Every person faces the problem of narrow shoes and boots in the toe, heel and shaft. Unfortunately, such custom-made products are very expensive, and choosing one that immediately fits your leg is difficult and almost impossible.
Most people have to look for ways to stretch their shoes at home, because they don’t want to return their favorite new thing, but they also don’t want to walk around with blisters. Is it possible to stretch shoes or sneakers to size? Can. If you have such a problem, use home methods on how to break in shoes that are too tight.
Water packs
If the couple is too tight, try another interesting life hack - freezing.
As the liquid freezes, it expands in volume, allowing new shoes to break in faster.
To stretch your boots you will need clean distilled water and tightly sealed bags.
How to stretch rubber boots, shoes or sneakers:
- Fill 2 large or medium (check by size) zip-L lock bags with water. There should be enough liquid so that they stretch well when frozen. Squeeze all the air out of the bags and seal.
- Place them in boots and place them in the freezer for 4-8 hours. During this time, the liquid will have time to freeze.
- When the water turns to ice (check the refrigerator occasionally, it may happen much sooner), remove from the freezer, remove the bags and put on your boots.
If necessary, repeat the process to stretch them another size.
Medical alcohol
There are many special sprays available in online stores that help with stretching if your shoes are too tight. But why shell out big bucks when you can get the same results with inexpensive rubbing alcohol?
It can also be used to clean stains.
Alcohol works best on natural fabrics. If you are wondering how to stretch leather shoes at home, then know that this method is one of the best.
Test the alcohol on an inconspicuous area to see if the paint starts to peel off or not. The method is used only once; repeated use of this method is not recommended.
To widen or lengthen narrow shoes you will need rubbing alcohol, a spray bottle or cotton pads.
How to stretch new shoes:
- Since the product is easier to spray, transfer it to another bottle. If you don’t have a spray bottle, use a cotton pad or white cotton cloth (do not use a colored one, it may fade).
- Spray rubbing alcohol onto tight areas of your boots. Do not spare any money, pour it generously on those places where leather shoes are too tight. The fabric must become damp for the shoes to stretch well.
- Put it on your feet and try to trample it. Walk around in it until the alcohol dries. The product works while they are wet.
- If the shoes are small after the manipulations done, then how to break the shoes in? The issue is resolved. Soak thick socks in alcohol and put the product back on. Walk in your shoes until the alcohol completely evaporates from your socks.
After such manipulations, she no longer presses.
Remember that alcohol should not be used if there are wounds on your feet. Or first cover them with a bactericidal adhesive bandage.
Breaking in new shoes
Everything becomes clear after 30 minutes of wearing new sandals, boots or moccasins. If a callus appears on the heel, your feet are swollen, or your toes rest on the toe, the last is small and puts pressure on your foot, then the shoes are too small for you. The solution is to try to wear the new thing without pain or harm to health.
It is important to understand how much the shoe needs to be stretched. It is easier to spread the model wide: if the block is tight, this can be fixed in a couple of days. If you get the wrong size, it's more difficult to increase it. Use the methods described in the article: the result will not take long to arrive.
Newspapers
If your shoes are too tight, how can you stretch them? This question is really relevant. And it appears after the purchase, when the first calluses have formed on the heels and toes.
Stretching shoes lengthwise using this method is unlikely to succeed, but expanding the material will work.
This method is suitable if the fabric is not natural, but is leatherette. It is also recommended to use it if you need to break in sneakers or stretch suede or patent leather.
How to quickly break in new shoes:
- Take a lot of newspapers, or better yet, clean sheets of paper so that the paint does not transfer to the fabric. Wrinkle them up and moisten them with water.
- Wring out the sheets well and stuff them tightly into the shoes.
- Leave the paper inside until completely dry. It will take the shape of the shoe and stretch it evenly.
Don't overdo it with this method. Even with regular paper, new shoes can become deformed, lose their appearance, or the soles may become detached from the base.
How to increase your shoe size is not a problem, but decreasing it will be impossible.
