Use a shoe stretcher to gradually widen leather shoes. Typically, they have a knob or a lever that you turn to gradually widen and lengthen the shoe stretcher. Over time, this will help relax and widen the shoe, making them up to a half-size larger.
Try this in conjunction with a shoe-stretching spray for the best results. Dampen the shoes with the spray, then insert the shoe stretcher. Repeat this as needed until your shoes reach the size you need. Roll up socks and stuff them into the toes of the shoes for a gentle stretch. Take a sock and roll it up tightly from the toes all the way to the top, then stick it down into the toe box of the shoe. This may not work as well for shoes with a stiff upper, like dress shoes.
Also, shoes that are made from a flexible material, like mesh, might require direct heat or a method that saturates the shoe in order to stretch out the fibers.
Place wet newspaper into the shoes for more stretching power. Dampen a few sheets of newspaper, then ball them up and stuff them into the toe box of the shoe. Continue adding balls of wet newspaper until the shoe is full. As the paper dries, it will expand and harden, stretching out the shoe. Do not saturate the paper, or it could damage the inside of your shoe. Also, avoid using this technique on leather shoes.
Stretch the shoe with wet oats, grains, or rice for an old-fashioned approach. Fill a plastic bag with oatmeal, rice, or any other grain that will swell up when it gets wet.
Add just enough water to cover the grains, then seal the bag and place it into the shoe, working it down into the toe box. Leave the bag in place overnight, then remove it and try your shoes on! As the oats expand, the pressure will help stretch the material of the shoe. Did you know you can get premium answers for this article? Unlock premium answers by supporting wikiHow. Penny Simmons Shoe Care Specialist. Penny Simmons.
Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0. Not Helpful 8 Helpful 6. How can I stretch my new shoes if they have glitter on them that I don't want to come off? Not Helpful 4 Helpful 5. Not Helpful 3 Helpful 9. Not Helpful 6 Helpful 4. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 3. Not Helpful 4 Helpful 4. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3. Neatsfoot Oil is great if they are leather. Not Helpful 19 Helpful You can do this by using the freezer stretching technique in the article above.
Not Helpful 12 Helpful Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. If your shoes are expensive or delicate, it may be best to take them to a professional cobbler to have them stretched. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Related wikiHows How to. How to. More References 4. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: There are two basic types of shoe stretchers: a one-way shoe stretcher and a two-way shoe stretcher.
A one-way shoe stretcher stretches the width of a shoe, while a two-way shoe stretcher stretches the width and the length. Our FootFitter shoe stretchers come with three additional spot-stretching plugs for corns and bunions.
Anything less will not give sufficient time for the material to set in its new stretched form. Slip on thick socks — two pairs if you can manage it — and put on your shoes. Then walk around the house for half an hour. Repeat as necessary. This method may take a few days and is oftentimes the initial method on how to stretch shoes without a shoe stretcher. When water freezes, it expands. Fill a Ziploc bag one-third of the way with water.
Then secure it tightly. Insert the bag into your shoe, making sure to mold the bag to fit into every corner. Pay special attention to areas that are tight, like the toe box. Place the shoe into the freezer and leave it there until it freezes. Once it does, let it thaw, take out the bags, and try your shoe on. Using this method, you can stretch the shoe half a size to a full size. Tip: If you have shoes that can get wet, like canvas sneakers, you can actually wet the entire shoe, insert the bags, and freeze the whole thing.
Roll several pairs of socks into small balls, then stuff them into your shoes until your shoes are at max capacity. Leave the socks in overnight. Push the water-filled bags into your sneakers. Put 1 water-filled bag into each sneaker so that the front of the bag is in the very tip of the shoe.
If necessary, reach into each shoe with your hand and press the water-filled bag into the front and back of the shoe. Place the sneakers into your freezer and leave them overnight. Set the shoes on a flat surface in the freezer with their tops facing upward. It will take at least 8—10 hours for the bag of ice to freeze. As the ice freezes, it will expand and stretch outward against the insides of the sneakers.
Pull the sneakers out of the freezer the next morning. Take the sneakers out of the freezer, remove the bags from inside of the shoes, and try them on.
At this point, the sneakers should have stretched enough to fit your feet. Repeat the process if the sneakers are still too tight. If the shoes still constrict your feet after 1 night in the freezer, freeze them again. Fill 2 more plastic bags with water and make them slightly fuller this time so that they expand more within the shoes.
Freeze them overnight, and try the sneakers on again in the morning. Method 2. Put on 2 pairs of thick socks and the sneakers. Find a couple of pairs of thick wool socks and put them on over one another. Using socks to make your feet as large as possible will help stretch out the sneakers. Heat the shoes with a hairdryer for 30 seconds at a time. Keep your feet inside the shoes, and use a hair dryer to blow hot air over the outside surfaces of the shoes.
Set the hair dryer to medium heat to avoid overheating and potentially damaging your sneakers. Every 30 seconds, switch the air from the hair dryer to the other shoe. The heat from the hair dryer will loosen up the fabric of your sneakers. Method 3. Wear your sneakers for hours at a time around your home. The best way to break a pair of sneakers in is by wearing them around your home. The heat and sweat from your feet will soften up the shells of the sneakers and cause the shoes to mold to the shape of your feet.
Be aware that it can take 5—7 days to break in a pair of shoes. So, if you have a big track meet or other sporting event tomorrow, this may not be the most effective method. This action will expand the front portion of the insert. Purchase shoe-stretching inserts at a nearby sporting goods store or at a large shoe store. Take your sneakers to a professional cobbler for a faster stretch. Professional cobblers have machines and tools specifically designed to stretch sneakers and other types of running shoes.
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