How to stretch eco-leather shoes. How to stretch faux leather shoes

When buying a beautiful pair of shoes in a hurry, it is not always possible to guess the size accurately, and when you come home you may find that the new shoes are too tight. Despite the fact that artificial leather is not as expensive a material as its natural counterpart, sometimes you really don’t want to give up the purchase. However, do not be upset; in most cases, the situation can be corrected independently and at home. In this article we will reveal the secrets of how to stretch faux leather shoes, down to one size.
There are many ways to do this, both using special stretchers and proven folk methods.

General recommendations on how to wear faux leather shoes

Faux leather requires care because strong or excessive stretching of the material can lead to cracks on its surface. In many cases, stretching it by a full size without consequences can be difficult, but achieving a small stretch is quite possible.
A slight stretch can be achieved by making the leatherette soft. Vaseline will help with this. They thickly lubricate the inner surface of the products. In order for the lubricant to begin to affect the material, the shoes are left in this condition for 2–3 hours after lubricating. After removing the remaining Vaseline, put on the shoes and walk in them in the room for 30 to 60 minutes. During this time, the material will stretch. If stretching alone is not enough, perform the action again.
Another material that will help stretch leatherette shoes somewhat is newspapers. Only moistened newspapers are suitable for this. They fill shoes with them, trying to give the shoes a shape. This method takes time; you can check the result after the newspapers have completely dried.

Artificial leather, or faux leather, or dermantin, is made from small parts of natural fiber, which are thoroughly crushed, mixed with water and dried into a sheet shape.
Such sheets pass through a press, and the output is material of various colors, sizes and thicknesses, which are painted in different shades. This material is highly susceptible to mechanical stretching due to its flexibility. But it's not that simple. The first thing you need to come to terms with is the fact that it is impossible to increase the size of shoes that press indefinitely. The maximum that can be achieved without damage or deformation is to stretch it by one size, take this into account when buying a new pair. Definitely new, because you shouldn’t stretch heavily worn shoes.

It is not always possible to wear leatherette shoes at home in one go. It is best to use several methods in turn, then you will definitely be satisfied with the result.

If the shoes are just uncomfortable

This phenomenon is very common, and it happens with women’s, men’s, and children’s shoes. The size matches and everything is fine, only the shoes or boots have not yet been worn in, and therefore are very tight in the toes or heels.

Usually the left shoe presses harder - this also happens quite often. In this case, the problem can be solved very quickly and simply: you need to put on a thick sock, then the problematic shoes and walk around the room for several hours.

It is always better to start with this safe method; in principle, it does not stretch the artificial skin, but only adjusts it to the shape of the leg. The shoes do not suffer at all and there is no risk that the leatherette will tear or burst in the process. If the problem is more serious, you made a mistake with the size and the shoes or boots are clearly too small, then you can try the following remedies.

Stretching methods

Almost any. This is easier to do with shoes made of suede and nubuck due to the softness of these materials, but more difficult with shoes made of patent leather (there is a risk that the varnish coating will crack). If the shoes are made of artificial patent material, then it is almost impossible to stretch them.

It is quite difficult to wear shoes made of artificial leather, fabric, or velor, because these materials tend to retain their shape in any conditions. Nevertheless, there are ways to stretch them, but such shoes can only be increased slightly.

With the help of special sprays, which are sold in shoe stores and hypermarkets, shoes made from natural materials can be stretched perfectly:

treat the inside of the shoes with a spray so that they do not get wet;
put them on immediately;
repeat the procedure if necessary.

The method is suitable for any shoes (leather, suede, nubuck), with the exception of items made of artificial and patent leather. A stretcher is an effective remedy if shoes need to be increased by a size.

Eco-leather shoes are difficult to break in, since this material is synthetic and not natural. But there is an effective way to widen your shoes so that they fit your feet without squeezing:

lubricate the inner surfaces of the shoes with Vaseline;
wear them around the house on a warm sock for two to three days.

It is almost impossible to wear shoes made of leatherette, but there are ways to slightly expand shoes made of dermantine. The most effective of them are the expansion methods described above using alcohol, freezing and rich cream (Vaseline) with pads. You also need to be careful when stretching patent leather shoes. If they rub your heel, you can knead it with your hands, rub it with hard soap, or very carefully beat it with a hammer.

