5 solutions to stop shoes from squeaking

Option 1: air-dry

If excess moisture is causing the squeak, dry shoes thoroughly. Leaving them in the sun to air-dry doesn't always reach the moisture causing the sound. Instead, remove the insoles, crumple up newspaper and stuff it all the way to the toe of the shoe, then wrap the shoes in a towel. Leave them to dry in a well-ventilated area for about 12 hours. Placing them near a fan or vent blowing warm air will help them dry faster.

Before putting the insole back in, you can sprinkle some baby powder or talcum powder directly into the shoe to let it soak up any lingering moisture.

Option 2: tumble-dry

If the care instructions permit putting shoes in the dryer, toss them in for the quickest results. Set the dryer to low heat and add a sponge or washcloth to help absorb moisture. Tumble-dry for no longer than 10 minutes, as too much time in the dryer can cause shoes to shrink or damage the glue used to construct the shoes.

If they are still damp after the dryer, you can finish off the process by removing the insoles and the laces and placing the shoes near a fan or a vent.

(Related: The 2 best ways to dry your shoes without damaging them)

Sometimes, the squeak comes from the outside of the shoe. This happens especially with new shoes. The sound can originate from brand-new rubber soles or from stiff seams on the outside of the shoe.

The more you wear new shoes, the more they will loosen and quiet down. To speed up the process, consider wearing the new shoes around the house to break them in. The squeaky sound should go away with more use.

If the squeak is coming from the inside of the shoe—and it's not due to moisture—try removing the shoe insole and adding a thin layer of petroleum jelly or coconut oil to the bottom of it. This will help reduce friction if the insole is rubbing against other parts of the shoe.

Sometimes it's not excess moisture that makes a shoe creak but the lack of it. A dried-out shoe can make noise as well, especially when shoes are made out of leather. To address the issue, use leather conditioner to moisturise the shoe and keep it from squeaking.

To get started, remove the shoelaces first, then dab a small amount of conditioner onto a clean cloth. Work in small, circular motions to gently rub it into the leather uppers, focusing your attention on any natural creases that have formed.

Leather shoes also sometimes squeak when the laces rub against the tongue of the shoe. You can use saddle soap—a special compound meant to clean, condition and protect leather—to fix the sound.

Apply the soap to a damp cloth and rub onto the tongues, creating a lather. Wipe it away with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. If you don't have saddle soap, leather conditioner will work for this as well.

(Related: 3 easy ways to clean shoelaces)

Squeaks in shoes aren't always caused by the shoes themselves. Sometimes it's your feet. If your shoes tend to squeak and you're part of the no-socks squad, try wearing a pair of socks.

Even no-show socks will do the trick. If your shoes stop squeaking, you'll know the problem was caused by the friction from your bare foot inside the shoe.