How To Stop Shoes From Squeaking On The Floor? Tips!
Rubber soles are susceptible to squeaking due to “gription” on floors. Rub a bar of soap on the soles to stop the squeaking.
It works better if the bar is cheaper. You only have to pass the sole a few times to finish. The shoe does not become slippery despite what one might think.
This is something I’ve never experienced before. Honestly, never.
However, if I were to do that, I’d probably start by making the bottoms of my shoes less slick.
The squeaks between two slick surfaces seem to be greater than those between a slick and a rough surface.
If the soles of the shoes were sanded, I would use a bit of cheap, fine-grained sandpaper for a few seconds. I wouldn’t remove the entire sole of the shoe, that would be disappointing.
Table of Contents
What Is Making Your Shoes Squeak?
Black paint is applied to the soles of some shoes to make them appear shiny and new. Your shoes are squeaking because of that.
If you want to remove the layer, you can either wear the shoes until it is removed or grab some sandpaper and scrub away.
Don’t go nuts when you sand them, because it’s just a thin layer that will peel off. It won’t squeak anymore once this layer is removed! In addition, you’ll be able to grip the floor better on wet surfaces.
Shoes squeak when two parts rub and stick instead of sliding smoothly.
Therefore, some form of lubricant is required. According to the Internet, baby powder and WD-40 are recommended for this task. Other lubricants may work too.
Start by identifying which part of the shoe is squeaking. After that, you just need to apply the lubricant, work it in, and then you’re done. Make sure the shoe sole is lifted before applying the lubricant if it is under the sole.
Note: Remember to clean the lubricant off your shoe’s bottom to prevent slipping.
Abrasion And Wear
In addition to new shoes, old ones can also squeak. There is usually some kind of friction between the parts or a loose component that causes this. As leather parts rub together or soles come loose, squeaking can occur.
Metal shanks can be found in older shoes, embedded in the sole to support the arch. Modern shoes are less likely to have it, but it can cause squeaking because it rubs against the rubber or leather sole.
Moisture And Trapped Air
Stepping on a loose insole can cause it to squeak from trapped air and moisture.
The noise is caused by air ejecting from a small pocket, which is aggravated by moisture. Insoles with removable arch support usually cause this problem.
New Shoes
Squeaky leather shoes are usually caused by the insoles rubbing against the shoe’s inside when they are brand new.
Most leather interiors have smooth surfaces, which causes friction between the leather surfaces. When shoes squeak, it usually occurs near the toe joints.
Water Damage
Water damage is the last problem we have to deal with. It is almost certain that every component of a shoe can absorb water to some degree.
The issue of parts rubbing on hard floors is more noticeable because water makes soles squeak.
However, it can also be fixed easily. Even if it’s just some light staining, water can permanently damage leather.
Quick Hack: Add Rubber Sole Spray
If your soles do not have enough rubber, you may want to add an extra layer. Rubber sole sprays exist to fix soles, improve winter shoes, and give better traction to soles.
Squeaking would probably be eliminated with this extra layer. You can use duct tape on the bottom of your shoes to check if the outer soles are squeaking. This can help you determine if it’s a simple problem to fix.
You might be able to find a suitable rubber sole spray online or at a local shoe repair shop if it fixes it.
10 Tips On How To Stop Shoes From Squeaking On Any Floor Type
Here are my top suggestions for preventing shoes from squeaking –
| No. | Tip |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dry out wet shoes |
| 2 | Use silica gel to absorb moisture |
| 3 | Replace laces with polyester ones |
| 4 | Apply water protection spray |
| 5 | Try dryer sheets for squeaky insides |
| 6 | Keep leather moisturized |
| 7 | Use baby powder as a moisture absorber |
| 8 | Fix broken bits with super glue |
| 9 | Moisturize the insides with conditioner |
| 10 | Rough up soles with fine sandpaper or rubber sole spray |
Lets know in detail –
1. Dry Them Out
Taking care of water damage is the obvious first step. Detecting this problem (since wet shoes are obvious) and solving it are two of the easiest things you can do.
It’s not just slightly sweaty shoes I’m talking about here, but rainy shoes. Below, you’ll find tips on how to fix sweaty shoes.
It depends on the material of the shoes and how they should be dried. It’s not much different from washing clothes that canvas or fabric shoes can be thrown in the dryer.
You can prevent your dryer from being damaged by putting shoes in pillowcases. Shoes made of leather, however, require special care. Unless they are heated less intensely, they will shrink and crack.
Leaving them with newspaper in a warm place without direct heat is the easiest way to dry them out. A boiler cupboard, for example, is ideal.
Replace the newspaper every 24 hours if they take more than a day. When drying them, use saddle soap to remove any stains and restore moisture to the leather.
2. Use Silica Gel
Silica gel absorbs moisture well and is ideal for sweaty shoes. For the best results, I recommend using reusable silica gel, such as the kind used for drying flowers. There will be less waste, and you will always have the product on hand.
Wrap it in tissue paper or some other porous material and sprinkle inside your shoes. Squeaky shoes can become worse as a result of excessive moisture. Silica gel will help absorb moisture.
A long drying time is likely to occur if you use it to dry out water damage. Newspapers are usually the best solution for overly wet shoes.
3. Replace Laces
It is possible to make shoes squeak because of friction between the eyelets and the laces. New shoes commonly have this issue, but older suede shoes can also have it.
