Squeaky shoes are annoying and certainly can be an awkward choice for attire in prestigious events such as meetings.
The question is how to stop your shoes from making that noise? After extensive research, we bring some useful tips to make your shoes wearable and bearable!
Why are your shoes squeaking?
There are several possible reasons for this:
- Your shoes are brand new
- Your shoes are old
- Insoles of your shoes
- Problems with humidity
How to Stop the Noise with New Shoes?
When you first buy your shoes, whether flats or heels, the soles are brand new. It means that the sole is smooth and has no irregularities, so when your shoes touch a ceramic or hardwood floor, it will squeak.
Moreover, the shoe’s grip is not firm and can cause you to slip or lose your balance. Thus, it becomes essential to take care of this.
The most natural solution is to use them, and over time they will take shape, preventing the soles from squeaking. On the other hand, if you can’t wait to break into your new shoes, then you can try these options:
A. The Towel Technique: Use a towel to rub your shoes’ soles and try them on until they stop making a noise. Repeat as many times as necessary until you are satisfied with the results.
B. The Sandpaper Technique: Use sandpaper to rub your shoes’ soles to speed up the wearing process. However, please do not overdo it, and use fine 150 to 240 grit sandpaper for this purpose.
Tip: We recommend the 180 grit to wear them out and to protect the soles of your shoes.
How to Stop the Noise with Old Shoes?
When the shoes have already been in use, they start to form gaps between the sole and the upper part of the shoe, and this separation causes squeaks.
If you want to repair the shoes on your own, then we suggest the following:
Check the sole
If you see a gap between the sole and the shoe, which is common with sports and casual footwear, use super glue.
Fill the hole with it, then clamp it or place a heavy object on top of it to hold it together.
Let the super glue dry thoroughly for a day.
Check the outside of the shoe
If your shoes squeak when moving them with your hands, walk with it and see if the material rubs against each other.
In this case, add a few drops of shoe oil or cooking oil to the affected area.
Let it remain overnight, and the sound would stop. If it does not, you can repeat it for another day.
Insoles
The friction between the insoles and the shoes can cause the insoles to start moving inside the shoe, creating a noise.
To suppress this, we recommend the following:
Use talcum powder
- Remove the insoles from your shoes
- Sprinkle talcum powder on the inside of the sole. Put the insoles back in the shoes
- Apply talcum powder on the seams of your shoes and all over the insoles if you have a built-in insole.
Use baby oil or cooking oil
- Remove the insoles from your shoes
- Lubricate the sole with the baby oil or cooking oil
Humidity
Moisture will not only seep into the smallest crevices of your shoes to cause noise but also breeds fungus and bad odor in your shoes. To avoid this, you can follow the tips listed below:
- Remove the insoles and line your shoes with paper towels to absorb moisture
- Hang your shoes in a dry and warm area to allow them to air out
- Add baby powder in your shoes to prevent bad odor; however, the efficiency of this method to absorb humidity is not high.
A well-kept shoe is key to a polished wardrobe. Everything listed in this article can be quickly done from your home without spending on repairing or buying new shoes. You can do these simple techniques and tips to keep your shoes perfectly wearable.
