How to quickly break in shoes: proven tips. Life hacks how to break in shoes that are too tight at home How to break in shoes

We all made purchases in shoe stores more than once and therefore more than once faced the question of how to break in shoes that are too tight at home? It seems that they bought their size, and measured carefully, but put it on at home - it was tight. What to do if the shoes are tight? In our article you will find time-tested tips for stretching shoes made from different materials.

How to break in new leather shoes?

This is the most environmentally friendly and practical material. She breaks down pretty well. There are several ways to quickly break in new shoes at home.

Daily wear

You can try to break in your shoes at home a little every day. This option is good if putting on a new pair of shoes is not in a hurry, it gives a 100% result. You should simply put on new shoes with a tight toe, terry if possible, and walk in them for an hour or two a day. It can be longer. After a week, the shoes will become wider and will not press.

Shoe workshop

In the shoe workshop, any shoes will be stretched for you with the help of special tools and lasts. You can also buy a shoe stretcher from a shoe store and try it yourself.

Alcohol

If leather shoes are tight, you can try the old method of stretching the material with an alcohol-containing liquid.

Procedure:

  1. Wipe the inside of the shoes with alcohol or vodka.
  2. Put thick socks on your feet and put on shoes.
  3. Walk around the apartment for a couple of hours.

This method will help stretch a new pair of shoes in one go. After treatment with alcohol, the skin becomes very supple and stretches well.

Vinegar

Table vinegar also softens the skin well.

Procedure:

  1. Wipe problem areas with vinegar.
  2. After treatment, put on shoes with thick socks and walk in them for half an hour.

Glycerin or shoe cream

It is a well-known fact that glycerin has a beneficial effect on the skin, making it softer, more elastic and pleasant to the touch. This property also applies to footwear, if you use the tool like this:


Stretching with ice

A rather unusual, but perhaps the most effective way:

  1. Find two strong plastic bags, preferably with zippers.
  2. Place the bags inside the shoes and pour water into them. Water should fill the entire interior of the shoe.
  3. Tie (zip) the bags. Check that water is not leaking anywhere.
  4. Put the shoes in the freezer for 10-12 hours, overnight.
  5. After the specified time, remove the shoes, wait half an hour for the water to thaw a little and remove the bags from the shoes.

Now they are guaranteed not to reap.

Boiling water

Also a very radical, but giving excellent result, method:

  1. It is necessary to boil water in a kettle and pour boiling water over the inside of the shoe.
  2. Immediately drain the boiling water from the boots.

Important! Do not forget to remove the insoles before the procedure, otherwise they may become deformed.

  1. Next, you must immediately put on shoes with a thick toe and walk in them for at least 1 hour. Shoes will take the shape of your foot and will not press.

Important! If you are afraid to use boiling water, you can simply hold the boots over the steam and immediately put them on thick socks.

hair dryer

Another "hot" way to stretch shoes. It also works well.

Procedure:

  1. You need to put on shoes with thick socks and blow hot air on them with a hair dryer.
  2. When the shoes are warm enough, turn off the hair dryer and wear them until the leather is completely cool.
  3. Then try on the shoes without socks. If the shoes are not stretched enough, repeat the procedure.

Important! Do not overdo it with hot air, otherwise you will ruin the skin.

Special foam and spray

Similar products are sold in shoe stores. This method is suitable for those who do not trust people's advice and are afraid to experiment with their new clothes.

  1. Apply spray or foam inside the entire boot or on problem areas.
  2. Put on the toe shoes and wear until dry.

Important! Try to buy stretchers only from well-established manufacturers so as not to spoil your purchase.

Water

Moisture also softens the skin well. But leather shoes or boots should not be wetted abundantly, otherwise the leather may become deformed and lose its texture, stains and stains may appear on it. Also, shoes can simply stick out. Therefore, you need to act carefully to spread shoes that are tight at home:

  1. If the skin is thin, delicate, then simply wrap a box of shoes with a wet, well-wrung out towel and leave overnight.
  2. Put on your shoes in the morning and walk around the apartment until completely dry.
  3. If the leather of the shoes is rougher, then you can put them on with a damp sock and walk in them until the shoes stretch.

Corn

It's the old way of real cowboys. If you are confident in the quality of your shoes, you can experiment, otherwise we do not recommend using a similar method:

  1. Pour grain into tight boots and fill it with water.
  2. Wait a day until the grain swells and thereby stretches the shoes.

How to break in suede shoes quickly at home?

Suede is the same leather, just treated differently. It stretches very well, so wear it in with caution. What to do if the shoes are tight? How to break in suede shoes? Use one of the following methods.

Stretch foam

Foam is a special tool for stretching suede shoes. You can buy it at a shoe store or workshop.

