One of the things I have not missed about working on Capitol Hill is the miles I used to walk every day in professional shoes.  I remember my first weeks of work, soaking my feet in Epsom salt and crying because they were so blistered and sore.  Over time, I found a few pairs of comfortable heels and flats that saved my feet, but that doesn’t mean all of my problems were solved.

From exposed nail spikes to squeaky shoes, here are fixes for six common shoe issues.  Because you don’t always have time to go to a cobbler.

Exposed Heel Tips.  It’s happened to every woman.  You’re walking down the street and the predictable ‘click’ of your heels striking pavement is replaced by a sickeningly metallic sound.  Oh no.  The nail in your heel has broken forth from protective coating.  Leave the problem unfixed long enough, and you could destroy your favorite pair of heels.

For a quick, temporary fix, I keep a box of Clickless High Heel Protectors ($13) around.  Slip the plastic caps over the damaged heel to protect the shoe until you can visit a cobbler.

No time for shoe repair?  You can buy a box of heel tips, a hammer and a stiletto dowel remover on Amazon and change the taps yourself using this tutorial.

How to Fix Smelly Shoes. My best tip for fixing shoes that smell like, well, sweaty feet, is vodka.  Dilute cheap vodka in water and wipe down the inside of your shoes.  Allow them to completely air dry, preferably in a sunny spot outside.  The bacteria, fresh air and sunshine should kill any bacteria that have built up in the shoes.

Have a pair of cloth sneakers that need de-smelling?  Go to the store and buy black tea bags.  Place them inside the shoes, and change regularly over the course of a couple of days.  The bags absorb smelly odors.

How to Stretch Shoes.  Several years ago, I invested in a high heel stretcher, and it was one of the best purchases I ever made.  Because new shoes are not usually comfortable straight out of the box.

Don’t have a shoe stretcher and need a quick fix?  Take a pair of wool socks, and wet them.  Not sopping, just slightly beyond damp.  Put the socks on, and then your shoes.  Now, take your blow dryer and point it at the parts of the shoes that are snug while flexing and moving your feet.  Allow the shoes to cool and dry before you take them off.  If they’re not stretched enough, try again.

Focus on Your Ideal Heel Height.  What is your perfect heel height?  That depends on the length of your foot.  For me, it’s 2 7/8″.  You can find yours by following this measuring guide.  For comfort, you should also take into account the pitch of the heel.  But what if a great pair of shoes is just a side too tall?

If you have a pair of high heels that are just a little taller than you’d like, you can shorten them.  Now, this won’t work with every pair of heels.  LeafTV shows you how to know if your heels are a good candidate for shortening.  Usually they can only take off 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch, but sometimes, that’s all you need.

Preventing Blisters.  For almost two decades, I’ve been wearing high heels with regularity.  But preventing blisters, that’s something I’ve only learned to fix during the past five.  My poor, badgered feet.

Two products do the best job of preventing blisters: anti-chafe stick and PreHeels anti-blister spray.  Liberally apply both and allow to set slightly before putting on your shoes.  The barrier prevents chafing, which stops blisters in their tracks.

Have one pair of shoes that always causes a blister on the heel?  Add these Hotop heel liners to keep shoes firmly in place and prevent rubbing.  I’ve tried every moleskin and heel pad on the market; these ones are the best.

Need a quicker fix?  Smear gel deodorant onto the inside of the heel.  It’s not the perfect solution, but it definitely helps.

Making Shoes More Comfortable.  There is only one hack you ever need to make high heels more comfortable: tape your third and fourth toes together.  This one simple trick alleviates the pressure on the sensitive nerves in your feet to reduce pain.  I like to use medical tape (it’s easy and cheap), but one of my friends swears by these broken toe wraps.

Need to address swollen feet to make shoes comfortable?  Pop a Midol.  Before pageants, all of the girls used to does with Midol to reduce swelling and relieve foot pain.

So what is your best fix for foot pain or shoe issues?  Share them in the comments.

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