From the founder of Sticky Monkey Labels
As a mom of three boys and the founder of Sticky Monkey Labels, I've helped thousands of families get their labeling done before the school year starts. The parents who do it well spend about an hour total and don't have to think about it again. Here's exactly how to do it that way.
Most parents know they should label their child's school belongings. Far fewer actually do it completely — and the ones who skip it spend the rest of the year replacing things and filling out lost property forms. The difference between the two groups usually isn't intention. It's having a clear process.
This is that process: a step-by-step guide to labeling everything before the first day of school, in the right order, with the right label type for each item, and a complete checklist to work through. Set aside an hour before the school year starts and you won't need to think about this again until next September.
Step 1: Order Labels Two to Three Weeks Before School Starts
This sounds obvious but it's the step most parents miss. Back-to-school is the busiest time of year for label orders, and labels ordered in the final few days before school starts routinely arrive after the first day. Order early — ideally as soon as your child's school supply list arrives.
While you're ordering, involve your child in choosing the design. This takes an extra five minutes and pays back significantly — a child who chose their label design recognizes their belongings instantly and is more likely to look after labeled items. With over 100 designs available at Sticky Monkey Labels, most children have a strong opinion and are happy to give it.
Step 2: Gather Everything in One Place Before You Start
Don't label items as you find them scattered around the house — you'll miss things and lose track of what's been done. Instead, do one gathering sweep first. Pull together everything that's going to school: all clothing, all shoes, the lunchbox, water bottle, backpack, every supply on the list, and any sports or activity gear.
Lay it all out on a table or the floor. This does two things: it gives you a complete picture of what needs labeling, and it's often the moment parents realize they're missing something from the supply list with enough time to get it before the first day.
Sort items into three piles as you gather them:
- Clothing pile — everything that will be washed regularly
- Hard surfaces pile — water bottle, lunchbox, containers, backpack, supplies
- Shoes pile — all footwear going to school
This sorting matters because each pile uses a different label type — working through one pile at a time is significantly faster than switching between label types for every item.
Step 3: Start With Hard Surfaces — Fastest and Most Satisfying
Begin with the hard surfaces pile. These take the least time — clean the surface, peel, stick, done. Working through the lunchbox, water bottle, containers, backpack tags, and school supplies all at once takes fifteen to twenty minutes and you'll have the most visible labeling done first.
How to get the best adhesion on hard surfaces:
- Wipe each surface with isopropyl alcohol first. Bottles and lunchboxes often have invisible residue — skin oils, manufacturing film, cleaning product traces — that prevents labels from adhering properly. A quick wipe removes all of it.
- Make sure the surface is completely dry before applying. Water and moisture are the most common reasons labels fail to stick properly. Even a slightly damp surface can compromise adhesion.
- Press firmly from the center outward. Smooth out any air bubbles as you apply, working from the middle of the label toward the edges.
- Allow 24 hours before the first wash. The adhesive needs time to fully bond before being exposed to dishwasher heat or moisture. Apply labels the day before you need to use the items, not the morning of.
Step 4: Label Clothing — Iron-On or Stick-On Depending on the Garment
The clothing pile takes the most decision-making but is still straightforward once you know the rule: iron-safe fabrics get iron-on labels, everything else gets stick-on clothing labels.
For iron-safe clothing (uniforms, PE kits, standard cotton garments):
- Check the care label — if it shows an iron symbol it's iron-safe
- Place the label on a flat section of fabric, printed side up
- Apply a hot iron with firm pressure for 15–20 seconds
- Allow to cool before touching — the bond sets as it cools
- Result: completely flat, no bulk, no corners — undetectable when worn
For all other clothing — including non-iron-safe fabrics and anything with a care tag or tagless imprint:
- Stick-on clothing labels go on the care tag inside the collar or neckline
- For tagless garments, apply to the largest flat section of the tagless imprint area
- Press firmly and smooth from center outward
- These are a different material from waterproof labels — specifically designed for clothing applications
Step 5: Shoe Labels — Inner Sole, Heel Position
Shoe labels are the quickest of the three categories. Clean the inner sole at the heel with isopropyl alcohol, make sure it's dry, apply the label firmly, and press down. Each shoe takes about thirty seconds.
