How to wear shoes that are too tight at home: 17 ways

Hello! Today I want to share simple tricks on how to stretch shoes in width and length. Feet can be rubbed not only by new leather shoes, but also suede, velor and nubuck can significantly damage the skin of the extremities. Even canvas and rag slippers sometimes chafe your feet.

Very often, having bought a pair of brand new shoes and worn them once, you then refuse to wear them for a long time. But the thing is that the first exit was unsuccessful: chafing on the legs, blisters, wounds on the heels until they bled. What to do if your shoes are too tight?

You will say that the last is uncomfortable or the material is hard - this is all understandable, but the shoes are new, and you really like them, and most importantly, when you tried them on, they fit well and comfortably. How to avoid injury to your limbs and how to stretch your shoes at home? There are proven and effective methods for this.

That's what we'll talk about today. Not everyone can afford to buy expensive or branded shoes, and they are not ideal, but don’t go barefoot. It’s especially disappointing when you buy a new pair in a store, everything fits. But I barely made it to the end of the working day when I put them on. Today I will tell you what to do if your shoes are too tight.

How to stretch new shoes: quick ways

Take these tips into account:

Try not to go outside in new clothes right away; in most cases, calluses on your feet are guaranteed. First, try wearing tight shoes or boots around the house for several hours a day. When your feet feel comfortable, you can confidently go for a walk or to work.
If the first method does not give a positive result so that the shoes do not pinch your fingers, take them to a workshop. The master will stretch them to the desired size in a few minutes.
For quick results, you can use special “stretchers” - sprays and foams. You can buy them at shoe or hardware stores and use them at home. To quickly break in new shoes, apply spray or foam to areas where you feel discomfort.

Is it possible to return shoes if they are too small?

If the shoes pinch or rub your feet, they can be returned to the store within 14 days from the date of purchase. Article 25 of the “Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights” states that this can be done provided that:

payment receipt;
boxes;
presentation of the product (no scratches, creases, abrasions, no missing fittings).

Important: it is unlikely that you will be able to return to the seller the shoes you wore on the street. The exception is the return of goods under warranty within 30 days.

To avoid having to return shoes to the store, learn how to choose them correctly:

if you have problem feet (wide feet, bunions, varicose veins), then it is better to choose shoes from trusted manufacturers and immediately fit your feet, otherwise you will experience severe pain until the shoes wear out and take the shape of your foot;
It’s better to try on shoes in the evening - at this time your feet often swell, which means that the chance of buying shoes that don’t fit is small.

How to wear shoes made from genuine leather

Use these proven options:

Use alcohol or any alcohol-containing product to treat the inside of the product in places where there is pressure on your legs. Put on thick socks and walk around the apartment for several hours in a row in the shoes you want to increase in size. This home method allows you to noticeably stretch leather shoes not only in length, but also to stretch them in volume so as not to sting your toes.
A simple and affordable remedy is hot steam. Hold your shoes over the kettle spout until steam begins to condense on the surface of your skin. Wear uncomfortable sneakers or shoes for a couple of hours with thick socks on your feet. The method helps to first soften the material a little to make it easier to stretch tight shoes made of genuine leather.
The technology can only be used for products made from high-quality soft leather. It's not just cramped conditions that can cause your feet to suffer. The hardness of the raw material also causes discomfort and causes calluses. Try bending your shoes up and down several times in a row and twisting them in different directions. High-quality material will not leave creases, but it will become much softer.

Newspapers

If your shoes are too tight, how can you stretch them? This question is really relevant. And it appears after the purchase, when the first calluses have formed on the heels and toes.

Stretching shoes lengthwise using this method is unlikely to succeed, but expanding the material will work.

This method is suitable if the fabric is not natural, but is leatherette. It is also recommended to use it if you need to break in sneakers or stretch suede or patent leather.

How to quickly break in new shoes:

Take a lot of newspapers, or better yet, clean sheets of paper so that the paint does not transfer to the fabric. Wrinkle them up and moisten them with water.
Wring out the sheets well and stuff them tightly into the shoes.
Leave the paper inside until completely dry. It will take the shape of the shoe and stretch it evenly.

Don't overdo it with this method. Even with regular paper, new shoes can become deformed, lose their appearance, or the soles may become detached from the base.

