Do you have a pair of boots that makes an irritating noise every time you walk in them? If so you are not alone. The problem of how to stop boots from squeaking when walking is incredibly common but with some simple steps, it is possible to resolve the problem with both new and old footwear.
We are going to walk you through some of the best hacks to stop squeaky boots so that you can wear your footwear without drawing attention to yourself everywhere you go. But before we begin you probably need to know why books squeak in the first place.
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Why do New Leather Boots Squeak When You Walk?
The reason why leather boots squeak when you walk is in fact not down to a singular reason. It will actually depend on the material of your boots, their construction and the ground that you are walking on when the noise happens.
New boots tend to be the biggest culprit for annoying sounds as they are not broken in. This means that they tend to be stiffer and lack flexibility which leads to sounds.
Common problem areas in new and old boots tend to be the areas between the inner sole and the insole, the boot sole and ground, the heels o and the tongue of the boot rubbing against the other parts of your footwear.
To resolve the problem you will need to play detective and attempt to isolate where the noise is coming from so that you work on how to stop boots from squeaking when walking.
New Boots Squeak When You Walk – Look at Your Insoles
If you think that you have squeaking shoes or boots because of your insoles then there are a couple of things that you can do to help them problem.
Before we get into the solutions it is important to check whether your boots have removable insoles or whether they are fixed to the sole. If your boots have non-removable insoles and you are wearing a brand new pair of boots then it makes sense to take them back to the store where you bought them first. This is because there may be a manufacturing defect that is causing the problem and the store can simply replace your boots with a brand new pair.
If the boots are older and the insoles can be taken out of your boots then the next solution is to sprinkle talcum powder into the area between the insole and sole. Talcum powder can help to absorb any moisture that might be causing a problem as well as help the two parts glide over each other without making a sound.
Just make sure that you get rid of any excess powder to stop your feet from getting covered in the talcum powder before wearing your boots.
If talcum powder doesn’t do the trick then you could think about using coconut oil to help your boots stop squeaking. Use the coconut oil sparingly and again rub it into the bottom of the insole with a soft cloth. This should allow the two parts to move against each other more easily. Just remember that this won’t work on fabric insoles.
If you are worried about any of these products causing a mess inside your boots then a dryer sheet from the laundry room can also work. Just take the dryer sheet and place it in between the insoles and the sole to stop your boots from squeaking and making noise. This is a fairly simple solution that is often enough to do the trick.
How to Fix a Squeaky Boot Heel
If your boots squeak then make sure that you check the heel area of your footwear to see if that is causing any problems. Once again if you have new boots and find that the heel area has an issue then bring them back to the store to get them replaced. If they are old boots then check to see if the heel moves.
Sometimes there is a problem with movement where the heel of your shoe connects to the outsole or alternatively where the top of the heel section connects to the bottom rubber or metal-tipped section (depending on the shoe style). If there is movement in these areas which is causing the squeaky noise then you need to use smooth cement or glue in the gaps to try and prevent the friction.
Shoe Goo is one of the best products on the market for fixing shoes and boots. It’s simple to use and is always going to be cheaper than using a repair shop to solve the problem.
Using Mink Oil As A Squeaky Boots Fix
If you want to know how to stop boots from squeaking when walking then think about using some mink oil as a solution. This is because to stop leather boots that are brand new from making noise you need to soften the leather so that the stiff upper area of your shoes becomes more flexible.
Mink oil has been traditionally used not only for softening leather but also as a product that can protect your leather shoes and boots from oil and salt stains.
Just get a clean cloth and put a small amount of mink oil onto it and start rubbing the product into your shoes or boots. It dries within minutes and you shouldn’t see any changes to the color of the boots or see a visible residue. This solution helps to stop squeaking by speeding up the breaking-in process whilst protecting your boots at the same time.
If You Have a Squeaky Boot Sole These Hacks
If your boots and shoes squeak and it appears to be because of the sole then you need to think about the newness of your footwear and the ground that you are walking on.
New boots have soles that are fairly smooth which means that when they hit certain floors they will start to make a noise. As the boots become broken in and the bottoms of the boots become more scuffed and worn the squeaky sound will usually stop. Of course, if you can’t wait that long to stop the squeaking sound then there are a few things you can do to stop the noise.
Firstly you can try using some fine sandpaper and firmly rub it onto the sole of your shoe. This removes that shiny new surface and enables your foot to get better traction when you are walking which should stop squeaky shoes.
This can be harder to do if you have sneakers which can sometimes make the sound on gym floors or other surfaces. In this case, you might want to consider purchasing a Spray-on Shoe Grip Adhesive. These products tend to increase the grip of your shoes on the floor which prevents the squeaking sound and can also help prevent falls if you have slippy shoes or boots.
For a cheaper household remedy then another alternative to prevent squeaky shoes and boots is a cheap bar of soap.
How to Stop Boot Tongue From Making Noise – Use Leather Conditioner
Another of the main problem areas when it comes to squeaky shoes and boots is related to the tongue. This is often because any laces are rubbing against the material of the shoe tongue and causing irritating noise.
If you think this is the main area where you have a problem then using a leather conditioner can be a potential solution to stop the squeaking noise. Obviously, the name of the product gives away the type of shoes that this can be used on. Leather conditioner is only to be used on leather boots and shoes. So if you are wearing boots from another material then do not use this to solve the problem.
To make this work all you need to do is use a small amount of leather conditioner on a dry cloth and gently rub the product into the shoe tongue to prevent squeaking. You should find that you can now wear your leather boots without having to hear the annoying sound.
If your shoes aren’t made from leather then an alternative would be to rub a small amount of petroleum jelly onto the tongue area. This can also help it to glide effortlessly under the laces. Just remember to take the laces off before applying.
What To Do If Your Footwear Seams Are Noisy
When your boots squeak there is one other area that you should look at to see if it causing a problem and that is the outside seams of your footwear.
Boot and shoe seams can sometimes be the culprit for annoying noises so you need a solution in order to get them to stop squeaking. If this is your problem then you could use the good old household favorite WD40 as a solution.
WD40 is a household lubricant that is used for everything from stopping squeaky doors to loosening rusted bolts but it can also be used on leather boots to stop squeaking sounds.
We would however caution that this product should not be used on suede, velvet, or satin shoes and a tiny test patch should be done somewhere inconspicuous first in case you experience staining. If you have any doubt about applying it to the upper area of your shoes then don’t use it and take your boots to a shoe repair shop for a professional to solve the problem.
How to Stop Faux Leather Boots From Squeaking
If you want to stop faux leather boots from squeaking one of our earlier tips that involved mink oil can do the trick. Mink oil won’t damage the boot material and can help to banish the irritating noise. This obviously works for the outside of the shoe, not the inside.
For the inside of the shoe or boots, all our other tips should also work and not damage the boot material.
More Articles to Stop Noisy Footwear
How to Stop Shoes From Squeaking On The Outside
How to Stop Sandals From Making Suction Noise
How to Stop Shoes From Making Noise
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