Shoes are forever at the top of our list of high-maintenance relationships. We don’t want a downtrodden pair of sneakers accompanying us on a first date or giving up on us on a rainy day. And when it comes to fancier occasions, an uncomfy pair of heels is one way to ruin the night. They say that someone’s shoes say a lot about that person, so let’s make sure yours are smell-free, comfortable, and in perfect form. Continue scrolling for our helpful hacks on how to achieve exactly that!
Use Baby Powder to Stop Your Shoes From Squeaking
Have you ever tried to confidently stride into a business meeting or a social event, only to be announced ahead of time by an awkward squeaking sound coming from your shoes? Nothing is quite as embarrassing when you want to make an excellent first impression. Yet there seems to be nothing you can do about it when it happens - that's until you stumbled across this hack! A quick cure for preventing that unwelcome noise: Baby powder.
You're probably thinking. ‘Baby powder inside shoes? No way.’ Let's explain. Add the powder beneath the shoe sole. This creates better cohesion between the different parts of your shoe, thus preventing the squeak. Handy, right?
Use Heel Grips
Even the best nights out can end early when an uninvited blister makes itself known! One of the most common solutions to this problem is packing an extra pair of slip-on shoes. But let’s be honest, who wants to drag these along everywhere they go? But now, you won’t need backup shoes any longer. Instead, you can prevent blisters with a cushioned heel grip. Heel grips are available in different sizes. So, no matter what pair you wear, you can easily attach a heel grip to your shoe.
Similar to protecting you from blisters, a cushioned heel grip that extends from the heel to the bottom of the ankle will also help prevent nasty-looking marks or bruises from forming - win-win!
Get Rid of Wrinkles in Your Sneakers With Steam
You don't need us to tell you that new shoes look distinctly different from those you bought just a few months ago. With time, your sneakers will wrinkle and eventually look worn down. You might be able to ward off dirt with a moist cloth, but getting rid of the wrinkles may seem impossible. So here’s the trick: Steam and shoes go together like peanut butter and jelly. You just need a clothes iron and a damp cloth.
Put the cloth on the wrinkles, and rub it gently with the iron. Try to get in those crevasses to beat that dirt and grime for a longer shine. You might not be able to get rid of every imperfection, but that wear and tear will be much less visible!
Criss-Crossed Laces
Getting creative with your sneakers is a fantastic hobby for any shoe lover. There are thousands of tutorials all over the web! But first things first, wash your laces. They see rain, dust, dirt, and more! So treat them to a soapy bath, dry them, and then get to work on your new lacing design. Criss-cross laces are just one of many options. If the chequered pattern isn’t for you, you can create diamond lacing, star laces, ladders, loops, layovers, and more.
Don’t forget you’re not tied to the laces that come with your shoes either (pardon the pun!). Switching them out for a new color can inject extra personality into an otherwise plain pair. You could even coordinate your laces with your outfit!
Start Using Heel Tips
The tip of your shoe's heel meets the ground thousands of times every day. However, if you regularly wear a thinner pair of heels like a stiletto, a court shoe, or a kitten heel, you might be putting too much strain on your shoe's heels. A broken heel is such a common ordeal that it often features as a clumsy mishap in romantic comedies. While we can’t promise you that you’ll never find yourself in a heel-related emergency, we can help you reduce the chances of it happening.
This is where heel tips come in! Aptly named, you add heel tips to the tips of your heels to benefit from a non-slip grip and better protection for the most fragile part of your heel.
Rub Sandpaper on the Soles of Your Shoes for Better Grip
New shoes often lack traction, which is no joke during the icy and slippery winter months. Wet stairs, dead leaves, and thin ice can make for treacherous ground. As we all know, even falling from a standing height can prove painful. Fortunately, you can speed up the natural traction that comes with time by rubbing sandpaper over the soles of your shoes. Or, you can take this a step further by fixing sandpaper onto the outer layer of your shoes.
