How to soften shoe leather: quick and effective ways

Shoes made of natural or artificial leather can be found in any person's wardrobe. It is comfortable and practical. You can wear leather shoes in any weather, and your feet will be provided with proper comfort.

But sometimes, despite all the advantages, such shoes can cause discomfort or even pain. This is explained by the fact that some elements of the shoe turned out to be overly rigid. The defect can occur in both new and already worn shoes.

Important! The easiest and most reliable way to fix a defect is to contact a shoe repair shop. The master is able to soften the skin in a few hours.

It is not always possible to contact a specialist. In this case, you should use various traditional methods or chemicals.

There are special creams on store shelves that can make the skin soft in a short period of time.

But the most popular are traditional methods. They do not require the purchase of any special chemicals, since most of the products can be found at home.

The fastest way to soften shoes

To make your shoes comfortable, you can use the old army method. It allows you to make even the roughest shoes soft and comfortable, like home slippers. To do this you need:

The skin should be thoroughly moisturized from the inside. This can be done with water or a special stretching foam;
On the part of the shoe that needs to be made soft, you need to spread a soft cloth soaked in liquid. Flannel or felt is suitable for these purposes;
Using a hammer, you need to carefully beat off the prepared area. In this case, you need to try not to damage the shoes, the lighter the better;
During the entire process, it is important to check how soft the skin has become.

This option is quite drastic. Therefore, you should not use it to soften the leather on designer shoes. These products are not designed to withstand such rough handling. The method is not suitable for patent leather models and shoes made of natural suede.

What kind of discomfort can there be?

In most cases, the shoes will not fit exactly on the foot, so you will have to break them in or wait until the foot adapts to this model. However, high-quality and reliable leather shoes can begin to cause discomfort when they are no longer new.

As a rule, the discomfort is associated with pressure in a certain area - the heel, toe, midsection, foot, and so on. To get rid of such a defect, you should use a variety of methods.

Several effective ways to soften

If the method described above does not work, you can use other options. They are not so rough, and at the same time no less effective.

Using hot air and steam

To do this you will need a hairdryer and a container of hot water.

The hairdryer should be set to the required temperature setting. For several minutes, a stream of hot air should be directed to the area of the shoe that needs to be made softer.

If boiling water is used, a small amount should be poured inside the boots. After this, you need to put on thick woolen socks and walk around in your shoes for at least thirty minutes.

A more gentle method is to use a box. You need to put your shoes in it, and then wrap the box with a hot rag.

Important! This option is contraindicated for artificial leather products!

Using soap and paraffin

You can make your skin soft using regular hard soap. To do this, the shoes must be thoroughly rubbed from the inside with soap. The method is very fast and ideal for situations where shoes need to be put on immediately. A paraffin candle is used in the same way. In addition to paraffin, you can use wax. To do this, it should be melted and applied to the desired area. After this, the boots are left for a few minutes, after which the wax and paraffin are removed. This procedure must be carried out extremely carefully. If the temperature of the substance is too hot, the skin may be damaged.

Thanks to the chemical composition of the materials used, the shoes will not only become soft. When worn, the boots will not cause discomfort, pain, or leave marks on the skin.

Using wet towels

Genuine leather can withstand quite high temperatures. At the same time, it does not lose its external and operational qualities. Therefore, you can use hot towels to soften it.

towels or other soft cloth must be soaked in boiling water;
shoes need to be wrapped in prepared hot cloth;
after which the shoes must be tightly wrapped in polyethylene and left for 15 minutes;
After this time, the shoes should be removed from the bag, the towels removed and worn for 30 minutes.

Use of special means

Regular alcohol softens the skin well. However, it can have a negative effect on the paint. Therefore, before using this method, it is necessary to treat a small area of skin with alcohol and check its effect on the paint. If nothing happens, then you can safely proceed to the procedure:

For convenience, alcohol should be poured into a spray bottle;
treat the boots evenly from the inside;
the roughest areas should be additionally treated with a cotton pad soaked in ethyl alcohol;
shoes should be put on and walked around in them;

Important! You can also use castor oil or Vaseline. Both of these substances can soften even the roughest and thickest skin.

Vaseline or oil must be applied to the inside of the shoes;
leave for a while;
distribute.

You can buy special creams or emulsions in the store. They should be used strictly following the instructions. Usually you need to treat problem areas, put on shoes and break them in.