Basic methods
There are three main techniques for stretching shoes.
- Mechanical method. In this case, stretching occurs physically using available means. The method does not require serious equipment, but it can deform the shoes and ruin the appearance, so it is used with extreme caution.
- Chemical method. This option involves exposing the shoe material to chemicals. You can use the products available at home, or you can purchase special chemical compounds that are available in any shoe store.
- Thermal method. It involves the use of too low or too high temperatures, that is, frost or, conversely, boiling water. Under their influence, the shoe material changes its structure and stretches quite quickly.
Which option is right depends on the type of shoe, the material it is made of and the sewing features. With proper use of the described means, you can stretch your boots by 2 sizes - both in length and width. The most pliable, as practice shows, are models made from natural materials (leather, suede).
Hairdryer
It's time to use your chemistry lessons and learn how to stretch leather or suede shoes. The thermal method can only be used on these types of products. Another fabric may not stand up to the heat, and your favorite item will end up in the trash.
You will need to wash the products, take a hairdryer and prepare clean socks.
How to break in new shoes:
- Wear thick socks. If you feel they are not tight enough, use a second pair. It is necessary that the products fit snugly on the leg. You should also know that the denser the material, the thicker the socks should be.
- Wear tight shoes. If your leg is difficult to climb through, use a special spoon.
- Turn on the hairdryer to maximum airflow and direct a stream of hot air to the places where your shoes are pinching.
- Continue blowing hot air on the areas where your shoes are too small for a few minutes. While blowing, try to wiggle your toes. This makes the shoes stretch faster.
- Turn off the hair dryer and continue wearing it out.
- Take off your socks and try the product on your bare foot.
As a result, the foot should slide freely inside and not rub bloody calluses.
If it is necessary to stretch the shoes further, the procedure can be repeated.
How to stretch sneakers? Such products are always durable and made of good breathable material. A hairdryer is ideal for stretching sneakers, you just need to warm them up inside and out.
Soap and paraffin
How else to break in tight shoes at home?
Products are quickly enlarged using paraffin or regular soap. Only this method is not suitable if you are looking for how to break in sneakers or how to stretch rubber shoes one size larger.
This method can be used on leather, patent leather or suede items.
How to stretch tight shoes:
- Take a regular candle or baby soap.
- Rub the product from the inside, sparing no expense.
- Leave it overnight.
- In the morning, remove any remaining paraffin with a damp cloth and try on the shoes.
Paraffin does not harm natural or artificial leather. This remedy is harmless.
What to do if ballet shoes are too tight in your fingers
You can use the wet method to break in new ballet shoes. This is a safe option that will help even in cases where you know what the model is made of.
- Place the shoes in the basin.
- Wet a cloth with plenty of warm water and cover the shoes.
- Leave until cool. Add more warm water. There is no need to pour water inside the shoes. It is enough to soak the napkin generously.
- Repeat the procedure for 2 hours.
- Put on wet shoes and walk like this for a while.
After complete drying, you can safely wear your favorite shoes.
Steam
The next method to stretch your shoes is to use steam. The procedure cannot be performed with artificial leather or suede products.
How to break in shoes that are pinching and rubbing?
Use the method first for one shoe, if you can stretch it, you can steam the second one.
Exercise in clean shoes, free from dust and dirt. Otherwise, it will be unpleasant to walk around the house in them.
Boil water and bring the products to the steam. Let the boots sit over the steam for a few minutes.
Then put on your socks and walk around in them for a bit. The heat will cause the skin to stretch. If your shoes are tight, put on thicker socks and steam a little more.
Taking shoes in at home is not difficult. Just take some time for this process.
Do not use this method many times, otherwise the shoes will be too trampled.
Using this method, you can both quickly break in your sneakers and clean them.
How to stretch certain parts
There are certain parts of shoes that need to be stretched using a special technology.
- A narrow backdrop can be expanded by freezing or by lubricating it with Vaseline or oil. Some people use solid deodorant.