Patent leather pumps can be softened a little, thereby making them more comfortable for the feet. To do this, use potatoes: put the peeled tubers into shoes along with crumpled newspapers and leave them overnight until the tubers dry.

It is worth noting that the method is also suitable for shoes made from other natural materials. Wet newspapers can be used to stretch faux leather shoes. To do this, you need to stuff your shoes tightly with them and leave them until dry (4-5 hours). However, given the ability of leatherette to retain its shape, such shoes will not be able to stretch by more than 3–5 millimeters.

To stretch shoes made of genuine patent leather, you can use greasy cream or Vaseline:

lubricate the inside of the shoes with Vaseline;
wait until the product is absorbed;
put on your shoes and walk around in them for 20–30 minutes.

After treatment, you need to insert shoe lasts into the shoes - while walking, the shoes become deformed, but when using lasts, there is less chance that the varnish coating will burst.

Dance shoes are made of textile, so stretching them is problematic. You can try putting a wet insole in them and walking around. A good solution is to contact a shoe repair shop. It’s better to be as careful as possible when choosing such shoes and not to buy small shoes.

The peculiarity of climbing shoes is that they have a curved last, rubber soles and you need to buy them 2 or 3 sizes smaller. Therefore, the topic of carrying is relevant for all rock climbing enthusiasts.

It is better not to use alcohol and steam for this for a simple reason: the block gradually levels out if you walk on a flat surface. It is necessary to wear out climbing shoes only when climbing on artificial or natural relief surfaces. Accordingly, the correct way to wear them is to stretch the climbing shoes every day, using the shoes for their intended purpose: climbing short distances.

The question often arises after purchasing whether it is possible to stretch shoes made of artificial leather if they are too tight. Before you start stretching, you need to consider some nuances. In order for the item to take the shape of a leg, you need to perform the procedure several times. It is important to make sure that the material used to make the shoes is of high quality.

When treating with heat, cover the surface of the shoes with a scarf to avoid damaging the material.

Heat treatment is quite effective. To stretch faux leather shoes at home, you will need:

Put on warm socks, try putting new shoes on top;
Using a hairdryer, slowly heat the problem areas. To prevent damage to the item, set the temperature to medium;
Walk around a bit.

If a hairdryer is not available, heat treatment is used. Hold the shoes over the steam and walk around in them.

You can use the opposite method - exposure to cold. You need to proceed as follows:

Fill a plastic bag with water, put it in tight shoes, and put it in the freezer;
Wait until the liquid freezes and remove the shoes from the freezer.

Exposure to low temperatures is suitable for autumn or winter options. The material on summer ballet shoes may crack, especially if the quality of the product is poor.

Spring attachments help stretch low-top shoes

Water has properties that help stretch leatherette:

Wet the product from the inside. Place dampened paper tightly inside to remove excess moisture;
Take out the paper, put on your shoes and walk around until it dries;
To achieve the correct shape, you will need to repeat the procedure several times.

Alcohol is often used to stretch shoes, as it has a softening effect on leatherette. You can use products containing alcohol (vodka, cologne), as well as vinegar.

Carefully treat the specific area causing discomfort;
Walk until dry;
Repeat several times.

We suggest you read: Is it possible to wash arctic fox fur?
Simple physics will help stretch uncomfortable, narrow shoes

You can apply castor oil or Vaseline oil to the product. Then put on your socks and walk around. This should soften the material.

Laundry soap has been helping in solving everyday problems for many years. Shoes stretch due to its softening effect. Let's look at how to wear leatherette shoes, which are too tight, at home:

Pass the soap through a grater. Mix with water to form a paste;
Apply inside the product and wait up to six hours. The item should not dry completely;
Remove the mixture with a washcloth or sponge;
Put shoes on your feet with socks.

Potatoes are also used for this purpose:

Peel several small tubers and wash;
Wrap in paper and put in narrow shoes. As the fruit dries, the shoes will stretch;
Wipe the inside of the product with a damp cloth.