That way, if you slip while walking, there's more friction between you and the floor, making it easier to balance yourself and stop a fall. This is a game-changer - especially if you’re wearing heels and have further to fall!
DIY Shoe Soles for Added Comfort
Finding comfortable shoes can take time and effort. If you often struggle to find the right pair, you might become immensely attached to the one you have that feels good. Then, if that pair breaks, you’re back to square one. Or maybe not! Shoe comfort relies heavily on the shoe's soles. So, if you want to keep your feet happy, why don't you consider designing your own sole? All you need is a grippy fabric cut to the size of your shoe and a hot glue gun.
Glue a few layers together. Then, once your custom sole is dry, you can confidently insert it into any footwear. This hack is cheaper than expensive inserts. Not to mention, because you have complete control over the material used, thickness, and shape, it might give you that extra comfort you seek!
Use Deodorant to Prevent Blisters
We can agree that nothing is as uniquely painful and inconvenient as blisters? This is especially true when dancing during a night out or going for a walk with your friends So any hack that can reduce the chance of blisters is worth a try. Perhaps surprisingly, that hack is deodorant. That’s right - all you need to do is apply a bit of clear gel deodorant to the affected area when you feel the friction that indicates a blister is coming on.
Make sure it’s a stick-type deodorant thick enough to create an extra layer of protection between your foot and your shoe. Please note: this hack isn’t suitable for sensitive skin.
Use Newspaper to Widen the Tops of Your Boots
While you want your boots to fit snuggly to ensure your comfort, you might occasionally find a pair sitting a little too tightly around your calf. Ouch! Unfortunately, this is a frequent problem with high-rise boots, especially if your leg has rounded out a little more. Thankfully, the answer isn’t to throw away your beloved shoes. Instead, you can widen the boot shaft to better fit your leg. Here's how:
When you’re not wearing the boot (perhaps while you're sleeping?), stuff the shoe tightly with old newspapers and leave it for as long as possible. This helps widen the trunk of your boots.
Use Tea Bags to Remove Unpleasant Odors
When the days are warm, and you're maintaining a sporty lifestyle, there's no avoiding your feet getting sweaty. While you can easily wash your feet at the end of the day, and they'll lose their unpleasant smell, the same can’t be said for your shoes. Unfortunately, shoe soles have a habit of maintaining that unwanted stench indefinitely. Not all shoes can be thrown into the washing machine. If this is your predicament, you'll need to get creative!
The solution? Put unused tea bags into your shoes. These are fantastic at absorbing strong scents as they suck the moisture right out! Just remember not to put the teabags back into the box afterward.
Remove Water Stains From Leather Shoes
Leather shoes are a classy addition to any wardrobe. But, unfortunately, they're also often a somewhat pricy investment that often needs a lot of maintenance. This is crucial for ensuring they'll look great and last for years to come. Something as simple as a water stain can throw off the sophisticated look that your favorite pair initially exuded. While rainwater stains are hard to avoid, you're not stuck with them!
Clean your shoes using a toothbrush and distilled white vinegar. Then, let the vinegar sit for a few hours and do its work before brushing the shoe off with a paper towel. If all goes well, you should see stains and dirt melt away!
Sew Material Onto Your Flip Flop Straps for Added Comfort
Flip-Flops are some of the most popular summer shoes - and for a good reason. They're so easy to throw on, whether traversing a campsite or heading to the beach. But although they're super easy to wear, that doesn’t mean they're always comfortable. Unfortunately, lots of cheap flip-flops come with plastic parts that dig between your toes, making them irritating or even a bit painful to wear. So here’s what you can do to soften your flip-flop straps:
Wrap them in a fabric that softens the contact between the straps and your feet. Then, sew said fabric over the straps paying careful attention to the part where the two straps meet. Voila! You'll now have a comfier pair of shoes.
