10 Ways to Prevent Shoe Squeaks on Different Surfaces

An essential skill in life is knowing how to silence your squeaky footwear. You know the frustration of having brand new shoes and then having them squeak as you walk.

Here are ten of my favorite do-it-yourself solutions for eliminating shoe noise. Because some solutions are condition-specific, it's important to identify the root cause of your squeaky shoes.

Exactly Why Do My Shoes Make That Noise?

Squeaky shoes can be caused by a number of factors including shoe type, age, flooring, and damage. Rubber soles, new leather insoles, and water damage are the most typical causes of squeaky footwear. You can determine the best course of action for your footwear by conducting a quick evaluation.

What follows is a quick summary of the most common causes of shoe squeaks:

New Shoes

Leather shoes often make noise when they are first worn because the insoles are rubbing against the leather. Since the insides of most of these items are also leather, this is a result of the leather rubbing against itself. In this situation, squeaking shoes are most common at the toe joints.

Entrapped Air and Moisture

Air and moisture trapped under a loose insole can also cause a squeaking sound when you walk. The sound is caused by air being expelled from a tight space, and it is exacerbated by the presence of water. This is especially common in the arch area when using insoles that can be removed.

Rubber Bottoms

Because of their similar smoothness, rubber shoe soles and linoleum, tiles, and rubberized flooring create an annoying squeaking sound. Again, this is due to friction between your shoe and the ground, and it becomes more noticeable when you lift your foot off the ground.

Use and Abuse

Old shoes, alas, can squeak, too. In most cases, this is due to components becoming dislodged or rubbing against one another. When the soles wear down or the leather rubs against itself, it can cause a squeaking sound.

In order to provide arch support, the soles of older shoes typically had a metal "shank" inserted into the sole. Squeaking can be caused by it rubbing against the rubber or leather sole unit, making it less common in modern shoes.

The Effects of Water on Structures

Water damage is the last issue we have to deal with. Nearly every part of a shoe, to varying degrees, is an absorptive material. Sole squeaking on hard floors is amplified when water is present, and parts-rubbing is more noticeable overall.

Yet, it is also one of the simplest problems to resolve. Although most water damage to leather consists of light staining, it can be irreversible.

How to Prevent Shoe Squeaks: 10 Easy Steps

Before worrying about what to do about the noise coming from your footwear, consider the cause of the problem. Some problems, like water damage, are easy to spot, but others, like squeaky floors, are less so. Pay attention to the areas you suspect are noisy and use the aforementioned techniques to zero in on the source of the disturbance.

Shoes that squeak for no apparent reason should probably be looked at by a professional. If none of these things work, you might want to visit a cobbler (if there are any left in your area) or just buy a new pair.

Thus, I will now share my best tips for preventing the squeaking of shoes.

First, you must dry them.

The most basic issue is repairing water damage. Since you'll notice the problem as soon as your shoes get wet, it's also the simplest to fix.

I'm not referring to mildly damp footwear, but rather wet footwear that you wore in the rain. Continue reading for some solutions to the problem of wet feet and shoes.

Drying shoes requires knowledge of the material they are constructed from. Drying canvas or fabric shoes in the dryer is the same as drying any other type of clothing. To protect your dryer from your shoes, place each pair in a pillowcase.

While canvas shoes can be treated roughly, leather ones require more TLC. They can't withstand as high of temperatures before they crack and shrink.

They can be dried quickly by stuffing them with newspaper and leaving them someplace warm (but not on direct heat). A boiler cupboard, for instance, is perfect for

You should change the newspaper every day if they take more than a day. Leather conditioners can help restore moisture, and saddle soap can remove stains before you dry them.

Roughen the bottoms

The soles of most shoes today are made of rubber. Conversely, sneakers typically use simple rubber, while smart and dress shoes favor EVA foam. Shoes with brand-new rubber soles tend to make a lot of noise, especially on tile or hardwood.

You could wait for them to tire out naturally, but it's simple to hasten the process. Sandpaper can be used to create a light abrasion on the soles. If you want to avoid doing too much damage, fine sandpaper (120 grit or higher) is what you should use.

Hard floors shouldn't make a squeaking noise from leather or other hard soled shoes. To fix this problem, you should use the finest sandpaper available.

To begin, try them out with minimal sanding. If you sand too much of the sole off your shoes, they won't last as long.

If you don't want to use super-fine grit sandpaper, rubber sole spray is another option. You can improve your shoes' grip with a product called rubber sole spray. The cost is higher than that of sandpaper, but it prevents you from doing any unneeded damage.

Third, hydrate internally.

A squeaking noise can be produced by the rubbing of leather on leather in shoes, as was previously mentioned. Squeaking is more common in brand-new shoes, but it can also come from worn insoles. However, that calls for a different approach, which is discussed further down.

Moisturize the interior of your new shoes if you hear squeaking. Use leather conditioner, as the effects will last for a long time. In contrast, petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) is incredibly effective.

Use a cotton swab to dab a tiny amount of petroleum jelly on the area you suspect is squeaking. If this is the case, you should focus your attention on the areas between your toes. For starters, if you can, take out the insoles of your shoes.

