Shoes are an integral part of our day-to-day lives, so, naturally, we want to take care of them. Despite this, it’s never easy.
Sometimes, our shoes get too scruffy or become too tight. There are times when our feet sweat or feel pain – and let’s not forget about blisters and worn-out soles!
So, what can you do in these situations? Most people give up and throw their shoes away or let them get dustier and more worn out inside the closet.
Don’t fret! You can still wear these shoes if you know the right thing to do.
Useful Shoe Hacks That Can Make Your Life Easier
Here are some shoe life hacks to make your footwear more comfortable, functional, and fun to use.
1) Use a Deodorant to Prevent Blisters
A blister is a bubble that appears on the skin of your feet. Blisters occur if the shoes you wear are too tight. This is because the material of the shoes rubs against your skin, causing friction.
Furthermore, the blisters can be even more painful if the shoe continues to rub against them. So, what should you do? Use deodorants.
Yes, this is quite surprising. Aside from keeping your feet from sweating, deodorants can ease the feeling of blisters when you wear shoes. It acts as a barrier so that there is no friction.
All you need to do is swipe the deodorant at the back and the sides of your foot and ease your foot into your shoes.
You’ll feel nothing but comfort and ease.
2) Use Baby Powder on Squeaking Shoes
It’s pretty embarrassing when you walk and hear that squeaking noise emanating from your feet. People can’t help but stare, and you can’t help but feel annoyed.
Usually, that noise happens when air or moisture gets trapped in different areas of your footwear or when you’re wearing rubber shoes and the material rubs against the surface of a slick floor.
Using baby powder is one of the best shoe tips for getting rid of squeaking, and it’s fast and easy to do. Just grab some and sprinkle underneath the inner sole. The smooth and fine texture of the powder will allow for better cohesion, making the squealing sound stop.
You can now enjoy your stroll.
3) DIY Inner Soles
Sometimes, the inner soul of your shoes makes you uncomfortable, and there are instances when they can hurt your heel. This pain can be for several reasons: the insoles are not the right arch height, not the right style, or not in the proper placement.
Instead of simply enduring the pain, you can do something about it. You can create a personalized inner sole.
Here are the steps on how to create your own inner sole:
- Create a template of your foot. Just draw your foot (on paper, cardboard, etc.) and cut it.
- Using this template, mark the lines on the mat of whatever pattern you choose.
- Cut the material.
- Do the same for the other foot.
After this, you will feel the comfort of using customized soles in your shoes.
4) Eliminate the Stains on your Sneakers with Nail Polish Remover
Your dirty, white sneakers can be bothersome. However, there are many sneaker hacks you can use to remove the stains. One of them is applying nail polish remover.
The acetone contained is effective in getting rid of stubborn stains. Acetone is a solvent, which means it can dissolve certain compounds.
Follow these easy steps:
- Get a cotton ball.
- Drip a sufficient amount of nail polish remover on it.
- Wipe the cotton ball over the sneakers.
Voila! See your sneakers gleam before your eyes!
5) Use Tea Bags for Smelly Shoes
Do you have stinky shoes? Don’t you have time for thorough cleaning of your shoes to get rid of the smell? Well, did you know that using tea bags can be a great fix?
Shoe odor can be difficult to eliminate. This smell is usually caused by bacteria that have developed due to moisture, but it can be overcome by using tea bags.
Teabags are super-absorbent and dry out any dampness – plus, they smell nice! Just leave unused tea bags inside your shoes. Leave them in for an hour.
Now you can smell that clean and herbal aroma!
6) Apply Vinegar Solution to Salt Stains
There are several sources of salt stains on shoes. Some of these are salts placed in the leather during production and on the streets due to ice, snow, and damp weather.
These stains on our boots and leather shoes are a nuisance. So, how do you get rid of them? By using a vinegar mixture. The reaction between vinegar and salt creates an effective cleanser that efficiently cleans the shoe’s surface.
Check out these steps:
- Mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 quart of water in a bowl.
- Dab a clean cloth into the solution.
- Wipe the cloth over the shoes.
- Dry the area with a different cloth
Try this helpful hack to see the significant effect on your boots and leather shoes.
7) Use a Shower Cap to Pack your Dirty Shoes
Got a sudden trip? Don’t have time to clean your dirty shoes before you need to pack them?
That’s easy! A good hack is to use a shower cap. Just wrap it over the soles of the shoes before placing them in your bag or luggage.
Now, you don’t have to worry about dirtying the clothes and other items in the bag. Hurry up and try it!
8) Get Rid of Water Stains with Vinegar
The uses of vinegar are endless! Another problem this ingredient can help you with is water stains.
Leather shoes often develop water stains after frequent exposure to water, but you don’t have to worry about that anymore.
So, how do you get rid of the water stains? Just follow these easy steps:
- Create a mixture of water and vinegar.
- Dip an old toothbrush into the mixture.
- Start brushing.
Keep those ugly stains away with this great solution.
9) Waterproof your Shoes with Beeswax
We hate it when our favorite boots get all wet. But there is a workaround for this.
Beeswax is both a lubricant and waterproofing agent. So, it should not come as a surprise that you can use it to waterproof your shoes.
How do you use beeswax?
- Melt the beeswax
- Using a toothbrush, apply the beeswax all-around your leather boots.