How to increase your shoe size is not a problem, but decreasing it will be impossible.

Special compounds for stretching suede shoes

If you have boots made of suede that feel too tight on your toes, try expanding them so they don't sit idle in your wardrobe using these simple, proven methods:

At home, you can break in tight suede shoes using steam. This method allows you to increase your shoes by about a size. Hold them over the steam so that the suede warms up well, but do not let the leather get too wet. Put on tight socks and wear until dry.
To stretch the top of suede boots, moisten the outside of the material with a weak solution of vinegar. Put them on and walk around the house until the suede dries.
Suede boots that squeeze the leg at the top can be expanded using an iron and a flannel napkin. Unfasten them, lay them out on the ironing board, place a damp flannel cloth on top, and iron them well.

Helpful tips: You can use wooden blocks to stretch suede, but you should contact a shoe repair shop to do this. If you cannot solve the problem with the help of improvised means, buy special compounds for stretching suede.

How to stretch

To stretch the product, it is recommended to use effective folk recipes. Today there are many means that can achieve good results.

Alcohol

This product can be used to stretch a specific area of the shoe - the toe or heel. It is worth treating shoes with a tampon or cloth, which is recommended to be soaked in alcohol. It is rubbed into the necessary places. The product is then put on and worn until the liquid evaporates.

Instead of alcohol, vinegar will help make your shoes larger. Its concentration should not exceed 3%. However, only the inside of the shoe is treated with the product.

Boiling water

To expand the boots, they can be soaked in boiling water. This method is used for shoes made from natural or synthetic material. This method is good for using as a leather substitute. This material is sensitive to temperature fluctuations.

Pour boiling water inside and pour it out immediately. After this, you should put on thick socks, and then wet boots. Walk for 20-30 minutes. After this, the boots should be removed and dried thoroughly. Before the procedure, it is better to remove the insole, since there is a risk of reducing its size.

Castor oil

This product can make shoes made of dark leatherette look bigger. It is better not to use castor oil for light-colored shoes, as it may leave stains. It is recommended to treat areas that are under pressure with oil from the outside. Then it is recommended to put on and wear the shoes. Excess product is removed with a napkin.

Small grains

This remedy is used quite rarely. To stretch a model of shoe made of natural or artificial leather, you should pour cereal inside. Wheat or barley porridge will do. Then you should pour some water and keep it for 24 hours. Due to this, the grains will increase in size and help stretch the shoes.

After the specified time has passed, you should remove the cereal and dry the shoes away from heat sources. If the grain is difficult to remove, you should rinse your shoes with water.

Freezing

To stretch your shoes, you can use the freezer. This is a safe method that does not cause deformation of the shoes. However, it should not be used on patent leather as it may cause cracks. Also, do not put moccasins, sneakers or sneakers with white soles in the freezer. The influence of low temperature will make it yellow.

First, sealed bags are placed in the shoes. You should pour water into them and tie them. Place the shoes in the freezer and leave for a day. Then the boots should be taken out and defrosted at a temperature of 20 degrees. When the ice thaws a little, the contents should be removed. Dry the shoes and try them on. If it was not possible to achieve the expected effect, the procedure is performed again.

Heat

This method is suitable for synthetic materials. Faux leather melts when exposed to hot air. Thanks to this, it can be given the required shape. To begin with, you should put thick socks on your feet, and then shoes. Direct a stream of hot air from a hair dryer to the front of the model. When it warms up well, you should walk around the room. It is important that the shoes cool completely. To enhance the effect of the hair dryer, you can pre-wet your socks. However, the shoes will need to be dried.

Army method of stretching

This is a simple and affordable way. To do this, take your socks, moisten them with hot water and wring them out to get rid of excess moisture. Wear tight shoes over socks. Walk around in it until your socks are dry. Then dry the shoes using newspapers. Under the influence of the liquid, the skin can be stretched and given the shape of a leg.

Soap and paraffin

These products are suitable for different types of shoes. They make it possible to increase the size of shoes made of nubuck or leather. The materials are also used for patent leather and artificial leather. To do this, the inside of the boots should be rubbed with paraffin or soap. Then it is recommended to put them on and wear them to the required condition. The substances help form a special layer inside the product, which makes it easier to put on and take off shoes.

