How to stretch shoes with alcohol at home. How to best stretch new tight leather shoes at home in width and length at least one size larger

The shape of the leg varies among people. Experts say that even in the same person, the left leg is slightly different from the right. Therefore, there is no last that can be used to make a pair of shoes that will fit perfectly on every person’s foot.

In this regard, almost every one of us from time to time is faced with the fact that new shoes or boots press and squeeze, causing serious inconvenience.

Constant fatigue, calluses and corns accompany wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes. However, is it worth enduring pain and discomfort if the shoes can be stretched? Professional and traditional methods.

The easiest and most reliable way to give a pair of shoes the most comfortable shape is to have them stretched at a shoe studio.

Many workshops today have equipment that allows you to stretch shoes in width in the foot or in the boot, including locally, which is required if a person has bulging areas on the foot. Moreover, even an uncomfortable rise can be corrected.

The only thing that the workshop will not undertake is stretching the shoes lengthwise, since in this case the size is determined by the fastening seams. You can only increase the width of the shoes or stretch the heel.

A shoe stretcher uses special equipment, including a set of lasts that are adjustable in width using screws and have the ability to attach small attachments to them that imitate bulges in a particular area of the foot. For this reason, the result lives up to expectations, and the shoes themselves do not deteriorate, even if they are made of thin leather.

If for some reason you do not have the opportunity to take your shoes to a workshop to correct their size, then you can try to make them more comfortable yourself.

Thus, you can order lasts via the Internet similar to those used in workshops, and purchase sprays or foams at a shoe store that are specially designed for fitting shoes to your feet.

BAMA (Germany).

The spray can be used to stretch any materials, including synthetic ones. A bottle with a capacity of 75 ml costs around 500 rubles.

Oke is a shoe stretcher from the French brand SAPFIR.

Gives elasticity to all types of leather, makes them soft, thereby making it easier to wear shoes and fit them to your feet. The price depends on the volume of the bottle. The 150 ml one will be more profitable, since it costs only one and a half times more than the 50 ml one. This is approximately 650 rubles.

Stretch from COLLONIL (Germany).

The aerosol is intended for stretching leather shoes. The manufacturer promises the absence of such negative 550 rubles.

Shoe Stretch from SOLITAIRE (Germany).

A 50 ml bottle costs from 450 rubles. Only suitable for products made from genuine leather. It acts gently, so it won’t even damage dress shoes.

Stretch NIKI LINE (Germany).

A quality product at a relatively low price - 450 rubles per 100 ml. Suitable for any type of skin, after its use there are no stains or streaks. True, it is not always available in the domestic retail chain.

TAMARIS 4EVER SUITABLE SHOES SHOE STRETCH (Germany).

The spray softens the skin and supports its ability to stretch under the influence of the heat emanating from the foot. Available in spray form. A 75 ml bottle costs about 600 rubles.

Duke Stretch (Germany).

The foam is suitable for stretching shoes made of regular leather, as well as suede and patent leather. The bottle contains instructions on how to use the product in each specific case, so as not to spoil your shoes or boots. For a bottle with a capacity of 100 ml you will have to pay relatively little - about 400 rubles.

SHOE STRETCH SALAMANDER Professional (Germany).

One of the cheapest stretching agents on the domestic shoe market: a 125-ml bottle costs no more than 400 rubles, and you can find it even cheaper. With its help, you can easily stretch shoes made of any type of leather.

TARRSGO Shoe Stretch (Spain).

Suitable for different types leather, but when stretching patent leather shoes requires special precautions and the use of additional means to soften the varnish layer. It is cheaper than other imported stretchers: an aerosol bottle with a capacity of 100 ml can be purchased for 250-300 rubles.

COMPLEX COMFORT SALTON Professional (Russia).

The manufacturer warns of the risk of discolouration of the skin and damage to the varnish coating. However, the price of the product is attractive: 250 rubles for a 100-ml bottle.

Stretching foam TWIST Fashion (Russia).

Not suitable for patent leather, but can be used for other types of leather without the risk of damaging shoes. The cheapest stretching product: a 100 ml bottle costs about 230 rubles.