Important! You can replace professional products with regular cologne. The effect will be the same, however, it will take longer to break in.

Types of wearing discomfort

Most often, shoes or boots have to be broken in before wearing them permanently. It also happens that good leather shoes become stiff after a long period of wear.

Shoes made of leather or leatherette cause discomfort in typical places:

in the back area;
in a sock;
in the middle part;
in the foot.

Depending on the location of the discomfort, different methods are used to make the shoes softer. When using this or that product, pay attention to the skin type and the presence of bright colored dyes.

Attention!

Before full processing, it is best to do a test application on the inner surface of the material. This will help you understand whether the shoes will be damaged during processing.

Features of softening shoes made of different materials

Suede is a capricious material. The use of oils and water on it is prohibited. To make it softer, you can use hot air. The best thing to do would be to take your boots made of natural suede to a shoe shop.

The surface of patent leather shoes is easy to damage. In this case, even the slightest scratches will be visible to the naked eye. For such a capricious material, you need to take a very rich cream. It should be applied evenly to the shoes and left overnight. Instead of cream, you can use lard.

You can make artificial leather softer using hot towels. Shoes should be placed in a box of a suitable size, wrapped in hot towels, and left for 12 hours. If necessary, the entire process should be repeated several times.

Causes of loss of softness

Often the material becomes rough, cracks, products warp, shoes rub calluses due to insufficient or lack of proper care. In addition to the main cause of coarsening, they also call:

poor-quality tanning of hides;
long exposure to the sun;
changes in temperature, humidity;
frequent contact with moisture;
exposure to chemical reagents.

Taking good care of things will help prevent loss of elasticity. They need to be thoroughly dried after getting wet (1-2 days), cleaned of dust and dirt immediately, and not after some time, preventing absorption. It is advisable not to wear shoes every day, allowing them to “rest”. If these conditions are met, the use of emollients remains mandatory. They should be used while wearing things or during long-term storage.

Is it possible to soften a chafing back?

A rough heel counter that rubs the heel is a common problem. To eliminate this defect, you can use one of the following methods:

Gently tap the back of the boots with a hammer. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the product;
Rub the back with vinegar. It will cope well with rough shoe material;
you can use special professional products that are sold in stores;
If the shoes are made of artificial material, then you should use vegetable oil. Apply it evenly to the heel and leave the boots overnight.

Soft, comfortable shoes provide the feet with the necessary comfort and also maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system. Therefore, it is important that the boots do not cause discomfort. If you can’t make your shoes softer yourself, you need to take them to a workshop.

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How to soften the heel of leather shoes

A common problem with new shoes is that the heel counter is too hard. Most people ignore this fact, and subsequently such walking ends in blisters. How to soften your shoes so they don't rub your heels:

Softening backdrops with a hammer. This method involves beating the skin. There is no need to be particularly zealous, as you can damage the shoes, and some kind of impact-softening material should be applied to the heel.
Using vinegar can also quickly soften shoe leather.
Vegetable oil softens shoes, provided they are made from leather substitutes. Important! Under no circumstances should sunflower oil be used to soften leather products. This will only make them ruder!

If there is no time for such procedures, you can use pads made of soft material or fabric.

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The cheapest ways

Castor oil, almond oil, flaxseed oil, coconut oil, or any baby oil are relatively inexpensive, but they do an excellent job of softening leather shoes.

Castor oil for shoes: application

Apply ½ teaspoon of oil to a cotton pad;
Thoroughly lubricate the inside of the shoes, especially the strap, hard edging and heel;
We leave the shoes for 8-10 hours so that the oil is saturated. After impregnation, you need to try on a pair; if the sensation is still not pleasant, then you need to repeat the procedure;
It will take more than a day for the oil to be completely absorbed. Before putting on a pair, you need to treat the inside of the shoes with a damp cloth. Afterwards, you need to make sure that the oil is completely absorbed and does not leave greasy marks on the hosiery.

Instead of vegetable fats, you can also use Vaseline for shoes. It is excellent for softening certain areas of shoes.

Please note that glycerin, petroleum jelly, vegetable fats and paraffin should not be applied to the entire surface of the skin, but only to its damaged areas. You should not be guided by the principle “the more, the better”, because excessive application of these substances will lead to clogging of skin pores, and shoes will simply turn into a greenhouse.

