I recently bought a new pair of sneakers, and I was excited to wear them around. After about a month of use, they started squeaking something mean. They would announce my presence in a room before I even showed up, and not in a good way. If you are a shoe enthusiast, you have undoubtedly come across this problem at least once.
Well, fear not, I fixed my squeaky shoes, and you can do it too. Walking on squeaky shoes is the worst, and you might have to lift your feet high off the ground to stop the sound. Instead of doing this, here are a few hacks you can use to fix your squeaky shoes.
1. Boost Traction on New Shoes
Improving traction on new shoes is one of the best ways to deal with squeaky shoes, especially after the warranty has expired. Squeaky shoes can sometimes come about when the rubber on the soles is smooth, and when they interact with the floor, they can make the shoes squeak. To deal with this, you will have to roughen the shoe’s soles to enable it to have more grip on the floor.
Below are some of the ways you can boost traction:
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Sanding the Sole
You can use fine-grain sandpaper or a sanding sponge to sand your shoes. I prefer the 3M sanding sponge from amazon because it works much better than regular sanding paper. With this sponge, you can roughen your shoes up to the right degree, and it can be used on both leather and rubber-soled shoes. Using this sanding sponge roughens up the sole layer that causes squeaky noise.
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Using a Dryer Sheet
Another way to boost your shoes’ traction is by using a dryer sheet. Rub the sheet against your shoes’ sole. Some of the best dryer sheets to use are the Bounce sheets. They are great for use because they do not produce any static cling and can repel lint and hair, and you can use them on more than just your shoes. Simply rub the bottom of your sole with these sheets and get rid of the squeaking.
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Using a Grip Adhesive
A rubber sole spray on your soles helps improve their grip and increase traction. The Performance Grip Basketball Pack, in particular, is my go-to whenever I want to use a spray instead of rubbing. The spray satisfactorily rejuvenates and increases the grip on any shoe. Spray a coating on your shoes and let them dry. For the best results, do not let the shoes get wet before completely drying out.
2. Fix Water Damage
Wet shoes are another cause of squeaky shoes, and this is especially a problem if your shoes get rained on or you walk in primarily wet areas. You can fix water damage on your shoes by drying them using a hairdryer, throwing them on the dryer, or drying them on the radiator. However, before taking any of these steps, make sure you remove all shoe parts like insoles and laces.
Using a hairdryer or dryer can damage your shoes, so the best way to dry wet shoes is to keep them under the sunlight for a day. Make sure you remove them once the shoes are dry to avoid heat damage.
Other ways you can fix water damage are by stuffing the shoes with newspapers or rice. These are highly absorbent, and they will soak up all the moisture in your shoes. You can also use dryer sheets, place them inside the shoes, and leave them in a warm place until they dry.
Even better, you can use a combination of any of these. For example, stuff your shoes with newspapers or rice, and then leave them in the sun to dry.
3. Secure Loose Parts
Loose parts that can cause squeaky noises can be the sole or the insole. These are the most likely to peel off and cause awful noise. You can easily secure the loose parts by applying super glue and putting some pressure until it dries completely. You can push the glue into the parts that are undone and clamp the shoe shut until dry.
4. Apply Baby Powder
Another effective method to dry your shoes and fix the noise caused by wet shoes is by using baby powder. Similar to how baby powder is used to prevent diaper rash in babies because of its moisture-wicking properties, the same applies to your shoes. The baby powder will suck all the moisture from your shoes, eliminating the squeaky sound.
Apply the powder to the inner sole of your shoes and under the inner sole, then leave it to dry for a while. Johnson & Johnson baby powder is one of the best powders available in the market today. It eliminates friction, is hypoallergenic, and will suck all the moisture from your shoes quickly.
5. Soften the Soles
This method works exceptionally well with brand-new shoes. The soles from new shoes are usually very hard and can cause that annoying sound when they interact with floors. It can take a long time to soften the soles, and you will have to survive with the squeaky noise until then.
There is, however, a shortcut you can take to soften them up sooner. You can use sandpaper or apply some coconut oil to the bottom of the shoes. Rub the sandpaper on your soles or apply a little coconut oil using a piece of cloth. This will easily soften the soles and fix the squeaking sound.
6. Use Vaseline
Sometimes your shoes just need some love, the same as your skin. You can show them, love, by applying a bit of petroleum jelly, which will act as a lubricant. The best jelly to use is Vaseline. Smear a thin layer of Vaseline to the insole, and it will fix the noise.
7. Give the Dryer a Try
What if your shoes are wet and there is no sunlight? Well, the dryer is your next best option. Put your shoes into the dryer and let it do its magic. The dryer will suck out any water trapped in the shoes that can be the cause of the squeaking. You can also use a bit of fabric softener to refresh the shoes; put it on a sponge and toss it into the dryer together with the shoes.
Run the dryer for around 5-10 minutes, depending on how wet your shoes are. Do not exceed this time limit to avoid the shoes shrinking or even getting more damaged. You can also wrap your shoes with a dryer sheet or a regular paper towel before throwing them into the dryer to get better results. Remember to remove the laces and any other removable parts before putting the shoes in the dryer.
8. Apply WD-40
Whether you know it as WD-40 or Silicon Spray, this product can also help you fix your shoe squeak problem. Spray a little WD-40 on a piece of cloth or a cotton ball and apply it to the outer seams of your shoes. The product can remove any oil, condensation, or dirt in the hard-to-reach areas of your shoes and get rid of the noise. WD-40 is fast drying and will not leave a residue on your shoes. Do not apply it to the Suede as it could permanently damage your shoes.
9. Use a Saddle Soap
Shoelaces can also be the cause of squeaky shoes, and they are the part that most of us ignore. The laces can rub against the shoe and produce a squeaky noise, especially on highly polished shoes like leather. You can fix the shoelace rubbing problem using saddle soap. Rub your shoes with saddle soap, paying closer attention to the lace.
Final Thoughts
Everybody loves their shoes, therefore anything that would make them less appealing to wear would be detested. Sadly, one of these issues is squeaking noises. We have the remedy for you, whether the squeakiness is brought on by brand-new shoes, water damage, or worn-out shoes. The techniques mentioned above are some of the most effective strategies to reduce noise. To cope with the noise, you can employ any of the ways or even a mixture of them. Please let us know if you have tried any of these or if you have come up with any other solutions to the squeaky shoe issue.
Further Reading:
- How to Fix a Squeaky Dryer
- How To Fix a Squeaky Box Spring
Last update on 2023-07-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API