Procedure:


Vodka or alcohol:

  1. Pour some vodka or diluted alcohol on a cotton pad and wipe the inside of the shoes. Pay special attention to those places where it presses the most.
  2. Put your new shoe on with a sock and walk around a bit until you feel that the shoe is no longer tight.

Important! If you use alcohol, then it is better to dilute it with water in a ratio of 2: 1.

Daily wear

If there is no hurry, then just put a new pair of socks on and wear a little every day until the result is achieved.

Beer

A bold and effective method:

  1. Dip a cotton pad in beer and lubricate the inside of tight suede boots.
  2. Put on your sock shoes and walk around until the beer is dry.
  3. After you have achieved the desired result, remove the smell of hops with baking soda. To do this, wrap a couple of spoons of soda in a handkerchief and put it in your shoes overnight.

Important! This use of soda will help in the future to get rid of the unpleasant odor in worn shoes.

hair dryer

As with leather shoes, a hair dryer will help stretch suede shoes as well. Suede from the action of heat will become more elastic and stretch on the leg:

  1. Put on a new thing on a terry sock and blow hot air until the entire surface of the shoes warms up well.
  2. Walk in these shoes until the material cools down.

Important! Suede, although it refers to the skin, but unlike it does not react well to moisture, creams and fatty compounds.

You can play it safe and give your new pair of suede shoes to the workshop. Professionals know what to do in this case.

How to stretch patent leather shoes at home?

Patented shoes must be handled very carefully, although they are most often harsh, especially if they are patent leatherette. Stretching patent leather shoes at home by 1 size will not work. Therefore, when buying such a pair, be especially careful when choosing. If you make a mistake with the size and then diligently stretch the shoes, then the varnish will simply crack. In this case, it is better to immediately return them to the store.

Important! This type of shoe cannot stretch more than a couple of millimeters.

If the shoes are very tight, then you can try one of the following remedies.

Vaseline or castor oil

Castor oil or petroleum jelly will help to spread patent leather shoes that are too tight at home. These drugs are especially effective if they rub the back of the shoes:

  1. One of these substances can be used to lubricate patent leather shoes inside and out.
  2. Let the material soak for 1-2 hours.
  3. Remove excess fat with a cotton pad and put on shoes with a tight toe.
  4. Wear shoes at home until they stop pressing.

Vodka

With careful use of vodka, it can stretch shoes made of patent material a little:

  1. Put a little vodka on a cotton pad and wipe those places that are most pressing.

Important! Be careful, try not to get on the varnish.

  1. Put on your toe shoes and walk around the house for a couple of hours.

Important! Since patent leather shoes are quite specific, it is better to give them to the hands of the masters to stretch them.

How to break in faux leather shoes at home?

Such shoes can also be stretched. To do this, there are the following ways.

Ice

You can try stretching leatherette boots with ice:

  1. Insert strong bags into the shoes and fill them with water so that it fills the entire inside.
  2. Put the boots in the freezer overnight (as we remember from physics lessons, water expands when it freezes).
  3. Take out your shoes in the morning, wait a bit and remove the bags. Shoes should be wider.

Shoe polish or petroleum jelly

Such fatty substances soften the material from which the shoes are made and thus, to some extent, can help stretch the shoes.

Procedure:

  1. Lubricate leatherette shoes generously with cream or petroleum jelly and put them on thick socks.
  2. Walk around the house for a couple of hours.
  3. Remove the remaining cream with a sponge and measure on a thin sock.
  4. If you do not feel the result - try another method.

Vodka

The procedure for using this liquid for stretching leatherette shoes is the same as for stretching leather shoes. Follow the instructions already given, and you will be able to quickly break in shoes at home.

Wet socks

In the warm season, you can try to wet your socks in water and use them to spread tight shoes made of artificial material:

  1. Try wearing tight boots with wet socks.
  2. Wear until they dry.

Should help.

Wet newspapers

This method is known even to our grandmothers. But it can be used if you are sure of the quality of your shoes and the leatherette is quite dense.

Procedure:

  1. You need to moisten the newspapers in warm water, wring it out well and stuff it tightly into shoes.
  2. Wait until the paper is completely dry.

Important! It will take a long time, maybe even 2-3 days.

  1. Take out the newspapers.

Important! Sometimes, after such procedures, whitish stains on shoes may appear, they can be easily painted over with cream. But before using this method, try all the others.

Summer fabric shoes are small. How to stretch shoes made of fabric and oilcloth?

This type of footwear should not be stretched. The fabric has almost no stretch, and the oilcloth can simply tear if you try to stretch it. Therefore, it is better to buy such shoes clearly in size. And if you are not sure of the right choice, then it is better to pay attention to the model made of leather or leatherette, since such shoes can be stretched at least a little.

