We’ve all been there — that awkward silence broken only by the squeak of your shoes as you walk across the room.
But don’t abandon your cute — or comfy — footwear because of the noise. Follow these steps to identify and address a squeaky shoe.
Dry them out
If excess moisture is causing the squeak, thoroughly drying your shoes is essential. Try this method, recommended by Nike:
- Remove the insoles.
- Crumple up newspaper and stuff it all the way to the toe of the shoe.
- Wrap the shoes in a towel.
- Leave them to dry in a well-ventilated area for about 12 hours. Placing them near a fan or vent blowing warm air will help them dry faster.
If that sounds like too much work, Reader’s Digest suggests a quicker alternative. Add a little fabric softener to a sponge or washcloth, then toss it along with your squeaking shoes into the dryer. Make sure not to leave them in for more than 10 minutes, or you could risk ending up with shrunken, heat-damaged shoes.
Try WD-40
Reader’s Digest recommends soaking a cotton ball in WD-40 or silicone spray and then applying it to the shoe’s outside seams. However, the magazine notes this trick could ruin suede.
“No lie wd40. Spray the outsoles it regrips them,” a Reddit user agrees.
Stop friction
If the squeak is coming from inside the shoe and isn’t because of moisture, Nike recommends reducing friction by:
- Removing the shoe insole.
- Adding a thin layer of petroleum jelly or coconut oil to the bottom of the insole.
Reader’s Digest recommends another method: Shake a bit of baby powder or talcum powder under the inner sole to absorb moisture. If your shoes don’t have removable soles, add the powder around the inside sole instead.
Condition the leather
Sometimes, footwear squeaks because it’s too dry, especially if it’s made of leather. To address this, Nike suggests using leather conditioner to moisturize the shoe and keep it from squeaking:
- Remove the shoelaces.
- Dab a small amount of conditioner onto a clean cloth.
- Work in small, circular motions to gently rub it into the leather uppers, focusing on any natural creases.
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