When using any product from the list presented, it is not at all necessary to use a special pad. They are designed not only for stretching, but also for softer and more comfortable wearing of tight shoes.

Traditional methods of stretching shoes at home

If you don't want to spend money on purchasing special professional means or the services of a master in a shoe studio, you can try stretching your shoes at home using folk remedies that have been proven for more than one generation.

frozen water

All you need are thick bags, water and a working freezer. You need to pour water into the bags without filling them completely. Then they should be tied tightly to prevent water from spilling out. After this, bags of water are placed in the shoes and take their shape. All that remains is to put the pair of shoes in the freezer overnight.

Ice takes up more space than water and will put pressure on the inside of your shoes. When you take your shoes out of the freezer, you should wait until the ice thaws slightly and then remove the bags.

This method should not be used for fragile shoes made of thin leather - ice can tear them. Patent leather shoes will crack from frost, so this method is definitely not for them.

Socks will help increase the width of your shoes

There are two options for wearing shoes using socks. One of them is called the army one, since it is quite painful and is suitable only for strong in spirit: He suggests putting on boots or shoes with wet socks until the shoes wear out.

The second method is more gentle, but also harsh. It involves wearing tight shoes at home with thick woolen socks. But the shoes suffer minimally when worn in, and the chances that they will fit exactly on your feet are quite high.

Hot method: hair dryer

Uncomfortable shoes are put on socks, strongly bent at the soles and blown with hot air from a hairdryer, after which it is recommended to walk a little without taking off your shoes. If necessary, the procedure is repeated many times, increasing the thickness of the socks.

Oils for skin

Castor oil and petroleum jelly act in much the same way as professional stretchers - they soften the skin. If you lubricate your shoes from the inside (or even the outside, if the material allows this), and then try to break them in, the result will be obvious.

Instead of castor oil, you can use any other oil, although it is believed that it softens the skin better than others. But not everyone likes the smell of castor oil; this should also be taken into account.

Alcohol and vinegar to increase size

Treating the inside of boots with cologne often gives the same effect as using professional aerosols. You can also apply alcohol to cotton pad and moisten problem areas.

Vinegar should also be applied locally and more carefully, as it is a more aggressive agent. You can achieve even better results if you wear your shoes on socks soaked in alcohol.

Paraffin

They rub it on exactly those areas where the shoes press the most. If you do this every time before putting on uncomfortable shoes, the result will not be long in coming.

Boiling water

Leather and a number of other materials under the influence high temperatures soften and become elastic. In order for the shoes to fit exactly on your feet, you should fill them with boiling water, wait 5-10 minutes, pour out the boiling water, put on a pair of shoes treated with boiling water and put your feet in cold water.

If you do without contrasting “baths”, the shoes may stretch too much.

Potatoes to the rescue

First, select a potato whose length matches the width of your foot where the shoe is narrow, or slightly exceeds it. Peel the potato and insert it into the shoe as a spacer. By morning, the boots should be much looser in the right place.

Newspapers will get rid of a close couple

Crumpled newspapers are moistened with water and the shoes are stuffed with them as tightly as possible. Leave it overnight. In the morning, remove the newspapers, remove excess moisture and try on shoes. If it is stretched too little, the procedure should be damaged. This method is not suitable for dress shoes, since its main negative side effect is that the shoes are slightly deformed.

Corn

This method is called the cowboy method, because, according to legend, cowboys used it to stretch their boots. In order to stretch shoes using this method, you should pour grain into it and then pour water on it. Overnight, the grains will swell and stretch the skin. For non-leather products, the method is considered ineffective.

Each method has supporters and opponents. Considering that folk remedies Shoe stretching is more than economical; you can try several options if the first of the chosen methods did not help achieve the intended goal.

It is necessary to understand that shoes made of artificial leather and fabric are almost impossible to stretch, since these materials do not have sufficient elasticity. It will not be possible to stretch the shoes in length, and it is unlikely that it will be possible to adjust the width by more than half a size at home.

How to stretch patent leather, suede, rubber shoes: an individual approach

The choice of method for stretching shoes at home should depend on the material from which the pair of shoes is made.

Dress shoes can only be worn in at home.