  1. If the shoes are the right size, but the hard heel rubs, then take paraffin or hard soap and rub this place well from the inside.
  2. For fidelity, stick the patch on the place on the leg where the callus is likely to appear. Then in the evening, when you come home from work, you will not tear off new shoes from your feet “with meat”.
  3. Even if you've been breaking in a new pair of thick-toed shoes at home, don't rush to put them on all day at once. Go in new clothes at first a little.

How to choose the right shoes?

In conclusion, a few tips for choosing a new pair of shoes. If you approach this matter wisely, then most likely you will not need ways to quickly break in new shoes at home. In order not to be disappointed with the purchase later, try to follow these rules when choosing a pair of “shoes” for yourself:

  1. Go shopping for new shoes in the afternoon when your foot is a little swollen. Then there are more chances not to miscalculate with the convenience of a new pair.
  2. If you are looking for winter boots or boots, always try them on with a tight toe.
  3. If there is even the slightest doubt about the size, it is better not to take it, look again. Then you don't have to worry about breaking shoes.
  4. If you bought a pair of shoes in a hurry "by eye", and it turned out to be small or large - do not try to stretch it, it can be a waste of time. Better take it back to the store right away. Shoes can stretch out in breadth, but it is unlikely to become longer, except perhaps a little.
  5. The heel should be comfortable and stable, especially if it is shoes for the winter season.
  6. If you have a large foot, then take shoes of a larger size.
  7. Carefully inspect the new pair for flaws so that you do not have to return it in the near future. Pay special attention to the seams, heel, sole.
  8. Try to buy shoes made from natural materials. It is more durable and the legs “breathe” in it.
  9. Shoes should not be heavy. Legs already get tired in a day, and from excess weight they will get doubly tired.
  10. When choosing new shoes, first of all evaluate their comfort, not beauty. Of course, you will look spectacular in high heels, but your legs will not say “thank you” by the evening.

Using the useful information in this article, you will not only be able to find great comfortable shoes, but also stretch them if necessary. Simple and proven methods will help you with this.

When buying shoes in a store, we are often guided not by the practicality of the product, but by originality, style and beauty. We buy shoes one size smaller because we like them and you have a desire to own them. And if the finger is a little tight or the shoes are narrow, it does not matter, they are carried.

But time passes, and the shoes are still in the closet after you once walked in new shoes and rubbed calluses, barely crawled to the house, wanting to throw it off on the way and go barefoot. But prestige. intelligence did not allow you to commit such stupidity.

So they stand in the closet, you just have to admire them. And the money is a pity, the purchase turned out to be expensive, and the legs too. And sometimes, when buying shoes in a store or on the market, after trying them on, you think that they fit, but at home it turns out that they are small.

What to do? How to be? Don't worry, we'll teach you how to break in tight shoes the right way at home.


How to quickly break in tight shoes?


Water tends to expand when it freezes. Turning into ice, it will press in different directions, stretching the shoes in length and width. Take your shoes out and wait for the bag to thaw.

Do not abruptly tear the ice pack out of the shoes so as not to scratch or tear them. If the first time did not work out, try stretching the shoes the second time.

How to break in genuine leather shoes

Leather shoes are the quickest to break in because they are soft and stretchy.

First of all, wrap the shoebox with a wet towel and leave it for 4-5 hours.

Use soapy water. To do this, dilute colorless liquid soap with water 1: 4, mix well, pour into a spray bottle and spray inside the shoe. Then put on thick socks. Wear for 2 hours around the room.

Take vinegar, smear the shoes inside, put on a tight sock and wear for about an hour. Remove the unpleasant smell of vinegar with a soap solution.

Another way is to break in leather shoes with boiling water. Pour boiling water into your shoes and immediately pour them out. Do not be afraid that the shoes will deteriorate, leather products can withstand high temperatures.

Doing such tricks with leatherette is not worth it, because artificial leather can deteriorate. Put on socks and wear for 20 minutes. The cooled skin will take the shape of the leg.

Put on woolen socks, bend your foot and heat the folds with a hair dryer. Remove the hair dryer. Do not take off your shoes until they are cold. Repeat the steps until the skin is soft and stretched. Apply conditioner to moisten your shoes.

Pour grain into shoes and pour water, leave overnight. The grain will swell and stretch your shoes. Then remove the grain, wipe the shoes and wear until they are dry.

How to break in faux leather shoes

It is very difficult to break leatherette shoes. If you try very hard to stretch it, making an attempt after an attempt, then it can crack and lose its aesthetic appearance. But this is no reason to despair.

You can still stretch it out. To stretch it, put on socks soaked in cologne and walk around the room for 20 minutes. Wear 10 times a day and so every day until you break it.

Another effective way to make faux leather shoes bigger is to stuff faux leather shoes with newspaper cut into small pieces. When you put the paper inside the shoe, make sure that the product does not lose its shape.

