How to Stop Shoes from Squeaking – 6 Proven Ways

Shoes can be a fashion accessory, but they also come with the unfortunate side effect of making noise when we walk. Whether it’s on hardwood floors or carpeting, shoes will always squeak as we day.

We all know how embarrassing it is to hear your shoes squeak as you walk, or worse yet when they make noise during a meeting with your boss.

What do you need? A can of WD-40! It might seem like an odd way to fix the problem, but it works wonders and will allow you to stop worrying about that annoying sound getting on everyone’s nerves.

Remember: just because people don’t say anything doesn’t mean you’re not annoying them!

I hated wearing shoes that squeaked until I found out how easy it was to stop them from making that noise. In this blog post, I’ll offer some tips for preventing your shoes from squeaking so you can have a quieter time in them.

 If you’re tired of having your family and friends point out that annoying squeak in your favorite pair of shoes, then follow these steps and get rid yourself of the annoyance.

Shoe companies use special spray on the bottom of shoes to prevent them from squeaking. Sounds great, right? Well, not everyone can afford that or wants that chemical on their feet.

Here is a non-chemical way to prevent your shoes from squeaking with items you probably already have in your home.

Also read: Make Shoe Slip Resistant

How to Stop Shoes from Squeaking

Repair your shoes

If your shoes are damaged, then repair the section of the shoe that has been damaged. Squeaking can occur when a shoe part, such as the heels or soles, is destroyed.

If this is the situation with your shoes, use a strong adhesive to repair the heels or soles, and the squeaking will be gone in no time. If the shoes are OK and it is not damaged then go for mentioned solutions in the post.

1. Stop shoes squeaking with boil water

Steps to follow:

Step One:

Identify which shoe is squeaking. Is it a hard-soled shoe or a soft-soled one? Once you know this, you can move on to the next step.

Step Two:

Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. You may need to fill your sink or bathtub with hot water if you don’t have a large enough pot.

Step Three:

Submerge the squeaky shoe in the boiling water for five minutes, then carefully remove it using tongs or oven mitts. Be sure that you don’t burn yourself!

Step Four:

Wipe the sole of the shoe dry with an old rag. If there are any cracks in the soles, now would be a good time to put some leather softener or petroleum jelly on them so they close back up before putting your shoes back on your feet.

Step Five:

Set the shoe aside and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours until you wear it again.

If the squeak persists, repeat Steps Three through Five again, but leave the shoe submerged in water for ten minutes before wiping it dry and allowing it time to air-dry.

Also read Dry shoes overnight.

2. Use a Dryer sheet

Materials needed: Scissors, Dryer sheet.

Step 1:

Take the dryer sheet and cut it into thin strips about an inch wide, then cut those strips in half. It would be best if you now had twice as many narrow strips of dryer sheets.

Step 2:

Take one strip at a time and put it underneath the shoe’s tongue all around where the language meets the top part of the shoe together between both sides of the shoe.

Do this for the whole bottom of the shoe, both sides.

Step 3:

Now, take another dryer sheet strip and rub it on top of the tongue all around the essential primary area where your foot will be placed to prevent more squeaking.

This should stop any more noise from occurring when you walk.

Remember, if these methods do not work for you, you may have particularly squeaky shoes that are beyond repair or have worn down enough that there is no possible way to fix them.

With proper care and maintenance, many people find that their shoes can last a couple of years or more, even without taking these steps! Happy Walking.

Also read: Running shoe guide

3. Stop squeaking by polishing your shoes

Did you know that you can polish your shoes so that you can stop them from squeaking? Let’s understand how to stop shoes from squeaking by polishing the leather.

To start with, there are different types of leathers out there, some more suitable for stopping squeaky noises than others.

For example, nubuck and suede leathers should not be treated with any polish or conditioning because they could damage the surface and appearance of the shoe. Instead, take a look at these steps:

What You Will Need:

Conditioner (recommended – Kiwi Conditioner).

Polish (recommended – Pecards Shoe Creams).

Clean Cloth a Soft Brush Toothpicks Scissors Paper Tubes Suede or Nubuck Shoe Cleaner.

What to do:

1. Take your shoe and brush it thoroughly with a soft brush.
2. Remove any dirt, mud, or dust that is lodged on the surface of the shoe.
3. Use a clean cloth and warm water to wipe off excess dirt and moisture from the shoe.
4. Dry well with a towel and let them air out for about an hour before starting further steps.
5. Apply conditioner evenly on the shoe, spreading it evenly across all areas of the leather surface – upper and vamp (the part that goes over your instep).

You may also want to apply some into the welt (the area between sole and leather). Allow it to be absorbed by the leather; you can even use a hair drier.

Also read: How to buy shoes for Plantar Fasciitis

4. Put rice in your shoes

Step to follow: Fill Your Shoes with Rice:

Rice may absorb moisture, but it also absorbs noise. Fill your shoes with uncooked rice until they are slightly heavy. Then leave them overnight to let the rice expand for maximum dampening effect.

You can even place your shoes in an airtight container for best results.

Once the rice has grown, dump it out before wearing your shoes again, as it will grind against the shoe’s interior and create more friction.

5. Use Essential Oils or Olive Oil

Step to follow:

Olive oil is an effective remedy for squeaky shoes because it acts as a lubricant.

If your boots are still making noise after adding rice, add a few drops of olive oil to the inside and outside of each shoe—you may want to buy a small bottle of olive oil so you can use this trick again in the future.

6. Apply Shoe Wax

Step to follow:

Finally, if all else fails and you don’t mind spending a bit more money, purchase some colored shoe wax from your local footwear shop.

Applying wax to the interior areas will keep the friction between your feet and shoes at bay. The wax also helps protect against moisture that could lead to future damage or odor problems.

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