How to stretch shoes at home - 15 effective ways

Nobles in Europe did not have to think about how to stretch leather shoes in length, since according to their status they had to wear shoes 3 cm longer. Moreover, they even tied their shoes so as not to lose them.

You can use improvised means to stretch your shoes

Today statistics show that 90% of women are mistaken with their size and buy shoes, shoes, and boots that are a size smaller. Therefore, very often we start looking on the Internet for tips on how to stretch something that is small, and by how many sizes we can increase shoes that are too tight. The women's website “Beautiful and Successful” carefully studied all the ways that will help solve the problem at home.

When to stretch your shoes

Shoes need to be stretched when they become uncomfortable and become impossible to wear. Here are the main situations:

shoes press in width, which makes steps difficult and even painful; if you do nothing, you can “earn” flat feet, bumps on your feet and problems with blood circulation in this area;
they press along the length, which leads to the appearance of calluses and abrasions, as well as incredible pain; in the absence of timely measures taken, there is a risk of an ingrown nail (“wild meat”), the removal of which will require surgery;
over time, they “shrink” and become small, in which case the shoes can shrink in length and width, leading to the consequences described above.

In general, you need to stretch your shoes when they are too small and need to go up a size or several sizes. The method of stretching you choose depends on the available capabilities and, of course, the type of shoe.

Reasons why shoes may chafe

Sometimes shoes feel tight and chafe because your feet swell. What to do, the foot may be wider than the standard size, and then the shoes are very difficult to choose. Anyone can find themselves in a situation where they have been choosing shoes for a long time and look great on their feet, but begin to rub in the heels or squeeze their toes while wearing them. Here are some discomforts you can use to stretch your shoes at home to make them comfortable without damaging them:

shoes one size too small because your size was not on sale;
the shoes fit in length, but are narrow in width;
the leather on the shoes has shrunk after getting wet;
The shoe sizes are appropriate, they begin to squeeze your feet after a long walk;
hard shoes that rub your heel or squeeze your toes.

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).

Use of special means

A semi-professional method of stretching shoes is the use of specialized products: aerosols, sprays or foam. They are easy to use by studying the instructions, which differ little from different manufacturers and include the following points:

Shake the can thoroughly.
Apply the liquid liberally to the inside or outside of the shoes.
Let it soak in for a few seconds, put the boots on with thick socks, and leave them on for 30-40 minutes.
Remove excess moisture (if any) by wiping the surface with a soft cloth.

Stretching agents can be used together with wooden lasts; in this case, the shoes should be left in this form overnight. If necessary, pads can be added to the mechanical stretches to suit the specific needs of the foot. This will allow you to effectively stretch the pair without breaking them in.

Apply the aerosol to the entire surface of the shoes

Wear a pair with a warm sock and walk for 40 minutes

Remove excess moisture

How to stretch shoes made of different materials

The methods of stretching shoes and the order of this activity largely depend on the specific material.

Leather

You can adjust genuine leather shoes to size using boiling water, bags of water, alcohol or vodka. Thick wool socks or a special stretching spray are also suitable for solving this problem. The other methods described above are not suitable for this material.

Suede

This is leather, but the material has undergone special processing, which has softened its consistency. The raw material is quite sensitive, so aggressive methods are not used in relation to it. Wet socks and specialized products are suitable for breaking in suede shoes. It is customary to use a flannel napkin in the area of the boot. Alcohol or vinegar helps to do the job well.

Leatherette

This is artificial leather that stretches with difficulty. If you go overboard with special products, there is a risk of cracks. To solve this problem, Vaseline, newspapers inserted inside, as well as grain with water - buckwheat or rice - are widely used.

Polished leather

Adjusting such shoes is problematic, and the size can only be increased in width. A mixture of water and alcohol, a hair dryer, or a mechanical method using pads will do.

Textile

It is quite difficult to increase the size of such shoes, but by a few millimeters it is possible. It's best to just walk outside when the weather is wet and then dry your shoes at home. The thermal method is also suitable - boiling water or steam.

Rubber

Traditional rubber does not stretch, but with PVC this method will work. Most often, boiling water is used, which needs to be poured into the shoes for a few minutes to soften the PVC.

Stretching patent leather shoes with a hairdryer

Using aggressive stretching methods can easily damage patent leather shoes. The following troubles may result from incorrect intervention:

Temperature changes cause the varnish to crack and surface deformation is possible;
when using a chemical stretching agent, the varnish coating is damaged;
Mechanical impact damages the integrity of the skin structure.

One of the gentle ways to increase the size of patent leather shoes is stretching using a hairdryer.