Pieces of newspaper soaked in water and placed inside shoes will swell and stretch the shoes, both in length and in width. Then dry naturally.

Breaking in suede shoes

Suede is an elastic and soft material. It takes the form of a leg. To break in suede shoes, put on wet socks and walk around in them for a bit.

Just be careful. Suede is afraid of water. Try not to get on the outside of the product, so as not to spoil the attractive appearance of the product.

A wonderful tool for breaking in is beer, which should be poured inside the shoe. Put on thick woolen socks and wear shoes for several hours.

How to break patent leather tight shoes

Patent shoes also break in. But this is much more difficult to do than to break in leather shoes. You can increase the size of patent leather shoes only in width if the leather is soft and thin under varnish.

To break patent leather shoes, soak woolen socks with vodka and wear the shoes until they are dry. You can use alcohol by diluting it with water: a third of alcohol, two thirds of water. Vodka and alcohol are safe for patent leather shoes.

When wearing patent leather shoes, treat them delicately, because they are very fragile, and if handled carelessly, they can crack and lose their luster.

You can also stretch patent leather shoes with a hair dryer. Warm up the inside of the shoes to a high temperature, and then put on socks and put your feet in the shoes. Be careful not to overheat the shoes with a hair dryer, the varnish may stop shining. This procedure should be repeated from time to time.

Lacquer shoes can be smeared with a greasy cream or petroleum jelly, carefully treating the toe and heel, and then putting on the shoe. If there is no block, then put on a sock and wear shoes for 2 hours, moving around the room.

How to break in tight textile shoes?

You can use the agent with boiling water, which we have already mentioned. Socks should dry on the foot. You can fill shoes with wet paper so that it swells and stretches the shoes. Paper dries in shoes. Newspaper should not be used, because it can ruin the fabric, stain it.

We told you how to break in tight shoes. It is very difficult, sometimes impossible, to break shoes into sizes. Be careful when buying shoes, so that later you do not waste time and nerves on breaking in tight things.

It is better to shop in the afternoon, when the leg is a little swollen. When stretching, be careful with shoes, do not overdo it, so as not to tear it and break it more than it should be, and then do not suffer from loose shoes.

Do not forget to wash your shoes and grease them with cream. Dry it away from heating appliances. It is better to use shoe holders.

Careful care of shoes will allow you to wear them for a long time and enjoy such beautiful comfortable shoes, boots, sandals that already fit your foot exactly and match the size of your foot.

High-quality shoes that fit perfectly on the foot are rare to find. Even if everything was fine during the fitting in the store, at the very first “public appearance” it may turn out that the shoes are tight in the fingers or rub the heel. It happens that, having carried a new pair of shoes during the day, by the evening we want only one thing - to somehow hobble home and take it off as soon as possible. So each of us from time to time is faced with the question of how to break in shoes.

Everyone knows how hard it can be to choose the right pair of shoes, which then will not need to be broken in.

You can break in new shoes bought in size without much hassle. The main thing is not to go out in it immediately to the street and not to put on bare feet. First you need to give your feet and shoes a little "get used" to each other. Put on socks, put on a new pair and walk around the house in it for 0.5-1 hour for several days. Natural materials (leather, suede) quickly adapt to the shape of your feet, stretching in the right places.

A tempting price is one of the weighty arguments for a purchase, but won't you have to think about how to break in your shoes later?

It is important to understand that shoes that are too small in length or very tight in the width of the foot can stretch (without any special deformations and damage to the appearance) by no more than half a size.

Before you decide to go out into the street in new shoes, do a few simple manipulations:

  • grease hard backs with wet soap or a wax candle;
  • on the inner surfaces trimmed with leather, apply a little castor oil;
  • bring a band-aid and a spare pair of your usual comfortable shoes.

Apply the patch in advance in places where the skin of the legs is most likely to be damaged.

To break in shoes that are tight, sometimes you have to resort to additional measures to ease the uncomfortable wearing in and speed up the stretching process.

Basic methods for breaking shoes at home

All the proposed methods are designed to shift the long and painful efforts of breaking in shoes from your feet to improvised means. It should be noted that they are effective for shoes made from natural materials; artificial give in to stretching much worse.

If possible, purchase special stretching products: spray, foam, cream, which are produced by many manufacturers of shoe cosmetics.

wet newspaper

Crumpled pieces of newspaper should be lightly moistened with water, tightly stuffed with shoes and left to dry completely at room temperature.

The drying process can take several days, but do not try to speed it up with heating or heating devices, so as not to spoil the appearance of the shoes.

Wet socks can be an alternative to wet newspapers. Put them on, over shoes and walk around the house in them until the socks are dry.

Wet newspapers will soften the leather or suede, and in the process of drying, the shoes will stretch first of all in width.

