How To Keep Your Feet From Sticking To Sandals

One of the true signs of the summer is when people start getting a new pair of sandals. But has your feet ever stick to your sandals? Even worse such that it begins to make irritating suction noise?

I am pretty sure this has made you think of ways to keep your feet from sticking to sandals. Well, this post will walk you through the steps you can take to stop your sandals from sticking.

We will also look into what causes your feet to stick to sandals so that you can always play prevention with any other new sandals you get.

Without beating around the bush, let’s go straight into what needs to be done to keep your feet from sticking to your sandals.

Ways to keep your feet from sticking to sandals

• Sprinkle baby powder
• Sprinkle talcum powder
• Use petroleum jelly
• Use WD-40
• Break in the sandals properly
• Take it to a cobbler

When moisture from your sweaty feet gets trapped where your sandals rub against each other, it will not only cause annoyingly squeaky, it will also cause your feet to stick with the sandals.

Sometimes, it is after a long day of walking with your sandals that you notice black gunks on the sandal’s footbed when you finally take them off.

These are some of the things that can cause sticky sandals. Well, We shall look into more of the causes later.

For now, no matter the cause of the sticky sandals, these few solutions I am about to share with you will help in saving your favorite summer sandals.

Some of these methods are not palatable for some sandals material, but not to worry, I will indicate as we go through the steps for each method.

Sprinkle baby powder/Talcum Powder

The simple look and easy-to-wear nature of sandals can make it become your favorite kind of footwear. But I have noticed that most of the cases of sticky sandals are a result of trapped moisture as mentioned earlier.

By shaking a bit of baby powder on the inner sole of the sandal, you could put a one-stop end to the problem.

You can fight sticky and noisy sandals by putting baby powder or talcum powder on your sandals’ insole.

Not only will it quickly dry up the sweat, but will also take away a lot of the friction that causes your feet to stick in the first place.

Use petroleum jelly

Another really practical and simple way to keep your feet from sticking to your sandals is by spreading A TINY BIT of petroleum jelly on the area of the sandals where the two meet.

This is really ideal when you are sure that the sticky sandals are not a result of sweaty feet alone.

All you need is to put a dab of petroleum jelly on the part of your sandal that makes your feet stick.

I recommend this method especially if your sandals are designed to have a leather insole. The jelly will loosen up the leather.

But make sure you do not use too much petroleum jelly because it can eventually make your feet feel slimy.

Just a little will do. A very good alternative for petroleum jelly is WD-40.

Try using WD-40

The reason why WD-40 can keep your feet from sticking to your sandals is that it is an oil-based lubricant that helps with not only sticky areas but also tough noise.

Just use a cotton ball, spray some WD-40, and apply it to the outside seams of your sandals. This will work even well for squeaky sandals and shoes.

But I do not recommend it for leather and suede insoles as it could lead to damage.

Give Waterproof Shoe Protector a try

If your sandals insoles are made out of suede or another soft material, spraying it with a good waterproof spray, like this Star Brite Waterproofing Spray, might be a great way to keep your feet from sticking to your sandals.

If sweat is the reason why your feet stick to the sandal, spraying waterproof won’t stop you from sweating, it will stop the sweat from penetrating the material. And that is really helpful.

Break in the sandals properly

This is not a get-results-fast option among all that we have shared so far. But sometimes, if you simply break in your sandals, it can stop your feet from sticking to them.

I am coming from this angle because there are apparently more than one issues that come from sandals and shoes still being new.

If they are new sandals, wearing them often will get rid of that sticking or squeaking problem.

Take it to a local cobbler

Lastly, I can recommend taking your sandals to any local cobbler around, especially if you do not have the time or patience to DIY a solution. But these methods are a no-brainer and not time-wasting, really.

But if you love your sandals too dearly, you can simply take them to the nearest repair shop.

Those professionals might fix the sandals in ways we are not even aware of, or even share more vital knowledge that I did not mention here.

If you eventually took your sandals to an expert, feel free to share in the comments your experience what you learned from the professional repairer.

Why are Sandals sticky?

The constructional design of sandals is generally different from that of closed-in shoes. However, both are built with the insole, midsole, and outsole construction.

When your sandals stick or even make noise, it is mainly a result of the contact made between your foot and the insole. However, there are three different direct reasons for having sticky sandals:

Sweaty feet

Many people may not like to talk about it, but sweaty feet are really something. It is very difficult to ignore it when talking about problems with sticky shoes and sandals.

As I have seen in most cases, sticky sandals, no matter the brand of sandals, are often caused by sweaty feet.

