Do you have a pair of patent leather shoes that simply won’t stop squeaking? Patent leather is meant to be durable and shiny, but it can also be noisy.
Sometimes the sound can get so bad that you just want to throw your shoes out. Read on for the details on why patent leather shoes squeak and some simple tips about how to stop those pesky squeaks.
So, why do patent leather shoes squeak? Patent leather shoes will squeak due to a variety of reasons. Below are some of the main causes;
- The Patent Leather Shoes Have Rubber Soles
- The Friction Between The Patent Leather Shoe And Surface
- The Patent Leather Shoes Are New
- When You Wear Patent Shoes On Wet Surfaces
- The Patent Leather Material Is Thick
- The Stitching On The Patent Leather Shoes Are Too Tight
- Wear and Tear Of Old Patent Leather Shoes
- There Is Water In Your Patent Leather Shoes
- The Sole Is Too Smooth
- When You Wear Your Patent Leather Shoes Barefooted
- Patent Leather Shoes Not The Right Fit
To learn the details on the above-mentioned reasons why patent leather shoes squeak, please continue reading.
1. Your Patent Leather Shoes Have Rubber Soles
One of the most common reasons that patent leather shoes squeak is because they have rubber soles. When you walk, rubber soles generally create a lot more noise.
Patent leather is a popular material for shoes because it has a shiny, sleek look. However, if the soles of your patent leather shoes are made from rubber then they can get very noisy as you walk around in them.
Because patent leather shoes are very durable, manufacturers often install rubber soles so that the shoes can last longer.
Unfortunately, while the shoes will last, it also means you will have to deal with all sorts of squeaking noises from your patent leather shoes.
The Fix:
If your squeaky issue with patent leather is coming from the sole of your shoe, there’s good news. There are 2 main hacks you can try.
Using A Silicone Sole Spray
An excellent way to eliminate the squeaking noise from the soles of your patent leather shoes is using a silicone-based sole spray.
Not only will it remove the squeaking noise you hate but it will also improve traction and make your patent leather shoes less slippery.
Simply follow the product’s application instructions and make sure to apply the silicone sole spray to both of the outsoles of your patent leather shoes.
Also, you can always reapply when the soles get squeaky again.
Using A 120-220 Grit Sandpaper
If you don’t want to bother buying a silicone sole spray, then the next best option is using a 120-220 grit sandpaper.
Simply take your sandpaper and rub it against the rubber soles of your patent leather shoes. This will create a small amount of friction that should stop the shoes from squeaking.
Just keep in mind that you will need to do this every time the rubber soles start to make noise.
2. The Friction Between The Patent Leather Shoe And Surface
The next common cause of squeaking from patent leather shoes is the friction between the patent leather shoes and a hard surface.
This usually happens when you are walking on a floor that has just been cleaned with wax or polish.
Also, surfaces like tile, marble, and linoleum are more likely to create a lot of friction between your shoes and the ground because they have an extremely polished finish.
When you walk on these types of surfaces while wearing patent leather shoes, there is enough surface tension that causes the squeaking noise.
In this case, the issue is more external and there is often not much you can do about it.
The main problem occurs because of how oily these types of products can be. The oil sits on top of the polished/waxed surfaces, and when the patent leather shoe makes contact, it creates a squeaking noise.
The Fix:
There is usually not much you can do to stop this type of squeak.
3. The Patent Leather Shoes Are New
When you first buy a new pair of patent leather shoes, they are usually very noisy. As if your new patent leather shoe is announcing its newness to the world with a loud squeak.
This is because patent leather shoes are usually very stiff when they are first worn.
The material has not been broken in yet and it just rubs against surfaces in an unnatural way, making that tell-tale screeching noise.
The good news is this is probably one of the easiest to fix as all you need to do is to continue wearing your brand new patent leather shoes and give them a few weeks of regular use before the squeaking noise stops.
The Fix:
As mentioned before, the only thing you could do is to continue wearing your shiny new patent leather shoes and give them a few weeks of regular use.
The squeak should disappear over time as the patent leather material gets worn in.
There are also a few things you can do to help you break in your patent leather shoes a lot faster.
One way to do this is by wearing your patent leather shoes regularly or using a shoe stretcher.
This is a device that helps expand the width and length of your shoes, which in turn makes them more flexible.
4. When You Wear Patent Shoes On Wet Surfaces
When you wear patent leather shoes on wet surfaces, it creates a lot of friction and noise. So when you walk the squeaking noise is much more pronounced.
This is one of the most common ways your patent leather shoes will make squeakings sound.
You can imagine a room full of people wearing patent leather shoes as they walk on a wet floor. It would be incredibly noisy
The Fix:
One way to prevent this from happening is by having the wet floor cleaned and dried as soon as possible.
You can also try to avoid walking on wet surfaces while wearing your patent leather shoes.
If you must walk on a wet surface, then do so with caution and slowly. This will minimize the amount of friction that is created between the shoe and the surface.