Alcohol, vodka, cologne

You can use ordinary (without additives) vodka, an alcohol solution (in a 1: 1 ratio with water) or cologne. They are advised to spray from a spray bottle, moisten a cotton swab and wipe the inner surface, or even soak socks in them and put on shoes. Walking in treated shoes is required until completely dry, and if you have no time, then after moistening with alcohol liquids, stuff the shoes with dry crumpled newspapers or paper.

Use alcohol to soften shoes with caution, it can lead to loss of shine and gloss, cracking of the outer coating

beer and vinegar

To break shoes made of suede or fabric, beer or a solution of vinegar at the rate of 100 ml of table (9%) vinegar per 250 ml (glass) of water is more suitable. They moisten the inner surfaces or socks (on which they then put on shoes and walk until everything dries out). For a more pronounced effect, the “alcohol wear” procedure can be carried out for several days in a row.

Boiling water, hair dryer and ice

These methods are based on the immutable laws of physics: all bodies expand when heated, and water expands when it freezes. The laws of nature can be put into practice in order to break shoes.

After using boiling water, shoes must be immediately put on thick socks until they have cooled down.

Shoes should be washed fairly quickly. boiling water from the inside or hold it over boiling water to warm it up with steam. Then you need to put it on dry, thick socks and walk around until it cools down and dries. To break in new shoes “without your participation”, soak a towel in boiling water, wring it out and wrap the new thing in it for several hours. Some advise wrapping the shipping carton with a hot, wet towel without removing the shoes.

More gentle heating will provide hair dryer: a stream of air is directed for a short time to shoes worn on the feet over tight socks. After heating, do not take off your shoes immediately, you need to wait for the shoes to cool completely. To protect against overdrying after heat treatments, it is imperative to lubricate all surfaces (outside and inside) with a special conditioner, shoe cream, petroleum jelly, glycerin or castor oil.

Ice- although effective, but rather controversial option. After such “temperature jumps”, the surface of the shoe may crack, and the seams may burst. However, if you're willing to take the risk of breaking in your shoes quickly, you'll want to clear out some space in your freezer first.

The technology is as follows: fill two plastic bags with water (about a quarter of the volume), tie it tightly and immerse it in each shoe or boot. Put them in the freezer until the water is completely frozen. After taking out, wait until the ice has thawed so that the bags can be carefully pulled out of the shoes without effort. This method is not recommended for thin leather shoes, varnished shoes, high boots (especially with fur).

Poor-quality shoes (for example, made of synthetic materials) are unlikely to retain their appearance after freezing

Groats (cowboy recipe)

A proven tool to spread leather shoes, in particular tight tops of boots, is any cereal that has the ability to swell from water and increase in volume.

In rough tight shoes, you can simply fill up any cereal and fill it with water. To break shoes made of delicate leather or suede, it is better to place cereal with water in a bag and tie it tightly, leaving free space in it. Bags with grits are placed inside the shoe (if you want to stretch the last in length and width) or left directly in the bootleg. To stretch the tops, it is better to lay the boots horizontally, after fastening all the zippers and hooks. In cases with lace-up boots or boots, do not tighten the tops tightly.

The grain is left to swell for 8-10 hours (overnight). During this time, it increases significantly in volume and stretches your shoes from the inside. After "grain stretching", boots or boots need to be put on and worn for a while so that they take the correct shape for your leg.

By using croup, you will avoid wasting time on a long break-in and injuring your legs.

The greatest discomfort and the likelihood of injuring the legs occur in places of contact and constant friction along the upper edge of the backs and side parts, hard seams, sharp toes, narrow straps.

Breaking shoes in neatly takes time and a lot of patience.

Problem areas on smooth leather shoes are recommended to be softened with alcohol solutions or fatty oils (castor oil, glycerin, petroleum jelly). Melted hot wax can be applied to them by dripping it directly from a burning candle. When the wax hardens, it is not necessary to remove it immediately: for the best effect, leave it overnight or for a whole day.

Rigid seams can be mechanically softened by tapping them hard but carefully with a wooden mallet (with a smooth surface). First, you should put shoes on a wooden block or insert something solid inside it to ensure a snug fit of the seam.

In order not to find yourself in a similar situation, carefully choose shoes in the store, and also pre-break in a rubbing pair

Uncomfortable shoes lead to serious problems - from calluses and corns to foot deformity. In addition, she greatly spoils the mood and makes it difficult to feel like a queen with a "gait from the hip." Take into account one more piece of advice: so that later you don’t have to think about how to break in shoes, it’s better to buy them in the afternoon, and not in the morning, and be sure to measure them on both feet. Don't skimp on good shoes, they are worth it!

Video

We offer you to watch a video on the topic of the article:

An expert in the field of housekeeping and a master of culinary masterpieces (according to relatives and friends). She got used to relying on common sense, worldly experience and female intuition.