To do this you need:

Direct a stream of hot air deep inside the shoes, treatment lasts at least 30 seconds;
While the inside is hot, quickly treat it with any rich cream;
wear warm socks, as thick as possible, and shoes;
walk as long as your leg can bear it, but not less than 1.5 hours.

When using a hairdryer, try not to hit the varnished surface with a stream of hot air - its structure may be damaged.

Need to know! New shoes with a varnish coating cannot be stretched in length; they can only be stretched in width.

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.

Stretching suede shoes with a hairdryer

Suede shoes require special delicate handling. To increase the size of your favorite shoes, do the following manipulations.

Method No. 1:

Blow their insides with hot air directed from the hair dryer nozzle for 10-15 seconds;
Then quickly lubricate it with castor oil or glycerin;
put on thick socks and shoes and walk in them.

Carry out such actions repeatedly until the size of the shoes increases. When treating with glycerin or oil, you must be extremely careful - greasy stains may remain on the suede.

Method number 2:

put wet, thick socks on your feet;
put on suede shoes;
Point the hairdryer at the shoes from a certain distance, but do not bring it close.

With this method, the shoes, being heated from the outside and moisturized from the inside, will follow the contours of the leg, while stretching.

How not to do it

There are several actions that are unacceptable in relation to tight shoes:

hitting with a hard object in the hope that it will spread (on the contrary, there is a risk of deformation and even cracks);
insertion of solid objects - the consequences are similar;
Stretching with your hands can lead not only to serious physical effort, but also to damage to the product.

Thus, stretching shoes at home is a completely feasible task, especially if you follow the recommendations given above. The method used depends on the material it is made of.

Leather shoe stretching

It’s especially unfortunate when expensive “clothes” for the legs, left on the store shelves in a single size, rub the leg and pinch. But you really don’t want to return a pair of shoes or boots that you like so much. Before stretching leather shoes, you need to make sure that the material is truly natural. After all, natural leather better withstands the effects of various aggressive factors and is less likely to deform.

One way to expand boots or shoes made of genuine leather is to pour boiling water inside the product. After a couple of seconds, you need to pour out the water, put the shoes on your feet with a soft sock and walk around the apartment in these shoes until they are completely dry. If you don’t want to get the inside of your new shoes wet, you can put plastic bags inside and pour the liquid into them without touching the inside of the shoe.
Another way to stretch leather shoes at home is to use ice. Place a plastic bag inside the boots or shoes. Then fill one fourth with water and place the shoes in this form in the freezer. Due to the fact that the water freezes and increases in volume, the shoes will stretch. Boots or shoes should be removed from the freezer, wait until the water inside the bag melts, and then remove the bags.

You can expand natural leather using alcohol solutions. For this mission, you can use vodka, alcohol-based cologne, and even a product used to clean windows

It is necessary to generously lubricate the outer and inner parts of boots or shoes with the solution, paying special attention to the heel area, where the foot most often rubs. After treatment, you need to put on a thick sock and walk around the apartment in your shoes for several hours.

Knowing how to stretch leather shoes, you can expand boots or shoes to the desired size without damaging the overall structure and quality of the material.

The main thing is to act extremely carefully so as not to damage the boots when trying to stretch them

How to quickly break in shoes that are too tight

There are even more radical ways to stretch leather shoes using water. The insoles are removed from boots or shoes, boiling water is poured inside for a few seconds, and then the shoes are worn in for several hours.

This method is used for shoes made from natural or synthetic material.

The next method is based on the physical property of water to expand when frozen. If necessary, unlace tight shoes. Place two sealed plastic bags inside, straighten them, press them against the inner walls of the shoes so that there are no creases or emptiness.

Cold water is carefully poured into an improvised container and the bags are tightly tied. Shoes in another bag are placed in the freezer of the refrigerator overnight

Frozen water turns into solid ice, and, having increased in volume, puts pressure on the leather of the shoe, stretching it.

This is a safe method that does not cause deformation of the shoes.

patent leather shoes

For patent leather shoes, it is best to use vodka or alcohol diluted with water (1:2 ratio). Soak thick socks in vodka or alcohol solution, wring them out lightly, put them on and put on new patent leather shoes. Wear your shoes until your socks are dry (this process may take 2-3 hours). This method is safe for varnish; if you do everything carefully, this will not affect the appearance of the shoes in any way. The main thing is not to overdo it: if you stretch it too hard, the varnish may crack.

When wearing patent leather shoes, it is very important to prevent cracks from appearing.

To stretch patent leather shoes, you can use Vaseline, rich cream or castor oil . Lubricate those places where the shoes are too tight (inside and out), put on thick socks and walk around the house for a while. The varnish will soften and stretch.