You can use the "cowboy method". With its help, you can pull out low shoes or boots at the lifting point. Let's look at how to wear faux leather shoes:

Pour grain (millet, oats) into shoes that crush, pour in water;
Wait a quarter of an hour until it swells. During this period, the liquid will be absorbed into the grain, due to which it will increase, stretching the shoes;
Remove the grains and walk for an hour.

For breaking in, they also use cotton fabric, previously dipped in hot water. You can wet your socks with beer or boiling water and then walk around in your shoes.

There are store-bought products that will help you cope with this task. You can purchase special wooden or plastic blocks. They will allow you to stretch leatherette shoes in length or width. Use of the pads requires careful handling as the material may develop cracks. They are also used for storing and drying products.

Types of shoe lasts

If there is a risk that the last will cause damage to your shoes, you can purchase foam or paste at the store. Apply it to the product and leave for several hours. After this, the discomfort when wearing it will go away. The products contain chemicals that affect artificial leather.

To get results quickly, you should use sprays and creams. These products will make the leatherette more pliable. Sprays do not leave marks on the surface of shoes. The product will need to be sprayed onto the area that is rubbing. It is important to consider the following nuances when using:

Sprays will help stretch the shoes a little. This method is not suitable for increasing shoes by a size or more;
The can must be shaken before application;
Apply only to problem areas;
Shoes should be put on immediately after application.

Salton Promo is considered an effective spray. It should be used for natural leather, but it is also suitable for leatherette. It must be sprayed inside the shoes. It not only stretches the boots, but also makes them even more comfortable to wear.

When choosing a spray, pay attention to what materials it affects

When working with sprays, you must follow safety rules. Wear protective gloves and ventilate the room. Do not spray near open flames. It is necessary to keep products away from children.

The methods listed above will help you stretch an unnatural product yourself at home. If there is no effect, you can turn to professionals. In this case, the result will be guaranteed.

Leatherette shoes can be stretched using professional equipment

Professional help is needed when:

You need to stretch your shoes a size or more;
The work is carried out with a product made of delicate materials;
I couldn't cope on my own.

In order for artificial leather to serve for a long time, it is necessary to provide it with proper care. It is important to dry and clean the product in a timely manner, use a damp cloth or soap solution for washing. Heating devices should not be used; it is better to dry naturally. After drying, you can treat the surface with baby cream or special shoe polish.

Tips and tricks

For each pair of faux leather shoes, it is necessary to select a specific stretching method that will not damage the material itself or the fittings.

When working with this material, the following features must be taken into account:

If the shoes contain plastic parts, glued elements or sequins as decoration, then for this pair you should exclude all methods associated with steam or heating
When stretching shoes, it should be taken into account that the greatest effect is obtained in length, and not in width; to stretch shoes in width, you should contact a workshop to avoid damage to the skin
Upon completion of the steam treatment process, light stains may appear on the artificial leather; eliminating them will not be difficult with the help of a special dye or cream to remove this type of pollution.

When purchasing faux leather shoes, you should pay attention to the quality of the material and the manufacturing of the shoes. If the pair is made poorly, the sole is not glued very securely, then stretching in this case can give an absolutely negative result and completely ruin the pair.

It is also recommended not to fall for big discounts and interesting shoe designs; you should buy a pair of the right size, which does not cause discomfort when trying on.

How to stretch suede boots?

Suede shoes are quite capricious. When stretching suede boots, you need to be extremely careful. There are several ways to stretch delicate suede shoes:

Treat with foam. In a shoe store you need to purchase a special foam for stretching suede. Following the instructions on the label, it is necessary to treat the boots with the product both outside and inside. Put them on and walk around for about half an hour.

You cannot wear a boot treated with foam on your bare foot!

Use damp socks. Hot water and ordinary socks can also work a miracle. Wet socks made from natural fibers with hot water and put them on. Then put on your boots and walk around the apartment for a while.
Treat with vegetable oil. It is necessary to heat the oil in a water bath and apply it to the outer surface of the boots worn on your feet. It is recommended to walk in oiled boots for several hours, renewing the oil every 30 minutes.
Treat with alcohol. Combine alcohol with water in a 1:1 ratio and apply liberally to the inner and outer surfaces of the boots. Put on socks and boots and walk around like this for several hours.