It is permissible to do this with socks, alcohol or Vaseline, which will make the process easier. It’s even better to use professional sprays to fit your shoes to your feet or take your shoes to a shoe repair shop for stretching.

Patent leather shoes also require a careful approach.

Even if you use professional stretching products, treat the varnish with softening agents to prevent it from cracking.

Breaking in patent leather shoes is usually not easy; you should not expect that without the help of a specialist you will be able to increase their size by more than a millimeter. And a shoemaker is unlikely to take the job if your patent leather shoes are too narrow.

If you have the opportunity to exchange or return to the store a new pair of patent leather shoes that do not fit you in size, it is better to choose this option.

Shoes made of velor, suede and nubuck will be easy to wear.

This material, like leather, stretches well when exposed to heat. The main thing is not to apply oils, alcohol and other stretching agents on top, so as not to spoil appearance shoes It is also better not to use methods of breaking in and stretching that involve the use of water.

Shoes made of kazhzam and other artificial materials “under the skin” are less amenable to correction than those made of genuine leather, since they do not have such elasticity.

To fit the leg, fairly harsh mechanical stretching methods are used using wet newspapers, ice, hot water, and warm air. You can try treating the material in problem areas with alcohol or laundry soap, as well as professional products for stretching leather shoes.

Sports shoes are often deliberately purchased in a slightly smaller size than a comfortable one.

It is expected that it will quickly spread and sit on the leg, and if you purchase it loose, it may begin to dangle, creating discomfort. However, in reality it often turns out that breaking in the sneakers was unsuccessful. In this case, the shoes have to be stretched. The choice of method will depend on whether you have leather sport shoes or not.

In the first case, you can try to stretch it with the help of alcohol, Vaseline or castor oil, special professional products, spread it by wearing thick socks and blowing it with hot air.

If the sports shoes are made of artificial materials, then you can try to influence them mechanically: ice, potatoes, newspapers soaked in water, swollen cereals.

Keep in mind that athletic shoes may be made from artificial materials that do not stretch at all. So it’s still better to immediately buy it in the right size.

Rubber shoes, if they are made of rubber, cannot be stretched: they will return to their original shape.

However, today rubber boots are often made from PVC, which softens at 70 degrees. Such “rubber” boots can be easily stretched using boiling water.

By choosing the appropriate method for stretching shoes, you not only increase the chances of successful completion of the operation, but also reduce the risk of shortening the service life of a pair of shoes by improper actions.

If you choose shoes by size, the question of how to stretch them will not arise before you. However, no one is immune from cases where new shoes press, squeeze, fit poorly on the foot and are uncomfortable. Luckily, there are many methods to stretch your shoes. The most reliable are professional methods, but not everyone can use them.

You can also stretch your shoes at home, although you should not set out to increase them by more than half a size. The choice of means and method of stretching a pair of shoes is of great importance. If you do right choice, the shoes will become more comfortable and will not be damaged.

Universal shoe stretching options

There are several ways to treat tight shoes that are suitable for products made from different materials(genuine leather, substitute, suede,). These stretching methods are also the safest for all possible models, except for fur-lined boots.

Special softening agents for shoes. They are applied with inside shoes specifically on problem areas. (If the shoes are made of genuine leather, then you can apply it on the outside as well). Immediately after treatment, shoes should be worn with tight socks until the desired areas dry and take the shape of the foot. This stretch variation can be repeated several times to achieve better results.

Stretching with castor oil is also a universal way to work on tight shoes. After treating with oil from the inside, you need to walk around in shoes for several hours. The oil softens problem areas, so the shoes acquire the exact shape of the foot. This method is inconvenient because after the procedure, shoes that are greasy from the inside must be thoroughly cleaned. You can replace the oil with an alcohol solution (one to one with water), cologne, and even kerosene. But this method is even more inconvenient, since the smell after treatment will persist for a long time.

If your shoes are too tight, traditional methods will also help. Wet old newspapers, tear them into pieces and press them firmly into the shoes. After this, set the shoes aside until the newspapers are dry. This usually takes about a day. Under no circumstances should you place your shoes to dry next to a radiator or heater, as this may make your shoes narrower!

