Tennis shoes are now used extensively in other sports such as basketball, jumping and running even though it was originally designed for Tennis. A bit more expensive than normal shoes, tennis shoes require extensive care to last for longer. Here are a few handy tips on how to take care of your tennis shoes.

Clean is keen:

When it comes to tennis shoes, clean is keen-should be the motto. Try your best to keep your tennis shoes from getting dirty. Regular cleaning is a must, weekly washing and thorough drying will help to keep your tennis shoes clean.

Be careful with the fabric:

Watch out for the material of your tennis shoes while cleaning. Tennis shoes made of synthetics are all right for washing. It`s important clean your tennis shoes immediately after getting them dirty, because the strain might be difficult to let go if they stay for longer period and get dried. Tennis shoes of canvas material are easier to clean, just rinse them well with warm water and let them dry properly.

Deodorize your tennis shoes:

Keeping your tennis shoes from smelling bad can be an arduous task. However, there are tips which help your tennis shoes from smelling bad. It`s a good and inexpensive way to dry the smelly tennis shoes in the sun as that will reduce the stink smell to a large extent. You can sprinkle baking soda into the tennis shoes as that will absorb the moisture and helps preventing the smell. Rubbing alcohol spray onto the tennis shoes is a very effective way to prevent the bad smell. However, as they say prevention is better than cure; similarly regular spraying of anti-fungal foot spray into your tennis shoes prevents them becoming smelly.

Tips to wash in washing machine:

Washing your tennis shoes in washing machine helps in letting go of the horrible smell. However, some points ought to be considered while washing your favourite shoes in washing machine. Always opt for warm water for washing.

Tennis shoes of quality brands won`t suffer any damage from this washing, but it`s a good idea wash mid standard shoes along with regular white load as the soft material of towels etc. will provide a sort of cushion to the shoes as they tumble. Before washing, make sure to remove the laces and insoles out of your tennis shoes to prevent them from tangling up in the agitator. After washing, put them out in the sun to dry. This is an inexpensive method to get all new looking tennis shoes.

Benefits of using shoe cleaner:

For the longevity of your tennis shoes, it`s a good idea to use shoe cleaner such as Sport Shoe Stuff Scrub-Off Heavy Duty Cleaner. Some washing liquid and liquid bleach can also be used for giving your tennis shoes a shiny look.

Drying plays an important role:

After washing your tennis shoes, it`s good to dry it in the sun. However, I recommend drying them in a well-ventilated area at room temperature. Dry your wet tennis shoes with a white towel. For next phase of drying, stuff the tennis shoes with white porous paper (don`t go for newspaper as it can bleed ink) or a quick dry towel, but before that make sure to remove the shoe pad, sock-liner or orthotics from your tennis shoes. Replacing the paper towels in regular interval will help letting go of the extra water if any.

Storage of tennis shoes:

Storage of your tennis shoe is also very important as cleaning them. Always keep your tennis shoes in a dry, cool place. Wooden or plastic shoe shapers are ideal to keep tennis shoes.

Follow the above mentioned tips to preserve your expensive tennis shoes for a longer period.

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The aim of this guide is to help parents make an informed decision about the type of children's shoes they purchase for their children and how it affects their foot development. Putting on the right size now, can prevent a lot of problems later in life, so here are some facts to guide you.

FACT #1: Did you know that children's feet keep growing till they are about 18?

For this reason it is advisable that they wear well fitted footwear, their feet should be checked and measured every three to four months and footwear replaced as soon as it has been outgrown. Most feet problems that adults encounter is due to a lack of proper feet care when they were younger. Put quality footwear on your children's feet and they will thank you for it in the future.

FACT #2: Why does my child's shoe not last long enough?

