Easy Ways to Repair and Revamp Your Old Flip-Flops

The flip-flop wearers among you all know that dreaded moment when a flip-flop strap finally decides to give out, usually at the most inconvenient time.

Bar riding around with a roll of duct tape in your bag, there are a couple of little tips and tricks for short-term emergency repair—sufficient to get you home.

That said, there might still be hope for your flip-flip with this latest break, and a repair job that can make your shoe last the rest summer season might be in order.

It could be that you have a boring pair of flips flops that are still in good shape but don’t do it for you anymore. There are fun ways to jazz up these summer staples and give them a new lease of life altogether.

Whatever the case may be, check out these creative and often down-right genius ways to breathe new life into questionable flip-flops.

Repair Jobs

Source: 2HI TIPS CHANNEL – LIFE HACKS/YouTube

1. Bread Tags– You know those hard plastic tags that come with store-bought bread and potatoes? Well, next time you end up with one, keep it in a safe spot or even in your handbag during the warmer months for emergency flip-flop repairs.

If the sole of your flip-flop has torn or stretched around the toe post causing the toe post to constantly pull through, simply slip a bread tag around the bottom of the toe post preventing it from pulling back through the hole.

This might not be a long-term solution as the hard plastic tags can break when walking on them, but it might just get you to where you are going.

2. Paperclips- A better solution would be to get hold of one or two of those large metal paperclips and do the same thing. These are much less likely to snap when walking on them.

Source: Piet Henning/YouTube

3. Melting Plastic– If it is the plastic strap itself that has snaped, one idea is to carefully heat the blade of a knife and hold it against the two broken edges of the strap.

Once there is a small amount of melting occurring, you can press the two broken edges together and fuse them back together.

This point of repair might remain a weakened spot on the flip-flop and rebreak in time, or it might last for months. This is to say, don’t head out on a major shopping excursion or night out in them.  Keep them for around the house, maybe.

Source: J Estrada/YouTube

4. Paracord– If your straps are well and truly snapped, but the soles are still in really good shape, get hold of some Paracord and some small metal washers. Get a length of paracord (long enough to fulfill the making of the entire strap on one flip-flop) and fold it in half. Push the folded end through the hole in the sole between the toes.

Thread a washer to the end of the doubled cord and melt it so that it can not pull back through the washer. The washer will prevent the cord from pulling back through the hole in the sole. Pull this tightly.

Now, leave about an inch in length of the paracord on the top side of the flip-flop and tie a knot. This will form the toe post of your strap. Make sure that it fits between your toes comfortably.

Now, do the same thing with the other two ends of the paracord to make the foot straps. Measure against your foot for a good fit.

You could also experiment with other fabric strapping.

Revamp Jobs

Source: DIY Crafts/YouTube

1. Scrap Fabric Soles– If you have some plain old flip-flops that still have a good sole but are looking a little worn and shabby, grab some scrap fabric. Neatly glue fabric to the upper side of the sole, cutting slots so that the fabric can fit around the strap.

You can then cut off excess fabric so that it follows the contour of the sole.

Source: Katrinaosity/YouTube

2. Scrap Fabric Straps- Take a long strip of fabric and tie it to the toe post of your flip-flop at the halfway point. Wrap each strap with strips of fabric until all the plastic is completely covered. Tie the ends securely.

You may either cut the tail ends of the fabric off here or use them as ankle straps for a fancier pair of flip-flops.

Source: Globe Studio One/YouTube

3. Macrame Knots– You don’t have to be a macrame master to fancy up some tired flip-flop straps with some well-placed knots. You can use any kind of rope, thread, or string to completely cover the straps and give them a completely new look.

4. Wrapped String– If you aren’t great at the whole macrame gig, simply start wrapping colorful string around the straps until they are completely covered. Secure the ends with a knot and a dot of glue.

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