Wet thick socks with water, put on boots that are too tight for you, and walk in them until the socks are dry.

You can wet your shoes with vodka or alcohol. Moreover, it is necessary to wet the shoes from the inside, otherwise alcohol can ruin the appearance. After this, you need to put on the shoes and walk in them for some time. If your shoes are suede or fabric, alcohol is contraindicated for them. But you can stretch these boots with beer.

WITH winter shoes you can do the following. Place a plastic bag in each shoe or boot and fill it with water. Tie the bag and put the shoes in the freezer. When the water freezes, it will expand and so will your shoes. Theoretically, this can be done with summer shoes, but it is unknown how such shoes will withstand sub-zero temperatures.

You can take shoes that are too small for you to a shoe repair shop. There they will stretch it for you using special equipment. However, keep in mind that not every workshop has the equipment necessary for this procedure.

Sources:

my shoes are pinching what to do

Wearing tight and narrow shoes causes a lot of inconvenience and pain. In order not to torture yourself while healing calluses, you can simply throw away your favorite ones and buy new ones, or you can spend a little time stretching them.

Instructions

Apply to shoes apply a thick layer of shoe polish and leave them for 15-20 minutes, then rub the cream with a brush. Put it on shoes and walk around in them for several hours. Reapply the cream and leave for 12-24 hours. The cream should match the color or be colorless. You can use shoe polish instead. This method is suitable if the shoes need to be broken in quite a bit.

A more radical method is to use alcohol. Carefully pour into shoes alcohol, put on socks and walk around in your shoes until the alcohol dries. Alcohol can burn the skin of your feet, so treat your feet with a rich cream. If you have suede shoes, then use beer instead of alcohol. Beer smell can be eliminated by ventilating shoes or pouring soda into them for 1-2 hours.

Pour into cellophane new bags of water and tie them tightly. Place the bags in your shoes, straightening them out carefully. Remove shoes into the freezer. When water freezes, it expands, and this property will help stretch your shoes. This method is not suitable for patent leather shoes, as extreme cold can cause the varnish to crack.

Stretch shoes possible using high temperature. Warm up your shoes and walk around in them for 30-60 minutes. You can heat it with a hairdryer, steam, or by wrapping your shoes in a cloth previously soaked in boiling water. This method is especially good for stretching shoes from fabric.

Helpful advice

There are special professional means that can be used to stretch shoes. Such products can be purchased at shoe stores.

If you were unable to stretch your shoes yourself, contact a shoemaker. There are special lasts in workshops that can be used to stretch your shoes to the desired size.

Wearing tight shoes can lead to the formation of calluses, so apply a patch to some areas of the foot in advance.

Sources:

breaking in new shoes in 2018

Beautiful and stylish faux leather shoes or boots are a truly desirable purchase. But the joy of purchasing a new thing is overshadowed by the discomfort that arises as soon as you put it on. If the desire arises faux leather so that it fits in size and does not cause inconvenience while walking, you can do this at home.

Instructions

Try using a special spray for artificial leather, which is sold in shoe and hardware stores. It will soften the surface of the shoe and help stretch it. Simply spray your newly purchased shoes or boots with the spray.

You can quickly and one of folk ways. For example, it is believed that alcohol treatment helps with this. Buy alcohol at the pharmacy or use cologne or vodka, spray your new shoes at home and walk around in them for a while until they dry completely. It is better to first put thick cotton socks on your feet. The convenience of this method of breaking in shoes is that you can apply alcohol to certain areas of artificial leather that cause you discomfort.

If you are still concerned about artificial shoes , you can use a very simple and proven method: tightly stuff your shoes with damp newspapers and leave until completely dry. Of course, this procedure should be repeated several times, but you will be able to stretch the shoes without having to put them on.

Use a hairdryer to stretch faux leather shoes. Turn it on high and point it at your shoes, heating them until they become warm and even a little hot to the touch. Now put it on your feet and walk around the house. Be careful not to overheat, as low-quality faux leather may crack or even melt.

