Parents Use Hair Straighteners, Markers To Maintain School Uniforms, Survey Reveals

A survey of 1,000 parents of school-aged children revealed the inventive and often frantic tactics they use to keep their kids' school uniforms and footwear in good condition throughout the academic year. Common confessions include coloring in scuffed shoes with markers, patching ripped skirts with safety pins, blow-drying damp clothes, and even using hair straighteners to quickly iron uniforms. Many parents admitted to using deodorant sprays on uniforms instead of washing them and sending children to school in clothes that are either slightly too small as the holidays approach or deliberately oversized to last the entire year. Dawn Porto from Clarks emphasized the importance of buying durable and scuff-resistant school items, especially those designed to transition from classroom to PE without needing a change. The survey also highlighted the pressure parents feel, with 60% reporting stress over maintaining pristine uniforms and 61% noticing uniform issues only at the last minute during hectic school runs. Additionally, while 64% of parents take the lead in uniform choices, 15% say their children have the final say at purchase.