You can use vodka instead of alcohol!

You can also stretch suede boots using damp newspapers, as is the case with leather boots.

Laundry soap

The shoes are rubbed with soap from the inside and waited for 5 hours, after which they are removed with a damp sponge. Then thick socks are put on your feet and the shoes are worn in until they are completely dry.

For individual problem areas on shoes, break the soap into small pieces (you can grate it), dilute it with water to form a paste and apply it to the required areas. After 3-4 hours, remove all the soap paste with a sponge, and wear a new pair until it dries.

How to stretch rubber boots?

To break in a new product, it is best to use special aerosol stretchers in the form of sprays or aerosols. They will easily cope with the problem and will not leave unwanted processing marks on the leatherette. The spray is applied to the area that rubs the foot, from the inside. Then they put on their shoes and wear them indoors for a couple of hours.

It is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations in order to stretch, but not damage the product.

Recently, rubber boots “from grandma’s chest” have come back into fashion. If the size of rubber boots does not suit you, then you can stretch them only in one case - if they are made of polyvinyl chloride. You can find out what exactly your boots are made of by touching, for example, a hot needle to the boot. If the material melts, it is subject to stretching. You can stretch rubber boots in the following way:

fill the boots with boiling water;
wait a couple of minutes until the material softens;
put on woolen socks and fill a large basin with cold water;
when the water in the boots has cooled down a little, it must be drained and immediately put on the shoes;
wearing boots, stand in a basin of cold water.

Correcting sizes using newspaper

Cheapness and availability are the strength of the most common method of stretching wide. The newspaper is disassembled into sheets, moistened in warm water, wrung out, crumpled and stuffed tightly (all the way) into the product. Then they are left to dry for several days, but with the only important condition: drying must be carried out in a natural environment, away from heating devices.

By the time the contents of the boots are dry, they should be the desired size. If this does not happen, you can repeat the procedure again.

How to stretch boot tops at home?

To ensure that the procedures carried out do not damage leatherette shoes, the peculiarities of their stretching should be taken into account.

After using various products, you need to apply a special cream that will lubricate the surface.
Cooling or heating is not suitable for items made of varnished or thin materials.
If the shoe fits true to size, but its heel rubs your foot, there is no need to stretch the product completely. Simply rub the backdrop with dry laundry soap or a paraffin candle.

To begin with, let’s note a few general recommendations for those who want to wear shoes or boots made of leatherette.

Firstly, artificial material always needs caution. If you stretch the leatherette too long and intensively, the product will become covered with unsightly cracks. Do not forget that increasing even by one size is not an easy task. Therefore, carefully assess the possible consequences. If you overdo it, your shoes can be completely ruined.

Secondly, products such as Vaseline help make leatherette shoes soft. Just lubricate the product from the inside and leave for two to three hours. Then thoroughly remove the grease, put on your shoes and walk around the apartment for thirty to fifty minutes. Usually this is enough to cope with the task at home. If the procedure does not bring the expected result, you can repeat it once or twice.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with How you can replace rinse aid for your dishwasher

Thirdly, a somewhat outdated but still effective way to stretch boots or shoes is newspapers. You need to wet them a little and then push them tightly inside the shoes. Leave it for several hours, wait until it dries completely and only then evaluate the result.

If these simple recommendations do not help, pay attention to several more effective methods that are suitable for both artificial and leather shoes.

A narrow boot is a serious problem that can also be dealt with at home:

Professional shoe stretching products are sold in many company stores. The best of them: Salton, Salamander, Kiwi. The product is applied to the boot from the outside. Then boots are put on the terry toe and worn until the product is completely absorbed.
You can rub the boot of a narrow product with castor oil, put it on and wear it until completely dry.
The thick cream should be applied to both sides of the boot, a plastic bottle with warm water should be placed in the boot and left overnight.
The top of leather boots can be stretched by pouring boiling water over it and putting the boot on your foot.
You can try stretching the boot tops made of thick leather using flannel fabric and an iron. To do this, you need to straighten the boot and place the boot (unbuttoned) on the ironing board. Thoroughly steam the boots through a damp flannel cloth.

