New shoes, especially those with plastic or leather soles, are often quite slippery. The same goes for older shoes with a now smooth sole due to wear and tear due to years of use. As small as it may seem, having slippery shoes is not just a minor inconvenience; in fact, it can be dangerous to health. In the United States alone, over a million injuries have been reported from slips, trips or falls due to slippery soles. In any case, you don't necessarily have to throw away such a pair of shoes; with a few simple tricks, it is usually easy to regain the traction of footwear without spending too much.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Making New Soles Non-slip
Step 1. Rub the soles on abrasive surfaces
If the shoes that make you slip are new, this is likely to be simply due to the perfectly smooth, unused sole. Soles generally acquire a little more friction as they soften, and develop small angles and abrasions; in fact, it is these characteristics that allow a more stable contact with the floor. As a result, wearing out the soles in one way or another often greatly improves traction.
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To do this, try walking on a rough surface, such as:
- Concrete (the rougher, the better).
- Gravel.
- Stones, stones, etc.
- Metal gratings, walkways and other textured paths.
- If it doesn't embarrass you, you can also try taking off your shoes and scrubbing the sole on the floor while holding them in your hand.
Step 2. Scrape the soles directly with sandpaper
Don't really have the ability to rub them on a rough surface? Are you worried about slipping into waiting for them to wear out? Try an abrasive material like sandpaper instead; just take off your shoe and rub the smoother parts of the sole across the surface until you develop a rougher, textured feel.
- For this step, the best sandpaper is medium-coarse sandpaper, but even the finest sandpaper is better than nothing. If possible, use a 50-grit one.
- Remember that this method may not work on certain types of soles, especially if they have a “natural” texture, similar to that of cardboard (often used for some sandals and ballet flats).
Step 3. Use a nail file
If you don't have sandpaper, a nail file or similar tool is usually effective. Use it exactly as you would use sandpaper; scrub the smooth, flat parts of the shoe that come into contact with the floor to create a good texture.
Metal files are generally the most durable and effective for this purpose, but simple cardboard files can work as well. As with sandpaper, the coarser material is preferable for this purpose. You can also use a foot file; vigorously scratch it on the soles
Step 4. Put on your shoes and wait for the soles to wear naturally
Another way to prevent shoes from being so slippery is to simply wear them as much as possible. After a few days or weeks of use (depending on how often you use them), just do a simple action like walking to make the soles less smooth.
If you use this method, remember to opt for a different pair of shoes whenever you foresee a situation where you are likely to slip (such as dancing, walking in the rain, etc.). You certainly don't want to risk getting hurt just to improve the wearability of your footwear
Method 2 of 3: Use Non-Slip Products
Step 1. Purchase non-slip pads
If you still have problems despite the fact that the shoes are old, then the problem is not due to the poorly worn soles. Instead, they became worn out. In such a situation, you might consider adding a new layer under the sole of the footwear to prevent slipping. One of the most professional ways to do this is to apply pads designed specifically for this purpose to the soles of your shoes.
- These textured pads usually stick to the sole material because they are self-adhesive. However, some complain that the adhesive leaves the sole sticky once the pad comes off.
- Non-slip pads are available at many shoe stores and online, and they don't cost much. Generally, they do not exceed around 10 euros for a single pair.
Step 2. Alternatively, buy a spray coating
In addition to non-slip pads, there are also spray products designed to be used on the soles of shoes in order to make them less slippery. These products usually specifically indicate their function on the bottle, and the quality can vary, so ask a salesperson or take a few minutes to read reviews written by people who have tried them before making a purchase.
Sprays of this type are typically sold in shoe stores or online; the cost is slightly higher than the bearings, and usually is around 10-20 euros
Step 3. Use hair spray
Don't want to spend money on non-slip products? You probably already have several tools at home that can come to your rescue and give you equally good results. However, it is important to remember that these makeshift solutions are not guaranteed to work as much as the professional ones mentioned above. A home remedy is undoubtedly represented by hair spray. Just spray a generous dose of product on the soles of the shoes to make them a little more "sticky" (especially if it is elegant shoes with a smooth bottom). Leave it on for at least half a minute or so for it to dry and become sticky before using your shoes for walking.
Keep in mind that this solution is temporary, and requires a second application. Also, the lacquer could be washed off by the rain
Step 4. Use puffy paint
This type of paint creates an embossed result on the surface to be applied, and is frequently used by children for artistic or handicraft work, such as decorating T-shirts. When the paint dries, it takes on a more or less rough and textured consistency, so it's a great choice for making shoe soles less slippery. Just apply a thin layer of the product on the sole, leave it on for a few hours to dry and try on the shoes to see if the method worked!
- While puffy paint should last longer than hairspray, it needs to be reapplied fairly regularly for maximum effectiveness.
- If you have more time, you could create designs on the sole; it's a great way to have truly unique footwear and express your creativity.
Step 5. Use masking tape
It's a simple technique that you can use as a last resort to improve the traction of your shoes. You simply have to stick some masking tape to the soles. Cut two pieces and arrange them by creating an X on the widest and flattest parts of the soles for an effective result.
Remember that over time the adhesive tape loses its main properties, so it is necessary to change it
Step 6. For a high quality result, you may want to hire a cobbler
If you have a particularly expensive or valuable pair of shoes and you don't want to modify it with the tricks described above, you may want to take it to a professional shoemaker. This expert will surely be able to fix the shoes by modifying or replacing the soles.
Either way, remember that the services of a shoemaker are often not cheap at all. Depending on the quality of the shoe and the difficulty of the work to be done, the repair of a single pair of shoes can exceed 100 euros. Therefore, it is best to reserve this solution for your most beautiful pair of shoes
Method 3 of 3: Know What to Avoid
Step 1. Before putting on the non-slip soled shoes you improvised for work, make sure the result works
Many workplaces (especially restaurants) have very specific rules, requiring employees to wear specifically certified non-slip footwear. If the place where you work has such a regulation, Not use shoes that you have modified with one of the tricks illustrated above. Do not use them in place of truly non-slip footwear without first consulting your employer. This behavior could be a violation of the expected code of conduct. And most importantly, you could run the risk of getting hurt; non-slip shoes, on the other hand, are requested for a very specific reason.
If in doubt, simply buy a new pair of non-slip shoes. Remember that most shoes of this type are identified on a scale called the “coefficient of friction” (CoA). For most jobs that involve the use of non-slip shoes, a coefficient of 0.5-0.7 is ideal (consult a superior for specific rules for use)
Step 2. Do not put on shoes to go out without first trying them on in a safe place
If this is your first time testing a new anti-slip technique, don't put yourself in a situation where you will need it. First, you need to make sure it works. Taking the time to do something as simple as walking around the house or taking a walk around the block can sometimes help you know everything you need to know about the real effectiveness of the solution.
Step 3. Don't use sprays or adhesives that are unsafe for your shoe material
If you have a pair of shoes made of a premium material like leather, be sure to read the instructions on the box to find out if you can use the products you have in mind. Problems rarely arise, but some products may cause discoloration or deterioration on certain materials, so they would be a bad choice.
For example, the chemicals in hairspray are notorious for damaging certain skin types. This means that you need to be especially careful if you are using hairspray to temporarily fix a pair of leather shoes that make you slip
Step 4. If the problem is severe, consider buying a new pair of shoes
The methods in this article are not good for any type of shoe, and may not work with slippery ones. Of course, it can be difficult to say goodbye to an old pair of footwear that has lost the friction it once was. The alternative, however, would be to risk a bad fall, and it is much worse. If your shoe soles are truly hopeless, stop using them and go buy a new pair.