Use Moleskin to Reduce Shoe Strap Friction
This hack already reveals itself in the title. Lots of high-heeled shoes come with very tight straps. These are paramount for ensuring the shoe stays on your foot, so you don’t slip out and hurt yourself while walking. However, while the essential nature of this design is clear, that doesn’t make the straps any more comfortable. Moleskin, however, does! You can pad out uncomfortable shoe straps with a strip of moleskin.
This works wonders for reducing friction on your skin which can lead to blisters, small cuts, and bruising. All in all, moleskin foam will make a massive difference in comfort!
Buy Shoes in the Evening for a Better Fit
Many of us have noticed that while a pair of shoes fit snugly if we wear them during the day, sometimes they feel tighter at night. This is because your feet swell during the day, especially if you’ve been seated for a while, as this limits blood circulation. This means that if you go shopping early in the day, your feet might actually be a little bit more slender than they will be later on.
So, the best time to buy shoes is in the evening, when your feet are their biggest. That way, you'll get the best possible fit. This is all the more important if you're looking for shoes to wear on a night out.
Break in Your Shoes With Thick Socks and a Blowdryer
As exciting as it is to buy new shoes, the honeymoon period with them is nothing to look forward to. Shoes need to be worn before they eventually get comfortable. During the first few days, walking in new shoes is often anything but pleasant. But what if we told you you don’t have to force your feet to endure unfamiliar footwear? Instead, you can wear in your shoes at home without walking about uncomfortably.
Just put on a thick pair of socks and blow-dry the shoes on spots that feel awkward or tight. The heat helps to loosen the material, allowing your feet to settle comfortably.
Start Using Arch Support Inserts
Investing in arch support inserts is a wise idea. Many people struggle with immense pain while walking around. Sometimes, this is caused by their feet being forced into unnatural positions. Or a flatness in their feet that requires additional support. In either case, proper arch support is vital. Fortunately, the right set of arch support inserts will work wonders immediately. That said, if you have a foot-related medical problem, we recommend consulting with your physician.
Or perhaps contact your physiotherapist or podiatrist to get advice on arc support? Alternatively, you could measure your own arc height to determine what inserts you’ll need for a better fit.
Heels Too High? Shorten Them
For many, higher heels help us stand taller and look more elegant. If you're a fan of high heels, these shoes sometimes provide a much-needed confidence boost, making for a knock-out accessory alongside a well-coordinated outfit. But, for all their glamour...no one pretends that they're exceptionally comfortable. They often cause the balls of our feet to ache. Also, not everyone can walk well in high shoes. After all, they're somewhat difficult to balance in!
Thankfully, with this hack, if you find the perfect pair of shoes but the heels are too high, you don’t have to miss out! Instead, take the pair to your local cobbler and have them shorten the heels -simple!
Prevent Shoes From Molding With Newspaper
Many shoes are designed to withstand the weather and keep moisture out from the outside. However, that doesn’t keep them entirely safe from moisture inside. For example, sometimes heavy rain will get the soles wet, or sweating might cause excess moisture inside your shoes. Whatever the scenario, if this moisture isn’t taken care of, it can lead to mold, which will cause the shoe to wear much faster. Luckily, mold can be prevented quite easily with this hack!
To keep your shoes mold-free, use paper towels or newspapers to dry the shoe off when wet. Then, stick such absorbent materials into the shoe overnight to eradicate any lingering moisture.
Rub Beeswax on Your Shoes to Waterproof Them
Let’s talk about waterproofing our kecks because there's nothing less pleasant than water seeping into your shoes because you failed to see a puddle. Sometimes even wet grass can succeed in reaching our socks, leaving them damp and cold! While there are waterproofing sprays we can use on our shoes; a more organic solution can waterproof just about any shoe: Beeswax! Just rub the wax over both sides of your shoes.
You want to ensure your shoes are entirely covered in beeswax. This method is instantly effective and, fear not, it doesn’t leave any stains. It also doesn’t affect the shoe’s color!