But keep in mind that petroleum jelly won't permeate the leather like a leather conditioner will. I wouldn't use it too often because it could make your socks and feet greasy. You could also use coconut oil, but it shares the same limitations.

This is especially noticeable in dress shoes, especially those with removable insoles. There shouldn't be a lot of squeaky parts inside of sneakers. Yet even if they do, you can always just take out the offending parts, so it's not like you'd be solving anything.

Repair the broken pieces

To silence a pair of creaking shoes, you need only apply a little glue. It's common for shoes with loose soles to make noise because air is escaping through tiny holes in the soles. As a quick fix, we can use the ever-reliable super glue.

Put a dab of super glue in the hole and press down while it dries. Even though the glue sets in less than a minute, full cure and maximum mechanical adhesion won't occur until 24 hours later. Rather than spending hours standing there, holding your shoe together, you could use some woodworking clamps for the job.

Although you can use this technique on formal shoes with a foam or rubber sole, I find it to be most effective on sneakers and other casual footwear. Squeaky leather soles can be fixed by taking them to a shoe repair shop, where they will be resoled from top to bottom.

Virtually all modern footwear utilizes a sole unit made of a composite material (foam, rubber, etc.). ) due to their construction, cannot be resoled You can try taking them to a cobbler, but they may not be able to do more than glue the pieces back together if they are damaged.

5 Make use of baby powder

Baby powder, also known as talcum powder, is a time-tested remedy that can be used to remove any trace of moisture. It's a practical method for reducing the amount of sweat in your footwear. It's great for lowering friction between moving parts inside, which is why your shoes squeak.

To quiet squeaky floorboards, talcum powder is a common solution.

Sprinkle baby powder on the insoles if you can take them out. Repeat the process within the footwear, rearranging the insoles to ensure even distribution. Even if you can't remove the insole, you can try a little baby powder in each shoe to see if that helps.

But timing the application of baby powder to your squeaky shoes is essential. You should wait a few hours after taking them off before putting them away. While it does a fantastic job of soaking up wetness, it leaves behind a pasty mess that is less than ideal for wearing again.

Although it may work temporarily, baby powder requires constant reapplication and is therefore not a sustainable option. As long as you have some on hand, it will do in a pinch.

Six, maintain leather's moisture.

There is a huge difference, so it's important to emphasize this again. Use leather conditioner frequently, and pay special attention to the toe joint and the lace areas.

Leather, being made from animal skin, requires moisturizing in the same way that human skin does. When you do this, your shoes will stop making that annoying squeaking sound and they will last longer.

Although most leather conditioners are labeled for use on the exterior of shoes, you can also apply them to the inside if you so choose. About once a month, or more if you wear them frequently.

Dryer sheets, number 7.

Squeaky floors and feet are two issues that dryer sheets can help with. By rubbing a dryer sheet over your shoes' soles, you can add a light layer of fabric softener. Because it acts similarly to moisturizer, it can prevent shoes from making noise when walking.

The use of a dryer sheet inside the shoe, ideally under the insole if it can be removed, can also help. Dryer sheets can be used to prevent squeaking and wear and tear on leather by creating a barrier between the two surfaces.

Another benefit is that it will prevent your shoes from smelling.

Dryer sheets, like baby powder, aren't a sustainable option. Every few times you wear them, give the soles a good rubbing, and replace the insoles every few weeks.

Make use of an anti-water spray

If you care about the longevity of your shoes, you need to invest in a shoe protector spray. Because the spray is hydrophobic, water beads up and rolls off the shoes instead of soaking in.

It's effective on all types of shoe material, but it shines up suede, canvas, and fabric the best.

It prevents water from getting into your shoes, which means you won't have to deal with the worst case scenario of water damage to your shoes (squeaky noises). However, it works best in mild precipitation or similar conditions. If you want to jump in puddles, prepare to get wet feet.

Change the shoelaces

Squeaky shoes are often the result of laces rubbing against the eyelets. This is especially prevalent in brand-new shoes, but even used suede footwear is not immune. The laces will have a squeakier time of it because the friction "converts" the suede to leather.

Replace your laces with new ones; the thinner, the better. Do not use leather or waxed laces, as they will exacerbate the issue.

The best laces to use with any type of shoe, from sneakers to formal footwear, are made of polyester. If you compare them to other types, you'll find that they cause the least friction.

Saddle soap (for use only on leather) can be rubbed into the lace and tongue area to reduce friction.

Use silica gel as number 10.

You can use silica gel to stop your shoes from sweating by applying it to the inside of the shoe. Find some silica gel, like the kind used to dry flowers, that can be reused. The result will be less waste and an assured supply of the product at all times.

Spread some in the soles of your shoes or wrap it in some porous paper. Squeaky shoes may be exacerbated by the presence of excess moisture, which silica gel can help alleviate.

It could be used to dry out water damage, but the process could be lengthy. Newspaper is the most accessible option when your shoes get too wet.

What I've Learned About Squeaky Shoes

The aforementioned solutions, I hope, will silence your footwear. It's an inconvenient issue that I'm sure most of us have encountered. As you can see, there are a lot of possible solutions to this problem.

Determine why your shoes are squeaking so you can apply the appropriate solution in the correct spot.

I was wondering if you had any other suggestions for preventing the squeaking of shoes. Leave a comment below; the more original, the better.