Steam

To stretch tight shoes, hold them over steam. Then it is recommended to put on the shoes and walk around. The heat will cause the skin to stretch. To improve this process, you should use thick socks.

Cowboy way

In the Wild West, grain was used to stretch leather boots. They poured it into shoes and poured water. During the night, the cereal absorbed water and swelled, which contributed to the stretching of the skin. In the morning, the filling was taken out of the shoes, wiped and worn until dry. This method can still be used today. However, it is not suitable for lined shoes.

Spray with alcohol or beer

If you wet the inside of your shoes with alcohol, they will become softer. When choosing a drink, it is not recommended to use products with dyes. Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to the shoes. To get rid of the aroma of alcohol, you should use shoe deodorant. Spray with alcohol or beer should carefully treat the tightest areas.

Methods for artificial leather

There is no need to wear leatherette shoes that pinch your feet. In domestic conditions, it can be increased in size, but you should know that leatherette is less susceptible to stretching than natural material.

Try one of the following tips:

You can try stretching the leatherette using the “farmer’s” method. It is convenient for villagers. It is necessary to pour grain into a close couple to the top and moisten it generously with water. Leave the grain overnight, it will swell from moisture and pull the leatherette.
Generously lubricate the inner surface of the leatherette product with thick cosmetic cream or Vaseline, put on thick socks and walk like this for at least two hours. Try it on with a thin toe; if eco-leather shoes are still too tight, choose another method.
A tight pair of faux leather shoes is worn in after being treated with beer. It is enough to moisten a sponge in this drink and carefully treat the entire inner surface of narrow shoes. Walk around in them for about half an hour. This is how women stretch their boots in the ankle area. The only thing to consider is the possible staining of light skin, so choose non-dark beers.

Features of working with different materials

When choosing a stretching method, you should take into account the material from which the product is made. This will help avoid unwanted consequences.

Genuine Leather

Leather shoes are easy to adjust. To do this, you can use the following methods:

Boiling water will help you adjust your shoes to your feet. It is enough to pour it into your shoes and immediately pour it out. When the shoes have cooled down a bit, they should be put on. It is recommended to wear a pair until completely dry.
Take thick bags. Balloons are also great. It is recommended to place them in shoes and fill them with water. Place in the freezer overnight. As the water turns into ice, the size will increase.
Alcohol or vodka would be a good remedy. It is recommended to treat shoes on all sides with this substance. Particular attention is paid to the heel. Then the product should be put on warm socks.
Put on socks and new shoes on top. Walk in them for several days. This will help improve the shape of the shoe a little. It is better to wet your socks.
Buy a special stretching spray. Treat the shoes and let them dry.
To break in new boots, it is recommended to dampen them using a towel. To do this, it is recommended to soak it in boiling water and squeeze it well. Wrap the product in the material and leave for 5 hours. The towel should be moistened periodically.

Leatherette

Artificial leather does not stretch well. If you overdo it, it may crack. To avoid such problems, you should use proven means:

Vaseline will help you break in leatherette shoes. This product is used to treat shoes from the inside. After a few hours, you should wipe the shoes with a napkin and walk around in them for 30 minutes.
Moisten old newspapers with water and put them in your shoes. It is important to ensure that their shape does not change during the filling process. It is worth taking out the material after drying.
Pour grain into the boots, and then fill them with water. Leave overnight. In the morning, it is recommended to pour out the cereal and wear shoes for 1 hour.

Suede

The material is leather that has undergone special processing. As a result, it acquires a soft consistency. Suede shoes are elastic and resistant to moisture. To distribute it, you can choose the following methods:

Gradually wear out the houses. It is best to wear shoes without additional means. Suede is considered an elastic material that stretches well.
To speed up the process of increasing size, shoes should be moistened from the inside and put on wet socks. You can use beer instead of water.
More modern methods are special pads and sprays. They can be bought at shoe stores. It is important to ensure that the products are suitable for suede.
It is recommended to use a damp flannel cloth for the boot tops. It should be placed in an unbuttoned boot, and then ironed.
Vinegar or vodka would be a good remedy. It is recommended to mix them with water before use.

