How to Stretch Leather Shoes at Home

Tap to Read ➤ So your new leather shoes are giving you shoe bites? One way to make them comfortable is to stretch those shoes, and keep reading to know how you can do that. Tulika Nair

Sometimes you walk into a shoe shop, pick out shoes that fit well, only to realize later, that when you wear them for long periods of time they hurt you, because they are just too tight.

The only thing that you get out of wearing the shoes are blisters that hurt like crazy. What do you do in such a situation? One option that you have is stretching leather shoes. This will ensure that your shoes become comfortable to wear. Here are the different ways in which you can stretch footwear made of leather.

Use the Freezer

Avoid using this method for shoes that are expensive. Fill a plastic bag with water and seal it. Ensure that the level of water is about one third of the volume of the bag. Make two such bags and place one bag in each of the shoes.

Now keep the shoes inside the freezer, leaving them inside for as long as it takes for the water to freeze or overnight. Once the water turns to ice, it will expand your shoes. Remove the shoes from the freezer and let them thaw for about half and hour. Try the shoes on and if they are still tight, repeat the procedure.

Use Rubbing Alcohol

Using rubbing alcohol to make a shoe stretcher at home is a great DIY method. Make a solution that consists of 50% of rubbing alcohol and 50% of water.

Spray this solution on the inside of each shoe and then wear it for twenty minutes or so. This will help in stretching your shoes. You could also simply rub the solution on those parts of the shoe that you think need to be stretched so that they allow you a comfortable fit.

Use Socks and Heat

All you need to do is to wear a pair of socks that are made of some sort of thick material and then squeeze your feet into your shoes. Now use a hair dryer to heat the area of the shoes that is tight for you.

Ensure that you keep bending your feet back and forth while doing this. Allow the shoes to cool before you try them on without socks or stockings. Repeat the process again if you feel that the shoes need to be stretched further.

Use Damp Newspapers

Using damp newspapers which have been scrunched up together and stuffed into your shoes is another good way of stretching your shoes. While stuffing in the paper, do not allow the shape of the shoe to be distorted. If you get the feeling that the shoes seem misshapen, then remove the excess paper inside.

Allow the newspaper to sit inside and leave them in an area where they can dry naturally. Once the shoes are dry, remove the newspaper and try the shoes on. They should have stretched sufficiently in order for you to wear them.

These are the easiest methods that you can use to stretch your shoes. You can avoid this tedious process by just buying the right fit of shoes. It is advisable to always buy shoes at the end of the day for the best fit ever.

Always try on both pairs of shoes as both your feet may not necessarily be the same size. Also when you are buying the shoes, walk around in them, in the store, to check that they are comfortable. Avoid buying shoes that do not fit well.