Have you ever thought of removing the insoles of your pair of Converse shoes?
Maybe, yes.
Maybe, no.
3 Reasons for Removing Your Converse Insole
There are several reasons that could easily lead you to remove the insoles of your Converse shoes.
However, the main reasons that you could provide for removing your insoles are:
- The urge to remove the original insoles to create adequate room for your toes;
- The need to address or avoid heel pains, stress fractures, tendonitis and, inflammation of the toe units; and,
- Need to give your shoes a slight front slant so that you reduce pain to your feet and render walking easier.
Main Steps to Remove Your Converse Shoes Insole
Depending on whether they are glued to the shoe or not, you will have to follow different steps in removing your canvas insoles.
The details of the two scenarios mentioned are provided below for your learning and application as and when necessary.
Please take your time and read through the steps as presented and share them with a friend who may be looking for information on removing their stubborn or worn-out insoles.
When the Insole is Not Glued
You should follow four steps to remove your insoles if they are not glued to your Converse shoes.
Remove the Converse Laces
This is the first step to take to have easy access to the insoles of your Converse.
By removing the laces, you create enough room for both your hands to support each other in pulling out the insole.
It is possible to avoid this step if you have tiny fingers that can carefully remove the insoles of your shoes.
However, shoe experts advocate for removing the laces regardless of the size of your fingers to make it easy to work on the shoe.
Reach and Get Hold of the Insoles of the Converse
This is the next step you should take after removing the laces on your Converse shoes.
The step involves holding on the Converse shoe sole firmly while inserting your other hand inside the shoe to grab and pull out the insole.
This procedure should be easy to execute because your insole is not glued to the sole.
Once you have reached your shoe’s heel, a slight lift should successfully remove the insole without any hitch.
- Gently Pull out Your Converse’s Insole
To avoid any damage or scratching to either your finger or the shoe, once you have your fingers on the shoe insole, gently pull it out so that it does not scratch you.
Remove or Replace the Insole
This is the point at which you decide what to do to your shoe; you can remove the insole if you needed more toe-room in the shoe or replace your worn-out insole.
You have the option of installing a lighter and better-cushioned insole to enhance the comfort of your feet or just do without an insole and have more room in the shoe.
How to Remove a Glued Converse Insole
When the insole for a Converse is attached with glue, removing it requires a slightly different approach.
However, you should still remove the glued insole if you follow the five steps provided below.
Remove the Converse Laces
Like in the case where the insole was not glued, the removal of laces is repeated here to have ease of access to the insole’s entire length.
This is done to eliminate any disturbance to your hands as you manipulate the shoe and facilitate your reach to the insole.
Remember, laces can entangle your hands and waste some of your time which is a scarce resource.
Get and Use your Hair-drier to Heat the Inside of your Converse
The heat is applied for purposes of loosening the glue holding your insole to the shoe.
So, by this action, you make it possible to pull out the insole.
This action is vital to avoid tears and damage to your insole.
For the best results, ensure this heat remains consistent for a few minutes and that your hair-drier is tuned to high steam.
As soon as the hair drier is hot enough, direct the heat inside your Converse shoe to loosen the glue used in holding your insole in place.
This step has to be done right to avoid accidental tears or damage to the insole.
Put Your Converse Inside an Oven for a Couple of Seconds to Soften the Glue
This is the extra measure you should take if the glue holding your insole in place is too strong.
Oven-heating your shoes for between 30 to 45 seconds should suffice to get the desired effect-make the glue soften.
You should then allow the shoe about 30Once the time is up, you should take it out and leave it for another 30 seconds to cool off.
You need to take additional care so that the melting glue doesn’t spread and hold other parts of your shoe.
- Pull out the Insole with some care
With the insole slightly cool and the glue made soft, go ahead and pull out your insole from the Converse.
When working on the shoe, you can consider wearing gloves just in case the heat makes it difficult to work comfortably.
You should be able to easily remove the Converse insole if this procedure is followed correctly.
Call a professional if need be
It would be prudent to engage the help of a professional nearest you if any of these steps were difficult for you to follow correctly or if you lacked the tools needed to do any of them.
However, you should be ready to pay for the job.
Some professionals may charge you as much as $30 for this service.
In conclusion, it is worth knowing that all Converse insoles are removable once you have your fingers on the shoe insole, but the efforts needed to do this often differ depending on whether they are glued to the shoe or not.