Polished leather

These shoes are difficult to adjust. Its size can only be increased in width. In any case, you should be careful. The material may lose its shine and even become cracked. Safe recipes include the following:

Combine alcohol and water. It is recommended to do this in a 2:1 ratio. Soak thick socks in the solution and put shoes on them. Walk around the house until your socks and shoes are dry. This will take 2 hours.
You can use an ordinary hair dryer. They are advised to thoroughly warm the shoes from the inside and put them back on their socks. If you hold the hair dryer for too long, the polish may lose its shine. It is worth considering that the manipulation must be repeated periodically.
The most effective way is to use a rich cream and pad. To begin with, the inner surface of the shoe should be treated with cream or Vaseline, after which it is worth inserting the last inside. You can also wear shoes with warm socks. When using the cream, you should pay special attention to problem areas - toes and heels.

Dermantin

To stretch dermantine shoes, you can use the following means:

Grind the laundry soap and mix with water to form a paste. Apply inside shoes and leave for 6 hours. Remove the composition with a washcloth and put shoes on socks. To maintain the achieved result, the shoes should be filled with paper and left overnight.
Potatoes work well. To do this, you need to peel several root vegetables, wash them and, wrap them in paper, put them in your shoes. As the vegetable dries, the shoes will stretch. Finally, they should be wiped with a damp cloth.

Textile

It is difficult to increase the size of such shoes. A good result would be an increase in volume by a few millimeters. To increase the size of textile shoes, you should walk down the street in wet weather, then stuff them with newspapers and leave them to dry.

You can also use the thermal method:

place shoes over a bowl of boiling water;
fill it with damp paper;
put wet items to dry at room temperature;
After drying, the newspaper should be pulled out.

Rubber

Regular rubber does not stretch. If the boots are made of polyvinyl chloride, they can be stretched. To check this, just touch an inconspicuous area with a hot object. If it starts to melt, you can try to increase the size.

To soften the material, just fill the boots with boiling water. It should be left for a couple of minutes so that the polyvinyl chloride softens. Wear boots over several pairs of socks and fill a container with cold water. As the water in your boots cools, you should drain it and immediately put on your shoes. After a few minutes, lower your feet into a basin of cold water. This will help the material harden.

What to do if your rubber shoes are tight

Real rubber cannot be stretched; it will either break when stretched or return to its previous position. However, today it is almost impossible to purchase products made from real rubber, so you can take advice on how to wear small-sized rubber shoes so that they are comfortable. Follow these instructions:

Pour boiling water inside and leave for half an hour;
In the meantime, while boiling water softens the rubber, put on woolen socks, so your feet will increase in size;
drain the water, let the rubber cool slightly until it becomes warm, and put on the boots for half an hour.

Professional ways to increase size

If for some specific reason you are unable to return your tight sneakers back to the store, then use professional stretching products. In workshops for repairing sneakers, it is common to use:

surface treatment fluids;
pads on which the shoes themselves are pulled, requiring stretching.

Manufacturers advise using sprays and stretching foams

When purchasing them, you need to pay special attention to the features of use. If the spray is marked “for all types of natural leather,” then it will not be suitable for textile sneakers at all.

Method of use:

Shake the balloon filled with stretch foam.
Apply the contents of the product evenly and efficiently to problem areas from the inside as well as the outside.
Wear wet shoes with terry or wool socks.
Walk in it until the applied product dries completely.
Repeat the procedure several more times to completely get rid of discomfort.

Before using foam or spray, you need to test the effect of such a product on an inconspicuous area of the sneaker.

An analogue of a professional last will be a mechanical device: shoe spacers, special mechanical stretchers, mold holders. Usually they are completely universal and are suitable for several sizes and different thicknesses at once. The spacers include a special screw mechanism that provides good tension. Also included are plastic pads for the protrusions in the foot. Such devices cost a lot, but they can be used more than once.

Methods of using mechanical spacer for shoe products:

Sneakers should be treated with a special stretching spray or moistened with water.
You need to install a mechanical spacer inside the sneakers or sneakers, having previously installed plastic linings on it.
Using a screw mechanism, you need to give the shoe the desired tension. This should be done carefully so as not to accidentally damage the material.
Leave until completely dry.
If necessary, the procedure must be repeated.

