How to stretch sneakers a size larger at home

Sneakers and sneakers are considered the most comfortable and practical shoes, however, they can also cause discomfort, squeeze and rub. Products may be small or made of low-quality materials, which leads to such problems. In this case, it is recommended to break in or stretch your shoes. In this article we will look at how to do this correctly and safely for sneakers.

How to stretch sneakers

A professional workshop will help you make your shoes one size larger using a wooden block and a special spray. However, you can carry out the sneakers yourself. If they press only slightly, then after regular regular wear for a week the products will already stretch and take the shape of the leg and become comfortable to use.

However, if after a few days the products remain uncomfortable, you can use a number of improvised or store-bought products. By the way, it is much easier to stretch sneakers made of fabric materials than leather or suede shoes. And sports shoes made of synthetic materials, in turn, are subject to stretching worse than those made of natural ones.

In no case should you use glycerin, petroleum jelly or high-fat compounds for sneakers. The listed products may only be suitable for suede or leather. How to stretch leather and suede shoes, see here. And then we’ll look at how to stretch sneakers at home if they’re too tight.

What can you do

To begin with, it is important to understand what parameters indicate an unsuitable size. Shoes should be longer than the foot. The second thing to remember is that the shoes may not be the right width. Of course, you can make shoes a size smaller; there are two methods for this:

Go to the workshop. To do this, professionals use full or partial re-upholstery, that is, they separate the sole from the heel and place it on top of the last of the required size. This procedure is carried out if the shoes do not fit the length of the foot. If the pair is too wide, then it is sutured or a more suitable way to solve the problem is selected. But you need to remember that not all repairmen will use non-leather shoes. They will also not be able to reduce the size of sneakers or sneakers that have a special cut. But at the same time, sandals, slippers or clogs are allowed to be narrowed in workshops. In this case, the straps are carefully removed, shortened, and then installed in their original place.
You can also use the traditional method. In this case, there are no restrictions on the quality of shoes used. When tapering your shoes, the only important thing to consider is the material. Some specific methods work well for all species.

Eight ways to break in sneakers

Use a special shoe spray or aerosol to stretch fabric and rubber shoes. In this case, compounds for leather or suede shoes are not suitable. The product is sprayed onto problematic internal areas of sneakers or sneakers or over the entire internal surface, then the products are put on and worn for 30-60 minutes. If necessary, repeat the procedure;
To make sneakers stop pressing, put a thick, thick woolen or terry sock on your foot, and put shoes on top. Wear a pair every day for one to two hours or more for a week;
Buy a special wooden last or spacer for stretching shoes from a shoe store or department. Choose models that stretch products both in length and width. For the procedure, treat the sneakers with a stretching aerosol from the inside in problem areas and lightly moisten with water. Then insert the pads or spacer inside and leave for a day;
If your heel rubs or pinches, use special stickers on the heels, which can also be bought in every shoe department or salon;
Soak thick socks in warm water and put them on your feet, put your shoes on top and walk until the socks and sneakers are completely dry;
Place the items in hot water and wait until they are soaked. Then put the shoes on a thick and dense woolen or terry sock, wear until the sneakers are completely dry;
Take newspapers or paper and fill it with hot water. Fill each shoe and press the paper filling firmly inside. Leave it overnight or for a day, and then remove the paper. Sneakers should go up a size;
To soften rubber soles, use ammonia. In this case, wipe narrow areas of the sneakers with ammonia using a cotton pad. Then the shoes are put on a thick and thick sock and worn in for two to three hours. The alcohol will soften the rubber and the products will become comfortable.

Small Size Features

Shoes in sizes 35 and 36 can be found in assortment most often only in stores for children, and many models for adult women are supplied to the market in sizes 37 and above.
Sizes that are too small, even if they are produced by the manufacturer, are sold out in a short time, so it is not always possible to buy the desired model. There are also unforeseen situations that are associated with shopping in online stores. When buying shoes online, it is important not only to carefully study the photographs, but also carefully consider the table with all the sizes presented. In some cases, a woman’s idea of size 36 may not correspond with the seller’s opinion.

In this case, there is a risk of purchasing and receiving by mail the shoes you want in style and appearance, but with the wrong size. To ensure that such a situation does not happen, it is best to take into account not only the shoe size, but also check the total length of the sole.

Also, in order not to return the shoes back to the store, you can try to reduce their size yourself.

If you follow the laws of the country, you can return shoes that do not fit the consumer in size to the store within fourteen days from the date of purchase. In this case, the product must meet certain parameters:

shoes should never be worn outside;
products must have a marketable appearance (without characteristic abrasions or scratches);
make up a whole set (be in a box, with heels, insoles and other additional parts that were available upon purchase).

To carry out a correct return or exchange for another product, if there is plenty to choose from, the buyer must show the purchase receipt punched at the checkout or a copy of it, the warranty card for the product, as well as his passport.

Freeze or hair dryer

To effectively stretch products made from natural and artificial materials, use freezing. To do this, fill the bags half or one third with water and tie tightly. Place a bag into each item and distribute over the heel and toe. Or you can place one bag each in the heel area and the toe area.

In addition, if these are high-top sneakers, you can also put a bag in the ankle area to stretch the instep. Place sneakers or sneakers with bags in the freezer and leave for 10-12 hours. Then remove the pair from the freezer and wait for the ice to thaw. After this, carefully remove the water bags. This extreme method using ice will greatly stretch your shoes.

