Written by The sound of shoes squeaking as one operates can be considered to be extremely irritating. The sound can be especially distracting during quiet hours at work or public libraries and can even cause one to feel conscious. Thankfully though, the squeaking noise is not permanent and is relatively easy to remove with the right techniques.
This article aims to identify the issues that cause shoes to squeak and provide practical solutions in order to prevent it from occurring.
What Causes Shoes To Squeak
Before we begin to explain the solutions to the problem, it is vital that we understand what causes shoes to squeak first.
1. Friction between two or more materials
Squeaking can occur due to friction between the different components that make up a shoe. This is especially common in new shoes that have yet to fully break in. However, it can still be an issue that older shoes face as well.
2. Soaked conditions
Another reason why your shoes might squeak is due to moisture. For example, if your shoes are soaked due to rain or sweat, the moisture might cause leather and rubber materials of the shoes to make a squeaking noise.
3. A Combination of Loose and Old Soles
The soles of the shoes endorse grip and cushioning. But after time has passed, the soles could either become too loose or worn out, which will rub against the upper part of the show and begin to make a squeaking sound.
4. Poor Construction or Materials
Still, there is one reason we could cite to explain the squeak: the construction of the shoe and the materials used to make it These shoes tend to compromise on quality by having loose stitched parts or poorly fitted parts, and that results in making unwanted sounds.
5. Inadequate Lubrication
A significant number of shoes, including leather shoes, require lubrication, so as to avoid material from contacting one another excessively. Otherwise, the materials in your leather shoes will have a tendency to squeak.
How to Stop Shoes from Squeaking: Practical Solutions
Let’s take a look at the possible solutions of problems now that we have discussed the various causes of the problems. Irrespective of whether the shoes are new or older a few years old squeaking shoes can surely be eliminated using some of these simple methods that are outlined here.
1. Apply Baby Powder or Talcum Powder
If the squeak is caused by friction, then one of the easiest and most efficient options is to apply some baby powder or talcum powder on the inside of your shoes. Here is how you do it:
- Take the insoles out of your shoes.
- Take some babypowder or talcum powder and sprinkle a generous amount of it inside the insoles as well as underneath the sole of the shoe.
- Put the insoles back and shimmy around the shoe ensuring that the powder is mixed.
- Walk around to check if the squeak is gone or not
- Reduce friction on the moisture and the powder eliminates sound.
2. Apply Baby Powder or Talcum Powder
Applying some sort of lubricant can help a lot if the squeaky shoes are the result of the friction between the sole and the upper part of the shoe. A WD-40 or silicone-based spray can do a great job at reducing friction. That being said, these products need to be used with caution:
- Soak a piece of cloth in WD-40 or silicone spray and then rub that along the seam between the sole and the shoe.
- Refrain from soaking the shoe directly using the spray.
- Give the shoes some time to dry before using it.
By applying these lubricants, a protective layer is formed, preventing materials from grinding against each other and thus removing the squeak.
3. Join Free and Loose Parts Together
A squeak can also be produced from loose shoes when they are worn, like if one tried squeezing the heel. This is mostly common for high-heeled shoes and shoes with a detachable sole. Here’s what can be done to rectify this:
- Inspect your shoes closely and try to see if any screws have come loose or separated.
- If any screws or nails have come loose, make sure to tighten them up.
- Also, ensure that the detachable heels are properly fixed to the shoes.
In other words, if the shoe is sometimes loose, the squeaking sound can be solved.
4. Condition Leather Shoes
Dry leather shoes also cause the same squeaking sound when leather shoes become dry. The reason for the squeaking is due to the leather being stiff due to drying causing other leather pieces to rub against each other. This can be resolved by applying conditioner to leather shoes:
- Use shoe polish to moisturize leather shoes.
- Using a soft fabric, rub the shoe polish into the leather making sure to cover all areas.
- Leave the shoes on so they are able to properly dry and absorb the conditioner.
Conditioning your leather shoes will not only silence the squeaks but also ensure that the leather remains soft to increase the shoes’ longevity.
