How to stop shoes squeaking: four causes, four fixes

5 minutes. Costs nothing.

Try this first (costs nothing): take out the insole and sprinkle a thin layer of talc or baby powder underneath. Put the insole back. Most squeaks come from two surfaces rubbing, and powder lets them slide.

Find the spot

Walk slowly and listen. Then press and bend the shoe in your hands.

• Squeak when you step, from the middle: insole rubbing the base. Use powder.
• Squeak from the heel: the heel is loose or the heel lining is rubbing. Press on it with your thumb.
• Squeak that happens only when wet: water in the sole. Dry the shoes first, see how to dry wet shoes fast.
• Squeak from the tongue or laces: dry leather rubbing. A tiny bit of leather conditioner can quiet it.

If that does not work

A split or peeling sole edge can squeak and also let in water. A thin line of flexible shoe glue, held shut with clamps overnight, often fixes a small gap. Follow the label and use it in a ventilated space.

Fix it, replace it or live with it

• Fix it: powder, a dry insole, or glue on a small split.
• Replace it: the shoe if the sole is flapping or the heel has worked loose.
• Live with it: a gentle squeak in new shoes. It often fades after a few wears. For more on that decision, see shoe problems: fix it, replace it or live with it.

Worked example

A pair of work shoes squeaks only on the left foot, at the middle of each step. You take out the insole. It is slightly damp from sweat. Dry it overnight, dust the base with powder, and put it back. The squeak is gone the next day. If it returned, you would try a new insole.

Common mistakes

• Spraying oil inside the shoe. It stains and can make feet slip.
• Ignoring damp. Wet shoes squeak and then smell.
• Using strong glue on a flexing sole. Pick a flexible shoe glue.
• Wearing a worn-out pair. Past a point, new shoes are cheaper than repeated fixes.