Sometimes there is a need to stretch new leather shoes or favorite boots made of genuine leather, which during summer storage have dried out a little, become stiff and are very tight. You can use the professional services of shoe repair shops who know how to stretch leather shoes wider or a size larger using expanding lasts specially designed for this purpose.
But this requires additional cash costs. Therefore, before you take your tight shoes to a specialist, you should find out how to stretch leather shoes at home and try to do it yourself.
Folk remedies and methods of skin removal
It is relatively easier to carry products made from genuine leather when you compare the process with giving the desired shape to artificial material or textiles. Over time, one way or another, the skin will stretch along the leg.
In addition, both correct mechanical action and the use of high-temperature water will help to cope with the problem.
Natural material can be slightly increased in size:
- If you use a cotton pad soaked in alcohol or a regular spray. Both pure formulations and diluted solutions - moonshine, cologne, tinctures - are suitable for these purposes. Alcohol-containing components will quickly cope with the softening of the material, helping to expand it without harming the appearance of the coating. Hard elements, at the same time, acquire softness;
- A thick sock is then put on the foot, onto which you need to pull the prepared pair of shoes.
The same effect is obtained if you wet wool socks with hot water and then put on leather items. After walking around the room a little, take off the pair, and then repeat the procedure the next day, continuing this action until the shoes fit, taking the shape of the feet.
Do you feel a strong desire to parade around in wet socks? Then try the following in practice. Pour alcohol-containing liquid generously over all internal parts, and then crumple up the paper tightly and stuff the internal space with it. If you notice that the paper is wet, change it. The procedure must be continued until the appearance of the shoes is restored.
Another method looks somewhat aggressive when you need to exercise maximum caution by pouring boiling water into tight new shoes. Now you need to quickly pour it out and leave the pair to cool for a while until the temperature of the shoes makes it possible to put them on your feet.
After which it is immediately put on and worn until it is completely dry. This method can only be used if you are completely confident in the naturalness of the product, otherwise you will simply have to say goodbye to this pair for good and buy a new one.
What to pay attention to
Before choosing the appropriate method, you need to make sure that your gloves or belt are actually made of genuine leather. The easiest way is to do a tactile test. You should put your hand on the product and wait a while. Natural leather will become warm from the warmth of a human hand. If it is leatherette, then the surface will remain cold.
Important! It is not recommended to stretch leatherette products; there is too much chance that they will not hold up and will tear.
The most effective options for stretching leather shoes
There are many interesting methods for stretching tight shoes at home:
- Peel the potatoes, then stuff the inside tightly, leaving for twelve hours;
- Put the pair on your feet, and then warm them up using a hot air stream from a hairdryer;
- Beat the cereal, then pour boiling water into it. After the shoes have been left for one night, remove all residues;
- Use the remaining material after the entire inner surface has been treated with paraffin. This procedure is repeated more than once so that the model becomes the required configuration;
- Place bags filled with water into each shoe and place them in the freezer. This option is not suitable for summer models - the sole may crack.
The heel part can simply be lubricated with soap or alcohol to prevent the heels from chafing. Taking into account the fact that folk remedies require certain skills and dexterity, you can resort to more professional processing with special compounds that are produced for these purposes.
According to the instructions, apply the composition and use a stretcher or simply put it on your feet.
FAQ
How much can leather shoes stretch?
Leather shoes can be stretched from a quarter to a full size. The result depends on the method you use as well as the skin itself. The best methods that give results are shoe stretching spray and the freezing method.
Do potatoes stretch in shoes?
Putting a potato in your shoe will stretch it, which is most effective on soft leather. All you have to do is insert a medium-sized potato into the front corners of the shoes and leave for 48 hours.
How long should leather shoes stretch?
It may take anywhere from a few minutes to two days to stretch leather shoes at home. Depending on the method and the result you want to get. However, the workshop usually takes 2 or 3 days to stretch the shoes.
You need to choose the right size
Wearing tight boots or other shoe models is contraindicated for the following reasons:
- Blood circulation is constrained, which can cause the development of blood clots;
- The leg muscles become overstrained, causing the legs to become overextended, which is accompanied by both pain and increased fatigue;
- The gait may change, becoming heavy and clumsy;
- The risk of acquiring flat feet or varicose veins increases;
- Posture worsens, and the vertebral part may become curved.
If the model’s nose has a narrowed shape, then the nail surface grows into the skin, provoking pain and pustular inflammatory processes.
Caring for a patent leather jacket
There are rules for caring for things made of patent leather. They are virtually the same for any product, regardless of the type - bag, jacket, shoes or belt. These rules differ only in some nuances. To prevent the jacket from losing its shine and the varnish layer from cracking or scratching, follow the instructions for handling such capricious products:
- It is prohibited to use brushes for cleaning patent leather. Regardless of the degree of softness, the pile will damage the surface of the product. You can wipe patent leather using a lint-free cloth.
- When cleaning, do not press too hard on the varnish with a napkin, as small dust grains can damage the glossy layer.
