You've just purchased some great new shoes, but
they're a bit too tight. The retail assistant
tells you to "Just stretch them out!" Okay,
genius, but how? As long as your shoes start out
fairly close to the right size, you can generally
stretch them a little. Here's how.
!! Steps !!
Try some traditional home-grown shoe stretching remedies. There are a
few things you can do at home to stretch your new shoes.
* _ *Wearing in*_: Wear the shoes in at home.
Put on the shoes and move around in them on and off over a few
days. Don't do this if it's painful, and only try this if the
stretching needed is minor. It should work within a day or two; if
not and it's uncomfortable, don't force yourself to keep walking
around in shoes that are too tight.
* _Freezing shoes (leather, pleather, fake leather, etc.)_: Fill a
hole-free sealable sandwich bag or similar plastic bag about one
third to halfway with water and seal, one bag for each of your
shoes. Place a bag inside each shoe and push into place so that it
fits the inner shoe completely (be sure it fits right to heel and
toe). Place your shoes in the freezer and let them sit until it
freezes, or overnight. The water in the bag will turn to ice and
expand into your shoes. Remove from the freezer and leave to thaw
for about 20 minutes before trying to remove the bags. Try the
shoes on again to see how the shoes fit and repeat if needed. It's
recommended that you don't use this method on expensive shoes.
* _ *Thick socks and heat*_: Put on thick socks
and squeeze your feet into the shoes (leather only). Heat the
tight area of the shoes using a hairdryer and bend your feet back
and forth as much as you can for 20-30 seconds. Remove the heat
source but leave the shoes on until cooled. Try the shoes on with
your normal socks or stockings. Repeat until the shoes have
stretched enough. Once stretched, apply leather shoe conditioner
to restore the moisture that might have been depleted by the
heat.[1]
* _Damp newspaper_: Scrunch up wet newspaper and stuff it into your
shoes. Stuff in as much as the shoe will fit but be careful not to
distort the shoe shape when using this method; if the shoe appears
distorted, remove newspaper until it looks a good shape again.
Leave to sit until the shoes dry. Remove the newspaper and try on
the shoes. There should be more give. (Note that this method can
also include freezing the shoes for added expansion.) Wet socks
can be substituted for newspaper.
* _ *Oats or grain*_: Try this old cowboy trick
for leather boots. Fill your boots with oats (or any grain that
swells up when wet). Pour in enough water to cover the grain. The
grain will swell overnight. Then wear them for a few days until
your feet get adjusted and the boots become dry.
* _Rubbing alcohol spray (home-made shoe stretcher)_: Make a spray
of 50 percent rubbing alcohol and 50 percent water in a spray
bottle. Spray the inside of each shoe and wear for about 20
minutes.[2] An alternative to this is to simply rub alcohol
directly onto the parts of the shoe requiring stretching; put the
shoe or boot on while still wet, as the alcohol will dry quickly.
* _ *Potato*_: Peel a potato and push it into
the shoe overnight.[3] Make sure it is large enough to create a
small bulge in the shoe. Potatoes do not smell bad (they actually
trap odor), and any potato residue left over will easily wipe off
with a damp cloth.
_ A shoe stretcher Use a shoe-stretcher on leather shoes. A shoe
stretcher is shaped the same as a foot and is usually made from
wood, such as cedar or maple, with screws and adjustments that
help to stretch the shoe.[4] Look in closet sections of hardware
or organizational stores, or check out garage sales and thrift
stores. A shoe stretcher can adjust width or length (check its
ability when purchasing) and will fit in either the left or right
shoe. Known as "dry stretching", using a shoe-stretcher can take
several days for it to have an effect; check the fit every now
and then.
* Some shoe stretchers include little buttons you can insert into
holes for localized stretching, for example to fit over an area
with a bunion or corn.
* Use a shoe-stretching spray or oil in conjunction with the
shoe-stretcher. You'll find the spray or oil at shoe stores, shoe
repair shops, and wherever you purchased the shoe-stretcher from
and it's affordable. The spray or oil will help to make the shoe
material a little more supple, helping it to stretch evenly and
speeds up the process.
Go slowly, and be patient. Stretch the shoes a
little bit, then try them on, then stretch the
shoes some more. The reality is that shoes,
like clothes, are made to approximate general
size and shape. It is still up to each
individual to break in or mold the shoe to fit
her or his particular foot shape, and provided
the shoe isn't impossibly tight, wearing the
shoe regularly and gradually for more and more
time is the most effective method for
stretching it.
