How to Make Your Shoes Slip Resistant
Slippery soles are one of the most common problems of winter shoes. You can’t move confidently on slippery surfaces, but the most important thing is that you might fall and get injured.
If you shoes are too slippery, and you don’t have special non-slip soles, 5-Minute Crafts prepared a few reliable lifehacks for you. They will help you make your shoes safer and less slippery.
Attach adhesive bandages to the soles
You’ll need:
- an adhesive bandage roll with a rough surface (non-antibacterial)
- scissors
1. Prepare your shoes: clean them well and let them dry.
2. Cut off 2 small strips (about 2 to 3 inches long) from the roll.
3. Attach the strips to the soles, crosswise. If the sole is big, you can attach another cross of bandage.
Important: An adhesive bandage is a temporary measure that will make your shoes slip-resistant and won’t damage them. However, these stickers wear out pretty quickly, so it’s important to change them regularly.
Use glue
You’ll need:
- a hot glue gun or a tube of super glue
1. Clean your shoes and dry the soles well.
2. Apply glue to the soles in a grid-like manner or in short strips.
3. Let the glue dry.
Important: Remember that the layer of glue that makes the soles non-slip will wear off with time. So, you’ll have to repeat this procedure once it disappears.
Attach felt strips
You’ll need:
- a small piece of felt
- scissors
- a hot glue gun
1. Clean the soles of your shoes and dry them well.
2. Cut a few strips of felt about 1 inch wide, their length should be equal to the width of the sole of your shoe.
3. Apply glue to the sole (where you want the felt) and attach the strip to this area. Attach a couple of strips to the sole in the same way.
4. If the fabric extends slightly over the edges of the shoe, trim these parts with scissors.
Important: Felt stickers are more durable than bandages or glue, but they will wear out over time too. Don’t skip this step and replace the strips in a timely manner.
Melt nylon stockings
You’ll need:
- old nylon stockings, tights, or socks
- a lighter
1. Clean your shoes and dry their soles well.
2. Carefully scorch the stockings above your shoes so that the melted nylon drops right on the soles and forms a bumpy pattern.
3. Let the nylon cool down on the sole.
Important: Be careful when using this method. Don’t work in a small room or near flammable objects. Be sure to ventilate the room after applying nylon to the soles.
Final note
You can use these lifehacks not only in the winter. They can help make office shoes or shoes with slippery flat soles more stable. However, you should remember that most homemade anti-slip solutions are short-lived and require regular replacement. In the colder seasons, the best option is to use special grip pads that will solve the problem of slippery shoes. They don’t wear out as fast and provide good grip with surfaces. If the surface is covered with ice, you can use ice grippers.