Slipping and falling is no joke. Not only can slipping and falling be embarrassing but it can also leave you with life-long injuries and pain. If you’ve experienced a fall due to slippery shoes, you know this all too well.
Sometimes you may not want to get rid of a particular pair of shoes even though they’re slippery. If that’s the case and you want to know how to make shoes non-slip, then stick around. In this article, we’ll be looking at 10 ways to make your shoe slip-resistant.
How to Make Your Shoes Slip Resistant
1. Scuff the Sole of your Shoes
If you’re wondering how to make shoes non-slip for work, try scuffing the soles of your shoes. Scuffing the bottom of the shoe gives it traction and makes it slip-resistant. New shoes are more likely to be slippery since they have never been worn and have perfectly smooth soles.
To scuff the soles of your shoes, scrape them against an abrasive surface like a rocky road or rough concrete for a few minutes. The rough surface will increase the abrasions under the shoes thus increasing their grip.
2. Use Sandpaper
If the idea of scraping your shoe on a rough surface doesn’t appeal to you, you can make a shoe slip-resistant by using sandpaper. Sandpaper is far more convenient as you can do use it to scuff the bottom of your shoes at home.
It is recommended that you use 50-grit sandpaper for best results. Try to target smooth areas that contact the floor. Continue sanding until the targeted parts appear textured or feel rougher.
Be sure that you can use sandpaper on your pair of shoes as soles that have a natural and cardboard-like texture may become damaged if you sandpaper them.
3. Score the Bottom of the Shoe
Are you wondering how to make your shoe non-slippery for cheap? Simply score the soles of your shoes using a knife, razor blade, or any other sharp object. Don’t worry, you won’t damage the soles of your shoes if you follow the instructions exactly.
Hold your shoes upside down and gently cut short diagonal lines on the sole of your shoe using the sharp object of your choice. Now, cut lines in the other direction. In the end, you should end up with a cool lattice pattern on the soles of your shoes.
You can try other designs but remember not to make deep cuts; you should only gently score the bottom of the shoes to increase traction.
4. Try Grip Pads
If you have shoes with worn soles, then you can purchase some non-slip grip pads to add traction. Clean the bottoms of your shoes and place the grip pads in spots that contact the floor, pressing firmly. Be sure to purchase high-quality grip pads so that they will adhere well to the bottom of your shoes.
5. Use Traction Spray
Traction sprays are an affordable option when looking to make an anti-slip shoe base. Look for a traction spray that is compatible with your shoes. Clean the bottoms of your shoes and liberally spray the contents of the bottle onto the soles. Pay attention to the smooth areas of the shoes.
Traction spray works just as well as grip pads and may even cost less. However, you may have to reapply the spray after some time as it wears away.
6. Apply Puff Paint
As weird as it sounds, applying puff paint to your shoes can make them slip-resistant. Puff paint is a type of paint used by kids in their arts and crafts projects. Apply a thin layer of puff paint on the soles and on the sides of the soles. Set aside and leave the paint to dry for a few hours.
Once the paint is completely dried, your shoes are ready to tackle the most slippery surfaces including wet surfaces and ice. However, you may need to reapply puff paint since it is not a permanent solution.
7. Fix an Ankle Strap to the Shoe
Fixing an ankle strap to your shoe not only makes the base of the shoe non-slip but also allows you to express your style. They are incredibly handy if you have no time to try the other methods since they require no time at all to install.
Simply pick a color and design that you like, attach it to the shoe and you’re done. The ankle strap will help you maintain your balance when walking on greasy surfaces and provide awesome support for your feet. They will provide enough grip to reduce the risks of slipping.
8. Attach Non-Slip Soles
One of the best solutions to make non-slip shoes is to attach non-slip soles to the bottom of the shoe. It is also one of the longest-lasting and most effective techniques to make your shoes non-slip. Non-slip soles can also protect your shoes from normal wear and tear as well as prevent accidental skids on wet or icy surfaces.
Non-skid soles are cheap and easy to install; however, you may need some type of adhesive to attach the non-slip sole to your shoes. After the adhesive is dried, the non-slip sole will keep your shoes in impeccable condition for many years to come.
9. Use a Mixture of Rubber Glue and Salt
To make DIY non-slip shoes, you can use a combination of rubber glue and salt. When combined these two ingredients create a grainy texture. Once applied to the soles of your shoe, it improves traction and grip to decrease the risks of slipping.
To create this mixture, mix some glue with plenty of salt – the more salt, the better the grip. The measurement doesn’t need to be precise, just eyeball it. Take a small paintbrush, dip it into the mixture and apply a thin layer to the bottom of your shoes.
Leave the shoes to dry in a corner for some time before wearing them.
10. Stick Two Adhesive Bandages
If your job makes you susceptible to slipping and falling even when wearing high-quality non-slip shoes and you’re in need of a quick fix, then this tip can help you. Grab two adhesive bandages and stick them on the back of your shoes. You can also place bandages on the heel to improve traction.
Bonus Tips
To help you further we’ve decided to throw in a few bonus tips that you can try to make your shoes non-slip.
- Use masking tape to boost the grip of the shoe. It can prevent you from slipping on wet surfaces. Layer up two pieces of masking tape and create an X on the bottom of your shoes. Be sure to apply the tape to the widest and flattest parts of the shoe for best results.
- Wait until the soles naturally wear to the point that it provides traction. However, this is a time-consuming process.
- Use ice grips if you spend a lot of time on icy surfaces.
Conclusion
You don’t always have to walk on eggshells when wearing your shoes on slippery surfaces. Your safety and wellbeing are important, so try out these 10 proven ways to make shoes slip-resistant. If you don’t have time to try these hacks or are afraid that you’ll destroy your shoes, take them to the cobbler. They will be able to modify or replace the sole with a non-slip one.
In the end, you want to be careful and wear the right type of shoes for the surface you’ll be walking on to avoid slipping and falling. If you suffer from lower back pain as well, then the best walking shoes for lower back pain may help to alleviate some of the pain.
