10 Genius Shoe Hacks That Will Change Your (Shoe) Life

1. Smoothen Out Creases Using A Steam Iron

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, even your most carefully-used shoes get scarred with creases. Don’t let the fear of wrinkling your favourite kicks keep you from flaunting them. Take a damp cotton cloth and spread it on the crease, now steam-iron on top. Once the sneakers cool, you will notice a remarkable difference!

 

2. Make Your Pale-Whites Brighter With A Toothpaste

Toothpaste doesn’t just double as an acne zapper. It also works as a great cleaning agent for your once-white tennis shoes. Take a dollop of non-gel white toothpaste, and using an old toothbrush, apply it on the dirty, dark spots on the fabric. You can even do this on the white sides of the shoes. Let it be for about 10-15 minutes before wiping off with a damp towel.

3. Add Grip With Sandpaper

This one’s a savior for new shoes that feel slippery, or old shoes with an ebbed grip. Scrubbing the back of your shoes with sandpaper can lend some traction to the sole.

Psst: you can even try a hot glue gun—make with thick bulgy glue-lines on the sole. Once cooled, they can come in handy to provide some grip.

4. Prevent Blisters With A Deodarant

Apply some clear gel-deodorant on the back and sides of your shoes, and prepare to party the night away in those bbs without any blister-woes. The gel works as a sort of a lubricant, also creating a barrier to protect your skin from friction.

5. Get Rid of Shoe Odour Using Tea Bags (Or Baking Soda)

This can’t prevent toe jam, but can definitely prevent your shoes from smelling unpleasant. Put unused tea bags in your footwear—they absorbing the scent, leaving them odourless. You can also give baking soda a go—sprinkle some into the shoes and let it sit overnight. Baking soda has special properties that effectively rid shoes of smells.

6. To Loosen Them, Freeze Them

This hack works only for the tip of the shoe, though. Put an airtight bag (filled with some water) in the toe area of the shoe. Now slip the shoe in the freezer for the night. Tada: your toes will fit better as the toe would have widened!

7. Waterproof Your Shoes With Beeswax

Which, in turn, will also make your shoes less susceptible to getting stained. And will make the colour of your shoes last longer. You can rub a small candle on to them, to build a nice thick coat, and set it with a hairdryer.

8. Absorb Sweat With Panty Liners

Place panty liners inside your shoes to soak the sweat from your feet. This will make for a firmer grip of your feet inside, and keep them from slipping and chafing. It will also result in less odour in the shoes.

9. Wear Heels More comfortably By Taping the Toes

Try taping the third and fourth toes. This will distribute the weight better, and relieve tension and over-straining of the nerve between these toes, and prevents any pain in the ball of your foot. Just make sure you don’t end up stopping the blood circulation in the process—the toes shouldn’t be taped too tight.

10.  Stop the Squeaking With Talc

That annoying squeak occurs when various parts of your footwear rub against one another. Sprinkle some baby powder in the inner sole of the shoe and watch the noise disappear!