How To Stop Shoes From Making Noise - 8 Easy Ways Must Try!

Shoes are an essential aspect of our daily lives. However, if you’ve ever owned a pair of shoes – be it new or old – that create noise, you’ve likely wondered how to silence them. Here’s a brief solution:

To eliminate noise from shoes, first, identify the source, which is often the sole. Then, either repair or resole the shoes, or add a dampening material, such as mass-loaded vinyl, to the bottom of the shoes. These measures should effectively minimize most shoe noises.

In this article, we’ll explore the primary sources of noise from shoes and the most effective ways to silence them. Since this depends on the age and style of the shoes, we’ll start with some troubleshooting tips.

Reason why your shoes make noise

Before attempting to quiet your shoes, it’s crucial to determine the cause of the noise. Is it a clicking noise from the heels that you find distracting or a squeaking sound as you walk?

The noise produced by your shoes largely depends on several factors, including:

The sole unit (its materials)
The age of the shoes
Any damage (both visible and hidden)
How they fit on your feet

Your best approach is to take a slow walk in the shoes to identify the type and source of the noise they create. While you might not pinpoint the exact cause, localizing it to an area such as the sole or heel will be sufficient.

Here are some basic troubleshooting tips for identifying the source and type of noise you’re trying to eliminate.

1. The sole unit (its materials)

One of the primary sources of noise from shoes is the sole unit. However, this can be caused by various issues. For instance, pumps and other heels often click on hard floors because their soles are made from hard materials like plastic.

Additionally, wedges and other shoes with wooden soles produce noise. Wood has poor acoustic properties, and wooden-soled shoes will often be laminated or hollow, which can amplify any sounds they make.

Rubber-soled shoes tend to squeak, especially on hard floors and when the sole is wet. This applies to shoes such as sneakers and combat boots, although many formal shoes also have sole units made from EVA rubber or similar materials.

2. The age of the shoes

Unsurprisingly, shoes undergo significant stress throughout their lifetime. Depending on their initial quality, some shoes can last for years. However, the more you wear them, the more stress they endure, leading to various noise issues.

Loose parts caused by wear can generate significant noise. Whether it’s a detached sole flapping or wear inside the shoe causing squeaking, older shoes usually create more noise than newer ones.

New shoes can also cause noise. Rubber soles are smooth when new, leading to squeaking. New leather can be relatively stiff, resulting in noise as well.

Damage can also lead to noise. Water damage often causes shoes to squeak, and it can take a long time to dry shoes out properly before they stop making noise.

Damage inside the heel area can cause squeaking or farting noises as you walk. This is simply air being pushed around inside the shoe by movement, but you can try a few things to solve this.

3. Any damage (both visible and hidden)

Perhaps the noisiest type of shoe is one that doesn’t fit properly. Whether it’s the clapping noise it makes slipping off your heel or the scraping sound as it doesn’t lift up while you walk, ill-fitting shoes are a significant source of noise. This applies to shoes that are too big or too small; each produces its own unique noises. Shoes that are too big are much easier to solve, but the easiest solution is to simply buy the right size in the first place.

Ill-fitting shoes can lead to faster damage, both to the shoes themselves and to your feet. Finding a well-fitting, supportive pair of shoes is not just essential for the amount of noise they make, but also for your overall foot health.

Read more: How Much Space Do You Have in Shoes?

4. Inspecting Your Shoes

Before trying any tips to stop them from making noise, start by inspecting the shoes. If they’re new, the source of noise should be relatively easy to identify.

For older pairs, take a walk in them and narrow the source down as much as you can. This will make the next steps much easier and more effective.

3 Fast Ways to get rid of Squeaky Shoes

Fixing noisy Insoles

Sprinkle Baby powder

If your insoles move around a lot while walking, this could be the reason your shoes are squeaking. Remove the insoles, sprinkle some baby powder inside your shoes, and then reinsert the insoles. The baby powder will help decrease the friction between your insoles and shoes, reducing squeaking noises.

