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Heel Thyself: How to Fix Common Shoe Disasters

We all pick favorites, even when it comes to our shoes!  Maybe you’ve had a pair kicking around for ages, but it’s just oh-so-hard to get rid of them?  They’re amazingly comfy or they’re eternally stylish. Or maybe you just love them for sentimental reasons. Give your shoes some extra mileage by repairing them yourself.  It’s cheaper than going to the cobbler and you can show your shoes just how much you love and appreciate them.

SNAPPED STRAPS

(Photo: Make It & Love It)

One of the most annoying shoe snafus has happened to me countless times.  You’re wearing your favorite pair of flip-flops and suddenly the strap busts out of the base. They’re completely un-wearable and you (attempt) to run to the nearest store to buy a new pair.

Save those soles!  An easy, quick, and inexpensive fix can be made with braided knit fabric scraps.  Braid your leftover fabric via a traditional three- or more ambitious five-strand braid.  (Be sure to pick a fabric that doesn’t fray like jersey.)  Thread through the existing holes in your flip flips and knot on the underside.  If you need extra room for the knots to lie flat, you can expand the holes with a scissor, ensuring that you don’t actually cut through the flip-flop!

WATERPROOF WARRIOR

Tired of soggy soles?  You can easily waterproof Tom’s or similar shoes with beeswax!  Cover shoes completely, hair dry on a high setting and the beeswax will melt into the fabric and ensure you’re ready for any weather condition.

HAGGARD HEELS

(Photo: WobiSobi)

Have you ever stepped through a grate in your favorite heels?   You probably assumed they were ruined for good.  Even the most seasoned of crafters can’t bring mangled leather back to life.

Well, I’m sure it’s been said before, but glitter really does solve most of life’s problems.  With a little bit of Modge Podge and glitter, you canrepair (nay, upgrade!) those heels.  Simply mix the two together to form a paste, paint liberally onto the heel of your shoe, let dry and repeat.  (If you want extra protection, coat the finished heels with clear nail polish to give them some extra waterproofing.)

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AGING AGLETS

(Photo: Inkled Pink)

Did you know that tiny little piece of plastic or metal that covers the end of your shoelace to keep it from fraying?  Who knew it had an actual name!  In technical terms, it’s called an aglet.  And although it’s simple enough to replace your shoelaces when they die, sometimes it’s hard to find just the right color or right length of shoelace.

There’s a whole host of ways to repair an aglet (including buying a little machine that does nothing but that!).  One of my favorites is using heat shrink tubing that’s normally used to insulate electrical joins.  You can find it at any hardware store and it comes in a ton of colors and sizes.  Typically 4mm or 5mm will work best.  Cover your shoelace with the tubing of your desire and heat shrink with either a heat gun, hair dryer, or even a flame (ensuring you don’t get too close to actually melt the tubing).

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STUBBORN SCUFF MARKS

(Photo: WonderHowTo)

Shoe scuffs, while hardly a shoe-mergency are still annoying and can make your favorite footwear look absolutely dingy.  Depending on the fabric of your shoe, there are several ways to remove scuffmarks.  My favorites include:

  • Literally erasing scuffmarks with an everyday eraser. For tougher scuffs, try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

  • Spray scuff with Windex and lightly rub off with a Q-tip.  Because when in doubt, Windex fixes most things.

  • Buff out scuff with an old rag and Vaseline.

  • With suede shoes, always try a dry method first, i.e. brushing away mud or debris with a nailbrush or eraser.

With any of these methods, be sure to test in an inconspicuous spot first, as not all fabrics react the same way!

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