- A narrow sock should be lubricated with a special cream, and then begin to wear it out. Newspapers with hot water are also effective. If the shoes are patent leather, paraffin or soap is used.
- The boot can be expanded with wet newspapers or bags filled with water.
- Part of the rise can be expanded using cereal soaked in water. A freezer will also work.
Special stretcher
How to stretch narrow shoes if none of the above methods worked, and you don’t want to give up, because you really want to show off in new shoes in the evening?
Use a stretcher. With its help, you can stretch your sneakers in length; it is perfect if your shoes are tight in the toe or if you need to make your shoes a size larger.
There are different stretchers. They are available online and are made for boots, heels, or flat for sneakers, ballet shoes, etc.
How to stretch sneakers at home:
- Spray a special product on them. Pay special attention to denser areas. If leatherette products are pinched in only one place, then spray the product only on it.
- Insert the stretchers inside and turn the handle to increase your shoe size at home or expand.
- Leave her alone for a while. Then remove the stretcher and put it on your legs. If the sneakers are no longer tight, then there was a point in stretching, and the manipulation was a success.
This procedure can be repeated as many times as needed. If your new boots are tight, use the stretcher at least 10 times, the main thing is to achieve the desired result.
Controversial methods of removing shoes
There are ways to stretch shoes that need to be approached with caution.
There are several more descriptions of well-known but controversial methods of stretching shoes.
First, tapping with a hammer. The bottom line is that with the help of a hammer, hard problem areas, mainly backs, are broken. The method is common, but it is not suitable for expensive shoes made of delicate materials (suede, textiles, artificial leather), as it can simply ruin them. Soft skin should not be subjected to such a dangerous test either.
Secondly, breaking in boots soaked in soapy water. Experience shows that shoes do indeed wear out, but it is not always possible to get rid of the remaining soap stains, and it is not always possible to maintain their shape.
I take my shoes to a workshop for stretching if necessary. I used to wear them in with soap myself, but after such experiments the shoes lost their shape and my feet hurt later.
Irina 5
https://opyt-of-woman.com/poleznye-sovety/kak-raznosit-novyie-tufli-esli-oni-zhmut
Fat cream
Do not try to quickly break in shoes by putting them on your bare feet immediately after purchasing them. This way you won’t be able to increase their length or width, they will still press hard, and you will only injure yourself. This method is incorrect.
What should you do? Are you afraid to steam it, stuff it with paper, or use paraffin? There is always a solution, and this is a regular rich cream for hands or feet.
How to wear shoes at home? The algorithm of actions is the simplest and will take only half an hour, or maybe less. So, take thick cream or Vaseline and rub the inside surface.
Apply more product to dense areas, namely socks and heels.
Take special pads or homemade ones and insert them. An alternative is to put on thick socks and walk around the house.
After this procedure, the shoes will definitely not put pressure on you.
Useful tips
To avoid the discomfort that new shoes can cause, follow a few simple tips:
- You shouldn’t put on new shoes for the whole day at once, it’s better to break them in gradually. Wear them for 1-2 hours a day and be sure to take a spare pair with you;
- Before putting on new shoes, cover frequently chafed areas on your feet with a bactericidal plaster. This will help prevent the appearance of calluses;
- if you lubricate the back of your shoes with soap soaked in water or rub a wax candle, they will rub your feet less;
- To reduce the risk of blisters, new shoes can be rubbed with castor oil on the inside.
The appearance of calluses can be prevented by pre-sealing frequently rubbed areas with a bactericidal plaster.
If at home you notice that your new shoes are small, too tight, or cause other inconvenience, you should immediately return them to the store or exchange them for another pair.
You won't be able to break in your shoes if they:
- too short in length;
- small by 2 or more sizes;
- press in the area of the edge seam;
- made of some artificial materials (for example, leatherette).
Take into account the instep and fullness of your feet, do not choose shoes only by size. A professional salesperson will tell you which model is right for you