There is a common myth that shoes are meant to last a long while with children. The truth however is that in children, the average life of a pair of shoes is 4 months depending on the quality of the shoes. So you are getting exceptional value for money when you buy a pair of shoes that lasts 6 months? Often overlooked by parents is that active children impose enormous abuse on shoes. The average active child will take about 20000 steps a day covering a distance of nearly eight miles, especially School shoes. These are not ordinary walking steps as taken by an adult, but stomping, running, jumping, skidding, twisting, scuffing, kicking steps that severely punish the shoes. Also these shoes are exposed to gravel, rocks, pavement, chemicals, grime, water and soil. If the shoes give three months of satisfactory wear under those gruelling conditions, the child would have covered a distance of about 700 miles. If the shoes are priced at say £35, that averages out to a little over 4p a mile - certainly the cheapest transportation that can be purchased. New shoes should be purchased not primarily on the basis of being outworn but on being outgrown.

FACT #3: Are Hand-me-downs to be avoided at all cost?

This is a controversial matter. However, when a parent is confronted with a budget problem - and sometimes a choice of hand-me-downs or no shoes at all - you have to deal not with what's best but with what's realistically practical. In the case of infants' shoes the problem of hand me downs to next youngest child is not that serious. Usually these shoes have only been worn for a short period. The small child has usually made little "imprint" inside the shoe, nor has it otherwise put the shoe out of shape. Thus, when economic conditions leave no choice, the hand-me-down shoe is not going to be a serious problem. To be on the safe side always have it inspected by a speacialist shoe fitter. School shoes are best avoided as hand-me-downs as they tend to take the most stress of all the shoes children wear.

FACT #4: Do you know that one of your feet might be bigger than the other?

Yes this is true, and that is why it is advisable to have both feet measured when buying a new pair of shoes for your self or your children. Also, a size 10 in Clarks is not the same as a size 10 in Ravel. It is only used a standard guide, however the materials and the shape of the shoe last (model on which the shoe is constructed) determines the final fit of the shoe, that is why some of us can wear 2 or more sizes of shoes, and all will be comfortable.

FACT #5: Are high heel shoes suitable for children?

Provided that it is not used as an everyday footwear, it is not advisable for children to wear high heels everyday. You might ask why? Since children's feet are not fully developed until mid twenties. In high heels the weight and stress on the feet shift forward, and bearing in mind that the feet are not fully developed at this stage it could lead to permanent damage because the feet are unable at this stage to fully bear the added weight and stress placed on it.

FACT #6: Are expensive designer shoes necessarily the best?

The answer is no, but that is not to say some designer shoes are not well made. However, one can make a mistake by choosing a well made design that does not fit the feet of your child properly. So make sure the shape of the shoes you select for your children are similar to the shape of the child's feet. Remember shoes made from natural materials are the best for children's feet.

FACT #7: Outgrown shoes, how problematic could they be?

Many parents and shoe retailers fail to recognise how serious the outgrown shoe problem really is. Several years ago a survey was conducted in the United States among stores that sell children's shoes. They were asked to test the fit of old or worn shoes of children in the store to buy new shoes. It was found that over 75% of the cases were outgrown to varying degrees. Furthermore, it was estimated by the fitters that over half of the children had been wearing outgrown shoes from one to three months, even though the shoe was of proper size when fitted. From experience a lot of children fitted are just changing shoes that have been long outgrown. It is no wonder that many doctors and chiropodists believe that many or most adult foot problems begin in childhood and that many of these problems are caused directly or indirectly by habitual wearing of outgrown shoes during substantial periods in childhood. It is therefore important that parents check their children's shoes from time to time to make sure that they are not outgrown and cause damage to their feet later in their adult life.

FACT #8: How do I care for wet or damp shoes?

It is not uncommon to quick dry the shoes over a hot radiator or in a tumble dryer, especially if it is the child's only pair and has to be worn the next day. This should be avoided, since quick drying causes the toe to curl up and the shoe and leather to shrink. This can reduce the shoe by one full size when the shoe is put on again, it can also damage the leather fibres and sometimes crack the leather. Shoes should always be dried at room temperature, and possibly with shoe trees inserted during the drying to prevent curling or shrinkage.

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