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Greetings, my dears!

We girls have our weaknesses. One of them may be the desire to be beautiful no matter what. Does it happen to you that you bought some beautiful dress, for which it’s good to lose a couple of kg, but you can’t refuse it and carry a pleasant purchase home? Assuring yourself that for him you will go on a diet right from tomorrow. Well, well, it’s good if you really lose the excess and shine in this outfit, otherwise it often happens that the thing remains untouched in the wardrobe.

The same thing happens with shoes. I have a friend whose weakness is shoe making. If she sees something interesting in a shoe store, then holding her at least seven will not help! Buy what you need and don't need. And if the desired shoes are still sold at a tempting discount, then everything is clear, she definitely will not pass by them.

This is true for many of us, some to a greater extent, some to a lesser extent. And just in such a fervor of consumer excitement, it is easy to grab a “slightly not your own” pair.

You come home and find that the shoes are rubbing! There is good news! This matter is often quite fixable, unless, of course, you bought 36 for your 39. And just today we will discuss, if shoes are too tight, how to stretch them? I will tell you all the secrets that I know myself, and that that friend shared!

How to break in shoes if they are too tight? There are several methods, let's look at them based on the material.

  • We pull the skin.

Genuine leather is perhaps the best material for shoes. Beautiful, soft, easy to fit on the leg products. And stretching such shoes is not difficult, even at home. You can easily add about half a size. Just soak leather shoes and wear them indoors for a while.

Please, just do not soak the shoes and do not water them with a spray bottle - this may damage the paint or the insole, and the product itself may “lead”.

A good way: take not very thick socks, moisten them with vodka or diluted 2 to 1 with alcohol. Put on those wet socks and put on your shoes. Walk around the house for several hours. Dry the couple afterwards.

If the result did not suit you very much, then simply repeat the procedure, but with less alcohol, i.e. make a vodka solution.

Attention! Shoes can not be wiped with alcohol on top!

You can also use water, but to achieve the best effect, the temperature of the liquid, which we also wet the sock with, should be high, i.e. the most tolerant. You can even first scald the product from the inside with boiling water. Or blow them from the inside with a hairdryer on a hot air setting. Well, then put on socks. Be careful and don't get burned!

A good result can be achieved with the help of vinegar. Wipe the inside of the product with a 3% solution and wear it for a while. Should help!

  • And what about suede?

Consider now what to do with suede shoes if it rubs. In general, this material is perfectly worn in by itself, just walk around for a couple of days, and the shoes will calmly sit on the leg. But if you need to quickly increase their size, then choose the same "vodka" method that is offered for leather products.

Do not use water for these purposes, so that the product does not shed and become covered with stains!

Tip: take a thin sock for wearing in, otherwise suede shoes can become too big and then hang on your foot.

If the shoes are very tight, then it is best to use a special foam stretcher for suede. It is sprayed only inside the product, on those places that rub the most, after which the shoes also need to be worn with socks.

Important: do not use greasy products for suede, because. they leave streaks and spoil the material!

  • Even the varnish will give in!

Perhaps this is the most difficult material to wear in. Firstly, such shoes are hard and in themselves are difficult to deform, and secondly, if you overdo it with the means, the varnish may crack. When deciding to buy such products, choose a pair that is suitable in length and where the fingers are definitely free.

If you still have to stretch new patent leather shoes, then fat comes to the rescue. What to do: Take castor oil, petroleum jelly or glycerin, lubricate the shoes both inside and out and wear them on the toe. The material will soften and the product will be able to stretch.

  • Leatherette, fabric and oilcloth - what to do with them?

Frankly, shoes made of such material are almost impossible to break. The fact is that inexpensive artificial materials simply do not withstand deformation and burst. Of course, you can try to stretch these shoes with water, but the risk is too great that the color will fade and stains will remain. It is best to use the "freeze" method, but more on that below.

Perhaps these are the main ways of wearing, but this is not the whole list. How are you doing? Tell me in the comments how else you can increase the size?

Contactless methods

Above, I talked about how you can quickly break in shoes on your own, but there are also methods to stretch shoes without wearing wet or alcohol-infused socks.

  1. Steaming.

Hold the shoes over the steam, and then put wads of newspaper inside. Lay them as tightly and as much as possible, but try not to break the shape. Then we leave the shoes to dry in a dry place (but in no case near the battery!) For about a day.

The disadvantage of this method is that there is a risk of divorce. And also, it is likely that after some time the product will dry out and begin to reap even more.

  1. Freezing.

A rather unusual, but effective way to expand shoes. Pour water into plastic bags (preferably with a special fastener) and insert them into the socks of the shoes. We put this pair in the freezer for a day. Freezing, the water will begin to expand and put pressure on the walls of the shoe, thereby stretching it. After the allotted time, we take out a pair, remove the bags and let the shoes “come to their senses” in a dry place.

