Have you ever bought a new pair of shoes that turned out to be making your feet sore? Don't get rid of the shoes. New shoes can be overcome by starting to wear them so they are comfortable. Not that you really force to wear them, but you have to get used to the shoes with your feet. Here are some ways that can help you shape your new shoe to fit your foot.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Wearing Shoes Around the House
Step 1. Put on new shoes around the house
Before you put on your new shoes outdoors, use them for climbing stairs, standing (while cooking dinner, playing with the kids, etc.), sitting, and even running.
Notes: This is the most reliable method of making new shoes comfortable to wear in an easy and light way. If you have good leather or party shoes (the ones that frustrate you by causing them to scuff, change their shape, or even fade), this method is the safest to try.
Step 2. At first, wear shoes briefly but often
When you try on new shoes before you buy them, you can walk and feel less pain, right? It's because you haven't worn it in a long time that it can cause pain (or change the shape of the shoe to fit your foot). So when you start wearing new shoes at home, wear them as soon as possible and as often as possible. Don't feel like you have to wear it for hours to see the difference.
At first, wear the shoes for 10 minutes. Try this method for a few days. Gradually, wear the shoes for 10 minutes or more, every few days, until you can wear the shoes for an hour. By this time, the shoes should be conquerable
Step 3. Bring shoes to work
Wear old shoes to work, but when sitting down, start wearing new shoes and get used to your feet. This is a simple way to start wearing new shoes while saving time.
Step 4. Wear shoes with socks
This way, you can tell if you need socks when you put them on. This method can also prevent your feet from getting chafed when you have to get used to new shoes.
Wear new shoes with socks that are slightly larger than what you normally wear. Try wearing thick cotton socks and pressing them into your shoes. Don't walk too fast, you might get blisters on your feet. Take care of your feet when wearing these shoes. The size of the sock will help stretch the shape of the shoe
Method 2 of 4: Freezing New Shoes
Step 1. Put water in two plastic sandwich bags (approximately 16.5 cm x 15 cm) until they are half full
Make sure the plastic bag is large enough to put pressure on the shoe as it stretches in the freezer.
- When closing the plastic bag, remove all the air inside. This will make it easier to “form” the water in the plastic bag to shape your shoes.
- This method requires the shoes to be in the freezer for a long time, so they are likely to get wet. Make sure the shoes you use with this method are not very good shoes or are prone to water damage.
Step 2. Insert a plastic bag into each shoe
Make sure the plastic bag is tightly closed. You don't want your shoes to be coated in ice when you take them out of the freezer.
Step 3. Place the shoes in a larger sealed plastic bag and place in the freezer
Shoes should contain a smaller plastic bag inside and a larger plastic bag to protect them from outside moisture.
Step 4. Wait for 3-4 hours
When the water inside the shoe freezes, it stretches, putting pressure inside the shoe cavity, and forming the shoe. The advantage of using water over using a shoe stretcher is that the water will perfectly adjust the inner contour of the shoe.
Step 5. Remove the shoes from the freezer
The water that was in the plastic is now turning into ice.
Step 6. Remove the plastic bag from inside the shoe
You'll have to wait a few minutes for it to pop out to make it easier.
Step 7. Try on the shoes
When the shoes are not cold, try to wear them for walking and even running if the shoes you are wearing are sports shoes.
Your new shoes are now in shape, slightly stretched, and much more comfortable
Method 3 of 4: Heating Shoes
Step 1. Wear shoes for 10 minutes
Wear shoes and preferably with socks. Walk for about 10 minutes. This method is done to get used to the shoes so that they are ready to use.
Step 2. Remove the shoe and stretch it manually
If possible, bend the shoe back and forth for a few minutes.
Step 3. Heat the shoes
Heating the shoe will widen the material, especially if it is made of leather, then the shoe will become more flexible.
- Use a hairdryer, set it on the hot (but not the hottest) position and heat the shoes for 2-3 minutes.
- If you don't have a hairdryer, place your shoes near a room heater, or dry them in direct sunlight. A little heat source is better than no heat at all.
Step 4. Immediately after heating, put on the shoes
Wear shoes for 10 minutes to walk, sit, or even run.
Step 5. Repeat at least more than once
Shoes will actually feel more comfortable after being warmed up a few times.
Method 4 of 4: Other Methods
Step 1. If possible, buy a shoe stretcher
These steps will make the shoe a little more flexible. If you don't want to buy a shoe stretcher (though it can be purchased cheaply online), flexing the shoe back and front by holding the heel and toe can work well.
Make sure you wear the shoes after flexing them, otherwise they will lose their shape
Step 2. Use potatoes
Peel a large potato and remove the moisture with paper towels. Put the potatoes in the shoe cavity and let sit overnight. Remove the potatoes from the shoes the next morning.
Step 3. Purchase a shoe-stretching spray
Spray the shoes with a shoe-stretch solution, following the directions on the package. Most of these instructions will recommend that you manually stretch the shoe back and forth between sprays.
Step 4. Use the services of a cobbler to stretch the shoes with a machine
Americans spend nearly 2 million US dollars on shoe stretchers every year. The cobbler will spray the shoe with a shoe-stretching solution and stretch it with a machine for several hours while the shoe dries. This method only costs no more than 20 US dollars.
Step 5. Avoid the following methods
Some techniques for stretching shoes are either useless or bad for shoes, especially good leather shoes. Avoid the following techniques for adjusting the shape of a new shoe:
- Rubbing alcohol on shoes. Alcohol can leave a nasty stain on good leather shoes and also strip away its natural oils.
- Hitting the shoe with a hammer or hard object. Hitting the back of a shoe with a hammer can work, but what about it? Is it worth it to make new shoes comfortable but actually break down?
- Get someone with bigger feet to start wearing your shoes to be comfortable. Telling someone with bigger feet to put on your new shoes is wrong and ineffective. Not only will you inflict a burden of pain on the other person (what a shame for that person!), you will also make the shoe conform to the shape of the other person's foot and not yours! Avoid this method.
Tips
- If you intend to wear new shoes to go outdoors, bring your old shoes in case your feet start to blister.
- Choose really the right shoe size when buying.
- Don't wear new shoes to go out! Shoes can get dirty and you can't wear them around the house.
Warning
- Water can damage shoes. Read the warnings on the shoe label first!
- This method can help you avoid returning your shoes if you need to.