Natural lard or fat

This method allows you to soften the skin without harm and came from our grandparents, so there is no doubt about its effectiveness and reliability. Before you start processing the belt, you need to melt and cool the lard to room temperature.

The product is rubbed with fat over the entire surface and left to soak for several days. When all the fat has been absorbed, the leather belt is lubricated with baby cream with a moisturizing effect. After a couple of hours, excess cream must be removed with wet wipes.

We use special purchased products

To soften your shoes, you can choose to buy any of the products offered in the store:

Heel pads are small silicone adhesive patches that are attached to the heel in the friction zone.
Strips to protect feet from friction are special soft strips that are glued to the inner problematic part of the shoes.
Foam and spray are special products that can be used repeatedly. The shoes are heated with a hairdryer, spray is applied, after which they are put on and broken in.

Paraffin and soap

Hard shoes can be stretched at home using paraffin and soap.

This method is suitable if the products are needed in a few hours, and you need to distribute them quickly.

You can soften hard shoes in this way: rub them from the inside with a paraffin candle or soap. Put your shoes on right away.

This method is used for rough suede or genuine leather.

Paraffin and soap make shoes very soft. After using them, calluses will not appear on your feet.

Special pad

Typically, such tools are used in workshops for shoe repair and stretching. But no one forbids having it at home.

Shoe stretching pads are sold in stores. They are shaped like a leg, so the material takes on the desired shape.

The special lasts also come with attachments that allow you to correct certain areas of your shoes.

How to soften skin with castor oil

This method is rightfully considered one of the best. You will need a lot of oil, so it is better to purchase more than 10 bottles at once.

For convenience, you need to pour the product into a separate container and prepare a rag to remove excess oil. It is necessary to distribute it evenly along the entire length of the belt, not only outside, but also inside the product, and rub it into the skin with gentle movements. This procedure will begin to darken the belt, so it should be used for dark-colored products.

After the product is completely absorbed, all steps are repeated until the oil stops being absorbed.

Despite all the capriciousness of things made of genuine leather, you should not refuse them. Even if the item has become rough, you can easily find a way to soften the skin. With proper care, these products will delight owners for many years.

Boiling water or beer

Both products are good if you need to soften suede products. Boiling water and beer are suitable for suede as they do not leave marks.

The outside of suede cannot be wet. This material is very sensitive to moisture.

How to soften:

Spray the inside with beer, then put on socks and walk around in them for a bit. It is better to set aside the whole day for the procedure in order to properly break in the shoes.
Boil water in a kettle. Fill the suede shoes to the brim, after 5 seconds pour out the water. Put your boots on immediately and walk around the house in them until the material cools down.

Boiling water can also be used on genuine leather shoes. It withstands high temperatures well.

Boiling water cannot be used for leatherette. The material may burst when heated. Also, a hairdryer is not suitable for leatherette.

Ways to soften skin at home

Most often, oil-based products are used for these purposes. Their main advantage is availability and low price. The following substances can be used to make the skin soft:

Vaseline - rubbed into the surface of the skin, used for light-colored products;
castor oil - purchased at the pharmacy. Castor oil is applied to a soft cloth, then the surface is processed several times. It takes several days for the product to be completely absorbed, after which the treated item can be used;
hygienic oil for children - used for dark-colored items and leaves a pleasant smell after treatment;
shoe polish and baby cream - shoe polish must be colorless and contain beeswax. The ingredients are mixed in equal quantities and applied to the surface of the skin;
full-fat milk - it is also mixed with shoe polish and the product is processed until completely absorbed;
sunflower oil;
glycerol;
candle wax - the surface of the product is thoroughly cleaned, then the wax is melted and cooled to room temperature. The roughened part of the item is smeared with this mixture, after which the wax is removed and the surface is thoroughly polished.

Petrolatum

Vaseline is perfect for softening. This product is safe, but if you have allergic reactions to its composition, it is better not to use it. After all, the medicine will come into contact with the skin.

How to soften shoes so they don't rub:

Take a small amount of Vaseline and treat the inside of the shoes in the toe area.
Then go over the side walls.
Pay special attention to the back. Rub the heel well; it is in these places that the material is most often coarser.

Leave the shoes alone for several hours. Vaseline should be well absorbed. Then put on warm socks and walk around the apartment in your shoes.

Vaseline is very cheap and is available for sale in every pharmacy.