But a new lease of life could be in store for Power washing your treasured treads, if you follow these basic restoration tips from Sagar Mehra, head of restoration at ShoeSpa - a designer shoe and handbag restoration store (pictured: a pair of Gucci trainers restored by the experts at ShoeSpa)

Many of us have a tatty toy from childhood in the memory box that's too careworn to be displayed, but a mother-to-be has revealed how she carried out an impressive restoration her own beloved teddy with a few simple tools.  

Canvas: 'It's durable but falls victim to UV rays, which means it can turn yellow from sun damage. This requires a cleaning and restoration process that requires oxygen bleaching to reverse the damage. It terms of spot cleaning a stain on canvas, we suggest using non ionic soap (such as a citrus based dishwashing liquid) diluted in water. Use a brush with soft bristles, rinse and then air dry in room temperature.'

First, gently blot the stain with the kitchen paper towels to absorb as much of the stain as possible, then fill the insides of your shoes with newspaper to help them hold their shape whilst it dries. 

The advice, shared by Sagar Mehra, head of restoration at ShoeSpa - a London-based designer shoe and handbag restoration store - ranges from how to deal with worn down heels to removing stubborn stains.

Suede: 'Items in this fabric should be treated with a stain repellent formula specially designed for suedes. These can be found in local grocery stores. Your initial treatment of suede will ensure a longer lasting garment lifespan. A stain can be removed by wet cleaning, but more importantly we treat the oils that are removed during the cleaning process to get the necessary consistency for the soft and supple look of suede. Keep in mind, as long as it is pre-treated before wearing, the fabric will be easier to treat when staining occurs.'

* If you still can't get out tough stains, shop Madame Paulette's Patented Stain Removal Kit. It's a 3 step process that treats earth based stains (alcoholic beverages, coffee, toothpaste), protein based stains (blood, milk and vomit) and even oil based stains (cooking oils, bacon greases and lotions). Each kit comes with a special formula and rinse packets to treat the stain. Advertisement

Leather: 'Unfortunately with leather, you should just take it to a professional. Leather is usually treated with some kind of specialty paint when it's being dyed. Very often these dyes are fugitive, which require the special skills of a professional leather cleaner who will not only remove the stains but add oils back to the skins, restoring it to their original condition. This can only be done under the roof of professional cleaning houses like Madame Paulette.'

Patent Leather: 'Do not apply any solvents while cleaning patent leather or it will remove the sheen added during the leather's tanning process. Instead just brush off dirt with a cloth, then wipe down with a water.'