We all wear shoes. That’s why it’s a must to invest in good-quality shoes. Of course, we want to get the most out of our money’s worth, that’s why we also take good care of them. Comfort is also another thing to consider. This is where shoe hacks come in.
Here are 18 simple but effective shoe hacks that will not only help you save money, but they will also make your feet happy.
Shoes too big hack to try
Sometimes, we buy shoes that are too big, and we don’t have the time to change the size. There’s a hack for shoes that are too big that will work for you.
You can wear thicker socks, insert toe cushions, and add heel strips. Aside from making the shoes a size smaller, it will also help you break into the new shoes.
Switch up your shoelace patterns
Hacks are not just for comfort, you can also do it for style. There are dozens of different ways to tie up your shoes, and you can find plenty of great shoelace patterns that’ll give your footwear a distinctive look.
Tired of seeing criss-cross patterns all the time? Just swap it out for another style!
Heel caps are true lifesavers
For someone who loves their shoes, the thought alone of a heel breaking is absolutely terrifying. You don’t have to suffer.
It’s worth investing in a couple of heel caps that will quickly allow you to fix shoes with broken heels.
Hacks for smelly shoes: use tea bags
Smelly shoes with a noticeable odor – nobody likes them. That is why we all need hacks for smelly shoes.
There’s a quick solution to eliminate nasty smells. Put unused tea bags in your shoes, as they’re absolutely great at absorbing unpleasant scents.
Cushion tight shoe straps with moleskin
Similar to the pain some flip-flop straps can cause, regular shoe straps can also be the cause of serious discomfort in some cases.
Don’t worry because there is a quick and easy fix. With just a little bit of moleskin, you’ll be amazed at how much difference it can make!
Easily repair a loose flip-flop
Flip-flops are fairly cheap, but you can’t exactly call them durable, right? One of the most frequent issues is a loose flip-flop strap which makes the whole thing just a pain to walk on.
Don’t throw it just yet. Instead of throwing a broken flip-flop in the trash, grab a bread tag or a flat washer for an easy and quick fix.
Unique shoe hacks: Revitalize leather with a banana peel
Leather has the distinctive feature that it ages quite uniquely. Some people like this aged leather look and even purposely wear out their boots, but there are plenty of people who’d like to keep their leather footwear in pristine condition.
If you’re one of those people, then this hack is for you. Just rub a banana peel over your leather footwear and you’ll instantly make them look like new.
An easy way to get rid of water stains
After being exposed to water, some leather shoes have the tendency to develop water stains. Don’t let water stains ruin your leather shoes.
They’re a pain to remove, but a vinegar and toothbrush duo is all you need to keep these ugly stains away.
Fix creases with a steam iron
Remember this – preventing shoe creases is a dozen times better than fixing them, but if you want to give your creased basketball shoes a newer look, this tip might come in handy.
Just grab a wet cloth and put it on top of the creases of your sneaker, and gently rub over it with a steam iron. Though it won’t eliminate them completely, it’ll make a huge difference nonetheless.
Apply some sandpaper
Do you know how to fix slippery shoes at home? If not, then this slippery shoes hack is for you.
New shoes, in particular, might lack a bit in grip, but there’s a quick fix that’ll allow you to get better traction and should help ease the tripping. Apply some sandpaper to the soles, and your shoes won’t be slippery anymore.
DIY Waterproof Shoes
Did you know you can use something as simple as beeswax to make your shoes waterproof? That’s right, it is possible!
It’s an instant method to make your kicks much more comfortable to use around water, and the beeswax won’t even leave stains or change the color of your shoes.
Make new shoes comfortable by using a dryer
Getting new shoes is often double-sided. After all, you’re happy with your new footwear, but breaking in new shoes can’t exactly be described as fun. We can totally skip this part.
Here is how to make shoes more comfortable when starting to use new shoes. Just put on thick socks and blow any tight or uncomfortable spot dry.
The heat will loosen up the material and will make your feet get used to their new surroundings much faster.
Make your heels shorter
High heels just aren’t for everyone, but the majority of shoes available have pretty significant heels. If you are not comfortable with really high heels, then try getting your heels shortened is a great idea.
Aside from giving your old shoes a second life, you are more comfortable with the shoes you’re wearing.
Fix scuffs with some Vaseline
There are dozens of uses for Vaseline or petroleum jelly. But did you know that restoring shoes is just one of them?
Apply some petroleum jelly to a cotton swab, and rub gently until the scuff is gone. Works best on a patent leather shoe.
Keep your boots moisture-free
After a rainy day in your boots, the chances are rather high that there will be some moisture left. This can cause bacterial build-up and a nasty smell.
To avoid this, just grab a couple of old newspaper pages (or paper towels) to keep your boots nice and dry.
Tape your toes when wearing heels
This may seem a bit odd and unnecessary, but there’s scientific reasoning behind it. Heels aren’t exactly comfortable by definition. There’s a lot of strain placed on the nerve directly between your second and third toes.
So the best and easiest way to help relieve some of the tension is to tape the toes together. Not too tight, otherwise you’ll cut off blood circulation.
Clean suede shoes with pieces of bread
Suede is a delicate material to handle, and cleaning with a regular cloth can sometimes make things even worse. Have you been looking for one of the best shoe cleaning hacks out there?
Instead of cloth, just use some bread to get rid of stains on your suede shoes. It works so well.
Get a special blister-protective spray
If your feet are quite prone to blisters, you may want to consider purchasing a special type of feet spray that creates a protective barrier around your feet when dried.
Yes, these sprays do exist and can help you immensely. It works wonders to prevent blisters!
In a Nutshell
Shoe hacks can help you wear your shoes comfortably, remove unwanted odors, and even help you break in your new shoes.
With this new-found knowledge, we’re pretty sure you will love your shoes even more.
Source: Buzzfeed, Diply, SheKnows, Krazy Coupon Lady