While leather shoes will naturally stretch as you wear and shape your foot, new leather shoes usually feel cramped and painful. For that, you can speed up the process of stretching these leather shoes in several ways that will be discussed in this article.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Stuffing Something Into Shoes
Step 1. Stuff a clenched damp newspaper into each shoe
Cram in as tightly as possible.
Alternatively, stuff the peeled potatoes into the shoes
Step 2. Let the shoes dry slowly
Avoid direct exposure to heat, such as sunlight or a heating machine, as direct heat can damage the leather.
Step 3. Remove the newspaper (or potato) fists when the shoes are dry
Step 4. Put it on
These shoes will feel much more comfortable than the cramped feeling (because the shoes are still new) before.
Method 2 of 5: Heating Shoes
Exposing your new leather shoe to heat can help stretch it. However, this method should be used with care as direct heat can damage the shoe. Do not do this on antique leather, as the heat will tend to damage the adhesive and cause the older leather to crack.
Step 1. Wear very thick socks
Press your foot into the new leather shoe.
Step 2. Sit in a comfortable place
Alternately heat each shoe with a hairdryer, bending your legs back and forth as much as possible. Blow hot air from the hairdryer for 20-30 seconds on each shoe.
Step 3. Keep away from heat
Keep wearing them until they cool down.
Step 4. Take off the thick socks you are wearing
Wear thinner socks or stockings. Try wearing these shoes. If you feel any difference, the shoe has stretched. If not, repeat the process.
Step 5. Use leather shoe conditioner or special soap for cleaning leather (saddle soap)
This product will restore the lost moisture caused by the heat of the leather shoes.
Method 3 of 5: Wet Shoes
It is said that this method was used by members of the military forces to stretch their new leather shoes!
Step 1. Take off all your clothes except shoes
Stand under the shower in the bathroom. This may sound silly, but the warm water will soften the leather a little.
Step 2. After getting out of the shower, wear the shoes for a few hours
While the leather material softens, it will conform to the shape of your foot as the shoe dries.
The shoes may make a splashing sound when you walk outside (you'll have to be outside or someone will be angry with the wet carpet from your shoes) with the wet shoes, but it will all pay off. the good one
Step 3. Use leather shoe conditioner or special soap for cleaning leather (saddle soap)
This product will restore the moisture lost during the drying process from really wet shoes.
Method 4 of 5: Steaming Shoes
Be careful when doing this method to avoid burning your skin. Maybe wear gardening gloves first to protect your hands.
Step 1. Bring water to a boil in a kettle
Let the kettle continue to boil while working on the shoes, so you can use the steam that comes out of the kettle.
You can also use a pot of boiling water
Step 2. Expose each shoe to the steam coming out of the kettle
Hold for 3-5 minutes.
Step 3. Keep away from steam
Stuff dry newspaper or paper towels into it as tightly as possible.
Step 4. Let it dry in the shade
Method 5 of 5: Freezing Shoes
This method is fine for most types of leather shoes but be careful when doing it on expensive shoes, otherwise freezing will damage the leather or other parts of the shoe.
Step 1. Fill a sealable bag, which is the size of a snack or sandwich, with water up to half (or one third) of the bag
Do not fill the bag with too much water because the bag will burst and open when stuffed into the shoe or when frozen. Then close the bag tightly.
- First of all, make sure the bag doesn't have a hole!
- Prepare one pocket for each shoe.
Step 2. Put one pocket in each shoe
Be careful not to press too hard, otherwise the bag will burst and wet the shoe.
Push the pocket into the inner corner of the shoe as far as it will go
Step 3. Prepare enough space in the freezer
The area should be large enough to fit your shoes.
Make sure that nothing in the freezer will touch the shoes. Anything that touches the shoe can stain it or cause freezer burn if you take it apart later
Step 4. Put the shoes in the refrigerator
Let it freeze all night. When the water freezes, the pocket expands into the shoe and gives the shoe a gentle stretch.
Step 5. Remove from refrigerator the next morning
Let it thaw for half an hour, then remove the bags from the shoes.
Step 6. Try on the shoes
If you are satisfied enough, the shoes are ready to use. If not, repeat the freezing process one more time.
Step 7. Use a leather shoe conditioner or a special soap for cleaning leather (saddle soap)
This process will restore the moisture lost due to the freezing process.
Tips
- Buy new shoes in the afternoon, when your feet tend to be more swollen and more tired. This way, you'll get a better idea of choosing the right size all day long!
- If your shoes have slippery soles, rub them with sandpaper to make the soles a little rougher.
- A shoe tree (a device that is placed inside a shoe that resembles the shape of a foot) will keep the shoe in the best possible condition when not in use.
- Shoes will last longer if given a day to rest (not used) between wear; have at least two pairs of shoes per season and alternate each day.
- If you like, you can purchase a special spray to stretch your shoes. Spray it on, then wear it around the house when the shoe has stretched. Look for the product online.
