They say that April showers bring May flowers, but they don’t tell you that your shoes will get wet planting those flowers! I have several pairs that I cycle between, but when it rains every day for a week, it’s hard to keep them dry. I finally figured out how to waterproof shoes and boots naturally!

How to Waterproof Shoes or Boots Naturally

Step 1: Clean Shoes

While starting with brand new shoes would be ideal, in most cases that may not be practical.

If your shoes aren’t new, make sure they are at least clean and dry. To dry them quickly, wrinkle some newspaper into loose balls and stuff your shoes with them overnight. This should dry them out, but they may need another day. Brush off any dirt or mud, then you’re ready to start.

Step 2: Wax on

Next, you’ll need some wax. You can use beeswax, soy wax, carnauba wax, bayberry wax, candelilla wax, or whatever type of wax you can find. Next, rub the wax on the shoe or boot, scraping the wax against the surface of the foot ware. Be sure to cover the entire surface, not missing any spots.

Most wax will turn clear when melted (in the next step), but for some fun effects you can try colored crayons on white shoes. You can draw any designs or shapes that suit you. Be aware that any designs you draw on the shoes will likely become blurred and distorted after melting.

Step 3: Wax off

Set your shoes or boots on a few layers of newspaper. Using a hair dryer aimed at the shoe surface, begin heating up the wax. The wax will melt as you making sweeping motions over it with the hair dryer.

Go slowly, melting the wax as you move around on top. Work around from the top to the bottom.

When you are finished, let them cool and them put the shoes on. Flex the toes to see if the wax will crack. The layer should be thin enough that it doesn’t crack. But if it does, remelt the same area again.

Wax Reapplication

If you wear your shoes a lot, you may need to rewax them from time to time. A single application should last six months to a year with average use. Don’t be afraid to wax your shoes again at any time if they start to leak.

Do you know how to waterproof shoes or boots in a unique way? If so, tell us about it!

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