£2.50 hack to extend the life of school uniforms & why you should use shoe tweezers
THE NEW school year is an expensive period for many households that are short of money.
With books, clothes, shoes, and bags to steal – to name a few – it can be quite frustrating when your little one comes home with scuffed shoes and ripped pants.
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Luckily, an expert came to the rescue just in time, sharing simple tips and tricks to help you extend the life of your child’s school uniform. The Mirror reported.
Whether the kids are happily playing in the playground or have suddenly grown more than you expected, Lacey Roebuck, Commercial Manager at Sports Direct, knows the importance of getting value for money. And the little ones’ kit is no exception.
According to the store’s research, Lacey revealed that the top five items that are replaced most often are: shirts and polo shirts (33%); pants or shorts (29%); socks or tights (25%); school shoes (25%); and dresses and skirts (15%).
The top five most repaired items of clothing are: trousers or shorts (27%); shirts or polo shirts (17%); sweaters or cardigans (15%); school shoes (12%); and blazers or formal jackets (12%).
£2.50 hack to get the most out of your clothes
Fusible interfacing is a trick used in sewing. It is a handy way to reinforce areas of a uniform that are prone to wear.
Best of all, it’s easy to install and costs just £2.50 per roll.
“The best way to use it is to start by laying out all the clothes you want to reinforce before the period starts, such as pants, sweaters, cardigans and shirts,” Lacey explains.
Measure and cut square pieces of the iron-on material and attach them to the inside of the knees, elbows or hems.
”This prevents tearing and extends the life of the garment.”
Tweezers on school shoes
Next time you pluck your eyebrows, don’t put the tweezers back in your makeup bag. It turns out this beauty accessory can do wonders for your shoes, too.
According to the professional, tweezers are your best friend when it comes to school shoes or sneakers.
“Many of these items have Velcro closures and because they are so sticky, hair, dust and threads can easily stick to them, making them less likely to stay in place.”
Lacey also noted that spending 10 minutes every few weeks to wipe away the dirt will significantly extend the life of your shoes. You can even do this with lunch bags made of the same material.
How can I save money on school uniforms?
IF you are struggling to afford the cost of school uniforms or PE kit, you may be able to apply for a grant from your local council. However, the criteria for this will vary from council to council.
This is usually in the form of a one-off payment that is deposited directly into your bank account. Some councils will refund payments made to approved retailers.
You can ask your municipality what assistance is available and when you should submit an application.
If you cannot get targeted help from your municipality, there are other options to get a cheap uniform.
Contact your school to ask if they can provide you with clothing.
Some charities also offer help to families in need. Charity Turn2Us has a free grant search tool on its website that you can use to find out what help is available to you.
Thrift stores can also be a good place to find cheap school uniforms.
Use a fabric protector
In the meantime, a fabric protector can “be the lifesaver” if the little one tends to stain clothes, Lacey explained.
The key, she added, is to “start using this before they go back into the classroom and to be consistent about it.”
The guru instructed that every garment be sprayed before it was first worn and that the process be repeated after every few washes.
”It prevents stains from setting in and makes spills easier to clean up when they get home.”
Metal poppers to reduce costs
Another simple but effective trick is to buy uniforms one size larger than normal. By attaching metal snaps, you can adjust the hem as the child grows.
This handy trick ”works best on garments such as pants, shorts, and dresses or skirts whose length can be easily adjusted”.
You can order metal poppers from Temu for just £2 for a pack of 100. That works out at just 2p per popper.
