An everyday issue is learning how to make shoes non-slip. Maybe you live in an area where it rains and snows a lot, maybe you work in a slippery area, or maybe you just wear out the grip on your old shoes. Making shoes slip-proof is necessary and advantageous if you fall into any of these categories. On the other hand, if you wear non-slippery shoes while walking on slick surfaces, your risk of having an accident will increase. You might get hurt, and your work might get derailed. Fortunately, I’ve gathered a few tips for you to make your shoes less slippery, for a fraction of the cost and very easy to do.
Table of Contents
What Makes Shoes Non-Slip?
The Design
Typically, when your shoes are damp or covered in water, it’s the soles that become slick. This happens because of a bad design and not because of the material used for their construction. Shoes are typically made from appropriate materials, but if the soles are not properly designed, they can become slippery.
Due to the treads, a mix of circles, and rhombuses that are spread across the sole, footwear from brands like Vans is non-slip. This restricts greases and water from adhering to the shoe, maximizing the grip within the shoes and the ground.
The Material
Rubber soles are necessary for good non-slip footwear. For a shoe that can consistently give you a great grip, this is your best option. Rubber soles prevent you from slipping when walking on ice or other slick surfaces because they are sticky.
Rubber-soled shoes aren’t all made for wet floors. For instance, even though tennis and basketball shoes have rubber outsoles, that doesn’t mean you can wear them in slick conditions. The reason for this is that they have not been evaluated for performance in greasy or wet environments.
Ways You Can Do to Make Shoes Not Slippery
Adhesive Bandages
You will require a floor wax, an adhesive bandage, a can of compressed air, and a sponge or cloth. If you don’t have compressed air, you can dry off your shoe using an old hairdryer and rubbing alcohol, and it will still be sturdy enough.
In the world of shoes, traction made by flexible adhesive bandages like these is the best. Cut it in half and use a rag or sponge to apply it to your shoes. Once it has dried, use a metal spoon, an old shoehorn, or a flat screwdriver to remove any extra material from the bottom. This can be a cheap and easy way to add traction to slip shoes without having to spend a fortune.
Grip Pads
Grip wax, grip pads, and a cloth are required.
Grip pads for shoes would feel very strange the first time you used them. It is great for providing momentary traction when your shoes are wet, but as they begin to wear down, you will find that it is not as effective. In wet weather, this may be a good way to keep your shoe on your foot. Some people also value this item for its usefulness when wearing cleats to go shopping at the mall.
Grip pads come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, but the majority are standard sizes. While the larger pads are better for outdoor sports, the smaller, round ones are perfect for use indoors.
Aim to use as little wax as possible when using these products on both the interior and exterior treads of shoes. Wear your shoes for no more than ten minutes after putting the wax on them. After removing the grip pad, clean it with a brush or cloth. Another note is that there are different kinds of grip pads, so make sure that you know what kind you’re dealing with before discarding them. If you step on one of them by mistake, some of them might hurt you.
Traction Spray
You’ll need a spray bottle, your preferred traction spray, and a fresh cloth.
Depending on the main ingredient, these are high-traction products with a variety of flavors. “Non-slip” is among the more popular choices of these products. They are non-toxic because they are made of chemicals that do not dissolve in water. Try these sprays to see if they can help if you are having trouble walking on wet surfaces because your shoes are slipping. Fortunately, there’s no need to take the sole of your shoe off because you can simply spray it on the upper portion and the sole directly. Just lightly mist it before wiping away any extra moisture with a fresh cloth. Allow your shoes to dry for a few minutes before putting them back on if you still feel like they are slick.
Use care when spraying these products from a distance or from above because they will not be as effective as if sprayed right on the surface of your shoe. If you don’t directly spray them onto the wax or pads that are already on your shoes, they may also cause tiny bubbles to form. One thing to watch out for when applying these sprays is that you should not wear them for more than an hour. Some people have experienced foot burning from this product’s chemicals when using it for an extended period of time. To prevent blisters and slipping on wet surfaces while wearing wet shoes, use a non-slip spray.
Hairspray
You will require floor wax, hairspray, a can of compressed air, and a brush.
Spray some hairspray onto a clean cloth to accomplish this. Then rub the cloth onto the surface of your shoe to make it tackier.
Because many of them contain a solvent that provides traction, hairspray functions so well. This solvent can be used to rub dry surfaces to make them stickier, which is useful if you plan to spend a lot of time outside.
Using hairspray to coat your shoes has some drawbacks, despite how appealing it might seem. Due to the messy nature of the process and the length of time it takes to dry, you might have to wait outside. Due to the product’s chemical composition, it can also make your shoes sticky and difficult to walk in. For these reasons, you should refrain from using hairspray to provide traction if you frequently wear them.qn-media:
Puff Paint
What you need: A package of chocolate pudding, a yogurt container, and a spoon.
It’s an intriguing notion that using chemicals that are edible could make them even more effective than hair spray. To fully dry shoes before re-wearing them requires this recipe, which takes some time.
One of those ingredients with a wide range of flavors is pudding. At least, this is how chocolate pudding appears after being mixed with yogurt. You can combine the two and put them inside the container that will hold your shoes. The simplest way to ensure that your shoes are less slippery would be to spray a little bit of hair spray on the first, but you should still make sure to apply a lot of it after putting your shoe into the yogurt container. Use non-slip spray in its place if you don’t have any hairspray. When they are completely dry, remove them and rinse them in some water until they are cool to the touch. Prior to wearing them, allow them to fully dry. Then, before putting your foot inside, spray some anti-slip spray on the inside of your shoes to make them even more slippery. If you want to keep your shoes extra slippery, you can use this trick again to spray some hair spray again inside of it without having to wait for it to dry first. By tracing your heel with a finger, you can determine how much traction is still present.
Conclusion
My top tricks and advice for making shoes non-slip were summarized in this post. I hope they give you a better grip on slick surfaces and help you avoid slips that could result in injuries.
Always opt for rubber-soled, slip-resistant footwear. However, since buying new shoes isn’t always an option, you can use the tricks and advice I gave you.
Last but not least, feel free to leave a comment below if you have any queries about the subject or would like to share your own experience with me. I’ll be more than happy to hear from you.
FAQs
Can Shoes Be Made Non-slip?
A mixture of rubber glue and salt can make your shoes slip-resistant. This mixture is designed to increase the traction on the outsoles. Salt and rubber glue should be combined in an equal ratio to create the mixture. After that, apply the mixture to your outsoles evenly, and allow them to air dry.
How Do I Keep My Feet from Sliding in My Heels?
Spray some hairspray on your feet before putting on your high heels for a fast and temporary fix. Once dried, the hairspray becomes tacky and helps slippery feet stick to your shoes and stop sliding forward.
Should Shoes Slip at All?
In a new shoe, your heels should budge a little bit as you bend your foot to take a step. 1/8″ movement is normal but can feel like much more. When gradually broken in, loose heels won’t result in blisters, but wearing too-small, too-tight shoes will cause friction, which will lead to blisters.
What Friction Keeps Your Shoes from Slipping on the Floor?
When an object is at rest on a surface, static friction affects it. For instance, when you put your foot down on the trail while hiking in the woods, static friction occurs between your shoes and the ground.
