How to stretch and break in patent leather shoes at home: methods. How to stretch patent leather shoes with alcohol, vodka, ice, hair dryer, cream, boiling water, vinegar, in a workshop and with special means?

It is very difficult to choose patent leather shoes so that they immediately fit on your feet and do not rub. Basically, such products fit well right away, but when it’s time to put them on for work, all the delights of such shoes are felt.

Calluses appear on the feet. Some people rub their heels until they bleed. It is impossible to walk in such shoes for a long time. But you shouldn’t endure the inconvenience.

There are many folk and professional remedies that will help you quickly lengthen patent leather shoes.

Yes or no?

Is it possible to stretch patent leather shoes at home and by what means? Such questions are common and every shoe seller hears them.

This procedure can indeed be carried out. They use alcohol, boiling water, a hair dryer, creams, vodka and even goose fat for this.

You can also find special stretchers on the shelves of shoe stores, which should be selected according to the type of material.

Patent leather shoes, shoes and boots can be stretched without damaging the coating. You just need to adhere to the correct procedure and not invent anything new.

Use only proven methods that will certainly help solve the problem and will not damage the shoes outside or inside.

Wet sock

This method is the safest and no less effective. Unlike a hair dryer, moisture will not ruin patent leather shoes. You can safely use this method and break in your shoes.

How to break in patent leather shoes:

1. Fill a basin with warm water.
2. Dip your socks into it and squeeze out excess moisture. If they leak water, the boots will either stretch out too much or damage the insole.
3. Put on socks and walk around in your shoes until they dry. But periodically check how much the boots have stretched. This is necessary so that they do not fly off your feet later.

The skin of the feet does not suffer when using this method.

Wet socks can be used even for fungal diseases, but not too often. Moisture creates ideal conditions for the accelerated proliferation of bacteria.

If you are afraid of this, ask someone from your family to walk around in the shoes.

Useful tips

To keep your shoes and your feet healthy, follow these simple guidelines:

1. After stretching, the product requires careful care. Lubricate the surface with protective cream.
2. Don't go outside in wet shoes. Firstly, this is fraught with a cold, and secondly, many times more dirt will stick to the shoes. Thirdly, when walking on an uneven road there is a possibility of damaging the wet, pliable material.
3. Always check what the shoes are made of. If not properly cared for, it is easy to damage the item.
4. If you use a ready-made stretcher, follow the instructions. You should not combine the product with traditional methods, the effect may be unpredictable.

Simple rules will help you avoid unpleasant surprises when buying shoes. You probably already know them, but it’s worth repeating:

1. You should come to the store late in the evening. The fact is that during the day the leg swells a little. Shoes that seemed light and comfortable in the morning can turn into “Spanish boots” in the afternoon.
2. Fat, tall and elderly people should buy shoes with a special instep support. An orthopedic insole will also relieve pressure on the foot and relieve pain.
3. Avoid tight shoes and high narrow boots. Of course, such shoes are very beautiful, but they are dangerous for your health. Bone growths, compressed nerves, veins and joints are an incomplete list of consequences. Take care of your feet and leave uncomfortable fashionable delights for special occasions.

Choose your shoes and boots wisely, and if you do have to break them in, handle them with care.

Alcohol

Tight shoes can be stretched using any product that contains a high alcohol content. Medical alcohol, regular vodka or cologne will do.

How to stretch patent leather shoes:

1. First, remove dirt and dust from your shoes. Go over it with a damp cloth.
2. Then take alcohol, soak a cotton pad and any piece of paper in it that will not be scratched by the varnish surface.
3. Treat the inner surface first, then the outer. When treating the outside of shoes, dilute alcohol with water in a ratio of 1:4. This way the process will go faster, but if you apply the product in pure form to the outer surface, the varnish surface will fade, swell or crack.
4. Put on a thick sock, preferably wool, and wear it around the house for 2-3 hours. During this time, there will be a stretch of 1 size.

Taking off the sock, you will see that you managed to stretch patent leather shoes at home not only in width, but also in length.

If the skin of your feet is damaged, it is better to use warm water instead of an alcohol solution. Vodka and cologne can cause a strong burning sensation.

Also, this method is not suitable for those who suffer from mycosis. The disease may worsen. If there are no fungal pathologies, feel free to use an alcohol solution to expand and stretch the boots.

Common mistakes

Patent leather is very capricious. When stretching it, you should be extremely careful so as not to damage it. Otherwise, cracks will appear and the appearance will deteriorate significantly. To avoid negative consequences, you need to remember three main rules of what not to do:

1. Change the temperature suddenly.
2. Treat with aggressive agents, such as acetone, cosmetics with silicone and pure alcohol.
3. Impact the skin mechanically.

If you adhere to certain rules, act extremely carefully and use methods that have been proven over the years, everything will work out. Patent leather shoes will become softer and will stop rubbing your feet.

Hairdryer

If patent leather shoes are tight, you can stretch them with a hairdryer and cream.

If the procedure is carried out incorrectly, this method can cause more harm.

How to stretch patent leather shoes at home - algorithm of actions:

1. Turn on the hairdryer. If it is possible to regulate the air supply, this is very good. Set it to the lowest speed possible.
2. Direct the air flow inside the shoe. Bring the hairdryer closer to the inside to avoid getting it on the outside of the shoes. Prolonged heating will damage patent leather.
3. Apply Vaseline, unscented cream or oil.
4. Then immediately put on your socks and walk in your shoes until they cool down.

Wipe off the remaining cream with a cloth; you can make a soap solution if you used oil.