Apply another well-known method that solves the problem of how stretch new shoes at home. It involves using water and a freezer. Fill the water into a suitable size plastic bag, put it in your shoes and place everything in the freezer. Remove the shoes when the water freezes in the bag. Using this method, it is not difficult to stretch suede shoes, but the leatherette may crack from low temperatures, so be extremely careful.

Video on the topic

Suede always exudes elegance and femininity. The annoyance when such beauty only causes pain and calluses for the owner cannot be expressed in words. But don't despair. , like other shoes made from natural materials, can be molded to the shape of the foot, broken in or stretched.

Instructions

Buy special foam for stretching shoes at a shoe store. The choice of such products is large, and you can choose an option that is suitable both in price and quality. Foam is applied liberally to the inner surface of the shoe and wets the suede. The shoes are ready to be worn in. There is no need to strive to achieve the desired result in one go. It is better not to persist and repeat the procedure within two to three days.

Use the services of a master from a shoe workshop. He will be able to stretch the shoes with the help of special lasts.

The most common method of stretching shoes at home is to soak them in some alcohol solution. For example, regular triple cologne, inexpensive vodka or alcohol diluted with water are perfect for these purposes. Shoes must be wiped with an alcohol solution both inside and outside. After this, you need to put on thick cotton socks and only then shoes treated with alcohol. You need to wear it for about 2 hours without removing it.

You can stretch the ill-fated shoes with boiling water, provided that they are made of genuine leather. The fact is that only natural materials are able to withstand the active influence of high temperatures on them. The treatment proceeds as follows: hot water must be poured into the shoes and then immediately poured out. Slightly cooled boots should be put on your feet and worn in for about 2 hours. As a result of this treatment, tight shoes will soften and expand, acquiring the desired size.

If you don’t have the time or desire to break in your shoes yourself, you can turn to a workshop for help. A specialist using special pads in short time will stretch it to the required size.

Another way to break in tight shoes is to stretch them using wet newspapers. This method is especially suitable for stretching rubber, rag and artificial products. To begin with, tight shoes need to be held over steam for several minutes, and then the inside should be filled with wet newspapers. At the end of the treatment, the shoes are left in this state until the paper in them is completely dry. After drying, the newspapers are removed as carefully as possible: you must try to maintain the resulting shape of the shoes.

To treat shoes made of smooth leather, a rich cream is used, Castor oil, kerosene, petroleum jelly, glycerin or vegetable oil. Any of the above lubricants is applied to the surface of shoes, boots, sneakers, as well as to their problem areas inside. After 2 hours, the treated shoes should be cleaned of ointment and put on your feet, having previously put thick socks on them. The principle of operation of this method is as follows: under the influence of fatty acids and substances, the material from which the shoes are made will become more elastic, which, in turn, will allow them to take the shape of the foot.

You can stretch your shoes at home by soaking them from the inside with a 3% solution of table vinegar. This method allows you to soften the product if it puts too much pressure on your toes.

One of the most popular ways to stretch shoes is to freeze them in the refrigerator. Low temperatures affect the material, expanding it: frozen shoes wear out much easier. However, this method applies only to demi-season and winter products designed for low temperatures. It is worth noting that all of the above advice assumes that you really have quality shoes! If boots, boots, shoes or sneakers are made of obscene material, then some of the tips can completely render them unusable!

A celebration is coming up, but you still don’t have the right pair of shoes to match your dress? If you have the desire and money, finding amazing shoes is not a problem. Fashionistas are often more concerned with the question of how to quickly break in new shoes in order to look amazing and not experience discomfort.

Products made from leatherette must be chosen exactly according to your foot, while when choosing products from genuine leather and suede, you need to take into account the property of leather and suede to stretch over time, so it’s not scary if the shoes are a little tight for you at first.

What to do if your shoes don't fit

If you nevertheless made a purchase and were wrong with the size, there are several ways to correct the situation even before the party:

You can wear a pair gradually, starting with walking around the apartment, and then increasing the distance and duration of the route.
You can go to a repair shop, where, using special tools, the master will give the shoes the desired size.
You can purchase a break-in solution. It is sold in all household chemical stores. Usually this is a spray or foam that is used to treat the inner surface. After treatment, these shoes are immediately put on and people walk around the apartment for a while. If the above methods are expensive, inconvenient and at the wrong time, then you can resort to traditional methods.