If the boot is narrow immediately after purchase, do not rush to turn to stretching methods. Perhaps in a few days it will expand on its own to the desired size.

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).

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.

Sometimes when trying on shoes, they feel comfortable and fit all parameters. But with further wear, discomfort begins to be felt. If an item is made of genuine leather, it is easier to stretch it than its artificial counterpart. But this can be done in any case, only for leatherette it will require more effort and care. Let's look at how to stretch leatherette shoes at home.

Artificial leather is often called artificial leather (leatherette). It is made from scraps of genuine leather. They are crushed and mixed with water until a semi-liquid fibrous mass is obtained, from which sheets are created. They are pressed, resulting in material of varying thicknesses. Sheets can be painted in any colors.

There are several types of leatherette for shoes, differing in the components they contain:

Granitol (leatherette). The material is also called nitro artificial leather. Dermantine shoes are based on fabric with a special nitrocellulose layer;
Vinyl leather. Made from thermoplastic polymer. The material is resistant to solvents, acids, alkalis. But it does not tolerate low temperatures well;
Fat. It consists of several layers of fabric coated with special chemicals that create a film. You can create any pattern on it;
Stretch leather (stretch vinyl). This is a cotton material covered with an artificial polymer with elastane. This coating provides additional stretch;
Nitrocellulose. It is made from long-staple cotton with wood cellulose impurities;
Polyurethane. A synthetic material that is considered a rubber substitute. In comparison, polyurethane is more durable.

Each type of leatherette requires special care. Therefore, when stretching the product, you need to take into account the characteristics of the material.

Experts are very skeptical about the idea of selling shoes made of artificial leather (leatherette). The fact is that there are many options for leatherette, and they differ from each other in the base material. It can be woven, knitted or non-woven. Only leatherette on knitwear stretches well. Even a specialist will not always be able to determine by the appearance of the shoes what kind of material was used. Therefore, no home method guarantees results.

Any shoe store sells special means for stretching shoes. Most often they are found in the form of a spray or foam.

The method of application is simple: spray on a tight area, put on shoes and walk around for a couple of hours. Most likely, the procedure will have to be repeated.

In the same stores you can buy special pads. They are used in conjunction with spray or foam and greatly simplify the process.

All folk methods of stretching, one way or another, involve the use of two substances: alcohol or water.

Use cologne (vodka, alcohol solution) to treat the surface from the inside in the place that is pinching. Put on your shoes and walk around in your shoes for a couple of hours. Preferably on a wool sock. This will speed up the process and add extra volume to the foot.

The most effective methods using water:

Put on wet socks and shoes. Walk like this until your socks are dry.
Tear some newspaper, wet the scraps and stuff them tightly into your shoes. Leave until completely dry.

You need to be prepared for the fact that one procedure will not be enough.

On the Internet you can find very unusual ways to stretch shoes from folk craftsmen. They should only be used if all previous methods have not worked and there is nothing to lose.

Alternative methods for stretching boots

Leatherette shoes are particularly flexible. Therefore, stretching it is not as difficult as products made from other materials. So, there are several effective methods:

Use laundry soap. Artificial leather will quickly soften under the influence of such soap. So, you need to dilute the laundry soap until a paste-like foam forms. Apply this foam to the inner surface of the boots. Leave for a couple of hours, optimally 5-6. Then, using a sponge, remove the remaining soap from the boots, put socks and boots on your feet, and walk until the shoes are completely dry.
Apply a hair dryer. Warm up the boots using a hair dryer, put the heated shoes on your feet (with thick toes), and wear them for a while.
The newspaper method is also perfect for leatherette boots.
Use of alcohol and alcohol-containing products. Alcohol, as well as any alcohol-containing substances, can soften leatherette boots. Wet the inside of the boots with vodka or cologne, put them on your feet, and walk until they dry completely.