- Universal products for leather products - waxes, creams and balms - are not suitable for caring for patent leather jackets. Such products deprive the product of its shine, which cannot be restored later.
- To protect the varnish layer from cracking, specialized water-based products are used that protect the surface from cracks, add shine and elasticity.
- If the varnish layer has become dull due to time, it is possible to restore its gloss by rubbing it with a cotton pad soaked in egg white or milk. Afterwards, you need to polish the surface of the jacket with a lint-free cloth.
- It is necessary to store varnish jackets in fabric covers so that the varnish layer does not come into contact with anything during this period.
Choosing the right dress shoes
When choosing a new pair, use a few simple tips:
- Make purchases in the late afternoon when your foot size is at its maximum;
- The feeling of the toes when trying on should come first, as you need to feel a certain freedom;
- It is necessary to monitor the fullness indicated by the manufacturer, since each of them is guided by its own size;
- When buying products for every day, choose a low heel from three to five centimeters.
Trying on both boots and shoes, as well as sandals, is necessary on two feet at the same time to determine that they are the same size.
It's worth walking on the floor a little to evaluate how comfortable the pad is for you. It is recommended to wear models of various types, only in this case the foot will not get used to only one type of last.
You should be especially careful when choosing shoe models for children. A child’s foot and boot are just beginning to form, so the wrong choice of shoes, even for one season, can lead to musculoskeletal problems later in life.
How to soften a watch strap that is too oak
The stronger and thicker the new wristwatch strap, the stiffer it is, i.e. more simply put, “oaky”. Such is the specificity of this material.
Of course, this pattern does not apply to most expensive luxury models, which their manufacturers equip with high-quality straps made of alligator skin (sometimes even with special waterproof coatings) or other exotic animals (ostriches, sharks, stingrays, monitor lizards and other lizards).
Increased rigidity, as a rule, is characteristic of relatively less expensive belts made from calf (nubuck, etc.), buffalo, cowhide or horse (Cordovan) leather of various types, which are equipped with men's (and even some women's) wristwatches such as casual, military , vintage, etc.
The “oakiness” of a new leather strap largely depends on the production technology of the material from which it is made. However, now we will not detail this, of course, important aspect in view of the extreme breadth of the topic itself, but will dwell on a more relevant point.
As you know, a hard strap, even on a new watch, is not always comfortable. And for many owners, this nuisance is frankly annoying (if not infuriating), significantly limiting the amount of positive impressions from the new acquisition. It is clear that over time a leather belt will wear out and acquire the proper softness and flexibility, but you always want maximum comfort, don’t you? This means that the process of carrying out a new belt must somehow be accelerated. Everything is correct! Moreover, it is not at all difficult to do this.
So, how to soften a new leather watch strap?
First of all, you will need: leather oil* (you can find it online under the name Neatsfoot oil Pure**, it’s inexpensive) and a small piece of clean cloth.
Next in order: 1. If it is not possible to remove the strap from the watch, then despite all its rigidity you will have to act with increased care: holding one end of it with your fingers (the one closest to the body), we begin to carefully bend the second back and forth, not too much so as not to damage the skin and/or pins. The goal is to shape the flat strap into an arc that best fits the curve of your wrist. If the belt is not yet installed on the watch, then we perform the same operation, but without the risk of breaking the belt fastenings.
2. Repeat the same manipulation with the other half of the strap
3. We put a small amount of oil on a previously prepared piece of clean cloth (a drop the size of no more than half a 10-kopeck coin) and again carefully and evenly rub it into the upper and lower surfaces of the strap. After this, we place it (possibly together with the watch) in a dry and well-ventilated place for an hour so that the skin has time to completely absorb the oil.
4. We wear a watch on a strap treated in this way as often as possible, so the leather will quickly acquire its natural softness.
* An important nuance: the impact of Neatsfoot oil (leather oil) may cause the strap to darken a little, so if it is initially light or making any changes to its color is not included in your plans, then it is better to do without such oil.
** Neatsfoot oil is an oil that is made from the leg bones (this is important) of cattle. It is used as a preventive and restorative agent for softening leather and products made from it. Nowadays, very often, manufacturers dilute Neatsfoot oil with mineral oil, which can harm some types of leather, including those used for watch straps. In this regard, it is strongly recommended to use only Neatsfoot oil Pure for caring for leather watch straps (the corresponding designation can be found on the packaging), i.e. pure oil without additional impurities.
milwatches.com.ua
Photo instructions on how to stretch leather shoes
Care tips and advice
To ensure that already stretched gloves remain in their original form, they should be properly cared for . Care involves following a number of rules:
- Put the skin in order after stretching: wipe off the remaining cream or glycerin, remove the smell of alcohol.
- Clean the material using dry cleaning to prevent it from stretching further.
- Do not lend leather goods to anyone. In this case, the size of the gloves will not change.
If you “pull” the material, it is unlikely that you will be able to narrow it back. With constant wear, some materials will stretch slightly without additional effort, so you may not have to do anything to make the skin more elastic.