What to do if you need to quickly break in new shoes

Breaking in shoes using newspapers. The shoes are tightly filled with wet newspapers and left until completely dry. The only negative is the long wait for the newspaper and shoes to dry. It is not recommended to place it near an open heat source (radiator, fireplace, heater) for drying. This can ruin the leather on your shoes.
Breaking in shoes with vodka. Shoes, the inner surface of which is moistened with vodka or alcohol, are put on thick socks and walked around the apartment until completely dry. Since alcohol evaporates much faster than vodka, the process will not take much time.
If there is no alcohol or vodka, you can replace them with boiling water, however, before putting on your shoes, they should be allowed to cool a little.
Stretching shoes using water bags: You can use the expansion of water when freezing to do this. Bags are inserted into the shoes and filled with water. The main thing here is to observe the measure, otherwise the ice, expanding, will simply tear your shoes.

Sometimes I buy new shoes thinking they fit perfectly. But the first time I wear it, I realize with horror that it’s rubbing or pinching. So that this does not become a reason for returning, I want to tell you how to stretch your shoes at home in several proven ways.

Proven Methods

First you need to come to terms with the fact that you can only stretch your shoes in width. It is almost impossible to fight stubborn toes in the toe area. Most likely it's all about the seams or the wrong size. But if the shoes are tight on the sides, options for stretching them are possible.

Method 1. Army

The simplest and most proven method is the army method. What do we have to do:

Wet socks in warm water and squeeze until damp;
Then put wet socks on your feet., and on top of them are shoes that rub or squeeze;

Leave your shoes on for at least an hour, or even better, wait until they dry completely;
Then compact it inside several newspapers;

Swap wet newspapers for dry ones, as they get wet;
When the shoes are dry, try them on.

Method 2. Chemical

You can use a special store-bought product - shoe stretcher. Most often sold in the form of a spray or foam. It's easy to use - you just need to spray it inside your tight shoes and leave it on for a while. Then remove the remaining substance with a dry cloth and walk around in your shoes a little.

The only caveat is that you must do the test in an inconspicuous area. Due to exposure to chemicals, light-colored material may change color, so be careful.

Method 3. Hot

I'll tell you how to increase your shoe size using a hair dryer. It's simple:

We put on clean thick socks;
Then a pinched pair of shoes;
Gradually warm up problem areas with a hairdryer;
We take off our socks and try them on. If it becomes freer, good; if not, repeat the procedure from the beginning.

Do not turn on the hair dryer at maximum power; too hot air can damage the surface of the material from which the shoes are made.

Method 4. Ice

Image	Sequencing
	Step 1 Pour water into two bags and tie it tightly.
	Step 2 Place the bags in your shoes as shown in the photo. They should be as close to the nose as possible. At this stage, be sure to check that the packages are intact.
	Step 3 Place the resulting structure in the freezer for 5–10 hours.
	Step 4 Remove frozen shoes from the freezer and leave them in room temperature for 20–30 minutes.
	Step 5. Take out the bags and try on the shoes.

Method 5. Professional

Professional repair technicians know how to expand shoes without ruining them. Order a stretching service. Its price is reasonable, and the effect is very high.

Method 6. Cereals

There is also a more extravagant way to expand shoes with your own hands. For example, use oatmeal or bran.

We take a pair of shoes.
Cover it with oatmeal.
Fill the oatmeal with water.
After some time, the oatmeal will absorb moisture, swell and stretch the shoes a little.

Method 7. Socks

Probably the oldest and most proven method is the ordinary distribution of shoes. All you need to do is cover the “dangerous” places on your foot with a plaster, put on thick socks and keep your shoes on for 4-5 hours. At the same time, you need to constantly move so that the shoes take the desired shape and increase in size.

Results

With a 100% probability, at least one of the proposed methods will be able to increase the size of shoes at home. The video in this article will reveal the secrets of stretching clearly. If something is unclear, please ask in the comments.

Unfortunately, when trying on shoes in a store, you can’t always be sure that they will fit your feet perfectly. Very often, new shoes rub painful calluses, and it becomes simply impossible to wear them. In this case, you can try to stretch the shoes to make them more comfortable.