Partial wear

It often happens that the product fits well along the length, and it is comfortable for the fingers, but it presses the back. How to deal with it:

  • Rub the back of your shoe with paraffin wax. Within a day you will be able to forget about this problem.
  • Loosen the butt with a hammer. Tap this area very gently to make it soft.

Before buying a new pair, it is worth remembering that it is impossible to spread:

  • Shoes for 2 or more sizes.
  • If the shoes are tight in the edging seam.
  • Products from some artificial materials.

How can a shoemaker help?

There is another way. Almost every shoe shop has a shoe stretching service. Everything happens simply, you say how much you need to increase, expand your shoes. Then the master looks at both the material and its quality, and if everything is real, then he puts them on special pieces. After a day or two, you pick them up and get the desired size.

For some this method works, for others it doesn't. I have used this service a couple of times but have not been satisfied. In the first case, my shoes were overstretched, and in the second, I didn’t feel any changes at all, and I still had to use my grandmother’s way of stretching (on thick socks).

When buying new shoes, it is best to close your eyes and listen to your feelings - are you comfortable enough in length, width and instep. The product simply must be comfortable, otherwise it can significantly worsen not only mood, but also health.

Wear only the right shoes and don't forget to share your ways in the comments on how to quickly put a shoe on the leg!

See you soon on my blog,

Anastasia Smolinets

Tight shoes are not only ugly, but also very dangerous for health. A crooked gait and a stooped back are the least that can happen to a person who wears small shoes. In a tightly clamped leg, blood circulation is disturbed, resulting in varicose veins and thrombosis. Therefore, it is very important that shoes match the size of the foot. But there are situations when in the store a couple sat down like a glove, but at home the shoes do not fit or squeeze the legs very hard. What to do in this case? How to break in shoes that are too tight?

If the product was purchased recently, the buyer has the right to return the unsuitable product within 14 days. But there are situations when you really like the product or the return period has expired. Then you have to make sacrifices and break in narrow shoes at home using different methods.

It is worth trying to expand the pair in the following cases:

  1. The shoes are small, but there is no suitable size in the store.
  2. The width corresponds to the width of the foot, and the length of the shoe is a bit short and pinches the toes.
  3. Optimal length, but too narrow shoe width.
  4. The couple becomes small at the end of the day.
  5. After getting wet and drying, the shoes became very tight.

In order to quickly stretch the shoes at home, you need to follow these recommendations:

  • wear a new pair for a short time. A couple of hours daily will be enough. A radical measure - wearing shoes without taking off for several hours a day will only harm the foot and shoes;
  • use a bactericidal patch, applying it to the places of the greatest rubbing of the skin;
  • softening the back is the most common cause of calluses. This can be done with a piece of dry soap or paraffin wax from a candle;
  • as a preventive measure for rubbing the legs, use castor oil, which is applied with a cotton pad to the back of the shoe;
  • if home remedies don't work, you can always purchase specialized foams, sprays, and other liquids and creams that stretch your shoes.

It is advisable to follow all the recommendations immediately after buying a new pair of shoes.

Unfortunately, sometimes the above actions are not enough. If the shoes are significantly small, then the methods should be more efficient and effective.

General options for any material quality

There are methods to help stretch shoes that will work with any material. They are versatile in their action and will stretch shoes made of leather, suede or patent leather.

Freeze

It is contraindicated only for patent leather shoes and summer sandals, where there are a lot of jewelry with rhinestones. To carry it out, you need: a freezer, water, a good tight bag. You need to act as follows:

  • pour water into the bag in such an amount that it fits inside the shoe in cellophane. The package should fill those places where the shoes press the most;
  • The bag must not be water-tight. Moisture that has fallen on the inner surface of the shoes when they are frozen can be detrimental to the shoes;
  • put shoes filled with water bags in the freezer compartment for 6-8 hours. When freezing, the water will expand, respectively, the shoes will stretch;
  • after the specified time, remove the steam from the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature.

Important! It is forbidden to use hot air streams from a hair dryer or fan, as well as place shoes near radiators and electric heaters.

Woolen or terry socks

An easy way to break in shoes if they are tight and chafed. You need to try on new shoes, walk around in them for a while, in order to understand in which specific places it presses the most. Wear socks made of thick terry cloth or wool. In places of strong friction, you can put additional stretch marks in the form of helium inserts, silicone pads or ordinary rag napkins. Put on shoes, walk in them without taking them off for 1.5-2 hours. Don't try too hard to widen your shoes. Otherwise, it will begin to fall off the leg and look ugly.

professional ways

In addition to the aforementioned folk methods, there are also specialized professional methods that solve the problem of how to break in new shoes. You can visit the workshop. There, experts in their field will very quickly stretch the shoes, expand them in those places where necessary, without prejudice to the pair.

