Have you ever been walking in a quiet area only to realise your shoe is squeaking? Suddenly that small noise is the only thing you can hear and you think everyone else can hear it too. It’s an annoying situation and one we likely have all experienced. The three main culprits behind a noisy shoe are water, friction, and having brand-new footwear. However, there are a few easy things you can do to remove the squeak and enjoy a quiet stroll once more.
Excess water can cause squeaking noises in shoes. To prevent the noise from developing or to tackle an already-squeaky shoe, allow them to dry thoroughly after they have been washed or exposed to rain and other liquids. Air drying them does not always dry the inner layers of the shoe. To ensure a thoroughly dry shoe, remove the insoles and stuff the shoe with crumpled-up newspaper, filling it up to the toe. Next, wrap the shoe in a towel and place it in a well-ventilated area for at least 12 hours. They will dry faster if placed beside a fan or a vent that blows warm air. Remove the newspaper and, before returning the insole, sprinkling some baby powder into the shoe to absorb any remaining moisture.
As well as excess water being a culprit, shoes being too dry can also cause squeaking. This is particularly true for leather shoes, which should be treated with a leather conditioner to keep the material moisturised and less likely to squeak. Add a small amount of conditioner to a dry, clean cloth and apply to the leather in small circular motions, paying particular attention to any creases in the fabric. If your laces run against the tongue of your shoes causing a noise, you can use saddle soap to solve this issue too. Apply it to a damp cloth and rub it onto the tongue to form a lather before wiping it away with a clean damp cloth. You could also use leather conditioner for this process.
Some squeaks are caused by friction inside the shoe, from parts of the shoe rubbing against other parts of the shoe. To combat this, remove the insole and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the inside sole of the shoe before reinstalling the insole. This will prevent the insole from building friction when it rubs against other parts of the shoe.
Finally, one of the main reasons your shoes squeak is simply because they are new and have not been properly broken in. New rubber soles or still seams can generate an annoying sound, but the more you wear them the quieter they will get until the sound disappears completely. You can speed this up by wearing the shoes around your home, where you will be the only person annoyed by the squeaking.
