How to Waterproof Shoes for Kids Without Ruining Them
Quick Answer: Clean the shoes thoroughly, cover any embellishments, then apply a proper waterproofing spray like the Crep Shoe Protector, which works across sneakers, leather, nubuck, suede, and canvas without changing the material’s color or breathability. Canvas shoes can also be waterproofed with beeswax worked in using a blow dryer. One treatment typically lasts long enough that your child will outgrow the shoes before it wears off.
Tired of your kids coming home with soaked shoes? If you live in a rainy or snowy area, keeping your child’s feet dry is essential for comfort and health. Waterproof shoes are a great solution, but what do you do if your child’s favorite pair isn’t waterproof? You don’t have to buy new shoes right away — below, I’ll walk through simple, effective ways to waterproof your child’s shoes at home.
Why Keeping Your Child’s Feet Dry Actually Matters
Damp shoes create a genuinely favorable environment for bacteria and fungus, which can lead to infections — especially if your child has even a small cut on their foot. Wet shoes also raise the risk of blisters, calluses, and corns. Waterproofing creates a protective barrier that keeps water out and feet dry and healthy.
Waterproof vs. Water-Friendly: What’s the Difference?
Many parents aren’t sure what separates “waterproof” from “water-friendly” or “water-resistant” shoes. Waterproof shoes keep water out completely, even if your child stands directly in a puddle. Water-friendly or water-resistant shoes repel light splashes but won’t hold up if the shoe is submerged.
Waterproofing is especially useful in winter and rainy weather. Different shoe materials call for different waterproofing products, which I’ll walk through below.
How to Waterproof Kids’ Shoes to Prevent Wet Feet
Not all waterproofing sprays are created equal. I recommend the Crep Shoe Protector Spray — it’s built specifically to protect footwear from water and stains without altering the material’s breathability or color. Make sure the shoes are clean and fully dry before applying, for the best results.
- Order on Amazon
- Waterproof protection for sneakers, leather, nubuck, suede, and canvas
- Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Would Rather Just Buy a Waterproof Shoe?
Waterproofing your child’s existing shoes works well, but if you’d rather skip the maintenance altogether and start with a shoe that’s already built to keep water out, check out my guide to the best waterproof sneakers for kids — a single pair that works for most everyday occasions, rain or shine.
The Best Tips for Waterproofing Shoes
- Start with clean shoes. This ensures the product makes direct contact with the shoe material rather than a layer of dirt or debris, so you get its full benefit.
- Clean off old waterproofing before reapplying. If the shoes have been waterproofed before, remove buildup first to avoid layering product on top of product.
- Follow the product instructions exactly. This tells you which materials it’s safe for, when to apply it, whether it can affect color, and other details specific to that product.
- Cover any embellishments first. Beads, sequins, or decorative elements can be damaged by waterproofing sprays, so protect them before applying.
- For canvas shoes, try beeswax. Cover the canvas with beeswax, then use a blow dryer to work it into the material. This is a genuinely effective, low-cost way to fully waterproof canvas sneakers.
How Long Do Waterproofed Shoes Stay Waterproof?
Waterproofing creates a barrier that keeps water out entirely, but that barrier does wear off over time, so reapplication is eventually needed. The good news: with a quality product, one treatment often lasts long enough that your child will outgrow the shoes before you need to waterproof them again.
Bonus Resource: Waterproof Hiking Boots
If you’re specifically looking for waterproof hiking boots, I’ve put together a dedicated resource on the best waterproof hiking boots for kids to help you make an informed choice.
Reach Out with Any Questions
Feel free to reach out by email with any questions or for personalized recommendations on waterproofing products or waterproof shoe options for your child.
This is great information on how to waterproof shoes, I don’t think it matters what your age is. I always try to get them waterproofed right after purchasing them. I have not always been too happy with what I have used to do this in the past, but don’t remember what I have used. I will give one of your recommendations a try, thank you!
Let me know how it works out. You can use the product on your shoes and on your kids’ shoes as well!
I love this article. This is something many parents don’t actually think about. Your article does a good job of explaining why waterproofing shoes is so important. I remember as a kid, getting home from school, pulling my boot off and my socks and feet were soaking wet. My toes were frozen too. I can imagine waterproofing will also keep kids from getting sick. Thanks so much for this great and informative article.
Kelara,
Waterproofing shoes has many benefits, and like you mentioned in your comment, it can actually keep kids from getting sick. Wearing wet socks and shoes all day can lead to foot problem and children getting sick. Make sure you always check your kids feet when they come home from school after a rainy day!
Fantastic information in this article! I used to live in a place that required waterproof shoes, but have been away and living in Arizona for a long time and forgot about this. It’s a great idea to do this with all your shoes if you live in a wet or snowy place.
Anyone who is looking to preserve their favorite shoes in inclement weather should know about this!
Hello Kerri,
I read that the weather in Arizona is mostly hot and dry, but it truly depends on where you are exactly located. So you probably went from having waterproofed shoes for the rain, to wearing sandals everyday for the hot weather. I wrote a post you can probably benefit from. Did you know that you can buy children shoes if you are a women shoe size 8 1/2 or smaller? You will get the same support and pay half of the price you will pay if you were buying women shoes. The post is called:
Women and Kids Shoe Size Conversion Chart – Save Big Buying Kids’ Shoes!
Dang, this is good info, even for adults! I have ruined so many of my own favorite shoes, by mistake of course, from going out in the rain with them. I could walk as carefully as possible but I’m short, so the bottom of my pants get wet and my entire shoe is eventually wet by the end of the day. I HATE having wet feet. Thanks!
Toni,
I agree with you, walking around with wet feet is really uncomfortable. A simple thing like waterproofing our shoes can make a huge difference in keeping our feet warm and dry, and at the same time keeping our shoes in the best shape possible.
Thanks for the great tips on how to waterproof kids shoes to make them last longer. Personally I’ve never worried about doing this for my kids shoes and I know that I’ve thrown out some that have been water damaged so waterproofing would be advantageous. Kids being kids have to jump in muddy puddles (my girls love Peppa Pig – not sure if its popular where you come from).
Leone,
Kids do love to jump into puddles! Providing them with waterproof shoes is crucial in order to allow them to play and run around in rainy days while keeping their feet warm and dry. I live in the United States and Peppa Pig is also popular here, I believe it’s popular in most places!