How to stop shoes squeaking

Have you ever worn sneakers that squeak with every step? This constant squeaking can begin to get annoying, not just for you, but for everyone around you. To stop your shoes squeaking once and for all, it is important to get to the bottom of why they are squeaking in the first place. A lot of different factors could be at the root of this pesky problem, but once you’ve figured out the culprit, it is then easy to find a solution that’ll fix it.

What causes shoes to squeak?

There are a bunch of reasons that could explain why your favourite pair of sneakers are squeaking as you walk. Some shoes may squeak as soon as you buy them or it might develop over time. Here are the main factors that usually cause squeaking shoes: 

Air

Air is regularly the culprit of shoe squeaks. Sometimes air can get trapped between particular parts of your shoe. However, it is most common for air to get trapped in between your sole and insole. As you walk, this air is squeezed out, resulting in a pesky squeaking sound. 

Moisture

Moisture is another element that can cause squeaking. As you walk, any excess moisture will get compressed and create a squeaking sound. There doesn’t need to be a ton of excess moisture for your shoe to squeak - a slightly sweaty foot or shoes stored in a damp house will do it. Wet shoes are very common in winter, with the wet weather creating a build-up of moisture before you know it. 

General friction

Generally, friction can cause squeaking. As you walk, it will cause any friction between the sole and insole to rub up and down, resulting in an audible squeak. This most commonly occurs with new shoes that need breaking in, with leather shoes being renowned for this. The squeaking can also be caused by friction between rubber soles and hard or smooth surfaces, whether that be a gym floor or a dance floor. 

Methods to stop your shoes from squeaking

Luckily, there are many different ways you can either stop shoes from squeaking or prevent them from making noise to begin with. Most of these methods can be done at home with little to no investment, which makes fixing this issue cheap and easy. The method you choose to use will depend on what the cause of the squeaking is. You may need to try a few different techniques if you aren’t too sure what is causing the squeaking.

Dry them out

If moisture is the cause of your problems, you’ll need to try and dry your shoes out. There are a few ways to go about this. 

One way is to toss them into your dryer. Although an easy method, this method won’t be appropriate for all shoes. Some fabrics may get damaged from this, so be sure to read your shoe care instructions carefully. If you do go down this route, make sure to set the dryer to a gentle cycle and put your shoes in with a dry towel. The towel will protect your dryer from any damage that hard shoes may cause. Just make sure not to leave them in there for longer than 10 minutes, as this could cause heat damage to your shoe. 

If you aren’t sure if your shoes are safe for the dryer, try drying them out the old-fashioned way. If you have a hot water cupboard, placing your shoes in there is a good alternative solution. Otherwise, feel free to find a sunny spot in your home and place them there. If you want to dry them out as fast as possible, you may need to pull out the insole beforehand. 

Another great hack for drying out your shoes is silica gel. If you’ve ever bought new sneakers, you most likely stumbled upon some silica gel when you opened the box. This silica gel is actually designed as a drying agent, absorbing excess moisture. If you happen to have some spare packets lying around, consider popping them in your shoes to help dry them out. At a pinch, newspaper can be used instead. If you are smart with your shoe storage options, you should be able to reduce the risk of moisture buildup over time. 

Soft sandpaper

The sandpaper method is particularly helpful if friction is causing the squeaking. This is often apparent with new shoes, as the sole of a new shoe comes out of the box smooth and unworn. Use the sandpaper to rough them up a little bit and stop the squeaking. 

Talcum powder

Have a go at using talcum powder if you think moisture is to blame for the squeaking. You’ll want to take out the inner sole, pop a bit of talcum powder on it and let it sit overnight. This should hopefully soak up any excess moisture. Then you can just brush off any excess the next day. 

If you are going to try any method first, try this one, as there is no chance of it damaging your shoes. It is also known for being extremely effective, especially if you have a pair of leather shoes that are causing you problems. 

Lubricant

If friction is to blame, it could be a good idea to add some kind of lubricant (depending on the type of shoe). 

There are some great lubricating products that can be used underneath the inner sole or on the external seams. Choose from specialised shoe conditioners, WD-40 or even vaseline. If you have squeaky leather or suede shoes in particular, you’ll want to stick with a specialised shoe conditioner as to not risk damaging your shoes. Make sure to remove your laces so you can have full access to the tongue of the shoe. You can also try lubricating your actual foot if there is friction between your skin and the shoe. Try using a skin slick spray if this is the case. 

Fix your shoes

If you’ve tried everything and your shoes are still squeaking, it could be because of damage to the actual shoe construction. This damage could cause components of the shoe to rub against each other, squeaking as they do so. 

If you can’t bear to part with your shoes, it could be worth taking them to a specialised repair shop. Squeaking can sometimes be due to a loose heel, which is common in dress shoes. In cases like this, a specialist may be able to glue them back together. However, we recommend you leave this to the professionals to avoid making the issue worse. 

In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to replace your shoes altogether. But more on that later! 

Give it time

If your shoes are brand new, you might just need to be patient. Some shoes take time to break in and they may squeak a little during the process. Over time, as the material begins to soften, your shoe should stop squeaking.