14 Genius Shoe Hacks For Happy And Healthy Feet

Toothpaste has many unusual uses. It acts particularly well as a cleaning agent for dirty sneakers.

Apply a bit of toothpaste to an old toothbrush, and work it into the dirty spots on the rubber, making sure to scrub the sides well.

You can work the toothpaste into the fabric of the shoes. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe it off with a damp towel.

Isopropyl, a substance more common known as "rubbing alcohol," can be used to safely remove stains from finished leather.

You can find rubbing alcohol at almost all drugstores and pharmacies.

When it comes time to clean, use a Q-tip, or a cotton call, and soak it up gently with some rubbing alcohol.

Rub the alcohol into the stain on the shoes, and let that sit for about 30 minutes.

Removing smelly odors is a crucial part of cleaning shoes!

Try putting a bit of baking soda into your sneakers to freshen them up, and let them sit overnight.

Baking soda has special properties that enable it to effectively remove odors from many objects and appliances around the house.

Nail files come super-handy in removing both wet and dry stains, and even scratches from suede surfaces.

For the best effect, first use a soft cloth to gently rub the area with the stain, to try and remove as much of the spot as possible.

If it's a really stubborn stain, gently rub the spot with a nail file or sandpaper, until the stain has diminished in appearance.

Vinegars are great for removing odors, because they have great acidic properties. Most odors are alkali, meaning they generally have a pH above 7.

When coming in contact with odors, vinegar will neutralize the reaction, and banish the odors.

To remove nasty smells from your sneakers, try soaking them in a vinegar solution. Use around two cups of vinegar mixed in with two gallons of water.

Dunk the shoes in, and make sure to put something heavy on top, so that they stay submerged, according to wikiHow.

Patent leather shoes are incredibly easy to care for, and usually can easily be given a shine with store-bought patent leather cleaners.

If you don't happen to have commercial cleaners on hand, try applying some mineral oil or petroleum jelly on a clean cloth, and rub off the scuff marks on the shoes.

Then, use more of the stuff to buff the shoes to a shine!

According to various sources, cornmeal can be rubbed into areas on suede shoes with greasy stains.

Rub it onto the shoe, and leave it to soak up the grease or oil from the stain.

Afterward, brush it off with a cloth.

It's just as important to have comfortable shoes as it is to have perfectly clean shoes.

If you're trying to break in new shoes (whether they're heels, flats, boots, or any kind of new shoes you've bought), one trick is to apply heat to them with a blowdryer, to loosen them up.

Make sure to wear warm, woolly socks as you break the shoes in!

A genius trick for un-cramping the toe boxes of your new shoes is to place them straight in the freezer.

Fill two Ziploc bags up with water, and seal them tightly. Place the baggies inside the shoes, and let them sit overnight in the freezer, until the water in the bags freezes.

As the water freezes, it will slowly expand the bag to gently stretch the walls of your shoes.

Remove from the freezer, and let the ice thaw for about 20 minutes before removing the bags.

Many people love to rub sandpaper on the soles of their new shoes for an improved grip and better traction.

By rubbing the abrasive sandpaper on the smoothest part of the sole, you're creating a rougher, more textured surface for the bottom of the shoes, according to wikiHow.

You can very easily prevent blisters while wearing new shoes by applying clear gel deodorant to the areas in the shoe that are most likely to cause friction with your skin.

The gel in the deodorant acts as a lubricant, according to Lifehacker.

When you cramp your toes together in heels, it places great strain on the nerves that run through your toes.

To remedy this, try applying tape to your toes.

Tape either your second and third (or third and fourth toes) together with medical tape or Scotch tape to lessen the pressure on the ball of your foot.

Waterproof your canvas shoes with beeswax to keep your feet dry in rainy or snowy weather.

Cover the entire surface of your shoes with beeswax, then use the heat from a blowdryer to press the substance into the shoes, according to instructions on Lifehacker.

Though there are plenty of measures you can take to prevent foot and heel pain, it's always best to know how to soothe those poor blisters on your feet.

Try rubbing aloe vera gel on your feet to relieve the inflammation and redness, or dab apple cider vinegar on your feet.

You can also unwind with a nice foot bath. Soak your feet in black or green tea, which both have amazing anti-inflammatory properties, according to Everyday Health.

Please SHARE these hacks and tips for comfy and healthy feet with all your friends and family!