoes

Sure, there's shoe polish, but sometimes it just doesn't do the job. And replacing bottles can add up. That's when you turn to the handy cooking staple... oil!

“Make sure to clean shoes first then smear with oil, leave for a couple of minutes before wiping off any excess with a cloth," Fiona told The Sun. "This method won’t necessarily make them shine as the oil soaks into the leather but it will help keep them in good nick. To bring scuffed shoes back to life simply colour in with a black marker pen. For shoes with a ­patent finish, paint the fronts with clear nail polish for an invisible protective layer.”

If the scuff marks are really bad, you can even colour them in with a thick permanent marker before going over it with the oil. 

RELATED: TikTok video shows $4.99 hack to remove pen off a couch

Scuffed shoes can be fixed with oil. Image: iStock

RELATED: How to remove blood stains

How to wash a school bag

Not many of us would think to wash a school bag, but there is a way of cleaning it up so it's fresh for the next term without too much of a hassle. 

Fiona recommends putting them in the washing machine (if small enough) with a tad of vinegar to get rid of the smells. 

“Cleaning them in the washing machine rather than the sink ensures you get all the niggly bits that end up stuck in the nooks and crannies,” she said. 

You can also pop the bag in a delicate washing bag if you're worried about damaging your machine. 

There you have it! Now, where's that vodka?

I have a stain I need to sort. It's called 'Wednesday'. 

Originally published as Quirky hacks professional cleaner swears by to clean shabby school uniforms