How to stretch shoes

Using professional products

Today in stores you can find a large number of professional products for stretching shoes. These are all kinds of sprays or foams that soften natural and artificial leather. Of course, it is best to use products from reputable companies such as Oke, Salamander, Kiwi and others. The products can be used to expand sneakers, ballet flats, pumps and other footwear at home.

To stretch narrow leather shoes with this spray, apply it to the problem area of the shoe according to the instructions on the package, put on terry socks and walk around in the shoes until completely dry. Usually such remedies act quite quickly, but if necessary, you can repeat the procedure. Stores also sell a special stretcher, which is a wooden block in the shape of a foot. If you have it, you will not need to wear shoes for a long time. Simply put it on the stretcher.

Stretching shoes using folk remedies

They will help to stretch too narrow shoes: - vinegar, - vodka, - alcohol solution. To prepare the latter, mix water and alcohol in equal proportions. Wipe the inside of the shoes with this liquid to make them damp. Products made of natural or artificial leather can also be wiped externally. Then walk around in your shoes for at least 4 hours, wearing a thick sock. Or fill it with damp, crumpled newspapers, being careful not to distort the shape, and leave them overnight.

Wet newspapers are best used for stretching dark-colored shoes. On light they can leave marks

Paraffin also stretches shoes quickly, although this method is not suitable for products made of fabric or rubber. Apply a paraffin candle to the inside of the boots and leave for 10–12 hours. Then carefully remove the paraffin using a dry cloth and walk around in your shoes for a while, wearing cotton socks.

You can also make your shoes more comfortable and increase them by one size using hot steam. To do this, boil water in a saucepan and hold the product over the steam for as long as possible. Then walk around in your shoes to let them break in. An alternative option is to wrap the shoes for 3 hours in a cloth soaked in boiling water and thoroughly wrung out.

Probably, many will agree that shoes should not only be beautiful, but also comfortable. However, quite often new shoes become not a decoration for the owner’s feet, but his “pain.”

Even a pair of shoes, shoes or boots that fit perfectly when trying them on in a store the next day can put a lot of pressure on your feet and leave calluses. Therefore, it is very important to know how to wear narrow shoes so that your new clothes do not gather dust on the shelf due to the inconvenience caused.

How to properly stretch shoes or boots?

Before you start breaking in your shoes, you should find out what kind of leather they are made of. The thing is that if the leather on the shoes or boots is not natural, it will be very difficult to stretch them, and in some cases, simply impossible.

Therefore, try to purchase shoes made from natural materials so that their size can be adjusted if necessary.

Using alcohol

Shoes made of genuine leather can be moistened with alcohol from the inside, then put on a thick sock and walk around the apartment for several hours. If your shoes or boots press very hard, you can stretch them in several approaches: put them on for 5-10 minutes, 3-5 times a day, so as not to hurt your feet.

Using boiling water

Shoes that squeeze your feet too much can be easily stretched at home using boiling water. To do this, you need to pour it into your shoes and wait until the water cools down. As soon as the water temperature approaches room temperature, you need to put on your shoes and walk around in them for a while. To prevent your feet from getting wet, you can put a plastic bag on top of the sock. After wearing this method, the shoes will quickly take the desired shape.

In a basin in water

If, for example, shoes need to be made a size larger, then you can simply put them in a basin of water for a day, and then start breaking them in. However, this can only be done with factory-made shoes, which are not only glued, but also stitched. In this case, boots or shoes of dubious manufacture may become unstuck.

How to stretch faux leather shoes?

Faux leather shoes should be stretched very carefully. For example, you can try to stretch them using a regular paraffin candle, thoroughly lubricating the inside of your shoes with it and leaving them like that for a day. Similar actions can also be done by first moistening the shoes with alcohol.

Also, leatherette boots can be increased by half a size if you wear them at home on a wet sock.

How to stretch tight suede shoes?

Using newspapers

Since suede shoes themselves require special care, the same requirements apply to their breaking in. If suede shoes cause some discomfort when wearing them, you can stretch them using newspapers.

