The Affordable Hack That Gets Your Damp Shoes Dry In No Time (No Dryer Required)

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Going running in the pouring rain can be cathartic. But if you've got just one pair of trainers, you'll either have to skip your run the next day or skip along in the squishy shoes. However, if you'd rather not alter your daily routine or develop blisters, it's important to get your shoes dry pronto. Alas, they're one of those things you should never put in the dryer. This is because the high heat can cause your sneakers to shrink, increasing your chances of having a painful footwear experience. A dryer is bad for your embellished or regular walking shoes, too, since the heat will impact the glue's effectiveness. Worse, your expensive leather shoes will develop unsightly cracks.

Fortunately, you can try out an affordable newspaper hack to get your damp shoes dry. Being made of wood pulp and other recycled materials, these sheets greedily absorb moisture and speed up the drying process. Just stuff a few sheets in your wet trainers and let them sit overnight. That being said, remember that you'll have to wait longer if your shoes are soaking wet. Also, this hack will only work with newspapers; thick, glossy magazine pages aren't particularly absorbent and are a no-go. Although you can use the thin ad pages within, if you don't have newspapers handy. You can also use paper towels, but you'll have to use a couple for the desired result. And this can be a slightly expensive alternative if you don't buy these common household items in bulk to save money.

The first step is to gather the primary supply for this hack: old newspapers. Then, gently take out the insoles from your wet shoes. Set them in front of a fan to help them dry faster. In case they're dirty, wipe them down with a dish soap and warm water solution prior to placing them near a fan. You also want to loosen the laces. This will allow your damp trainers ample space to draw in air and dry. In case they're muddy, too, add a few drops of the best dish detergent to a container with water. Next, dunk your laces for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing them out.

Coming to the shoes, check whether they're just wet or if they're sporting dust and dirt marks. In the case of the latter, wipe the exterior down with a damp microfiber cloth. A wet wipe will work in a jiffy. However, if the interiors are soiled, use dish soap and warm water to clean them. This solution will also work on caked-on mud on the exterior of your sneakers. Now, for the fun part: crumpling individual newspaper sheets into small balls and fitting them in your shoes. Be generous and stuff them in tight to promote faster drying. To dry out the exterior, wrap your trainers in a clean towel or another paper sheet. Once it's mummified, set it down in a cool, dry spot for about 12 hours. A slightly wet shoe will require less time, while a drenched one will demand more. So, keep checking it at intervals.

While your shoes will dry out perfectly fine if you follow the steps outlined above, here are a few tips you should follow for better results. To illustrate, change out the newspaper stuffing every hour, especially for sneakers that are drenched to the core. Although you'll have to put more work in, replacing moisture-heavy sheets with dry and absorbent ones will speed up the drying process. In case you don't have a lot of newspapers and need to ration your supply, change the old stuffing every few hours for a similar effect.

If you're short on time, put your stuffed trainers in front of a fan to accelerate evaporation. A vent giving off warm air works as well. However, avoid placing them under direct sunlight, or you can unknowingly damage your shoe's exterior. Similarly, avoid high heat sources like a hair dryer. Another handy tip is to avoid lining your wet and vulnerable shoes with a newspaper featuring large, colorful photos or a lot of ink. Otherwise, these will bleed into your footwear and leave behind unwanted marks. Even though the newspapers will absorb most of the odor, supplement it with other odor-absorbing elements to neutralize the sweaty feet smell. For instance, you can put coffee grounds or tea bags inside to capture the lingering odor. Place these inside old pantyhose inside the shoes to avoid staining your damp footwear.