The heel is the correct position — it's the most stable flat surface inside a shoe and the most visible when the shoe is picked up. The toe area curves too much for reliable long-term adhesion.
For younger children starting school, consider our MatchUP Shoe Labels — two halves of a picture that only form the complete image when shoes are on the correct feet. They label the shoes and teach left from right simultaneously, which is genuinely useful for children in their first year of school who are still developing that awareness.
Step 6: Any Medical or Allergy Labels — Do These Last, Check Twice
If your child has food allergies, a medical condition, or any health need that school staff should be aware of, allergy and medical alert labels go on the lunchbox, the school bag exterior, and any relevant medical equipment. These are the most important labels of all — take a moment to verify the information is accurate and current before applying.
Our allergy labels and medical alert labels are waterproof, dishwasher-safe, and built to the same durability standard as our name labels. Apply them the same way — clean, dry surface, firm pressure, 24 hours before first wash.
And as always: labels supplement communication, they don't replace it. Make sure your child's school has the relevant medical information in writing before the first day, not just on a label.
The Complete Back-to-School Labeling Checklist
Work through this list once before the first day. Everything checked off means everything has a name on it and a significantly better chance of coming home.
Hard Surfaces — Waterproof Labels
- Water bottle
- Lunchbox
- Food containers
- Ice packs
- Cutlery set
- Backpack (inside & outside)
- Pencil case
- Calculator
- Ruler and scissors
- Headphones / earbuds case
Shoes — Shoe Labels
- School shoes or sneakers
- Sports shoes or cleats
- Boots or rain boots
- Sandals or PE footwear
Clothing — Iron-On or Stick-On
- School uniforms
- PE kit and sports uniform
- Jacket or hoodie
- Sweatshirts
- Hats, gloves, scarves
- Spare clothes left at school
- Towels (if applicable)
- Blanket roll (Pre-K)
Health & Safety — Allergy/Medical Labels
- Lunchbox (allergy alert)
- School bag exterior
- EpiPen or inhaler case
- Medication containers
- Any medical equipment
Keeping Labels Going Through the Year
A good label session at the start of the year should keep you covered for most of it — that's the point of high-quality durable labels. A few things worth noting for the year ahead:
- Avoid bleach and bleach-based detergents on labeled items — these degrade both the print and adhesive faster than regular washing. Standard detergents are fine.
- Top rack only for dishwasher items — lower rack heat accelerates adhesive degradation over time.
- Label new items as they arrive — mid-year replacement gear should be labeled before it goes to school, not after it goes missing.
- Check labels at the half-year mark — most will still be going strong, but a quick check and re-label of anything that's peeling takes five minutes and keeps the system working all year.
Browse our full range of school label packs at Sticky Monkey Labels. Questions about which labels are right for a specific item or surface? Call us at 1-888-780-7734 — we're always happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to label all school supplies?
With everything gathered in one place and working through one label type at a time, most families finish in 45 minutes to an hour. The biggest time-saver is doing it all in one session rather than labeling items individually as you think of them throughout the week before school starts.
Do I need to wash items before labeling?
Wipe hard surfaces with isopropyl alcohol before applying waterproof labels — this removes invisible oils and residue that prevent proper adhesion. For clothing, labeling on clean, dry fabric gives the best results. New items that have never been washed can be labeled directly as long as the surface is clean and dry.
How soon after applying can I wash labeled items?
Allow 24 hours after applying any label before the first wash cycle or dishwasher run. The adhesive needs time to fully bond to the surface before being exposed to heat and moisture. Labeling the night before the first school day — or ideally a few days before — rather than the morning of gives the best long-term results.
Can I label items mid-year if I missed some before school started?
Absolutely — the same process applies any time of year. The only consideration is the 24-hour wait before first washing. If there's an item that's been going to school unlabeled and coming back inconsistently, label it now rather than waiting for next year.
What's the most common labeling mistake parents make?
Applying labels to surfaces that haven't been cleaned first — especially water bottles and lunchboxes that have residue on them. The label appears to stick but starts lifting within the first few wash cycles. A thirty-second wipe with isopropyl alcohol before applying makes a significant difference to how long labels last.