How to Glue Tennis Shoe Soles

Tennis shoes wear out quickly, especially when they are used for frequent or strenuous exercise. Tennis shoes should be replaced every six months, since wear and tear can cause serious injury. Loose soles can cause runners to trip, leading to sprains, fractures and other painful ailments. Old, worn-out tennis shoes should not be used for working out, but they can be recycled for housework and other low-impact activities. If the soles start to come loose, repairing them can be an easy do-it-yourself task.

Things You'll Need

  • Box cutter or craft knife
  • Sheet of newspaper
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Rag
  • Sandpaper
  • Shoe adhesive
  • Plastic knife
  • Citrus solvent
  • Plastic grocery bag
  • Heavy object
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Instructions

    • 1

      Peel back the entire sole by cutting the stitching with a box cutter. Expose the bottom of the shoe, but do not remove the sole completely.

    • 2

      Wipe down the inside of the sole and exposed part of the shoe with a sheet of crumpled newspaper to remove any old adhesive.

    • 3

      Dampen an old rag with rubbing alcohol. Clean the exposed part of shoe and the inside of the sole.

    • 4

      Use sandpaper to roughen the exposed part of the shoe and the inside of the sole. This allows the adhesive to stick to both sides.

    • 5

      Apply a small amount of shoe adhesive to the place where the sole originally came loose. Do this in a well-ventilated area, as adhesives may have strong fumes.

    • 6

      Using a disposable plastic knife, spread the adhesive all over the surface of the exposed bottom on the shoe. Remove any excess that leaks onto the outer surface of the shoe with a citrus solvent.

    • 7

      Replace the sole, and set the shoe down on a sheet of newspaper, sole down, as if someone were wearing it.

    • 8

      Cover the shoe with a plastic grocery bag, and place a heavy object on top of it. A large book will do. Add more weight if you wish.

    • 9

      Allow the adhesive to dry with the weight on top for about 24 hours. Wait another 24 hours before wearing the shoe.