How to Stretch New Shoes

It is done! You see the shoe you’ve always dreamed of, and before you know it, you’ve bought it. Now that you own the shoes, you realize how tight they are. However, just by stretching, those shoes are perfect, right? Luckily, there are some very ingenious ways to gently stretch your shoes, and you’ll be impressed.

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Stretch your shoes using

Wear shoes indoors. Here’s the easiest option: if your shoes aren’t so tight that you can’t walk, just put them on and walk around the house until they fit your feet. This can take a few days, but how natural it is, it’s almost a basic method!

Stretch your shoes with socks

Wear thick socks and warm up your shoes. Wear the thickest socks you have and try to slip your feet into your shoes (leather only). Use a hair dryer to heat up the tight spot, and at the same time bend the foot back and forth as many times as possible for about 20 to 30 seconds.

Turn off the heat source but keep the shoes on until cool. Try wearing shoes with regular socks or leather socks.
Repeat until the shoes stretch just enough. Once your shoes are stretched, apply a shoe conditioner to restore moisture that may have been lost due to the heat. ^{[1] X Research Source}
Note: Heating shoes can weaken the glue joints – Be careful with old shoes.

Stretch your shoes with round socks

Find several socks for each shoe.

Roll the socks into small balls.

Gently tuck each sock deep into the shoe until full.

Repeat with the other shoe.

Wait overnight. The next day you will see a difference.

Stretching shoes by freezing method

You can freeze shoes with a bag of water. Using a zippered, leak-proof sandwich bag, a thick ball, or a similar plastic bag, fill about one-third to one-half of the bag with water and seal tightly, one shoe each with a water bag.

Place the water bag inside each shoe and press so that it spreads over the entire shoe. Place the shoes in the freezer and wait until the water freezes, or overnight. When the water freezes to ice, it stretches your shoes, gently stretching the leather.
Take the shoes out of the freezer and wait for about 20 minutes to thaw before you try to remove the ice packs. Try on the shoe to see if it fits and repeat the process if necessary.
You should not use this method for expensive shoes.

Stretch your shoes with old newspapers

Tuck old newspapers into your shoes. Wet and crush old newspapers, then stuff them in shoes. You insert until the shoes are full, but be careful not to deform your shoes using this method; If the shoe looks distorted, remove the newspaper and re-insert it to match the shape of the shoe.

Let the shoes dry. Take out all the newspapers and try on the shoes. You may have to do it again.
Note that this method can be combined with freezing the shoes for extra stretch. You can replace newspapers with wet socks.

Stretch your shoes with oats

Fill the shoes with oats. Try cowboys’ tip for leather boots: Fill your shoes with oat kernels or whatever pops up when wet.

Pour enough water to cover the seeds. Cereal grains will swell when left overnight.
Wipe off the oatmeal. Maybe it’s not a good idea to make an overnight breakfast!
Wear the shoes for a few days once the shoes are dry and adjust to your feet.

Stretch shoes with alcohol

Use alcohol to spray on shoes. Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of 50% alcohol and 50% water. Spray the inside of each shoe and put it on the foot for about 20 minutes.

It can be replaced by rubbing alcohol directly on the parts of the shoe that need to be stretched.
Quickly put on shoes or boots while they are still wet, as alcohol dries very quickly.
Another way is to take a pair of socks, drench them with alcohol and squeeze out the excess, put socks on your feet and put on your shoes until the alcohol dries. Repeat as many times as needed.

Stretch your shoes with potatoes

Make “Mashed Potatoes”. Peel a potato (larger is best), push it inside the shoe and leave it overnight. Remember to choose a potato that is big enough to make the shoe swell a bit.

Potatoes don’t have an unpleasant odor (it actually absorbs odors), and leftover potatoes are easy to wipe off with a damp cloth.

Use a shoe stretcher

Use a shoe extender for leather shoes. The shoe stretcher is shaped like a foot and is usually made from the wood of trees such as cedar or maple and has screws, which can be adjusted to help stretch the shoe.

Look in the cupboards section of hardware and homeware stores, or look at second-hand or charity stores.
The shoe stretcher can be adjusted both horizontally and vertically (check it out when you buy it) and can be used on both right and left shoes.
Considered a “dry stretch” method, it can take days when using molds to effectively stretch your shoes; You should check from time to time to see if your feet fit.
Some molds have small buttons that you can insert into the holes to stretch the shoe as desired, for example to accommodate a swollen or callused foot.
Use shoe stretcher spray or oil in combination with a shoe expander mold. You can find a spray or shoe stretcher at any shoe store, shoe repair shop, or where you bought the mold. The spray and oil soften the shoe material, allowing the shoe to stretch more evenly and faster.