Pad Shoes With Wool for Warmer Feet
Once winter hits, so do freezing feet! Unfortunately, once our feet get cold, it's often difficult to warm them up again, especially when you’re out and about and stuck in the cold for long periods. So at the end of the day, you might be left with aching, chilly toes. Brrr! If you suffer from cold feet, you might be pleased to hear that you can go a step further than warm, fuzzy socks.
Everyone knows that wool is one of the warmest materials to wear in winter. So why not pad your shoe soles with the fleecy material to keep your feet warm even as temperatures drop?
Widen Shoes in the Freezer
Unfortunately, those of us with wider-than-average feet often struggle to find shoes with a good fit. As a result, you might be forced to put up with tightness that isn’t entirely comfortable and can even hurt at the end of a long day. Thankfully, there's a simple DIY solution to widening your shoes to fit like a glove! All you’ll need is an airtight bag filled with water. Then, place it in the area of your shoe that feels too tight.
Then, put the shoes in the freezer. As the water freezes, it expands, causing them to stretch out the shoes slightly. Hopefully, afterward, your favorite pair will fit that little bit better.
Add Heel Patches to Your Favorite Shoes to Extend Their Lifespan
Although the inside of your shoes at the heels aren't visible when wearing them, they're often why a pair of shoes are thrown out. Once the lining inside the heel starts to wear, the shoe might start rubbing your ankle and feel uncomfortable or even painful. But if you’re particularly attached to your shoes, there's no reason to bid them farewell for this alone. You can quickly patch up the damage, unbeknownst to anyone!
Denim is an excellent choice for patching a worn heel because it's durable. Best of all, the needlework required here is pretty basic, so give this hack a go next time your lining starts to wear!
Switch to No-Tie Shoelaces
How do you make your day more efficient? There are tons of time-saving hacks out there, but have you ever considered cutting out the time it takes you to tie your shoelaces every morning? Admittedly this should only take you a few seconds. But you can earn this time back by investing in a set of no-tie shoelaces. Not only will this save you time, but they also don’t come untied while you’re out and about.
All in all, no-tie shoelaces are a quick, safe, and stylish solution for your sneakers. Once you've added them to your shoes, enjoy slipping into them in the morning and being ready to go - you won't look back!
Tape Your Toes to Ease Aching Feet From Wearing Heels
Aching feet are the worst part of wearing high heels. The pain often results from putting too much pressure on the nerve between your second and third toes. However, a simple way to relieve that tension is to tape the offending toes together! Warning: Don’t accidentally wrap them so tightly that you cut off circulation - otherwise, this will have the opposite result! Instead, position the tape to provide just enough support and protection.
Doing so will make walking and standing in heels more comfortable. You can use gauze or medical tape for this purpose. There are even dedicated toe wraps that you can purchase online!
Use Bread to Clean Suede Shoes
Are you one of those people that don’t eat the end piece of a loaf of bread? If you have a pair of suede shoes you want to keep clean, don’t throw that bread away just yet! Instead, you can use it to clean your suede shoes. Suede is a reasonably delicate material that's a bit harder to clean. However, primping your suede shoes every now and then should be a priority if you want them to go the distance.
But, unfortunately, lots of fabrics and brushes can scratch or damage the suede. So, instead, rub bread on stains with consistency until they disappear, and gently brush off any crumbs. You'll be amazed at the results!
Add Glue to the Soles of Your Shoes for More Grip
Are you looking to add more grip to your shoes to ensure you don’t slip and fall while you're out and about? If so, glue could do the trick. We propose using a hot glue gun to apply three lines of glue to the sole of your shoes. Then, wait for them to dry and cool, so they've hardened into tracks to create more friction underfoot. No one sees the soles of your feet, so you don’t have to worry about them looking tacky.
However, there's a good chance that the glue won’t be a permanent solution, as the glue will eventually rub off. Still, we think it's a decent cheap, albeit temporary, answer if you’re looking for a quick and easy fix to adding some grip to your shoes.
