10 Simple And Frugal Shoe Hacks

4. Rub Sandpaper On Soles To Stop Slips

Many women’s shoes aren’t particularly generous when it comes to soles that actually stop you from slipping. This means that, when it’s wet out or you’re on uneven ground, it can be like an accident waiting to happen. Well, try this trick instead of taking a trip: rub some rough sandpaper on the soles of your slipperiest shoes. The sandpaper might not make your soles look that nice, but it certainly will stop you from falling, and who is really looking at your soles anyway?

5. De-stain Suede Shoes With Cornflour

There’s a lot to love about suede shoes, blue or otherwise, but these kinds of shoes do take a bit to look after, and when they get a stain from water or even oil it can feel devastating. Don’t give up on them just yet though, because there is a solution. Cheap and totally effective, cornflour will absorb stains on suede shoes. For hard or deep stains, you may need to leave the cornflour on overnight, but believe us, it really works.

6. Shine Patent Leather With Petroleum Jelly

Patent leather shoes, the shiny ones that the ladies love so much, look their best when they’re as glossy as the day they were bought. But keeping them like that is harder than it first appears. Scuffs and marks happen all too easily. Luckily, there is a way to bring patent leather back to its original glory: petroleum jelly. Just put some on a soft, clean cloth and rub the mark until it goes away. You can then go over the rest of the shoe to bring it up to shine, buffing the jelly away.

7. Stop Blisters With Gel Deodorant

There’s a time in everyone’s life when a pair of shoes rubs the wrong way. But the good news is you don’t have to spend big on blister preventers. In fact, you can just use good old gel deodorant if you have some lying around. This method, while it is handy, is not recommended for runners or anyone who needs to keep their feet cool, as the deodorant will stop you from sweating. Still, it’s as good a preventative method as any.

8. Waterproof Canvas Shoes With Beeswax

Canvas shoes are super comfy, particularly in the warmer months, but it can be a hassle that they aren’t waterproof when it comes to dealing with puddles. We bet you didn’t know that you can waterproof them yourself at home! Just grab a lump of beeswax (you could probably use other wax as well but we love the smell of beeswax) and rub it all over the canvas. When you’ve covered it, grab a hairdryer and heat the wax up until it sinks right into the shoe. Done!

9. Make Sneakers Smell Good With Baking Soda

When your sneakers are in need of a bit of new life, don’t be so quick to pass them along for a new pair, especially if the problem is their smell. If you’ve tried to wash them and they’re still a bit pungent, throw a few scoops of baking soda into them and leave overnight. Then the next morning, just vacuum up the soda, which will have absorbed all the smells, leaving them fresh as ever!

10. Or Give Them A Superpowered Clean With Vinegar

If the baking soda isn’t enough to get the smells out, then your shoes might need a superpowered clean. You can do this by getting some normal white vinegar, diluting it with water at half strength or less, and soak your sneakers in it. You can soak them a few hours or so, then rinse them off or even pop them in the washing machine to get all the vinegar out. Dry them in the shade, and when they’re done, you’ll have a great, fresh smelling, pair of shoes.

What other shoe hacks do you know?