There are a couple of alternative methods for stretching shoes one size. For example:

You can organize a “steam room” for boots at home. To do this, you need to hold the boot over steam, for example, over a boiling kettle or pan of water. Quickly put steamed boots on your feet and walk around for a couple of hours.
Those who are especially risky can try lubricating their suede boots with hot vegetable oil. After this, put on the boots and leave them on for several hours.
Paraffin candles will help stretch your boots. To do this, you need to melt the wax, pour it into bags (as in the freezing method) and place it in your boots. Wait for it to harden.
If the backs or side walls of the boots are rubbing, you can treat them with laundry soap.
Another remedy is kerosene treatment for those who are not afraid of an unpleasant odor. The boots are generously moistened with kerosene and worn in for several hours.

We suggest you read Why the washing machine does not spin or makes noise when spinning

About methods of stretching other shoes - In the issue “Everything will be good”, experts talk about ways that will allow you to stretch boots: So, buying small boots is not a reason to be upset. Various ways of stretching boots can cope with this problem. The only thing worth considering is the material of the product and compatibility with one or another stretching method.

Breaking in shoes that are a little tight or chafing is a real challenge. If you urgently need to stretch women's shoes for a wedding or party, increase the width or length of shoes for a child, or adjust men's shoes, then you do not need to immediately turn to specialists. Everything can be done at home using available tools or equipment.

We have already identified several effective ways to stretch your shoes. If you prefer to work with sprays, it is important to follow a few guidelines. This will help you wear your shoes in without damaging them.

Among the advantages of sprays, we note that they effectively cope with the task and do not leave any marks on artificial leather. The product is sprayed from the inside onto the area that is rubbing the leg. When working, consider the following points:

The spray is an excellent tool for slightly stretching shoes. If you want to increase it by 1 or even 2 sizes, then, of course, he will not cope with this task.
Always shake the can well before applying the spray.
Spray only on problem areas.
We put on and stretch the shoes immediately after applying the product.

Don't forget about the simplest safety precautions. Wear protective gloves when handling aerosols. The room must be properly ventilated. Keep the product as far away from open flames as possible. Keep aerosols out of the hands of small children.

Above are methods for stretching shoes that are suitable for home use. This way you can make the shoes comfortable yourself. But you can always turn to experienced professionals for help. They have extensive experience in this field and have the necessary tools and materials available. In addition, the work performed is provided with a long-term guarantee.

When should you contact qualified specialists:

you need to seriously stretch your boots (a size or more);
you need to increase shoes made from delicate materials;
attempts to stretch shoes at home were unsuccessful.

In any case, a visit to a specialist is an almost 100% solution to the problem.

The spray is an excellent tool for slightly stretching shoes. If you want to increase it by 1 or even 2 sizes, then, of course, he will not cope with this task.
Always shake the can well before applying the spray.
Spray only on problem areas.
We put on and stretch the shoes immediately after applying the product.

In any case, a visit to a specialist is an almost 100% solution to the problem.

Shoe softeners

In almost every store you can find a lot of special products that are aimed at eliminating the discomfort of new boots or shoes. When answering the question of how to soften leather shoes, you need to consider the most common methods:

Pork lard is another great method that is absolutely safe and environmentally friendly. You need to take lard, which should not be salty, and rub it into the problem area. Note! You can rub the entire surface of your shoes with lard, which allows you to avoid wasting time on polishing them, and it will also be an excellent protection against moisture.
Wax. Its use will not be difficult. You need to melt the candle and apply the resulting substance to a solid element of the shoe. The main thing in this matter is to wait until the wax cools down so as not to damage the skin.
Glycerin can be a great solution to the problem. It is absolutely non-aggressive, but can help soften uncomfortable and hard skin. You just need to apply it to the area of the boot or shoe that causes discomfort and leave it for a while. After this, you need to remove excess glycerin and polish the product.
Hard soaps will best help solve the problem of how to soften the skin urgently. To do this, you need to rub the element that causes discomfort with soap and immediately put the shoes on your feet.
Cold will be an excellent way to soften natural leather. To implement this method, you need to put bags of water inside the shoes and place them in the freezer. So it should stand all night, in the morning you need to take the shoes out of the cold and after defrosting, take out the bags of water.
Fabric and newspaper sheets. If you place them in your shoes, after thoroughly squeezing them, they can provide softening to your boots or shoes after standing overnight.

How to use shoe stretching sprays correctly?

Modern aerosols and sprays are very effective in helping to break in tight shoes, subject to certain rules.