To do this, you need to steam the shoes, then stuff them with damp newspapers and leave them for a day. At the same time, newspapers in shoes should fit tightly to each other, but not excessively. It is advisable to lay them according to the shape of your foot. Patent leather shoes can be stretched in the same way.

Using table vinegar

One more effective way postings suede shoes is to moisten it with vinegar. Before you start wearing the shoes, you should carefully moisten the inside with vinegar so that it does not bleed through, after which you can safely put them on. nylon sock and start breaking in.

You will learn several more ways to help you quickly and effectively stretch narrow shoes from the video.

How to stretch ballet shoes?

You can try stretching ballet flats in the same ways as other types of shoes. And you can use other, no less effective methods.

Shoe stretcher and hair dryer

You can stretch your new ballet shoes using a hairdryer and a special tool for “breaking in” shoes. To begin with, the shoes are heated with a hairdryer, after which a “stretcher” is applied. It should be noted that when purchasing a “stretcher,” you need to pay attention to its functions and what type of shoes it is intended for.

In the freezer

New ballet shoes can be stretched using ice. To do this, you need to put thick bags inside the shoes, fill them completely with water and tie the edges of the bags so that water cannot leak out of them. After such simple manipulations, the shoes can be safely sent to the freezer for a day.

In this case, ballet shoes stretch due to the properties of water (water molecules expand in the cold, thereby stretching the shoes).

Using shoe trees

Tight shoes can be broken in using special wooden or plastic lasts made in the shape of a foot, which are sold in shoe stores. All you need to do is put the lasts into a brand new pair of shoes and wait for them to stretch the shoes themselves. For additional effect, shoes can be pre-moistened with water.

How can you stretch your shoes?

In order to stretch boots or other shoes in length, you can use any of the above methods.

However, there are several other ways out of this situation:

shoe stretching can be entrusted to a specialist - such a service is available in many shoe workshops;
Shoe stores sell special aerosols for wearing shoes. As a rule, such products are affordable and quite effective in use if the shoes are tight in length.
You can ask someone you know to help carry shoes (whose legs are a little longer, but not wider).

If none of them helped you or is not suitable, you can resort to another option.

Stretching shoes in length using a trempel

You can effectively stretch your shoes in length using water and an old trempel. To do this, you need to completely immerse the shoes in water and wait 5-6 minutes, then cut the trempel so that it is slightly longer than the shoe itself and place it inside a new pair.

When wet, the shoes stretch a little, and at this moment a piece of plastic gives it the direction to increase its size. This way, the boots or shoes will become a little longer and stop pressing.

How to make narrow shoes wider?

Using cologne

To stretch narrow shoes, you can use one of the old methods, the essence of which is to lubricate the inner walls of the shoes with cologne and wear them in for 2-3 hours.

It is better to try this method in the evening, when the legs swell and increase in size, compared to the morning hours. At night, after breaking in, the shoes can be tightly stuffed with paper and newspapers. However, the main disadvantage should be taken into account this method: The smell of cologne is quickly absorbed and remains in the shoes for a long time.

Using castor oil

Castor oil can help stretch shoes wider by treating the shoes inside and out. After this you can start posting. After 3-4 hours, the oil should be removed from the surface of the shoe. This method is applicable for carrying shoes made of any material (except suede). Also, castor oil will help bring old, hard shoes back to life.

How to choose the right shoes?

In order not to rack your brains about how to stretch your shoes after purchasing, you need to know a few simple rules that will help you avoid further problems with new clothes.

Give preference to natural materials

It is better to give preference to factory-made shoes made from natural materials. As a rule, although it costs more, it also lasts longer. It is quite easy to stretch shoes made from natural materials without experiencing pain.

Choose shoes by size

You only need to buy shoes that fit in size. If a girl has complexes about big size feet, then she still shouldn’t take shoes a size smaller, since stretching shoes to size is quite difficult. It is better to choose a model that visually reduces the length of the leg (for example, with a round toe or wedge).

Shop in the evening

It is necessary to buy shoes in the evening, since most people's feet swell a little by the end of the day. If you buy new pair shoes in the morning, then the next day your swollen foot may not fit into them.