Older shoes that are worn smooth by years of wear and tear can have slippery soles, as can new shoes with plastic soles.Slip, trip, and fall injuries are the leading cause of injury in the U.S., with over one million reported each year.It's usually easy to put some grip back into your shoes for dirt cheap with just a few simple tricks.
Step 1: The soles should be cuffed on the abrasive surfaces.
If your shoes are a new pair, there's a good chance that they are slippery because of their smooth soles.The properties of soles allow them to make better contact with the floor once they are softened and worn into them.It is possible to noticeably improve traction by wearing your soles down.If you want to do this, try walking on a rough surface like concrete, Gravel Rocks, boulders, etc.There are Textured metal walkways.If you're not embarrassed, you can take your shoes off and put them in the ground.
Step 2: Sandpaper is used to remove the soles.
Shouldn't you be able to easily clean your shoes on a rough surface?Are you worried about slipping while you wait for your soles to wear down?Take off your shoe and rub the smooth parts of the sole that touch the floor until they develop a rougher, more textured feel.Coarse sandpapers are the best for this task.It's possible to use a 50-grit paper.It is not a good idea to use this on certain soles, especially those with a cardboard-like texture.
Step 3: You can use a nail file.
A nail file or similar tool can work if you don't have sandpaper.The smooth, flat parts of your shoe that come in contact with the floor should be sanded to give them some texture.The most convenient tools for this task are metal files and emery boards.The coarser files work best here.
Step 4: You should wear your shoes and wait for the soles to wear down.
To make your shoes less slippery, simply wear them as much as you can.Depending on how often you wear your shoes, the simple action of walking should take the slickness out of your soles.If you use this method, make sure to switch to a different pair of shoes whenever you anticipate a situation where slipping is likely, like dancing, walking in the rain, and so on.You don't want to hurt yourself just to make your shoes better.
Step 5: You should invest in grip pads.
If your slipping problems are coming from an older pair of shoes, the issue may not be that your sole isn't worn enough, but that it is too worn.Adding material to the bottom of your shoes will give you more grip.Perhaps the most professional way to do this is to apply shoe pads designed for this purpose to the soles of your shoes.The material of the sole can be attached with textured pads.Some users complain that this glue can leave shoes with a "sticky" feeling once the pads come off.Most wardrobe supply stores will sell a single set of grip pads for $10 or less.
Step 6: You can buy a spray-on coating.
There are also spray products that can be used on the soles of shoes to give them more grip.These products, usually sold as "traction sprays" or "grip sprays," can vary in quality, so talk to an employee or read customer testimonials before making a purchase.For a slightly higher price, traction sprays are usually sold at the same places as grip pads.
Step 7: It's a good idea to use hairspray.
Do you not want to spend money on traction-adding products?Several products that you already have in your home may give you good results.It is important to note that the improvised solutions are not guaranteed to work as well as the professional ones.You can spray a coat on the soles of your shoes for a little extra "stick", especially on smooth-bottomed dress shoes.Before walking in the shoes, give the hairspray at least half a minute to dry and become tacky.The solution is temporary and will need to be re-applied.In wet weather, plicol may rinse off.
Step 8: Use paint.
"Puff" paint is a type of paint that is frequently used in arts and crafts products for children like making tee shirts.If you want to add grip to the bottoms of shoes, puff paint is a good choice.Simply apply a thin coat to the sole, leave it for a few hours to dry, and test out your solution!It will need to be re-applied semi regularly for maximum effectiveness.If you have the time, painting a design into your shoe is a great way to express your creativity.
Step 9: You can use masking tape.
If you want to improve the traction of your shoes, you can simply stick a few pieces of masking tape on their soles.For maximum effect, lay two strips of tape in an "X" pattern on the widest, flattest parts of your soles.You may need to add more masking tape as the tape loses its quality.
Step 10: Look at a shoe repairer for high-quality shoes.
If you've got a pair of shoes that are too expensive for you to modify, or you just don't want to do it yourself, bring it to a professional shoe repairer.They may be able to modify or replace your shoes.The services of a cobbler are not cheap.A single pair of shoes can cost over $100 to fix, depending on the quality and difficulty of the work being done.This solution can be used for your very nice pair of shoes.
Step 11: Before you wear your shoes to work, make sure they are non-slip.
Workers in restaurants are required to wear specially certified non-slip shoes.If your job requires you to wear shoes that are modified with one of the tricks above, wear them without checking with your employer.It is possible that you are violating your job's code of conduct by doing this.Non-slip shoe requirements exist for a reason and it may leave you vulnerable to injury.Get a new pair of shoes when you're not sure.A scale called the "coefficient of friction" is used to rate non-slip shoes.Check with your employer for rules specific to your job, a coefficient of about 0.7 is ideal for most jobs that require non-slip shoes.
Step 12: Do not wear your shoes out without testing them.
If you are testing out a new traction-adding technique for the first time, don't put yourself in a situation where you will need it until you have tested it out.Taking the time to walk around your house or take a trip around the block can give you an idea of how effective your solution is.
Step 13: Do not use sprays or glues that are unsafe for your shoes.
If you're dealing with a pair of shoes made from a fine material like leather, be sure to check the packaging for any products you intend to use on them before doing so.Some products can cause certain shoe materials to degrade, making them a bad choice.For example, the chemicals in hairspray have been known to damage certain types of leather, which means that care must be taken if using hairspray as a temporary fix for a slippery pair of shoes.
Step 14: Don't rule out a new pair of shoes if the problem is severe.
The methods in this article may not work for shoes that are very slippery.It can be difficult to say goodbye to an old pair of shoes that have lost their grip, but a slip and fall is worse.If your shoes are beyond hope, stop wearing them and look for a new pair of shoes.Donate your old shoes to a charity like Donate Your Old Shoes if they are too slippery for your work or hobbies.Even if you can't, someone else may be able to use your shoes.The Pedi-egg product can be used to scuff the souls.