Give Your Old Shoes a Makeover
If you own an old pair of shoes and you're thinking of chucking them, don’t throw your old shoes away just yet! You can do plenty with a bit of creativity. There are lots of tutorials online for giving your shoes a complete makeover. You can add lacey details, paint, fabric, pearls, and other decorations to create one-of-a-kind shoes that suit your personality. Granted, making over a shoe is a bit of a project.
So, with that said, this is only a good tip for those who love getting creative with arts and crafts. But if you’re looking for a new project, we think some of the shoe-renewal ideas on the web are great!
Soak Fleece-Lined Slippers in Dish Soap Solution
Fleece-lined slippers are a popular Christmas gift, and it's not difficult to see why! They never go amiss in winter when the floors at home are cold, and your feet never seem to get warm enough. However, the one downside to slippers like these is that they tend to soak up your sweat. Consequently, they perpetrate a terribly vinegary smell after a while. Fortunately, cleaning fleece-lined slippers is easier than you might think.
First, add a few tablespoons of dish soap to warm water and soak your shoes in the liquid for a few minutes. Afterward, you should be able to simply wipe off any stains. Then, let the shoes dry, and voila!
Avoid Sweaty Shoes With Panty Liners
We probably don’t have to tell you that panty liners are made from super absorbent material and do a great job keeping moisture and smell at bay. Yes, you've guessed where this is going... If you’re not put off by slightly untraditional solutions, we have a hack to stop you from suffering from sweaty feet. Just stick panty liners into your shoes before you put them on for the day!
Not only are they relatively cushioned and comfortable, but they’ll, more importantly, soak up all the sweat, keeping your feet nice and dry. Remember to change the panty liner to avoid germs sticking around after each use.
Stop Shoes From Chafing With K-Y Jelly
Chafing occurs when the skin rubs against other materials repeatedly. When you wear your shoes day in, and day out, even the slightest misalignment between the back of your heels and your foot can cause repeated rubbing and chafing. One way to prevent chafing and relieve the pain that comes with it is to apply K-Y jelly. The jelly reduces friction. We recommend applying a jelly layer before intensive activities like running or hiking.
Be sure to target problem areas like the ankles or at the heels. As a quick home remedy, it doesn’t take long to apply and can offer extra protection from discomfort.
Use Vaseline to Get Rid of Shoe Scuffs
The leather looks immaculate when you buy a new pair of fancy leather shoes. Of course, it would be great if you could preserve the shoe precisely as it is. But the reality is that scuffs happen easily enough as you go about your day. A shoe was meant to be worn, after all, not displayed! But you don’t have to roll over and let your shoes wear and tear without putting up a fight!
Something as simple as vaseline could help you restore your scuffed-up boots. Apply it to a cotton swab and gently rub it into the mark; the scuff should disappear within seconds!
Revive Leather Shoes With a Banana Peel
After you’ve worn your leather boots for a while, it’s not uncommon for them to lose their shine and luster. As a result, they can look tired and worn. This distressed look is a fashion ideal for some people, while others would rather keep their boots looking brand spanking new. For the latter, we have the perfect shoe-shining hack! Just grab a fresh banana peel. Then use the inside of it to rub your leather shoes down.
Watch how the fruit's skin transforms your shoes and brings their initial color and shine back! The natural oils and potassium in bananas nourish the leather, which has somewhat of a reviving effect. Who knew?!
Organize Your Shoes Using Shoe Pegs
If you’re a true shoe lover, there’s a good chance you own a horde of footwear that needs storing somewhere around your house. After all, there are different pairs of shoes for every occasion. You name it: Summer shoes, sports shoes, formal shoes, work shoes, walking shoes, etc.; so, suppose you want to keep your home tidy. In that case, it’s vital to find a way to organize all your different shoes and, ideally, keep them off the floor, where they become tripping hazards.
Shoe pegs are one of the best ways to keep your shoes in the line. You can hang up your shoes by installing shoe pegs, making it easy to keep pairs together, and they don’t touch the floor so that you can vacuum more easily - win-win!
