Last summer I went on a beach vacation and spent three days walking around sounding like a cartoon character. Every step: squeak-squeak-squeak. My girlfriend threatened to throw the flip flops into the ocean. I do not blame her.

The squeak is not a defect. It is physics happening in the worst possible way. When water gets trapped between your foot and the rubber sole, every step compresses the water and forces it out — creating that high-pitched squeak. Here is how to shut it up.

Baby powder is the answer

Sprinkle baby powder or cornstarch on the footbed of your flip flops. Rub it in with your fingers. The powder absorbs moisture and eliminates the friction that causes the squeak. It also keeps your feet from sliding around, which is a bonus. Reapply after they get wet again.

I now keep a travel-size baby powder in my beach bag. It is the most useful thing in there besides sunscreen.

The sandpaper fix for the sole

Flip the sandal over and lightly scuff the bottom sole with sandpaper (120 grit or so). A smooth rubber sole on a wet tile floor is a recipe for squeaking and slipping. A slightly roughened sole breaks that high-friction surface bond. Do not go overboard — you just want to dull the shine, not sand through the sole.

Check the straps

Sometimes the squeak is not your foot at all — it is the strap rubbing against the sole where it attaches. A tiny dab of clear silicone lubricant or even a drop of cooking oil at the attachment point silences it. Wipe off any excess so you do not track oil through the house.

When to just buy new ones

If your flip flops are more than two years old and the footbed is shiny-smooth from wear, the squeak is permanent. That polished surface is the root cause. At that point, retire them to garden shoes and treat yourself to a new pair.