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3 Ways to Stop Your Shoes from Squeaking

Determine the location of the squeak. Pay attention to any vibrations you feel when you walkthis will tell you where the squeak originates and the area of the shoe that must be repaired. If the squeak is coming from a place that you can easily access, such as the space between the heel and the sole, you can glue the two areas back together using contact cement. Shoe Goo and Barge AllPurpose Cement are two adhesives that should do the job well.

These kinds of cements do not work like traditional glues, so it's important to work in a wellventilated area and follow directions carefully.

Make sure the surface of both areas to be glued is clean and dry and free of dirt. Scrape off any old glue. Use sandpaperit will remove the glue and has the added benefit of roughing up the surface area, which will help ensure a better bond.

Apply the glue directly to each surface to be bonded or repaired. Wait 5 to 10 minutes before bringing the surfaces togetherthis gives the cement time to cure. Press firmly to establish full contact.

Keep a steady hand. When you attach two surfaces using contact cement, the bond is immediate. This leaves very little opportunity to reposition, so be sure you've lined the shoe surfaces up just the way you want them the first time.

Keep your hands free of adhesive. Since you're using contact cement, getting a little of the adhesive on your hands shouldn't be a problem unless your hand comes into contact with another cementcovered surface. To be on the safe side, you might want to wear gloves.

Allow the repair to dry for at least 24 hours. Air temperature and materials can affect drying time. Plan to wait 48 to 72 hours before wearing your newly repaired shoes.

If the squeak is being caused by shoe laces rubbing against the tongue of the shoe, rub the tongue with saddle soap or a leather conditioner to soften the leather and cut down on friction.

Remove the laces and set them aside.

Use a soft cloth to apply the saddle soap. Moisten the cloth with a little water and rub the soap in to create a lather. Wipe off any excess with a damp cloth and let the leather dry before replacing the laces. Since saddle soap contains wax, your laces should slide into place easily and any rubbing should be silenced.

Rub in leather conditioner. Put a small amount of the conditioner onto a soft, dry cloth and rub it onto the tongue of your shoe. Let it sit for a few minutes and wipe off any excess. Replace the laces. If you suspect your squeaky shoes are the result of trapped moisture, be sure to dry them thoroughly. The best thing to do is to allow them to dry at room temperature, but there are some ways to speed up the process.

Stuff your wet shoes with newspaper. If the shoe has a removable insert, take it out. Place wadded up newspaper into the shoe to serve as a "sponge" to soak up the water. Be sure to push the newspaper fully up into the toe of the shoe. If the shoes are especially wet, be sure to change out the newspaper frequently. Once you've soaked up all the water that you can, remove the newspaper so that the shoes can air dry.

Put your shoes in front of a fan. Lay the shoes on their sides and put them directly in front of the air flow. If you don't have a fan, your refrigerator does. Put your shoes in front of the fridge; if this presents a tripping hazard for family members, pull out the refrigerator and lay the shoes on the floor in back.

Put wet shoes outside to dry. On a dry day, tie the laces of your shoes together and hang them over a clothesline or put them on the deck railing or porch step so they can catch the breeze.

Forego using a heater or hair dryer. It's important to avoid drying shoes near a fire or heater. Heat is too intense for leather; it can actually "cook" it, causing the leather to become stiff and brittle.