5. Fix Wet Shoes
If wet shoes are making a sound for you, then repairing them needs you to dry them out first as that is the reason the shoes make the sound. Here is how you can do it:
- Take out soaked shoe insoles and also a soaked lining.
- To soak up the remaining moisture, fill the shoes with either paper towels or newspapers.
- To avoid direct heat sources, like radiators or hairdryers, leave the shoes in a room with enough ventilation to dry overnight. This will help protect the shoe from heating up too fast or too much.
Once your shoes have dried, check if the sound persists for you. If the squeak is still there, then perhaps conditioning of the material is needed, like the aforementioned.
6. Apply Petroleum Jelly
If the squeaky sound is coming from the joints or seams, then putting a thin layer of petroleum jelly can help fix it. The jelly helps reduce the friction that is causing the squeaking.
- Apply and rub small amounts of jelly on the seams or on the areas of the shoe that are affected.
- With a clean cloth, wipe off any jelly that is remaining.
- To check if the sound is still there, take a walk around.
This applies to leather or rubber shoes which tend to squeak when walking, quite effectively.
7. Take Your Shoes to a Professional
If you have done everything you can and are still unable to double up the squealing sound, the last option may be to take it to a professional. A cobbler or shoe repair professional can check your shoes and help you with the squeaky noise if the cause relates to the shoe structure or construction because the sound was produced due to the movement of the foot. They may, for example, adjust the fastening components, renew worn-out adopting soles to footsteps, or even apply special ways to heal your footwear.
8. Consider Shoe Inserts
If the noise originates from inside the shoe, using insoles or shoe inserts would quiet that noise. Insoles are utilized to fill in the space in the shoe to the inside ensuring that there is no friction of any material that would cause noise.
Soak your insoles in memory foam or cushioned gel if you want to soothe the sound and bring in additional comfort at the same time.
9. Consider the Right Material of Your Socks
If your shoes tend to squeak, have a look at the type of socks you wear. Your socks could slightly contribute to squeaks. They are quite absorbent so if your feet sweat, they can create some noise. You want to pick out socks that are made with synthetic blends, merino wool, or other moisture-wicking materials to decrease sweat and reduce the chance of squeaking. Men’s cotton socks are one of the ideal choices if you face this issue. Also, make sure your socks are the right size and do not fit loosely otherwise the movement inside your shoe could increase the friction and therefore the squeaking sound. By knowing what sock material to wear and ensuring your socks fit, you can lessen the likelihood of having squeaky shoes.
Preventing Shoes from Squeaking in the Future
The squeaking problem is an issue that can be encountered in shoes but once this issue has been fixed the next course of action should be to ensure that the squeaking issue does not happen again. To help avoid future unwarranted sounds, consider the following recommendations:
1. Avoid Getting Your Shoes Wet
It is ideal to keep your shoes away from getting wet as this only adds on to the moist accumulating inside and causing the shoe to squeak additionally. Have an extra layer of waterproofing thick spray on hand to minimize the damage done if shoes are largely exposed to rain.
2. Avoid Wearing The Same Shoes Daily
If an individual wears the same pair of shoes daily it becomes obvious that excessive wear and tear takes place. Not relying on one single pair of shoes can aid a shoe in taking breaks which leads to enhanced longevity and lesser chances of squeaking.
3. Buy Quality Shoes
It is necessary to buy a higher quality shoe even if lower quality ones are readily available at a cheaper price. Investing in a well-designed shoe can be of great use in the long run as there are fewer chances for these shoes to squeak.
4. Condition and Maintain Frequently
The maintenance of leather shoes is always an issue, but it is necessary to endure this problem and make conditioning as well as cleaning a part of a regular shoe repair routine to eliminate dryness or excessive wear that rapidly leads to squeaking sounds.
Conclusion
Squeaky shoes can be troublesome, however, you can address the problem and bring back the quietness with ease. Things like using baby powder, lubricants, or conditioning the material can shut up the annoying squeaks that you don’t want. Being equipped with the right tools and strategies guarantees that you will no longer hear the squeaking noise so that you can wear your shoes with ease. Of course, if nothing seems to work, seeking professional help should be your last option.
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