You can use talcum powder or cornstarch if you don’t have baby powder.

If your shoes don’t have removable insoles, sprinkle baby powder along the seams of the insoles instead of underneath them.

Putting paper towels underneath the insoles

Fold 2 paper towels to fit inside your shoes and place them under the insoles. Inserting paper towels under your insoles helps prevent movement and squeaking while walking.

If paper towels are unavailable, try using napkins or dryer sheets as alternatives.

Consider changing the paper towels after wearing your shoes a few times to avoid unpleasant odors.

Coconut oil under the insoles

Remove the insoles and apply a thin layer of coconut oil to the bottom of the inside of your shoes. Then, put the insoles back in. Coconut oil lubricates the insoles, making them less likely to squeak when they move around.

Reapply the oil if your shoes start squeaking again later on.

Try WD-40

Dampen a cotton ball with a small amount of WD-40 or silicone spray, and then apply it to the exterior seams of your squeaking shoes. However, avoid using this method on suede, as it could damage your footwear. There are many other brilliant uses for WD-40.

Stopping Shoes Bottom make noise

Rub a dryer sheet bottoms your shoes

If your shoes squeak while walking on smooth surfaces like tile or hardwood floors, it could be due to excessively slick bottoms. Rub the bottoms of your shoes with a dryer sheet a few times to make them less slick and reduce squeaking.

You may need to use a dryer sheet on the bottoms every few times you wear your shoes to prevent squeaking from returning.

Roughing up the bottoms

Gently sand the bottoms using a piece of fine sandpaper until they feel slightly rough to the touch. Sandpaper can make the bottoms of your shoes less smooth and polished, reducing squeaking when walking.

You can find fine sandpaper online or at a local hardware store.

Use fine sandpaper with a 120-220 grit to avoid scratching your shoes excessively.

Reattach the bottoms by super glue

If there is a gap between the bottom and the upper part of one of your shoes, fill it with super glue and clamp it down until the glue dries. Loose shoe bottoms can also cause squeaking noises, so reattaching them may solve the problem.

If you don’t have clamps, try placing something heavy on your shoe or wrapping rubber bands around it to hold the bottom and upper part together.

Allow the super glue to dry for 24 hours before wearing your shoes.

Stopping Outside Shoes make Squeaking

Apply conditioning oil outside the shoes

Sometimes, shoes squeak because the material on the outside rubs together. If the exterior of your shoes squeaks with each step, try applying a conditioning oil to the outer parts so they’re lubricated and less likely to squeak.

Ensure you use a conditioning oil designed for your shoe type. For instance, use a leather conditioning oil for leather shoes.

Remember that the conditioning oil will fade over time. Reapply the oil if your shoes start to squeak again. Find conditioning oil online or at a local shoe store.

Use saddle soap on tongues

Saddle soap is a conditioning cream that can lubricate shoes. If the shoe tongues rub against the laces and cause squeaking, apply saddle soap to the front side of the tongues to stop the noise.

Order saddle soap online or, alternatively, apply conditioning oil to the tongues. Reapply the saddle soap when the initial application wears off.

Throw in the dryer

If trapped water is causing your shoes to squeak, dry them out. Dampen a sponge or washcloth with a little fabric softener and place it in the dryer along with your squeaking shoes. However, don’t leave them in for more than ten minutes to avoid shrinking or heat-damaging your shoes

How to prevent squeaking and noisy shoes

Fortunately, there are several methods to make your shoes quieter, and none of them are particularly expensive.

However, if you’re unable to resolve the issue with these options, it might be best to invest in new shoes.

Condition the leather

If the squeaking noise originates from the outside of the shoe, it’s likely due to the leather rubbing against itself. This issue can be easily fixed by using some leather conditioner.

While some companies claim you need to use specific types of leather conditioner, that’s not necessarily true. Just ensure it’s good quality, and wax-based conditioners are often more effective.

Focus on the crease over your toe joints and along the tongue under the laces. Applying the conditioner all over the shoe will maintain the leather’s health and prolong its lifespan.