You can also not spend money on the services of specialists, but try to increase the inner surface of the shoes at home on your own, using special shoe cosmetics in the form of foams, gels, sprays, etc. How to act in such a case?

  1. Buy the necessary funds. For example, stretch foam.
  2. Distribute the light white mass inside the product, paying particular attention to the places of greatest pressure.
  3. Put on socks on your feet and put on treated shoes. Wear a pair until the foam is completely dry.

The main thing in such a thing as expanding shoes is not to overdo it. You can not pull the shoes with your hands, applying maximum effort, use too hot water, as well as creams and other products of unknown origin.

In addition to the universal methods mentioned above, there are methods that are only suitable for a certain type of product. So, stretching leather shoes may be contraindicated for a suede pair and vice versa. How to quickly break in shoes depending on the type of material used?

Leather

Its benefits are no secret to anyone. In addition to the breathable surface, leather shoes do not retain moisture, thereby preventing the appearance of fungus and unpleasant odors. But leather shoes sometimes have to be paced and widened. Here are a few simple ways to help you:

  1. wet stretch. It is necessary to take a large towel made of terry cloth, moisten it with plenty of water and wring it out thoroughly. Wrap a cardboard box with a pair of shoes that require expansion in several layers with a wet towel and leave it like that all night. Abundant moisture will soften not only the paper on the box, but also the shoes, which will be put on and vilified for two to three hours. To prevent re-compression of the pair, shoes should be stuffed with old newspapers after each use.
  2. Boiling water. Heat the water on the stove until it starts to boil. Pour a small amount of hot liquid into each product for 2-3 minutes, then drain the water. Put on shoes, vilify for a couple of hours. You can use thick socks, they will expand the pair more.
  3. Alcohol-containing products. In this case, both alcohol in its pure form and vodka or cologne are used. Soak a cotton pad in liquid, wipe the inside of the shoe with it. Put on shoes with warm socks, walk around the house for several hours.
  4. Glycerol. They are smeared with the inner surface of the shoe, after which they are applied to the smeared places soaked in warm water and wrung out cloth napkins. In this form, leave the shoes for 6-8 hours, and then vilify, as in the previous methods, until the necessary stretching.
  5. A more gentle, but long method - old newspapers or blotting paper wetted with water. They are placed inside the shoes, tightly stuffing every millimeter of the pair and left to dry completely. Then they take out the paper and get shoes that have become one size larger.

It is forbidden to speed up the drying process with heaters or a hair dryer.

Faux leather

Shoes made of such material, in addition to poor physical characteristics in terms of poor breathability, non-natural material also have another significant drawback - they are very difficult to stretch if necessary. However, there are a few proven methods to help remedy the situation:

  1. shoe cream. They lubricate the outer side of the pair. Then the shoes are put on thick socks and worn without taking off for several hours. For better stretching of the material, the inside of the shoes can be treated with cologne or alcohol.
  2. If the strength of the pair is beyond doubt, then you can wear wet thick socks on which to put on shoes, wear them for several hours.

Suede shoes

This material never goes out of trend. But breaking in such shoes requires a careful approach, as the risk of ruining a pair increases. The following methods will help here:

  1. A layer of socks and hot air. You need to put on a few thin socks on your foot, put on a shoe and warm it up with air from a hair dryer, holding the hot streams in the folds. If it works, then you need to move your toes and all feet. 10 minutes after the start of "warming up", remove the hair dryer, vilify the product for several minutes around the room. After that, repeat the drying procedure with a hairdryer.
  2. Beer- a definitely unusual component for such an activity as expanding shoes, but no less effective for this. Moisten cotton pads in an intoxicating drink and wipe the inner surface of the product, stopping in those places where the fingers and skin experience the greatest pressure. Wear a pair in socks for several hours.

The elastic structure of the suede material can stretch out if overworked and the shoes become ugly.

Patent shoes

Shoes made of such material, despite the external beauty, have increased rigidity. Walking in a pair that is tight will be very painful, so measures should be taken before injury to the skin of the feet occurs.

It is important to understand that the risk of damaging patent shoes is very high, so stretching methods should be used with extreme caution:

  1. Castor oil or any other fatty substance (Vaseline, baby cream). Apply the product to the inside of the shoe with a cotton pad. You can also process the outside of the product. Leave the shoes like this for several hours. Put on thick socks, put on shoes, walk for 10-15 minutes. This time is enough to notice a positive result.
  2. Alcohol-containing products. They are applied to the inner surface of the shoe, which is then put on a warm sock and worn without taking off for several hours.

If the first time you fail to expand the shoes, do not get upset and give up. Perhaps the product requires a different approach or repetition of the same method.