Tight suede shoes can be stretched to size 0.5-1 at home. To do this, you need to freeze, heat, moisten the inner surface of the suede, apply alcohol, vinegar, grains or professional aerosols and foams. As a last resort, you can seek help from a workshop, where the shoes will be laid out on special pads.
Ordering faux suede shoes online or buying a pair you like without trying them on carefully can sometimes cause great inconvenience. The wrong size causes blisters and stiff feet when walking. If it is not possible to return or replace the product, the question arises of how to tighten suede shoes at home.
In what cases might shoe stretching be necessary?
- Tendency to swelling of the legs;
- Non-standard foot length;
- Wide foot;
- Wide top.
Important! Each method described below will help stretch your shoes a maximum size. It should be borne in mind that, despite the fact that the methods have been tested in practice, they will not always help, and some can damage the shoes or deform them.
Therefore, it is better to pay more attention to fitting when purchasing. However, if a pair was purchased without trying on, or was given as a gift, it is possible to slightly adjust the size both with the help of professional means and at home.
What not to do
Do not use aggressive substances, because they can damage the material or ruin its color. You shouldn't get your shoes too wet either. Wetting suede can cause deformation of the product. You can ruin your shoes if you immediately try to stretch the shoes too much.
At the time when attempts are made to make the size larger on your own, you should not go outside, i.e. take long walks. Wet suede material will attract dirt.
Do not dry soft, velvety skin near a radiator or other heater. Even if the shoes were the appropriate size, after this procedure they may become tight.
It is not recommended to entrust the increase by wearing it in to another person whose feet are larger. Such actions may result in the product becoming larger than necessary.
Features of breaking in suede shoes
Suede is an amazing material; it has gained popularity due to its exquisite appearance.
But, unlike shoes or sneakers made of leather, they are not as practical and more demanding to care for.
- Most standard magnification methods are not suitable.
- The easiest option is to simply wear the shoes for a few days, and the pair will fit your feet automatically due to their elasticity.
- If time is short, it is better to go to a shoe repair shop and stretch a pair on special lasts.
- The craftsmen know how to handle the capricious material and can increase the size and width without deforming the shoes.
If it is not possible to go to a workshop, then you can increase the size at home, but you should be careful, otherwise the pair will quickly become unusable, or you can overdo it with stretching, and the size cannot be reduced back.
What is faux suede?
Artificial suede is practically no different from its natural counterpart. The material is a combination of microfiber or polyester fibers and a synthetic or silk base.
It is strong, durable, does not fade and repels dust and dirt. Thanks to these rather pleasant qualities, it has become widespread in the shoe and furniture industry. It is also worth noting that the artificial model is resistant to deformation, namely the formation of abrasions, breaks and cracks.
Professional products
Any large shoe store sells special sprays for stretching shoes. Their composition is suitable for stretching half a size - the size of any pair of shoes.
It's fast, convenient and not too expensive. The spray is economical to use and will last for a long time.
It is suitable for any type of footwear: shoes, sneakers, boots. However, this method has disadvantages.
- First, they are not universal, that is, the leather product is not suitable for suede or textiles; shoes can be easily damaged.
- The second is the price. A high-quality and safe product is not cheap, and it may only be needed once before the expiration date.
Therefore, many people prefer improvised means for stretching suede at home.
Vinegar stretch
Acidified water may be somewhat more effective than regular water. Here, ordinary table vinegar 6% will come to the rescue, which any housewife probably has in her household supplies. It must be diluted with water to such a concentration that the water becomes slightly sour. Moisten the outside of the suede with this solution until slightly damp.
After this, you can put on narrow shoes and walk around the apartment. Or you can stretch the boot top with your hands to the desired size (if that’s the case), and then fasten it on your foot and walk around for a while.
Stretching with water
On the toe. You need to wet a thick woolen sock with warm water, squeeze out excess liquid, put on shoes or sneakers, and walk around the house until completely dry. With two or three uses of this method, you can increase the length of the pair by one size.
Using a newspaper
The newspaper is rolled into a tight ball, then slightly moistened, and then placed in the toe of the shoe.
- The newspaper will dry within an hour.
- The procedure will have to be repeated for about a week.
- It works great for adding size to the forefoot, but is not effective for the heel.
Using steam
The iron or steamer is set to maximum steam power, the inside of the shoe is steamed and gently stretched in the process. This method requires caution.
Steamed suede becomes pliable, you can not only increase the size of the shoe, but also easily ruin the shape of the shoe, and excess liquid getting on the front part can leave indelible stains on it.
Using vinegar
A cotton swab is moistened with a weak vinegar solution and gently wiped the inside of the shoe. After the material has softened a little, you can begin to gently stretch it.
- It is important not to overdo it with moisture; suede does not like it when a large amount of liquid gets on it.
- You must constantly ensure that the composition does not get on the outer surface of the shoe.
- If you don’t have vinegar on hand, you can replace it with vodka or ammonia.
It is important that this should be a weak solution. Literally two or three tablespoons per liter of water, otherwise the suede will absorb pungent odors, and it will take a long time to dissipate them.
How to soften a back that is too hard
Also effective in the heel area are methods of freezing, stretching with cereal, heating with boiling water or a hairdryer. For rough fabrics or narrow heels, it is recommended to rub the inside of the heel for 5-7 days before each wear or at night:
- vegetable oil (soybean, sunflower);
- vinegar solution;
- medical alcohol;
- soap;
- wax.
It is recommended to cover the heel with a damp cloth and lightly tap it with a hammer on both sides.
You need to be careful when choosing shoes, choose the exact fit if possible, and check comfort by walking in them in the store. But don't despair if your suede shoes are too tight or chafing—you can fix the problem yourself or by taking it to a repair shop.
Freezing
This is a slightly extreme method that requires accuracy and caution, but it is rightfully considered one of the most effective. To do this, you will need two bags, preferably with a tight zip-lock fastener. The bags are carefully placed in the shoes and filled with water. Need to watch. To prevent water from getting on your shoes, only in bags.
- As soon as the internal space is completely filled with water, the bag is tied and the shoes are placed in the freezer overnight.
- When water freezes, it expands slightly in volume, so this helps increase the volume.
This method is considered the most effective and is suitable for stretching a couple literally overnight, which is important, especially if the pair was purchased for some celebration that will take place the next day.
However, in this case you need to be extremely careful. The bags must be strong and intact, without holes; while pouring, you must constantly ensure that no water gets on the surface of the shoes; the fasteners must be strong and close tightly, otherwise water may spill out in the freezer and ruin the shoes.
Some people fill bags with cereal instead of water; this is less traumatic for the shoes, but also does not increase their size as quickly.
The advantage of suede shoes is their appearance, elasticity and pliability. If the pair is not urgently needed, then within a few days it will fit on its own, walking in it will become comfortable, no additional funds or efforts will be needed.
But in an emergency, any method will do. It is important to remember that suede requires more careful handling than leather. She does not like excess moisture, pressure and strong stretching. It needs to be handled delicately, then the pair of shoes will last a long time.
Wear more often
Don't think that you can stretch your shoes two sizes. You can increase the volume slightly, since the base remains unchanged. You won't be able to change the length of the sole or its width, but the suede upper can be increased in volume by a few millimeters. To achieve this effect, you need to wear shoes or boots more often.
Put on suede shoes that you want to wear at home, spray them with water from a spray bottle from the inside and wear them for 2-3 hours. If you do this for several days in a row, the suede will soon stretch, and you will be able to walk in the shoes on the street and wear them to work or to holiday events.