Use a Bread Tag to Fix Your Flip-Flops
Flip-flops are one of the most popular and cheap pieces of footwear that we drag through hell and back on our holiday escapades. So it’s no wonder many of them break on the occasional adventure. It's also not uncommon for the strap to come loose, resulting in limited foot support. Luckily, flip-flops are simply constructed and, therefore, easy to fix, so don’t throw them away just yet! You can easily fix a loose strap with a bread tag.
Just pull the strap through the hole between your toes, and close the tag around the end. This will stop it from slipping back through and add extra support where you apply the most pressure.
Restore Old Shoes With Toothpaste
Most shoes are stylish as long as they're kept clean and in good condition. Unfortunately, after repeated wears, they rarely maintain that pristine status. As a result, it's common for frequently worn shoes to start flaking in places and look shabby and scuffed. One way to deal with scuffed shoes is to rub toothpaste all over them. The toothpaste helps you to get rid of uneven bits and gives your shoes a deep clean!
Interestingly, toothpaste isn’t the only thing that achieves this effect. You can also use a magic eraser to go over your shoes, and you’ll be similarly impressed with the results!
Use Sneaker Protectors
That’s right; there's a dedicated product to protect your sneakers from losing their stylish, fabulous shape. Sneakers have a habit of developing creases after a while, which makes them look wrinkled and old. With sneaker protectors, you avoid this natural wear and tear for a long time. Here's how they work: insert the sneaker protector into the shoe (when you're not wearing them) to provide extra support to the fabric.
Sneaker protectors work particularly well with Air Jordans because of their sleek shape and high-top design. However, you’ll find they're a good investment for any pair of sneakers you're particularly fond of.
Keep Sweat at Bay With Foot Spray
Foot health isn’t too commonly discussed, but it’s as important to invest in as anything else. After all, your feet literally carry you through your day, every day, and depending on the shoes you stick them in, that might not be an easy task. So to keep your feet happy and healthy, consider getting into the habit of spraying them with foot spray. This keeps your feet refreshed and sweat-free, ensuring no moisture builds up.
Foot sprays are entirely safe to use on your skin and aren't a hassle to incorporate into your routine. Just spray some on the bottom of your feet and let them dry briefly before putting your shoes on.
Use Heel Protectors When Wearing Heels Oustide
Heels are always a great addition to your outfit, no matter the occasion. But while occasion doesn’t matter, location sometimes does. Unfortunately, outdoor terrain and heels don’t always mix. It's possible to slip on wet surfaces and lose your hold entirely on small rocks - not to mention, sink on grass. This makes walking difficult and even dangerous, as you could slip and bend your ankle. This is where heel protectors come into their own.
Adding a heel protector to the tip of your high heels redistributes the weight onto a slightly larger surface area. This makes it a bit easier to navigate trickier surfaces.
Use Dedicated Blister Prevention Spray
While there are a bunch of household remedies to prevent blisters (some of which we've covered in this list), sometimes nothing is as effective as a dedicated product. Blister prevention spray does what it says on the tin: It prevents your feet from chafing and developing painful inflammation. In addition, blister spray is less likely to react negatively with your skin as a deodorant. Again, the application is as easy as a quick spray over your feet.
Be sure to allow the spray to dry before putting on your shoes. The product is also relatively inexpensive, and worth it if you know you have a long day ahead.
Achieve a Better Fit With a Shoe Stretcher
Online shopping is becoming increasingly common, even for wearable items such as clothes and shoes. But unfortunately, without being able to try on the shoes first, it's easy to order a pair in your usual size that doesn’t quite fit you. Fortunately, you can purchase a dedicated tool to stretch your shoes to achieve a more comfortable fit. This hoove-like device can be adjusted to force the material of your shoes out a little further.
Once you’ve set the device to the size of your foot and pushed it inside, you can leave it to work its magic for a few hours or overnight to permanently shape the fabric.