Unlike shoes where you can wear socks to ameliorate the problem, I don’t see wearing socks in sandals as a norm in the world of fashion today.

In other words, most people wear sandals barefoot. And without wearing socks, the sweats from your feet have nowhere to go. It will then get trapped between your foot and the insole until it dries.

Since you usually wear sandals in hot weather, it will cause you to sweat more. So sandals being open shoes may not even add to the solution.

Bottom line, the extra moisture from sweat can basically cause your feet to stick with the sandal, and then create suction between your foot and the sandal.

That’s one possible reason for sticky sandals

How long have you been using the sandals?

Remember I mentioned earlier that there are apparently more than one issues that come from sandals and shoes still being new.

New sandals and shoes are can be initially noisy and sticky due to the air escaping from between the layers of the sole unit.

This is quite inevitable for sandals designed with foam cushioning. As you walk with it often, the foam cushioning will become a little compressed rather than springing back into place.

On the flip side of the coin, sticky sandals can be caused by the general wear and tear of the sandals.

Sandals with suede insole may eventually have a smoother surface as you use the sandals often, which will lead to less ability to absorb sweat.

And this will surely cause the sandals to stick with your feet when walking.

The sandals might be damaged

While this is applicable to both new and old sandals, you can experience sticky feet with your sandals if there is a manufacturing defect you weren’t aware of when you bought them.

This is why it is important to choose carefully when buying sandals, especially online (More on this shortly).

Imagine you bought sandals with a sole unit that is not bonded properly, when it gets moisture into it, it will not only stick but also make annoyingly squeaky noise.

So, if you have tried the methods shared earlier on how to keep your feet from sticking to sandals, and none of them seem to be bringing positive results, make sure you check your sandals over for signs of damage or defects.

If they are new and you see any damage sign, then you know you got the wrong sandals for yourself.

It is not a nice thing to be unhappy about a new purchase. So before I end this post, we shall quickly look into few important things you always check and consider before picking new sandals to buy.

Things to check when buying a new Sandal

The major things you should focus on when buying any type of sandals are the style/material and setting, the condition for wearing the sandals, and then your budget.

If you can be 100% satisfied with these three main things, you will have a happy purchase, and here is why:

The Material of the sandals

When buying sandals, the first thing to check is what type you really want. Sandals that are dressier will cover your foot more.

If you want something kept for only the pool, beach, or something super casual, then sandals with those flip flop designs should come to mind.

Also on the type of sandals comes the material, and this is very necessary to ponder on before buying any sandals.

The materials used in making the sandals will point to where you can/should wear them.

If you are picking sandals with fabric or plastic material, you should know it is for only casual occasions, but durable sandals made with leather and suede sandals are on the dressier side.

In addition, you want to pay attention to the color. Whatever color you are going with, always make sure that you incorporate them in the overall color scheme of your outfit.

Under what condition will you wear the sandals?

This may sound a little off, but determining the climate in which you will be wearing your sandals and the geography of the place helps you choose the right sandals that will last long.

For example, most sandals go well with a sandy environment, but when you now choose sandals with braiding or many details, sand could enter these small details and will not get out.

Sandals that fasten very tightly can cause sweaty feet and are not good for a mountainous area.

Also, buying sandals that are made of rubber is appropriate for areas where it rains often, while those with canvas or suede material will not be nice because they don’t dry quickly.

In contrast, If you stay in dry areas, you don’t want to opt for sandals made from certain materials such as plastic. The heat can bring discomfort to your feet.

Price

Lastly, when buying sandals, you consider your budget. It is better to consider investing in a more expensive pair of sandals.

If you eventually spend your money on cheaper sandals, you will only have to wear them a few times until they go bad is going to cost more in the long run than a pair that is more expensive.

Just as with every other thing we buy to wear, the better quality of things is usually more expensive. But this is not to say that you can not find very affordable quality sandals in the market.

What I am saying in essence is that you should not settle for ones made with cheaper material simply because they are cheap.

Go for ones with better craftsmanship and better style because only a high-quality pair of sandals will ensure you that they will last for a long time, that they will maintain their shape, color, and structure.

Conclusion

You could look great in your new pair of sandals, but the moment you step out of the door and walk just a few steps in them, the noticeable sticky feeling the sandals has with your feet can be annoying and irritating.

We have been able to look at ways to keep the feet from sticking with sandals which include using baby or talcum powder, petroleum jelly, and breaking them in.

Hopefully, these suggestions have been able to expose you to easy ways to stop sandals from sticking and making suction noise.