5. The Patent Leather Material Is Thick
When you have patent leather shoes that are made from thicker leather materials, it means the shoe will be harder to break in.
This also leads to more friction and squeaking when you walk on surfaces like tile or concrete because of how much surface tension there is between your feet and the ground.
On the other hand, patent leather shoes with soft or moderate thickness and texture leather will be much easier to break in and there won’t be as many problems.
The Fix:
Therefore, the best way to avoid this is by making sure you invest your money in a pair of patent leather shoes that are made from thinner materials.
This helps decrease surface tension and makes it so you can more easily move around without having to worry about squeaking.
If you already have the patent leather shoes made with thick our heavy patent leather material, you can wear them often to break them in.
The other option is to have your patent leather shoes stretched by a professional cobbler or shoe repairer. This can help make the material more flexible and easier for you to move around in while wearing it.
6. The Stitching On The Patent Leather Shoes Are Too Tight
Another common cause of patent leather shoe squeaking told to me by a very good friend who is an awesome shoe repairer is that if the stitching on the shoes is too tight it can cause squeaking or shoe noise.
What happens is that when you walk, the threads of the stitches become restricted that the leather tightens, creating squeaking noise when you walk.
But the good thing is this often happens only for a few days after the patent leather has just been repaired or when the patent leather is new.
Usually, after a few wear, the stitching loosens up and you should have no more squeaking noise.
The Fix:
As mentioned before, this is a common problem for people who buy new patent leather shoes or get their old ones fixed by a shoe repairer.
So if your brand-new patent leather shoes are already squeaking when you walk on surfaces like tile or concrete, then it might be caused by the stitching.
The best way to avoid this is by wearing your patent leather shoes for a few days to see if the squeaking noise goes away.
If you’re buying new patent leather shoes, make sure you try them on before the purchase to make sure the stitching isn’t too tight.
If you already have a pair of patent leather shoes with tightened-up stitching, then it’s best to take them to a professional cobbler or shoe repairer and have them stretch out the stitching for you.
7. Wear and Tear Of Old Patent Leather Shoes
Another common reason for patent leather shoes making squeaking noise when you walk on them is simply from general wear and tear.
Over time, the surface of the patent leather will start to crack and this can lead to more friction and noise when you’re walking.
This may seem contrary to breaking in your patent leather shoes to reduce the squeaking noise but even after you break in your patent leather shoes, they will start to wear and tear over time.
The Fix:
If this is the case with your patent leather shoes, then there’s not much you can do about it except to invest in a new pair of high-quality patent leather shoes.
Simply put, if your old patent leather shoes are starting to squeak, it might be time to retire them and invest in a new pair.
8. If There Is Water In Your Patent Leather Shoes
Next, another reason why your patent leather shoes squeak might be because of moisture.
If you happen to step in a puddle or find yourself in the rain or soggy snow then the water will get into the shoe.
And if there is enough moisture in your patent leather shoes, then it can cause water damage that can lead to squeaking sounds.
The Fix:
For this type of situation, you can thoroughly air dry out the patent leather shoes and try to get rid of any leftover moisture.
If there is still water in your patent leather shoe, then it will continue to squeak when you walk. You can also use a hairdryer to help speed up the drying process.
9. The Sole Is Too Smooth
Not only will the smooth sole of your patent leather shoes be dangerous but it will also make your patent leather shoes squeak.
The main reason for this is that when you walk in smooth-soled patent leather shoes, there’s very little friction between the shoe and the ground.
So what happens is that when your foot pushes down on the patent leather, it creates a squeaking noise.
The Fix:
One way to help reduce the squeaking noise from your patent leather shoes is by applying some type of grip or adhesive to the soles.
You can either buy a commercially available grip product or you can try something like duct tape.
Simply stick or spray the grip or adhesive to the bottom of your patent leather shoes and you should have a lot less squeaking noise.
10. When You Wear Your Patent Leather Shoes Barefooted
If you love wearing your patent leather shoes without socks or stockings, then that might be the reason why you’re experiencing squeaking sounds. You can do a quick experiment to test this theory.
The way this happens is that when your foot pushes down on the patent leather, it creates a squeaking noise.
The Fix:
If you’re experiencing patent leather shoe squeaking when you walk barefooted, then the best solution is to start wearing socks or stockings with your shoes.
Adding a layer of fabric between your feet and the patent leather should stop the noise from happening.
11. Patent Leather Shoes Not The Right Fit
Lastly, if you have a pair of patent leather shoes that are too big or too small for your feet, then they can cause squeaking noises when you walk.
The Fix:
If the fit is not right with your patent leather shoe, it will rub up against your skin and create friction which leads to squealing sounds.
So if this is the case, then you need to get a pair of patent leather shoes that fit your feet comfortably.
This will help reduce any friction and noise when you walk.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has given you some insight into why your patent leather shoes squeak.
There are many reasons why your patent leather shoes squeak, from the soles being too smooth to water damage.
So if you have a pair of patent leather shoes that are starting to wear out and they’re making noise when you walk in them, then hopefully some of these tips can help.