* Always purchase your shoes well in advance of when you need to
wear them so that you have adequate time to break them in,
especially for dances, proms, and weddings.
* Take your shoes to a professional for
stretching. Some shoe repairers have machines that can gently
apply pressure and heat to shoes to stretch them a little. The
preciseness and ease of using this service can be well worth the
effort and cost, especially for expensive or delicate shoes.
Expect it to take around 24 hours.
Choose shoes that fit in future. As much as
possible, choose shoes that already fit and
don't need stretching or don't need very much
stretching. Ensure this by:
* Having your feet measured if you haven't lately, especially if
you've gained weight, have been bedridden, or pregnant. Feet are
three dimensional, and all measurements should account for not
only length but width and depth as well.[5]
* Measuring both_ feet. Your feet may not be quite the same size;
indeed, most people have one foot slightly larger than the
other,[6] and some people experience a half to a whole size
difference between feet.
* Trying the next size up if a pair is a bit too tight, even if you
think you normally wear a certain size. Sometimes proportions vary
between manufacturers and the only way you can tell is by trying
on the shoes.
* Checking the sizing standard for your shoes. That is, is it
European, UK, or US. Is it men's or women's? Even if multiple
size standards are listed, there's not a strict correspondence
between US and European shoe sizes, so if you're used to one and
not the other, try on the nearby sizes.
* Asking about half sizes and multiple widths. Not all shoe stores
carry them, but the good ones do.
* Buying shoes in the second half of the day, when your feet are at
their most swollen after walking and standing on them during the
day.[7]
Find comfortable shoes to begin withChoose stretchy shoes. As a
rule, real leather is more conforming and has more give than
synthetics such as plastic, PVC, etc. If the shoe is synthetic,
be sure to purchase it in the right size from the start as it's
unlikely to have any give; indeed, the point of such materials
is often that their molded shape has no give and endures. Be
careful with fabric shoes, as any stretching might weaken the
fibers.
* Shoes with an elastic gore will be stretchier. An elastic gore is
an elastic fabric panel inserted into a shoe.
* Different leather has different stretchability. Kangaroo leather
is considered to have more stretch than cow leather, for
example.[8]
* There's a limit to how far shoes can reasonably stretch. If you
just need to loosen things up a little around the toes, you'll
have better success than if the whole thing needs to get a lot
bigger. And some shoes should fit properly from the beginning, no
matter what, such as walking shoes.[9] If the shoe needs too much
stretching, either don't purchase it, or purchase a pair a half to
one size up, or switch to a better fitting style or brand.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Start by stretching a less-costly pair of shoes, while you get the
feel for the process. That way, if you overdo it and ruin the
shoes, it won't cost you as much.
* Try on shoes when you are buying them to make sure they fit
properly. You might also consider returning the shoes to the
retailer and asking them if they can stretch the shoe; this is
especially useful where the retailer made a promise that the shoe
would "stretch".
* If a brand warns you that it won't stretch out, heed the warning
to find your correct size. It's not just manufacturer's pride but
a reality!
!! Warnings !!
* Polish leather shoes and boots after using a stretching treatment,
to ensure that the leather is softened and maintained. This is
especially important if you've used a method that required the
addition of water or heat.
* Take care of your feet first and your shoes second. Hurting feet
are a sign that the shoes are not right for you.
* If you use a shoe stretching spray with your feet, wear old socks
because the fluid might make the dye in the shoes bleed a bit.
* Don't freeze or heat vintage shoes; it might be the last you see
of the shoes!
* Don't heat plastic, PVC, etc., shoes. They are not meant to give
and applying heat risks releasing toxic fumes.
* If you use heat to stretch shoes, be aware that many of the
adhesives used in constructing shoes are heat-based.
* Make sure your shoes won't be ruined if they get a little bit of
water on the inside if you use the water in a bag method.
!! Things You\'ll Need !!
* Shoe polish or conditioner to soften and protect shoes after
stretching
* Items as specified in article
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Choose Comfortable Dress Shoes
* How to Break in High Heel Shoes
* How to Break in Hardshoes for Irish Step Dancing
* How to Break in a New Pair of Shoes
* How to Break in New Pointe Shoes
* How to Add Homemade Ankle Straps to High Heels
* How to Soften Uncomfortable High Heels
* How to Cope when Your Heel Breaks
!! Sources And Citations !!
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
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