Mums and dads share chaotic shortcuts they take to keep school uniforms pristine

A survey of 1,000 mums and dads with school-aged children has exposed the inventive - and occasionally frantic - measures they take to ensure their youngsters make it through the academic year intact.

Dispatching their little ones in odd socks, mending torn skirts with safety pins, blow-drying wet clothing and sticking shoe soles back together were amongst the other desperate tactics parents confessed to employing.

Several mums and dads admitted to wielding hair straighteners as makeshift irons when pressed for time, whilst others have taken to dousing uniform and PE kit with deodorant rather than properly washing them. It comes after a woman claimed 'My cousin gave her daughter worst name ever and I refuse to use it'.

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Dawn Porto, from Clarks, which has slashed prices to their lowest level in a decade for their back-to-school collection, commented: "We've all had those chaotic moments - when you realise too late that something's missing or left at home.

"Mornings are stressful enough without the added worry of worn-out shoes or a last-minute dash to fix uniform mishaps.

"It's so important to ensure you're buying durable and scuff-resistant items, some even designed to go from classroom to PE without needing a change."

Another strategy involved sending children to school wearing increasingly snug clothing - with parents clinging to hope as the summer holidays beckoned tantalisingly close.

Conversely, 22% of parents confessed to purchasing school uniforms and footwear deliberately oversized for their children - hoping the items would see them through the entire academic year.

The study, conducted through OnePoll, also uncovered the immense pressure mums and dads face to maintain their child's uniform and footwear in spotless condition throughout the academic year, with 60% experiencing this strain.

The findings further showed that regarding decision-making, 64% take charge when selecting school uniform and shoes, although 15% confess their youngsters typically get the final word at the checkout.

As the new academic year approaches, morning routines can become incredibly stressful, with 61% acknowledging they fail to spot problems with their child's uniform until the eleventh hour, frequently during a frantic dash to school. Meanwhile, 25% conceded that their kids have faced disciplinary action for forgetting their PE kit.

Dawn Porto commented: "We know how much parents want to get it right. They put a lot of pressure on themselves to keep their children looking smart and feeling confident at school.

"Which is why lasting quality and durability being so important in what you buy for the kids as you need things to be designed to keep up with busy school days."

THE TOP 20 MOST COMMON UNIFORM FIXES:

Wiped off dirt/marks off shoes with wet wipes / wet cloth

Wiped down muddy shoes with a baby wipe

Wiped off dirt/marks off uniform with wet wipes / wet cloth

Bought clothes that are too big to make sure they lasted the year

Used a hairdryer to dry damp uniform

Used a safety pin to temporarily fix zips

Sent them in with creased shirts

Sent them in wearing an older sibling's uniform

Purchased shoes that are too large to ensure they last the entire school year

Utilised a lint roller to freshen up their look

Used safety pins to mend rips in skirts, trousers or shirts

Sent them off with mismatched socks

Touched up scuffed school shoes with a permanent marker or felt-tip pen

Repaired a broken school bag or shoe sole with glue

Spritzed deodorant on school uniform or PE kit instead of washing it

Had them wear an older sibling's shoes

Sent them off with missing buttons

Allowed them to wear uniforms that are too small

Removed labels from hand-me-downs

Used hair straighteners to 'iron' the uniform