If the shoes have not stretched, but have already cooled down, do not rush to take them off. This means the skin is thick and you still need to wear shoes.

How to stretch patent leather shoes using special means?

Another good way to increase the width of your shoes is to use special stretchers. They contain beeswax, fats, petroleum jelly and glycerin. Spraying this on the inside of the shoe and breaking it in will help stretch the shoe a little and make it more comfortable.

Product overview:

• Salamander Professional aerosol Shoe Stretch
• Kiwi Spray shoe stretcher
• Columbus Leather Stretcher Spray
• Schuman shoe stretcher
• Palc shoe leather stretching agent

Stretching agent

Steaming

Using boiled water is an extremely dangerous method. You can not only get a serious burn yourself, but also ruin your favorite shoes.

Due to incorrect manipulation and ignoring recommendations, shoes may become covered with cracks.

Therefore, when deciding to choose this method of enlarging shoes that are too tight, you should be extremely careful.

How to stretch patent leather shoes:

1. Boiling water. Boil filtered water and pour the liquid inside the product for 2 minutes. Note the time, you can’t leave boiling water inside for too long, it will ruin your shoes. Pour out the water, put on warm socks and wear for 2-3 hours.
2. Steam. Prepare oven mitts to avoid getting burned. Bare areas of the arms also need to be covered; wear a long-sleeved sweater. Place a saucepan of water on the stove and boil it. Hold shoes over hot steam for 2 minutes. Put on a sock and wear it in.

Both methods are effective, but dangerous. If you do them correctly, you will enjoy the results for a very long time.

Goose fat or lard

This method came to us from grandmothers, who at one time used goose fat or lard to care for leather products or increase their size.

How to wear patent leather shoes:

1. When you get home, new shoes need to be washed to remove dust.
2. Then take some goose fat and coat the insides with it. It is also applied to the external surfaces of the product.
3. Leave the fat to soak in. When it is completely dry, remove the residue with alcohol. Dilute the alcohol with water 1:1.

Goose fat will make the material more elastic and soft. This method is used for both artificial and natural leather, which is coated with varnish.

Is it possible to quickly expand the width of new

Of course, it is absolutely impossible to stretch shoes that are too tight in a matter of minutes. However, according to real reviews of existing folk remedies, several of the fastest-acting ones can be identified:

1. Hot water in combination with thick socks will allow you to wear out genuine leather shoes in no time;
2. Special stretch foam is also a great option. It should be selected specifically for the type of shoe that needs to be stretched;
3. Vaseline, castor oil, and fatty cream will quickly increase the size of shoes made of genuine leather, as well as those coated with varnish;
4. Alcohol products are also suitable for leather, suede, patent leather shoes;
5. By freezing it is best to stretch shoes made of artificial leather, as well as fabric;
6. Using paraffin or soap you can quickly soften the heel of new shoes that chafe.

Attention! Under no circumstances should you use greasy cream, Vaseline or oil to stretch suede products, as permanent stains may remain.

Warm towel

A warm towel, unlike boiling water or steam, is more effective and less traumatic both for the skin of the hands and for the patent leather items themselves.

To carry out the manipulation, you will need to prepare a hermetically sealed bag, hot water (not boiling water), and an ordinary terry towel (which is probably found in every home).

Algorithm of actions:

1. Soak the cloth in water, squeeze out excess moisture, and wrap the shoes.
2. Place the product in a sealed bag and close it. Remove all air from the bag. Condensation will not lead to anything good.
3. Leave the products in this condition overnight. You can carry out the procedure in the morning, the result does not depend on this. The main thing is to leave the boots in the bag for at least 8–10 hours.

After the allotted time for the procedure has expired, remove the products from the bag, put them on your feet along with socks and walk around the house for a few more hours.

After such manipulation, any patent leather shoes will break in well.

When does it make sense to stretch your shoes?

It happens that when you first put on shoes, they seem quite comfortable. But by the end of the day, the block begins to strongly compress the sides of the foot, creating discomfort. The reason is protruding bones or swelling. Don’t rush to part with narrow shoes – it’s not difficult to make them wider.

Usually new shoes or boots, even if they rub a little, subsequently fit normally on the foot. There are ways to speed up this process while avoiding the formation of painful calluses.

Sometimes a buyer takes the last pair from the store, reasoning: it’s not a big deal if it’s too tight and will wear out over time. It is indeed possible to stretch your shoes in length. But you need to take on this activity with great caution: there is a high probability of simply ruining the product. Most materials lose their properties due to intense exposure, become dry, and become covered with cracks. If you want to stretch your shoes by more than one size, it is better to sell them or give them as a gift to someone.

Attention! Damage caused by stretching is not covered under warranty. If, when trying to expand, the new shoes come apart at the seams, become cracked, or become deformed, the store will not accept them. Think carefully before using all kinds of methods. Perhaps the best solution would be to return the boots and buy new ones.

Ice

As water freezes, it expands. This is no secret to anyone, remember your physics lessons. Thanks to this property, water began to be used to stretch any shoes, not just patent leather ones.

How to stretch patent leather shoes:

1. If your shoes are tight, take a plastic bag and fill it with water.
2. Tie the bag well so that the liquid does not leak out.
3. Place it in the toe of your shoes and place them in the freezer for 24 hours.
4. Then take it out, remove the ice packs and carry it safely.

The water freezes and begins to expand. Thanks to this, the material stretches.

Ice in the freezer may scratch the paintwork. This happens when the refrigerator is pushed, especially if there are small children in the house who do not understand that they cannot hit the doors.

Therefore, before placing your shoes in the freezer, wrap them in a soft cloth. This way you can avoid damage to the coating.