When it comes to shoes, comfort is essential. Walking is SO unpleasant when your shoes don’t fit right. It’s always best to start out by buying comfortable shoes, but sometimes there’s just no other option. The good news is, you can still make those other shoes way comfier. Here are 25 shoe hacks that will definitely make your feet happy.
1. Cover Flip Flop Straps
The toe strap in flip-flops can be so uncomfortable. It is always digging in between your big and second toes. To soften the blow, cover the straps in fabric.
2. Sandpaper Your Soles
If your new shoes don’t have enough grip, use sandpaper. Sand down the soles for better traction. Hopefully, you won’t trip as often!
3. Tape Your Toes
This one seems weird, but bear with me. Wearing heels places strain on the nerve between the second and third toes. By gently taping them together, you can relieve the tension. Just be sure not to cut off your circulation.
4. Silence Squeaky Shoes
No one likes hearing squeaky shoes all the way down the hall. If your shoes are squeaky, lift the inner sole and sprinkle baby powder underneath. The two parts of your shoe should stick instead of rubbing against each other.
5. Apply Deodorant
We all want to dance the night away, but none of us want to wake up in the morning with a huge blister. Stop the problem before it even starts. Rub clear gel deodorant on the inside of the heel.
6. Stretch Your Shoes
You can actually stretch your shoes yourself. Now you can always have the perfect size. Or you could always take your tight pair to the cobbler.
7. Widen Boot Shafts
If the shafts of your boots are too tight, you will not enjoy yourself. Widen the shafts by stuffing newspapers into them. Leave them there until you are ready to wear the boots again.
8. Apply Instant Heel Caps
When your heel breaks, it is just a sad moment. Luckily, you don’t have to part ways with the shoes. An instant heel cap will fix everything.
9. DIY Innersoles
Use a thick fabric so you get a good grip. Cut it to the size of the shoe, and slip it into the sole. Much better.
10. Use Tea Bags
No one likes the smell of disgusting shoes. If your shoes stink, put tea bags in them. The bags will soak up any unpleasant odor.
11. Shorten Your Heels
Did you know you could get your heels shortened? Yes, you could simply start out by buying shorter heels. But sometimes plans change, and our shoes need to change with them.
12. Freeze Your Shoes
If the toe area of your shoes is too tight, you can loosen it overnight. Place a ziplock bag full of water in the toe area of each shoe, and stick your shoes in the freezer. As the water freezes and expands, it will widen the toe of your shoe as well.
13. Use Moleskin
Tight shoe straps can be miserable, but they don’t have to be. Cushion the straps by sticking moleskin onto them. Your feet will thank you.
14. Try Heel Grips
Don’t slip around in your heels all night. Instead, insert heel grips to protect your feet. Now you can really move.
15. Repair Heel Linings
Denim makes the perfect patch material for shoes. Sew the fabric onto the torn heel lining. No one will ever know the difference.
16. Add Inserts
If the arches of your feet give you trouble, you should consider placing inserts into your shoes. There are plenty of arch support products on the market. Of course if you have more serious arch problems, you should consult a physician about your shoe strategy.
17. New Shoelace Pattern
Think outside the box. You don’t need to keep your tennis shoes laced the same way they were when you bought them. Take out some of the criss-crosses for a little extra room.
18. Waterproof Cloth Shoes
Use beeswax to waterproof your cloth shoes. Now no matter what you are wearing, you can walk around without getting your feet wet. The best part is you won’t see any difference in the appearance of your shoes.
19. Try Shoes On In The Evening
Feet swell throughout the day. In fact, the more you sit in a traditional chair, the more your feet will swell. When you try shoes on at the end of the day, you will find a size that will actually be comfortable all day.
20. Blow Dry The Shoes
Breaking in new shoes is THE WORST. To make this painful process a little easier, put on your thickest pair of socks. Then put the shoes on and blow dry the tight spots. They should loosen up pretty quickly.
21. Try Panty Liners
Having sweaty feet is not a good thing. It can be uncomfortable, and it will lead to smelly shoes. Put panty liners in the soles of your shoes to absorb the sweat.
22. Prevent Chafing
Do your feet chafe in tennis shoes? That definitely isn’t comfortable. Prevent this unpleasantness by coating your heels in K-Y Jelly.
23. Spray Your Feet
Hairspray isn’t just for hair. Before you go out for the night, give your feet a good spray. This will stop them from slipping and sliding.
24. Absorb Moisture From Boots
It’s the rainy season, and you are pretty likely to get a little moisture in your boots. Absorb it up by stuffing newspaper into them. If you don’t have any laying around, you can always try paper towels.
25. Keep Your Feet Warm
Having cold feet isn’t fun – literally or figuratively. This hack won’t help you calm your anxiety, but it will raise the temperature of your toes. Insert wool fabric into your shoes whenever it’s cold outside.
Shoes are important. After all, we wear them every day. If your shoes aren’t fitting quite right, give these hacks a try. Your feet will be much more comfortable.
Source: BuzzFeed