Friction causes suede to turn into leather, so the laces can rub on a squeakier surface.
Replace your laces with new ones (thinner laces are better). In addition, do not use leather or waxed laces, as these will worsen the problem.
Laces that are made of polyester work best, regardless of whether they are used on casual or dress shoes. Compared to other types, they will create the least friction.
Or, saddle soap can also be used to reduce friction between the tongue and lace (only on leather).
4. Use A Water Protection Spray
Any shoe owner who wants to preserve their footwear should have a shoe protector spray on hand. As a result of the spray’s hydrophobicity, water will run off the shoes rather than soak in.
A suede, canvas or fabric shoe can benefit from this treatment, but you can use it on all shoe materials.
This prevents water from entering your shoes, preventing squeaky shoes due to water damage. However, it’s really only suitable for light rain. You shouldn’t expect your feet to stay dry if you plan on jumping in puddles!
5. Try Dryer Sheets
In addition to squeaky soles, dryer sheets can also solve squeaky insides. You can coat your shoes with fabric softener by rubbing dryer sheets on their bottoms.
Essentially, it’s like applying moisturizer to your shoes, which prevents them from squeaking. If possible, remove the insole from the shoe and place a dryer sheet inside.
The dryer sheet stops leather surfaces from rubbing and making noise by acting as a barrier. Additionally, it will keep your shoes smelling fresh!
6. Keep The Leather Moisturized
I want to emphasize this point again because it is incredibly important. Ensure that your shoes receive regular leather conditioner, especially around the lace areas and the toe joints.
Similar to your skin, leather requires moisturizing. Keeping your shoes clean will not only make them last longer, it will also prevent them from creaking.
There is no reason you can’t use leather conditioners inside the shoes as well, as most conditioners are for shoes outside. If you wear them every day, you should apply it roughly once a month.
7. Use Baby Powder
As a moisture absorber, baby powder (or talcum powder) is a classic choice. Thus, it’s an effective way to reduce moisture in your shoes. You can also use it to reduce friction between interior components, another cause of shoe squeaks.
A common method for preventing floorboards from squeaking is to apply talcum powder.
Put a little baby powder on the insoles if you can remove them. You can do the same inside the shoes and move them around to ensure that the fluid is evenly distributed.
In shoes with insoles that cannot be removed, you can sprinkle baby powder, but it might not be enough to alleviate the problem.
8. Fix Broken Bits
It’s pretty easy to stop old shoes from squeaking. Most squeaking happens when the soles are loose and the air gets out through tiny holes. Our trusty friend super glue can help us out here.
Apply pressure as the super glue dries and fill the hole with small amounts. The glue becomes hard in under a minute. It stays strong for 24 hours.
To avoid standing for hours holding your shoe together, you might want to get some woodworking clamps.
You can use this method on foam- and rubber-soled shoes, but it’s best for sneakers and casual shoes.
If your leather soles are squeaking, your best option is to visit a shoe repair shop. They can completely resole your soles.
Most shoes with composite soles (foam, rubber, etc.) cannot be repaired because of how they are made.
You might be able to fix them more simply by gluing them back together, but you’ll have to check with a cobbler first.
9. Moisturize The Insides
It is common for shoes with leather interiors to squeak when they rub against each other. Insoles can also squeak when they’re worn, but new shoes are more likely to do so. Below you’ll find another solution to this problem.
Moisture the insides of new shoes to solve squeaky shoes. It will last quite a while if you use leather conditioner for this. You can also use petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline).
You can apply petroleum jelly with a cotton ball to the squeaky spot if you have petroleum jelly on hand. In most cases, this will occur around the toe joints, so rub in there for a few minutes. If possible, remove the insoles first.
A leather conditioner will soak into leather, while petroleum jelly won’t. If you use it too much, your socks and feet may get greasy. Coconut oil could also be used, but it has the same disadvantages.
Dress shoes with removable insoles tend to have this problem more frequently. There shouldn’t be much inside sneakers that squeaks.
As long as they do, it wouldn’t be a problem as you could remove components as you would with any other component.
Related Reading: How To Keep Feet From Sweating In Work Boots
10. Rough Up The Soles
There is some kind of rubber sole on almost all shoes. Sneakers use plain rubber, whereas smart and dress shoes use EVA foam. Squeaky shoes are usually caused by new rubber soles, particularly on hard floors.
There’s a way to speed up the wear-down process if you don’t want to wait for them to wear down on their own. Sandpaper can be used to roughen up the soles a bit.
It is recommended that you use fine sandpaper (such as 120 grit or higher) so as not to cause too much damage to the sole.
A leather sole or other hard material should not squeak on a hard floor. Use the finest sandpaper if they do.
Sand them lightly and test them if possible after a small amount of sanding. It’s important not to overdo it, since the more you sand off the sole, the less long your shoes will last.
Alternatively, you can use rubber sole spray instead of fine-grit sandpaper. To increase the grip on your shoes, rubber sole spray can be used.
There is a cost associated with it, but you don’t have to damage the wood in the process.
Final Words
Just a note! Is there anything your local shoe repair shop can recommend? It’s often free to get advice, you know.
I hope these suggestions will help you stop your shoes from squeaking. There’s no doubt that most of us have experienced this problem at some point in our lives. The good news is that there are many options available for resolving this issue.
To fix your squeaky shoes, find out why they make noise and apply the right solution.