Regularly reapply the conditioner depending on how often you wear the shoes. For daily wear, once a month is ideal. For less frequent wear, every 3-4 months should suffice.

For seasonal shoes, condition the leather before storing them during the off-season. This prevents the leather from drying out and stops them from making noise in the future.

Fix the insoles

Squeaky insoles often result from damage, causing them to come loose. The squeaking noise is usually due to air being pushed around by your feet combined with the movement of a loose insole.

Here are a few ways to fix this:

Glue the insoles down, ensuring they bond properly to the midsole.
Sprinkle talcum powder under the insole, or along the seams, if you can’t remove them. This softens the insole’s movement.
Place kitchen paper or a similar material under the insole for extra padding and dampening between the insole and midsole.
Rub coconut oil under the insole or around the seams as lubrication.
Reapply any products used under the insole periodically, depending on how often you wear them.

Apply rubber grip pads

Rubber grip pads (buy on Amazon) are primarily designed to provide better traction on hard surfaces. However, they’re also excellent for dampening the noise caused by hard shoe soles.

You could also consider using a specific sound dampening product like mass loaded vinyl (Amazon). One tip when using this is to roughen the bottom slightly with sandpaper to prevent slipping on hard surfaces.

This method works best on heels and other shoes with hard soles but will also be effective on sneakers and rubber-soled shoes.

Improve the fit of your shoes

If you’re not willing to give up your ill-fitting, noisy shoes, there are a few things you can try to improve the fit. These will largely depend on the source of the noise and the problem areas in terms of fit.

If your shoes slip at the back, try heel grips (Amazon). You can add multiple sets if needed, and they’re excellent for removing a bit of extra space.

Alternatively, use insoles to eliminate the excess depth causing your shoes to be loose. While you can get foam or leather insoles, gel inserts (Amazon) are the best option. They’re thicker than other types and will therefore occupy more space.

Repair water damage and wear

Fixing any damage to the shoes will be effective in reducing noise. Loose parts can be repaired using some glue and applying pressure.

In general, you shouldn’t bother going to a cobbler, as they can only repair certain shoes. Sneakers and foam-soled shoes have a single sole unit, which cannot be repaired.

For water damage, open the shoes and remove everything possible (such as the insole). Stuff them with newspaper and leave them in a warm place for a few days. Dryer sheets also work well for this purpose.

Q&A about Stop Shoes From Making Noise

How to stop sandals making noise while walking?

To stop sandals from making noise while walking:
Adjust the straps: Ensure the straps are secure and properly adjusted to
prevent excessive movement and noise.
Apply padding: Attach soft padding or cushioning on the inside of the straps to reduce friction and noise.
Use talcum or baby powder: Sprinkle some powder on your feet or the sandals’ footbed to absorb moisture and reduce friction that causes noise.
Clean the footbed: Sometimes, dirt and debris trapped in the footbed can cause noise. Clean the footbed with a damp cloth and let it dry before wearing the sandals again.

How to stop high heel making noise while walking?

To stop high heels from making noise while walking:

Add rubber grip pads: Attach rubber grip pads to the bottom of your heels to dampen the noise caused by hard shoe soles and provide better traction.
Use sandpaper: Gently rub the bottoms of your heels with fine sandpaper (120-220 grit) to make them less slick, reducing the chances of squeaking on smooth surfaces.
Check for loose parts: Ensure the heel and sole are securely attached. If they’re loose, use super glue to reattach them and let it dry for 24 hours before wearing the heels.
Use cushioned insoles or inserts: Adding cushioned insoles or gel inserts can help reduce noise by providing extra padding and absorbing impact while walking.

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Olivia Cox

Hi, This is Olivia. I am the owner of F5Active - a refreshing blog with the unlimited power of positivity. I hope to share with readers my point of view, life experiences, adventures, and more. Apart from being informative, my blog will also provide insightful reviews, conducted by Andre - my co-author. My biggest wish is to see F5Active growing every day. Let's get on that journey together!