If you cannot get rid of the problem yourself, then you need to entrust your shoes to a specialist. A specialist will be able to accurately fit the shoes to the desired size and characteristics of the foot, while fully maintaining the quality of the product and its appearance.

Breaking in patent leather shoes

It is dangerous to wear patent leather shoes that are too tight on your own, as there is a risk of ruining their attractive appearance. It is better to entrust such work to professionals or factory products. If your back is rubbing, treat it on the inside with alcohol or vodka.

To stretch patent leather shoes, you should not put them in the freezer, wet them with water, much less boiling water, or hold them over steam.

Important to know: It is necessary to avoid contact of the varnished material with gasoline, alcohol, and silicone lubricants. Any chemical stretchers can only be applied to the inside of the product.

Controversial methods of removing shoes

There are ways to stretch shoes that need to be approached with caution.

There are several more descriptions of well-known but controversial methods of stretching shoes.

First, tapping with a hammer. The bottom line is that with the help of a hammer, hard problem areas, mainly backs, are broken. The method is common, but it is not suitable for expensive shoes made of delicate materials (suede, textiles, artificial leather), as it can simply ruin them. Soft skin should not be subjected to such a dangerous test either.

Secondly, breaking in boots soaked in soapy water. Experience shows that shoes do indeed wear out, but it is not always possible to get rid of the remaining soap stains, and it is not always possible to maintain their shape.

I take my shoes to a workshop for stretching if necessary. I used to wear them in with soap myself, but after such experiments the shoes lost their shape and my feet hurt later.
Irina 5
https://opyt-of-woman.com/poleznye-sovety/kak-raznosit-novyie-tufli-esli-oni-zhmut

Methods for winter models with fur

Breaking in winter shoes with fur inside - boots or boots - is a little more difficult. The technique of steaming and wearing thick socks around the house will help to slightly stretch the boot in the ankle area. You can also try using frozen water:

Place a thick plastic bag over your hand and push it inside the boot closer to the toe.
Pour water into the bags so that it fills the entire space - from toe to heel, tie them.
Place a tight, clean pair in the freezer overnight, until the morning the water freezes, increases in volume and stretches the dense material.

How to quickly break in tight boots at home

Boots, like shoes, ballet flats or ankle boots, very often let their owners down, starting to rub and squeeze the foot at the most inopportune moment. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that, for example, winter boots have fur inside, and this in turn makes it impossible to use almost all methods of stretching shoes at home.

What to do if your new fashionable and stylish boots start to chafe?

First of all, if the shoes are quite expensive and there is a risk of ruining their appearance.

It is worth considering the option of contacting a shoe repair shop.

Professionals will be able to “painlessly” stretch the boots, and you will no longer have to suffer.

The second option is certainly less troublesome and costly, but it also takes more time.

Indeed, in this case we are talking about the natural breaking in of boots, when several pairs of warm socks and a shoe are put on the foot. By devoting several hours a day to stretching a winter pair, you can calmly flaunt your new boots in just 2-3 days.

This is interesting: Professional repair: what paint to use for leather shoes

If winter boots press only a little, then you should wait just a couple of days and not break in your shoes.

The fact is that the fur located inside the product gradually “tramples down” while walking. And it may happen that home stretching is not even necessary.

Is it possible to wear in winter boots that are too tight?

Rubbing or pinching shoes always cause discomfort. And a person who spends the whole day in such boots or shoes, by the evening he cannot think about anything else but to quickly get home and take off his boring shoes.

Is it worth torturing yourself like this if there are many ways to stretch your shoes:

We stretch out winter shoes for a pair. Put the kettle on the fire or turn on the button of the electrical appliance. Wait until the water boils and steam comes out of the kettle spout. Unfasten your boots or unlace your boots, allowing maximum access to the inside of the product. Hold the shoes over the steam for 1-2 minutes. Wear warm socks and boots that need to be broken in. Walk around the house for about 30 minutes, then leave the shoes “alone” for 6-8 hours;
We use glycerin. Since the main task of winter boots is to protect the feet from hypothermia, it is not recommended to influence the shoes from the inside in any way. After all, such methods can damage the lining, and the boots will no longer perform their function. But what you need to do is soften the skin of the product. And to do this, generously wet a cotton pad with glycerin and walk several times over the place that causes the greatest discomfort. After this, put on socks and shoes and walk around the house for at least 1 hour;
The iron will help stretch the boot. You can change the size of the boot only if the shoes are made of genuine leather, and there are no lacing, zippers, locks or fittings in the area that is subject to stretching. So, take an iron and a wet rag. Unzip the winter boot and place it on the ironing board with the outside facing up. Steam the boot well with steam from the iron (through a wet cloth) for 1-2 minutes. Remove the cloth and gently pull the material in different directions. If the skin calmly withstands such loads, it does not change color or deform, you can repeat the procedure to achieve a better result. At the same time, to prevent the material from returning to its previous shape, the stretchable boot must be tightly stuffed with newspapers.

What to do when your shoes rub

To avoid the formation of calluses on your feet, check out these tips on how to treat shoes that rub your heel and squeeze your toes:

Before you go outside in your new shoes, treat the inside of the heel with soap or a candle.
To prevent the formation of calluses, shoes are broken in as follows: place a cloth on the heel and tap lightly with a hammer. These actions will soften hard skin.
Even if you feel comfortable in your new shoes, don’t rush to wear them for the whole day right away, wear your new shoes little by little.
If you need to slightly stretch your shoes in length, soak a towel in vinegar diluted half and half with water and place it inside the shoes.
Shoes can rub not only your heels, but also your toes. If the cause of calluses is a hard sock, you can soften it with raw potatoes. Two large tubers are peeled and placed inside boots or shoes. Leave for 8 hours. When in contact with potato juice, the natural leather becomes softer, and the tuber stretches the narrow and hard toe.
The traditional solution that allows many women to walk in shoes that are tight in the heel is to stick an adhesive plaster on the foot or on the heel itself.

If these recommendations do not help you avoid the formation of calluses on your heels, use special stretchers.

How to stretch some parts

Sometimes there is a need to stretch not the entire product, but only a certain fragment of it. Typically discomfort occurs in the heel or toe area. The instep or boot may also be affected.

Back too hard or narrow

If the back of your shoes chafes, you can freeze them. To do this, fill the sock with dry newspapers and place a bag of water in the heel area. Place the product in the freezer. As a result, the heel will expand, but the toe will not be deformed.

You can also lubricate the heel with Vaseline or oil. After which it is recommended to wear the product and walk in it for several hours. This will help increase the width of the product.

An ordinary solid deodorant is also considered a good remedy. They are recommended to rub the heel from the inside, and then put the shoes on their socks. Walk in them until the back gets bigger.

Too narrow toe

If the product presses on your fingers, its front part should be lubricated with Vaseline. You can also use cream. Then the shoes are put on socks and walked in them for several hours. Place bags of water in a sock and put them in the freezer. An effective remedy is the use of newspapers or hot water. For patent leather shoes, soap or paraffin is suitable.

Boot top

If boots put pressure on your shins, there is a risk of problems with the clasp. To enlarge the product in this area, it is recommended to use wet newspapers. They should be stuffed tightly into your boots. You can also put bags of water inside and put them in the freezer.

A good solution would be to use a special device.

On the rise

To enlarge the model in this area, you will need cereal. First, you should put bags in your heels and toes, then pour in cereal and a little water. Place the product in the freezer. Then it should be pulled out. When the ice has melted a little, the contents can be taken out.

Use of special means

A semi-professional method of stretching shoes is the use of specialized products: aerosols, sprays or foam. They are easy to use by studying the instructions, which differ little from different manufacturers and include the following points:

Shake the can thoroughly.
Apply the liquid liberally to the inside or outside of the shoes.
Let it soak in for a few seconds, put the boots on with thick socks, and leave them on for 30-40 minutes.
Remove excess moisture (if any) by wiping the surface with a soft cloth.

Stretching agents can be used together with wooden lasts; in this case, the shoes should be left in this form overnight. If necessary, pads can be added to the mechanical stretches to suit the specific needs of the foot. This will allow you to effectively stretch the pair without breaking them in.

Apply the aerosol to the entire surface of the shoes

Wear a pair with a warm sock and walk for 40 minutes

Remove excess moisture