{"id":116453,"date":"2026-09-24T19:00:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T23:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&p=116453"},"modified":"2026-09-23T07:55:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:55:24","slug":"this-simple-newspaper-trick-dries-wet-shoes-overnight-without-any-heat-25497","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/this-simple-newspaper-trick-dries-wet-shoes-overnight-without-any-heat-25497\/","title":{"rendered":"This Simple Newspaper Trick Dries Wet Shoes Overnight Without Any Heat"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"This
This Simple Newspaper Trick Dries Wet Shoes Overnight Without Any Heat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You already know the feeling. You peel off soaked sneakers after a rainy run, set them by the door, and silently hope they’ll be wearable by morning. Most of us have been there – staring at waterlogged shoes and wondering whether the dryer could speed things up. The answer, it turns out, is a firm no. But there is something in your recycling bin right now that does the job beautifully, and it costs you nothing.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Why heat is your shoes’ worst enemy<\/b><\/h2>\n

It seems logical: wet shoes, hot dryer, problem solved. But tossing your sneakers into a dryer can actually cause them to shrink, leaving you with a painfully tight fit the next time you lace up. The damage does not stop at running shoes, either. For embellished or everyday walking shoes, high heat weakens the glue that holds them together. And if you own a pair of leather shoes you care about, the intense warmth will cause unsightly cracks across the surface.<\/span><\/p>\n

So what are we supposed to do when we need dry footwear<\/a> <\/strong>fast? Leaving them out at room temperature can take forever, especially if they are thoroughly drenched. Skipping your next run or squishing around in damp shoes hardly qualifies as a plan. This is where an old-school household staple earns its moment in the spotlight.<\/span><\/p>\n

How crumpled newspaper pulls moisture out fast<\/b><\/h2>\n

Newspapers are made of wood pulp and other recycled materials, which means they absorb moisture aggressively. The method is disarmingly simple: crumple individual sheets into small balls and stuff them tightly inside your wet shoes. Be generous – the more paper you pack in, the faster the drying. Then wrap the exterior of each shoe in a clean towel or another sheet of paper, set the pair in a cool, dry spot, and leave everything undisturbed for about 12 hours.<\/span><\/p>\n

A shoe that is only slightly damp will need less time, while one that is soaking wet will need more. Check at intervals so you can gauge progress. For completely drenched sneakers, swap the stuffing out every hour; replacing moisture-heavy sheets with fresh, dry ones dramatically speeds up the process. If your newspaper supply is limited, rotating the stuffing every few hours will still produce a similar effect.<\/span><\/p>\n

One important detail: this trick works specifically with newspaper. Thick, glossy magazine pages are not particularly absorbent and should be avoided. You can, however, use the thin advertising inserts found inside magazines if newspapers are not available. Paper towels are another option, though you will need several of them, and the cost adds up quickly if you do not buy them in bulk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prep your shoes the right way before stuffing<\/b><\/h2>\n

Before you reach for the newspaper, take a few minutes to prepare your footwear. Start by gently removing the insoles and setting them in front of a fan to dry separately. If the insoles are dirty, wipe them down with a dish soap and warm water solution before placing them near the fan. Next, loosen the laces. This opens up the shoe and allows air to circulate inside, which helps everything dry more evenly. If the laces are muddy, add a few drops of dish detergent<\/a> <\/strong>to a container of water and let them soak for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing them out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now inspect the shoes themselves. If they are just wet, you can move straight to the stuffing step. But if they are sporting dust and dirt marks, wipe the exterior with a damp microfiber cloth – a wet wipe works in a pinch. Should the interiors be soiled, clean them with dish soap and warm water. That same solution handles caked-on mud on the outside of your sneakers, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you are short on time, place your newspaper-stuffed shoes in front of a fan to accelerate evaporation. A vent giving off warm air also helps. What you want to avoid is direct sunlight, which can damage the shoe’s exterior. Hair dryers and other high-heat sources are equally off-limits for the same reasons a tumble dryer is problematic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep them fresh while they dry<\/b><\/h2>\n

There is one more thing to keep in mind: choose your newspaper wisely. Pages with large, colorful photos or heavy ink coverage can bleed into damp footwear, leaving unwanted marks behind. Stick to text-heavy pages with minimal color.<\/span><\/p>\n

While newspaper does a respectable job absorbing odor along with moisture, you can take freshness a step further. Coffee grounds or tea bags placed inside old pantyhose and then tucked into the shoes will capture any lingering sweaty-feet smell without staining the interior. It is a small extra step that makes a noticeable difference.<\/span><\/p>\n

The takeaway here is refreshingly straightforward. You do not need a gadget, a special product, or any heat source to rescue rain-soaked shoes overnight. A stack of old newspapers, a little prep work, and about 12 hours of patience will give you dry, odor-free footwear ready for your next run – no blisters, no shrinkage, no cracked leather in sight.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42690,"featured_media":116454,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[2715],"yoast_head":"\nThis Simple Newspaper Trick Dries Wet Shoes Overnight Without Any Heat - Grazia USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/this-simple-newspaper-trick-dries-wet-shoes-overnight-without-any-heat-25497\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"This Simple Newspaper Trick Dries Wet Shoes Overnight Without Any Heat\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You already know the feeling. 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