The spray is used for slight stretching. You won't be able to achieve an increase in size using a spray!
Shake the container vigorously before use.
Apply the composition only to problem areas.
Shoes are put on immediately after applying the spray.
When working with sprays or aerosols, you must strictly follow safety rules: work in a ventilated area with gloves, do not spray near fire, keep away from children.

Hot air

Stretching the purchase with a hairdryer is a fairly gentle technique. There are several options for using it:

Socks and shoes are put on your feet. Hot air is directed onto the leatherette until it warms up. Then it is recommended to walk around the house a little and, if necessary, repeat.
Before putting on the product, the leatherette is heated with a hairdryer for 2 minutes (not until it gets hot). Remove after cooling.
If you don't have a hairdryer at home, you can use steam. The steps are the same: keep the boots over steam, and then break them in.

When to contact a professional

You can often stretch tight shoes on your own. But you can entrust this procedure to specialists. Their experience and the availability of special materials will allow them to complete the job with a guarantee.

You should definitely contact a professional in the following cases:

it is necessary to stretch shoes made of delicate material;
you need to perform significant stretching (by a size or more);
Independent attempts to stretch the product did not yield results.

Tight shoes can almost always be stretched at home. You can entrust this procedure to specialists. Their experience and the availability of special materials will allow them to complete the job with a guarantee.

it is necessary to stretch shoes made of delicate material;
stretching is required (by a size or more);
Independent attempts to stretch the product did not yield results.

In some cases, you shouldn’t experiment, but it’s better to immediately turn to professionals. This applies to:

expensive, dress shoes that are scary to ruin;
if the legs have anatomical features (bumps);
if significant stretching is required, at least one size.

You will have to pay for the service, but the result will be guaranteed.

All techniques for stretching shoes should only be used if they are no more than a size too small. And before you start experimenting, you should at least try to negotiate an exchange with the store. If the shoes have not lost their appearance, the seller will always meet you halfway.

Special pads

Wooden or plastic lasts do a good job of stretching shoes. Once purchased, the lasts will effectively serve to stretch your shoes for a long time.

Important! The result of using pads will be better if you simultaneously use a special spray for stretching shoes.

It is not difficult to stretch a product made of leather using pads. You need to apply the spray to the problem area of clean shoes and insert the pads. Stretching time - 60 min. It is not always possible to achieve the desired result the first time, although you will immediately notice that the shoes have stretched. Repeat the procedure several more times until you feel comfortable.

If no methods are effective, or you are simply afraid of ruining your new sneakers with your amateur efforts, you can play it safe and go to a shoe workshop. There, specialists can help stretch your shoes (within reasonable limits, of course), without damaging them.

Proper care

Leatherette shoes will last a long time if treated with care and proper care. Faux leather does not require special handling.

Basic rules for caring for leatherette products:

timely cleaning and drying;
use a damp cloth and soap solution if you need to wash the product;
drying in natural conditions, without the use of heating devices;
applying special shoe cream or baby cream to the dried surface.

Caring for a patent leather jacket

There are rules for caring for things made of patent leather. They are virtually the same for any product, regardless of the type - bag, jacket, shoes or belt. These rules differ only in some nuances. To prevent the jacket from losing its shine and the varnish layer from cracking or scratching, follow the instructions for handling such capricious products:

It is prohibited to use brushes for cleaning patent leather. Regardless of the degree of softness, the pile will damage the surface of the product. You can wipe patent leather using a lint-free cloth.
When cleaning, do not press too hard on the varnish with a napkin, as small dust grains can damage the glossy layer.
Universal products for leather products - waxes, creams and balms - are not suitable for caring for patent leather jackets. Such products deprive the product of its shine, which cannot be restored later.
To protect the varnish layer from cracking, specialized water-based products are used that protect the surface from cracks, add shine and elasticity.
If the varnish layer has become dull due to time, it is possible to restore its gloss by rubbing it with a cotton pad soaked in egg white or milk. Afterwards, you need to polish the surface of the jacket with a lint-free cloth.
It is necessary to store varnish jackets in fabric covers so that the varnish layer does not come into contact with anything during this period.