How To Stop Shoes From Squeaking On Linoleum?

Your office or home has linoleum floors and the comfy shoes you wear make an annoying noise when you step around. So, it becomes mandatory for you to learn how to stop shoes from squeaking on Linoleum to avoid this annoyance.

And here this guide comes into play to help you deal with the shoe squeaking issue. In this guide, I will introduce you with 9 alternative yet workable ways to stop the irritating noise coming out of your shoes.

Turns out, I will describe why your shoes squeak on linoleum. In the end, I will break down what you should do if the squeaking is coming from the inside of the shoe. So, continue to read.

Why Do My Shoes Squeak On Linoleum?

Several reasons (like outsole design or nature) are to blame if the shoes squeak on the linoleum floor.

Some shoes in the marker have soles covered with a thin layer of black paint. It gives the shoe a new and shiny look. But it’s the culprit that makes your shoe squeaky. If this is the issue, you only have two options – either wear the shoes until the black paint layers wear out or scrub out the paint with sandpaper.

Therefore, I figured out that the shoes with canvas heels will start to squeak. I also found shoes with rubber soles squeak on smooth floors like linoleum.

And lastly, it’s natural. Throughout the day, your feet get sweaty, which also makes the socks sweaty. So, when you step on the floor, it will produce a popping noise. I also experienced the shoe squeaking when I wore some sort of small, thin, and no-show socks. You can easily alleviate the squeaking by wearing thick socks.

Turns out, worn-out shoes make the noise as the taking apart parts rub against each other every time you step up and on. In this case, you must replace the shoes with a new pair.

Below, I break down 9 effective ways to stop your shoes from squeaking on Linoleum or other surfaces. So, keep reading to learn about them that will handle the shoe squeak.

How To Stop Shoes From Squeaking On Linoleum? [9 Alternative Methods]

This chapter will walk you through 09 effective methods to deal with shoe squeaking problems.

01. Use 100-grit Sandpaper

Rubbing the outsole of shoes roughly with 100-grit sandpaper will get rid of the squeaking problem. Just get some 100-grit sandpapers and butt the soles. Ensure you buff the outsole enough so that it leaves a few scuff marks. It will take away the squeak.

Note: If the outsole gets smoothed over completely, the 100-grit sandpapers will not remove all of the shoe peepings. However, it can handle most of the problems.

02. Slide Your Feet On Concrete

You may think me crazy. But I bet you will thank me later once the squeak is gone. Just go outside your home or office and walk on your concrete driveway. It will be best if you slide your shoes on concrete for 15 ft. Do this for a couple of minutes, which will scuff the outsole and kill the squeak.

03. Walk & Drag Your Feet On Concrete and Get Some Dirt

Walk on the concrete road and rub your feet for a couple of inches to scrape the bottom of your shoes a bit. Then, collect some dirt on the outsole of your shoe. In this case, you should walk around in the soft dirt or mud. The buildup between the sole and the linoleum floor will stop the squeak.

Note: It will make the bottom of your shoe dirty. It may even leave dirt on your linoleum surface. However, squeaking will go in vain and let you walk on your linoleum floor with no shoe chirping.

04. Puncture the Rubber Part Of Your Shoes

There may be an air pocket in your shoes. So, grab a tack with a flat bottom and put it into the shoe so that it punctures the rubber part and the next layer. I am pretty much sure it will stop the squeak.

Precautions: Make sure the tack is short enough so that it fails to penetrate all the way through the outsoles and leave a tiny hole.

Give The Push-pin A Shot

If you have a pair of old shoes, it’s possible the bottom layer of those shoes will come loose. As a result, it squeaks like crazy when you step on your linoleum floors. To stop this annoying noise, put a push-pin into the coming apart rubber from underneath the sole of the shoe.

05. Apply Lotion

We often overlook the handy objects that can solve problems like shoe squeaking! And the lotion is an example of a product that can deal with shoe chirping issues. I had a pair of squeaky shoes and I applied lotion that works like charm. Just spray some lotion and keep rubbing it in on the inside and outside until the squeak is gone.

06. Sun Dry The Shoe

Your shoes will squeak if they get wet or moisture seeps into them. To remove the noise, just set your shoes out in the sun for a whole day. This method doesn’t only get rid of shoe squeaks, but it also eliminates the odor and lessens the risk of foot or nail fungus. You can also use a dryer to dry out the shoes.

07. Apply WD40 To Stop Squeaky Shoes

WD-40 has a versatile use that can remove rust or suck away grime, grease, and dirt from the surface. You can even try it to stop the squeak.

Spray a lit bit of WD-40 on a cotton ball. Then, rub the outside seam of the shoes or the entire outline that produces squeaking noise with the cotton ball. It will get rid of the shoe tweeting.

Precautions: Never spray the WD-40 on the shoe directly. Otherwise, it will damage your shoe belts or the outsole.

08. Cover The Sole With Talcum Powder

Yes, it works. Just wipe down your shoe insoles with talcum powder and cover the sole. It will help with the squeak and remove the annoying noise. Keep in mind; that you should clean the excess off the powder. Otherwise, it will leave tracks on the linoleum floor.

09. Let The Shoe Break Down

If it’s a pair of new shoes, it will make the squeak as the treads are intact. What you need to do is- just walk around in or outside your home until the shoe breaks down. You can even walk on the rough road to make the process faster.

What To Do If The Squeak Is Coming From Inside The Sole of Your Shoes?

A lot of the time the squeaking is coming from inside. In this case, I highly recommend you try out the following things to stop the noise:

• Sprinkle Baby Powder: Just take the insole out of your shoes. Then, sprinkle some baby powder in the shoe, shift around, so the power spreads well, and put the insole back into its place. It will keep the insole in its space and stop it from slipping around. Don’t forget to dump out any access before replacing the insole.
• Re-glue The Shank: Sometimes the noise is coming from the shoe arch area. You can often find a metal shank there that holds the shoe form. It may come loose from the glue and produce a loud noise. Re-glueing the shank will dissipate the squeak. You can even take some tack nails and put them into both sides of the shank to stop its movement.
• Repair The Upper: The upper of your shoes is also responsible for producing noise. If the upper gets worn out or broken, it will make the squeak. I highly recommend you bring your shoe to a shoe repair shop and let them handle it.

Conclusion

Needless to say, the shoe squeaking is annoying. And the 9 ways I mentioned will help you avoid this issue. Now, you can walk on your linoleum floor quietly as you already know how to stop shoes from squeaking on the Linoleum.

I always suggest you sand down the bottom part of the new shoe. If that does not work for you, you can try other methods I mentioned. Good luck!