The opposite method for stretching shoes is using a hot hair dryer. To do this, make a hole in a cardboard shoe box to fit the end of a hair dryer. Place the sneakers inside and close the lid tightly. Turn on the electric device at full power, insert it into the hole and heat the interior for 20-25 minutes.

Then carefully open the box and, using gloves or a cloth, to avoid getting burned, remove the shoes. Wear the heated pair over thick, thick wool or terry socks. Wear for 30-60 minutes.

In addition, you can first put on your shoes with a warm and thick sock and then warm up the problem areas with a hot hairdryer for twenty minutes, and then walk around until the products cool down. By the way, a hair dryer will also help dry your shoes safely and quickly.

Basic recommendations

Spending little time trying things on is a common mistake when buying. When choosing new shoes, it is worth remembering the following points:

It is better to go to a sports store in the afternoon, when the size of the foot increases due to swelling. There is a risk of buying small shoes in the morning.
You should try on sneakers as if you were trying to find a size for the first time. It should be borne in mind that each time manufacturers produce models that are completely different in width and length.
Sports shoes should be tried on only while standing, so that the foot is in a natural position, and on your own socks (they should not be too thin and not very tight).
Don't lace your sneakers too tightly when trying them on.
It is necessary to check whether the product has a soft insole. It takes up too much space and dulls the sensation of the surface on which its owner will walk.
It is recommended not to be lazy and wear a pair of sneakers at once, and not just one. It’s better to stand on a special stand and consider how freely your foot is on the insole: there should be about 0.5 cm between the toe and toes.
When trying on, you should walk, jump, or even run around the store to check how comfortable it is.

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Folk remedies for stretching shoes

An effective folk way to stretch sports shoes, including fabric sneakers or leather sneakers, is to use potatoes. To do this, peel the potatoes, place one tuber in the nose of the product and leave overnight. Potato juice softens the material, making it elastic, flexible and pliable. As a result, the shoes will stretch;
Take table vinegar 3% and treat the inside of the products with a cotton pad. Vinegar will soften the material, which will make it easier and faster to break in shoes;
The insides of the soles, toes and rear areas can be treated with hot drying oil or castor oil. This will not only stretch the material, but also protect the products from moisture penetrating inside and getting your sneakers or sneakers wet;
Wipe the inside of the pair with medical alcohol, and then rub with laundry soap with a fat content of over 72%. Treat especially carefully the areas that cause the greatest discomfort during use;
The inside of the sneakers can be moistened with kerosene, then put on a warm and thick woolen or terry sock and worn for 30-60 minutes; The surface of the sneaker, outside and inside, can be sprayed with glass or window cleaner. Then also put on thick-toed shoes and walk like this for one to two hours;
Leather sneakers should be dried with a hot hairdryer for one to two minutes, then lubricated with vegetable oil, put on thick socks and walk for 30-40 minutes. The remaining oil should be blotted with a paper towel or napkins.

Shoes do not fit: when can they be returned to the store?

The easiest option is to return the unsuitable purchase immediately on the day of purchase. If you're lucky and the seller remembers you, you can exchange the shoes for a pair of the size you need or get your money back.

According to the Consumer Protection Law, you can return the shoes within two weeks after purchase. But only on condition that the pair is clean, undamaged, and the factory packaging, labels and receipt are preserved. However, do not be upset if the receipt has not been saved - in any case, information about the sale is in the store documentation, and the sellers have a second copy of this document.

You can return shoes to the store using the Consumer Protection Law

The store has the right to exchange shoes you don't like for a more suitable pair with the same or higher price (if you agree to pay extra). If a suitable pair is not available on the day of your request, then you can request a refund of the cost of your purchase, and the amount must be returned within 3 days after your request.

Caring for sneakers and sneakers

Try to clean the soles of your sneakers and sneakers after every time you go outside and after every wear. Remove stains and dirt immediately after they appear, otherwise after two or three days it will be almost impossible to eliminate defects. This is especially true for white sports shoes.

To clean, use a regular hard or old toothbrush, soap solution or washing powder. Do not wet or wash your sneakers or sneakers too often. In this case, it is recommended to wash by hand using only cool or cold water. Always remove laces and insoles before washing and wash them separately.

You can wash sneakers or sneakers in a washing machine only if the products are made of high-quality and reliable materials. Poor quality shoes will tear in the machine. For washing, each product is placed in a special case, pillowcase or light sock.

After dry cleaning, put your shoes on the balcony to air out. After washing, the items should be dried by hanging them or placing them on vertical racks. The pair is then filled with dry crumpled newspapers or paper and left to dry in a warm, dry and well-ventilated area. Sports shoes should be dried as open as possible.

Proper and careful care will ensure a long service life of the products, maintaining quality and presentable appearance for a long time. For more information on how to properly care for sneakers and sneakers, see the link.

Optical illusion, or how to make shoes look smaller

In order to optically reduce the size of your shoes, you should choose a pair with an open toe.

Silicone inserts (on the heel or toe) are an ideal solution to several problems at once: your shoes will not fly off when walking, you will reduce the heel, the volume of the shoes, and in general you will ensure that your pair is definitely reduced by one size. But there are a few more tricks that create the effect of an elegant leg:

high heels (and not only stilettos, but also massive thick heels visually reduce the size);
rounded noses (taboo on long and pointed noses);
dark or rich colors (light and pastels make your legs look larger);
relatively thick straps in moderation, if we are talking about sandals;
buckles, bows, pull tabs and embellishments create a little shoe look.