How Can I Make My Shoe Slip-Resistant?

Making your used shoe a slip-resistance shoe is very easy. You can try the sandpaper technique, scuffing technique, etc.  Rest assured, after applying these techniques, you do not need to buy new shoes. Here you will find some effective and easy tips to make your shoe slip-resistant. 

Tips on How Can I Make My Shoe Slip-Resistant

Your slippery shoes can’t provide enough earth grab if you are unequipped! Before you take things at your hand go through these easy and simple steps.   

No.1 Sandpapers

You do not need to wait for the sole to wear off completely. You can just buy sandpapers from your local supermarket or you may find them in your garage. Try to use 50 grit papers but coarse sandpaper will just do the work.

Process 

Remove your shoes from the feet then use sandpapers on the sole. Try to rub it against this sole, particularly those smooth portions that come into contact with the slippery floor. Your target is to get a rough-textured sole out of it. This only takes a few minutes but is worth the shot. 

No.2 Adhesive Bandages

Do not like the rubbing technique?  Then your safe option is to use adhesive bandages. It will not damage your luxury shoe rather help you to grip it so that you can avoid possible falling. 

Process 

Get two adhesive bandages and stick them at the back of your shoe’s anterior part. Make sure to use it on the heels too, it will help you to grip your walking on the slippery floor. This is a very quick solution for day-to-day life. 

No.3 Scuffing the Sole

New shoes have a smooth bottom and tend to slip in a wet place. This idea is highly effective and very straightforward. The technique takes a little time and that is all takes to improve the traction of your work shoe or boots. 

Technique 

How about wearing it frequently on rough concrete surfaces to see if there are any changes to your shoe? Yes, you will notice that the sole no longer has a smooth bottom. Because by scuffing them you gave it traction which improves its slip-resistant ability. Or you can rub the sole against some rough rocks. This will give the same results. 

No.4 Nail File or Grip Pad

Nail file

For this hack, you need a nail file, probably a metal one. If you cannot find that type then at least try to have a coarser one to have a good result. 

How do you use it? Okay, it is very easy. You can do this exactly like a sandpaper process. Scuff the shoes’ flat and smooth parts with the nail file, particularly to those places where the shoe often comes in contact with the floor. 

Grip pad  

There is also an advantage of using a grip pad in this case. In case if you have worn-out footwear, then you can make this useful for this experiment.

 To make use of this solution, use high-quality pads on the sole of your shoe. This will stuck on the sole of your shoe to give it more traction. The pads come in different sizes but afterward, if you want, you can trim their size.  

No.5 Hairspray 

 A spray pad is a great alternative to adhesive pads. This is another effective solution for making your shoe slip-resistant. Remember there are different types of spray pads, but you need to use the right one to do the job properly.

Process 

You can use hairspray. Yes, a hairspray is fit for the job. Spray a liberal amount of it on the base of your sole and wait around one minute to set it down. Then you can use your shoe for outdoor works.

But take note, hair spraying on the shoes is not a permanent solution. Its only purpose is for a quick fix. Also do not use different color spray on your sole because your shoe may look weird. 

No.6 A Puff Paint

Another solution to make your shoe slip-resistant is the use of puff paint. It is actually used in the arts and crafts of kids but its effectiveness is what we need for this work. Rest assured this lasts longer than hair spray. 

Technique

First, put a thin layer of paint on the sole of your shoe. Your goal is to paint on those areas that are always in contact. Set your shoe aside for several hours and allow it to dry completely before wearing it outside.

After drying it, you will get a rough and textured surface. As a result, it is a perfect way to give your slippery shoes a really tight grip. The only con is that there is a need for re-application to attain optimal results.

No.7 Rubber Glue and Salt

Rubber and glue are famous for providing some sort of grainy texture to your shoes. By applying rubber and glue mixture, they improve its traction and grip and therefore it does not easily slide around.

Process

Take a bowl, mix rubber glue with enough grains of salt. Use a small paintbrush to paint a thin layer on the heel and the bottom part of the footwear. A short note, the more you use salt, the better the grip. Now, set them aside to dry thoroughly before wearing them.

FAQ

Q: Are these materials for the hacks costly?

Ans: No, they are very cheap and some hacks do not even need extra material. You can easily find this somewhere in your garage and nearby supermarket. 

Q: Are these hacks time-consuming?

Ans: No, this takes a little time of yours. Anyone of any age can do these effective hacks.

Q: Is it necessary to do hacks rather than buying new non-slip shoes?

Ans: Some workers cannot buy new shoes every single time. These hacks are very easy to apply and save a lot of money. You can easily wear any kind of footwear in any type of work.

Conclusion 

Now you only need to try the slip-resistant shoe in a slippery place and judge how effective it is. You can turn any shoe slip-resistant using the above DIY tips in this article. But if you don’t want to do this hassle you can simply buy boots with good traction like Thursday Boots or Wildland Firefighting.