- With a Wagner Heat Gun HT400, apply heat so that the beeswax is absorbed.
- Wipe with a paper towel.
This is one of the best boot hacks there is. Start enjoying your waterproof boots!
10) Cover your Flip-Flop Straps with a Soft Cloth
We use our flip-flops often. Because of everyday use, the hardened straps take a toll on our toes. Considering this, it’s best if you fix them to bring back ease and comfort to your walks.
What you can do is cover the straps with a soft fabric. Choose one with a neat design to make the flip-flops and your feet look nicer.
Now, you can walk freely and comfortably.
11) Use Baking Soda to Remove Shoe Scuffs
Scuffs or scratches in shoes, specifically leather ones, result from bumping and scraping against surfaces. The marks make for ill-looking footwear. Although one can still use them, the tendency is to throw them away.
However, you don’t have to do that. You just need to recondition your shoes by using one of the most useful ingredients around.
So, how can baking soda help? Baking soda can bring back the aesthetic appeal of your leather shoes.
You need to do the following:
- Mix 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda with warm water to create a consistent paste.
- Apply the paste directly to the marked areas.
- With a clean cloth, polish the shoes.
See the wonders baking soda can make. Your shoes will be as good as new ones!
12) Tape your Toes when Wearing High Heels
Sounds uncomfortable? It’s not. This shoe hack will help you stay stylish without compromising comfort.
Experts say that wearing high heels sometimes places a strain on the nerve between the second and third toes. Taping these toes together will relieve some tension, but remember not to tape them too tight so that blood circulates appropriately.
Now you’ll feel more confident strutting your stuff.
13) Widen your Shoes with Ice Water
Bought the wrong shoe size? No worries. You can slip into your footwear easily with this great tip.
You need to do the following:
- Get two Ziploc bags and fill each one with water 1/4 of the way.
- Snug them inside your shoes.
- Put the shoes in the freezer until the water hardens into ice.
- Remove the shoes and thaw out the ice.
As the water turns into ice, the widening process occurs. You can now enjoy your new shoes.
14) Fix Heel Linings with Cloth Patches
Most of the time, the heel linings of shoes are the ones that give out early. However, you don’t have to throw away a perfect pair because of this problem.
You can get some cloth-like materials, such as denim, and patch them on the lining area. The patches also bring a whole new look.
Your shoes will be as good as new.
15) Remove Creases Using a Steam Iron
Sometimes, our running or sports shoes develop creases, and they can be such a hassle. However, you don’t need to buy new shoes, you just need to iron out the wrinkles.
So, how do you do it? You just need to get a wet cloth and place it on top of the area with creases. Then, gently rub the iron on it.
Say goodbye to those creases and say hello to sharp-looking shoes!
16) Break in New Shoes with a Hairdryer
It’s common knowledge that the first few times we use newly bought shoes are not easy. Sometimes, breaking into new shoes results in red marks or blisters.
But you don’t have to undergo such situations. There’s an easy and quick fix for this – use a hairdryer! You just need to put on socks, wear the shoes, and blow-dry them.
The heat loosens up the material. Your feet then get used to it so that you feel at ease when you wear the shoes.
Try this hack and feel for yourself!
17) Use Petroleum Jelly for Chafing Prevention
When running or doing sports, we almost always get chafing in our feet, and it’s not a great feeling. So, it’s best to prevent this when doing intensive training, practice, or games.
Petroleum jelly has many uses, and that includes preventing chafed skin. Just apply an ample amount on your feet before putting on your socks and shoes.
Be active without having to worry about chafing.
18) Dry your Boots with some Paper
Walking in the rain will leave moisture in your boots. This makes your boots smell. Thus, it helps if you dry them as soon as you get home.
You do not need to do anything complicated. The simplest way is to use old newspapers or paper towels. Just stuff a bunch of them inside the boots and leave them on for a few hours.
Keep your shoes nice and dry to maintain freshness.
19) Maintain the Sparkle of your White Sneakers with Toothpaste
When we buy them, we can’t help but marvel at the pristine white color of our new sneakers. However, they soon fade out.
To maintain that pearly-white quality, you can clean them with toothpaste.
Here are the steps to follow:
- With a brush, scrub the shoes with toothpaste.
- Allow it to form bubbles and leave for a minute or two.
- Rinse thoroughly.
See your shoes gleam white again!
20) Use Mayonnaise to Remove Gum.
Stepping on chewing gum is such a hassle. When we try to remove it, often it won’t budge.
However, did you know that there’s an easy and quick way to achieve this? All you need is mayonnaise.
Lather a bit of mayonnaise onto the area with the gum until it loosens. When you feel it do so, pull it off with a knife.
That’s it. Piece of cake!
21) Apply Sandpaper for Better Shoe Traction
Typically, new shoes mean lesser grip. And due to this, we tend to trip and slip while wearing them.
One of the best shoe tips is to apply sandpaper. Its coarseness provides traction that can prevent a stumble.
This is relatively easy to do. Just rub the smoother parts of the sole with the sandpaper. When you feel that they have become rougher in texture, you’re good to go.
Try this to achieve excellent grip with your footwear.
Don’t throw away those stinky shoes, and don’t be disheartened with new shoes that don’t fit. Fear not from all those blisters and all that chafing.
Say goodbye to all the hassles. Use these 21 shoe hacks, and enjoy getting more wear out of your shoes!
