If you have a pair of boots or shoes with slippery soles, there are several things you can do to give them extra grip before you fall and injure yourself or someone else. It will only take a few minutes, and you will probably wear the boots more often if you feel safe using them. Use professional solutions or household items to scuff the soles to give your boots more grip.
Purchase shoe-grip attachments from a shoe store, supermarket or hardware store. Adhere them to the bottom of your boots for extra grip.
Put your boots on and tie the laces tightly. Stand on a rough sidewalk. Firmly plant one foot while rubbing the ball of the other boot back and forth on the sidewalk. The rough surface will scratch the sole and provide you with more traction. Repeat the process with the other boot.
Rub the sole of your boots with sandpaper. Gently use a back-and-forth motion to scuff the underside of the boots. Make marks in the opposite direction to increase traction. Put on the boots and walk to ensure the abrasions are sufficient. Repeat the process, if necessary.
Open the scissors and score the underside of your boot to create traction. Rub the blade along the length of the boot and then from one side to the other. This will create a grid of scratches that will make your shoes less slippery.
Spray the soles with spray-on adhesive if you use the boots for dancing. Only spray on a little at a time or you may stick to the floor. Reapply the spray adhesive as necessary.
Cut out pieces of adhesive sandpaper and affix them to the bottom of your boots. Peel off the back and stick the adhesive part to the underside of your boot.
Tips
If none of these methods sufficiently resolve the problem, have your boots resoled by a professional. Adhesive sandpaper is available from skateboard and hardware stores.