Stretch your shoes professionally

You can hire professional services. Take your shoes to a professional shoemaker to stretch them. Some mechanics have machines that use pressure and heat to gently stretch the shoe just as you want it to.

You will find it worth the effort and cost when using this service because of its high accuracy, moreover it also gives you peace of mind, especially for expensive and sophisticated shoes.
Waiting time for shoes when using the service is about 24 hours.

Precautionary Measures

Choose shoes that fit your feet. If possible, choose a pair of shoes that fit your foot and do not need to stretch or do not need to stretch very much. You can do this by:

Measure your feet every time you go shoe shopping. The foot has three dimensions, and every size includes not only length but also width and height. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Measure both feet. Most people’s feet are the same size, but some people have unequal feet, and some people even have one foot bigger than the other.
Try on a pair that’s a bit larger if your shoes are tight, even if you still think you usually wear a certain size. Shoe sizes can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and only by trying them on will you know if the shoes will fit your feet.
Check size standards, i.e. European, British or American sizes? Men’s shoes or women’s shoes? Even when the size standards are listed on the shoe, there is no strict correspondence between American and European shoe sizes. So if you are familiar with one standard but not the other, try nearby sizes.
Ask if there are sizes larger or smaller than half the number and different widths. Not every store has it, but reputable stores do.
Buy shoes in the afternoon or evening. That’s when your feet reach their maximum size because you have to walk and stand all day. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Choose shoes with elasticity. Normally, genuine leather shoes are easier to hug and stretch better than synthetic shoes such as plastic, PVC, etc.

If it’s a synthetic shoe, make sure you buy the right size in the first place because it’s almost non-stretchy; actually the point of such materials is that their molded shape is inelastic and not durable.
Be careful with canvas shoes, as stretching the shoe can weaken the fabric.
Shoes with elastic insoles will have the best stretch. The elastic insole is a piece of elastic texture that is inserted into the shoe.
Each skin type has different resilience. For example, stretch guru leather is considered to have better elasticity than cowhide.
There is a limit to the proper stretch of the shoe. If you just need to stretch a little around the toes, you’ll probably be more successful than having to make the whole shoe a lot bigger.
Certain types of shoes have to fit the foot right from the start. If you come across shoes that need to stretch too much, then either don’t buy, either buy a size larger than half or a number, or change to another style or brand.

Advice

Slowly and patiently. Stretch the shoe a little, try it on, then stretch it a bit more. In fact, shoes, like clothing, are all made to the same size and shape. However, it is up to each person to adjust the shoe to fit one’s foot, and as long as the shoes are not too tight to fit, wearing them regularly is the most effective method to stretch the shoes.
Polish leather shoes and boots after stretching to ensure soft and durable leather. This is especially important if you use the water or heat method.
Try on the shoe when you buy it to make sure it fits your foot. You might also consider returning the shoe to the store or asking if they can stretch the shoe for you; This is useful if the salesperson guarantees to stretch the shoe for you.
First you should stretch the shoes for less money if you want to try. That way, if you overdo it and damage your shoes, you won’t lose much money.
If the label warns that this shoe cannot stretch, you should take this into account and find another size that fits your foot better. That is not the pride of the manufacturer, but the fact!
Always shop for your shoes some time before you need them so you have enough time to get used to and adjust to your new shoes, especially when attending a dance, dinner or wedding.

Warning

If you use heat to stretch your shoes, keep in mind that many shoe glues are heat-based.
Do not freeze or heat old shoes; otherwise this might be the last time you see those shoes!
Do not heat plastic shoes, PVC, etc. These shoes are inherently inelastic, and if you use heat to handle them, there is a risk of toxic fumes.
If you use a spray bottle and get on your feet to stretch your shoes, wear an old pair of socks as that can discolor your socks.
Prioritize foot care before shoe care. Sore feet is a sign that the shoe isn’t right for you.
If using the water bag method, you need to make sure your shoes don’t get damaged if water gets inside.

Things you need

Shoe polish or oil to protect shoes after stretching
Things mentioned in the article

Steps