Shoes rub your feet, what to do, advice from a shoemaker

Having bought a great pair of shoes, you can end up in an unpleasant situation later, because everything was perfect and comfortable on your feet when you bought it. During the process of starting to use it, the situation changed dramatically - the boots were rubbing. The phenomenon is common because the material of the shoes is hard and takes some time to mold to the shape of the foot. What to do if your shoes rub on the back? The problem is fixable, but it requires additional measures to break in, or you will have to refuse the purchase.

Causes of discomfort

In addition to joy, new shoes can bring an unpleasant surprise. While the material adapts to the shape of the foot, the heel will suffer, especially if the heel of the shoe, due to its rigidity, cannot bend sufficiently during the pressing process. This happens 90 percent of the time. There are other reasons for pain:

Wrong size. Even a slight deviation in one direction or another will cause damage to the skin on the legs.
Not suitable model. Volume and completeness are essential parameters when choosing. The use of different pads during production makes the products unequal in lifting. The result is calluses if you don’t approach the fitting responsibly and without haste.
Legs are prone to swelling. These individual features should not be missed when purchasing. To prevent shoes from chafing due to the length of walking, look for wider lasts.

What helps with chafing between your legs?

We listened to what experienced athletes advise beginners and compiled a rating of recommended products for you.

Petrolatum
Balm from Body Glide.
Ointment "Polar" from Repharm.
Cream "BOROPLUS"
"Anti- chafing
" from Aptonia.

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We choose wisely

Responsibility and balance are the main criteria for approaching selection and fitting, so as not to look for an answer to the question “Shoes rub your heels, what should I do?” Most of the purchased models are intended for frequent use. Comfort is the main point in the choice, after which we pay attention to beauty and other features. If boots rub your heel, then no matter how beautiful they are, they turn into an instrument of torture. Advice for a specific case is complex, but there are general recommendations that you need to heed so as not to torment your feet with shoes:

Walk around in the product you like right in the store, this will allow you to feel it.
Even if you really like the model, but the size is a little larger, don’t buy it - the backs will bother you.
Look for an orthopedic last - one of the defining moments.
Natural material is preferable.
Time for shopping is also important. It is necessary to measure in the evening, by this time the leg becomes a little larger.
Avoid hard soles, opting for soft and flexible bases.

It is not always possible to wear shoes. The reason may be the peculiarity of the material from which it is made, as well as natural factors - a slight increase in the size of the leg in the afternoon. Soft natural materials may stretch a little when trying them on, but the size is still not yours, you need to take this into account.

What do you do with your shoes if the heel rubs?

If the callus has already appeared

If you have already rubbed your foot, then the callus that appears needs to be treated. Let's begin with that:

Contrast baths will help numb the pain. Baths using herbs, for example: chamomile, calendula, nettle, are also effective. These herbs have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects.
Rub the blister, then after the bath, lubricate it with antibiotic ointment. Use a cream that contains zinc - it dries and soothes the skin. After treating the damaged area, cover it with a bandage.

Now you know what to do if your new shoes chafe, and how to avoid blisters. Remember our recommendations and wear shoes without damage.

Stretch and wear out

While enjoying a new thing, you shouldn’t put it on and expect to show off in it all day. There will be some discomfort for some time until the material “gets used” to the shape of the foot. If the shoes rub anywhere, we try to stretch them. To do this, we turn to chemical (you can buy them in shoe stores) or mechanical means. But no one can do the fitting better than a shoemaker. He is the one you should contact if possible.

Natural material

If your shoes chafe, you can use several methods. One of them is mechanical in nature. If the backdrop rubs, you need to wrap it well in soft material and tap it with a small hammer, being careful not to spoil the material. You can use pliers instead of a hammer. The option is completely unsuitable for varnish coating.

Regular table vinegar, which is a caustic liquid with the ability to make the material more elastic, will help make your shoes soft. It is necessary to moisten a piece of cloth in it, squeeze it out so that the liquid does not drain, and put it inside the shoes, keeping it there for 12 hours. A more gentle option is a damp cloth. But here you need to use glycerin, lubricating the problematic parts of the model with it. This must be done by waiting a quarter of an hour from the moment a hot, damp piece of cloth is placed inside, allowing the material of the product to warm up sufficiently. Glycerin can be replaced with castor oil. Paraffin, natural wax and soap are also suitable in this status.

How to sell a new model faster? Shoes that rub are pre-treated. To do this, use vodka, which is used to rub the sides and back from the inside. Then we put on socks, put on our shoes and walk indoors until the pair is completely dry. One of the simple ways to prevent new shoes from rubbing your feet. The pair must be the right size.

Important! Shoe stores sell aerosol products for such purposes that are harmless to leather shoes.

Artificial material

Leatherettes and other synthetics require a different approach. If shoes made from such materials rub, vinegar, as in the previous example, should be replaced with alcohol. You should carefully study the composition of the products used. The presence of acid will render your new purchase unusable. If your shoes rub your heel, use a water-alcohol solution prepared in advance. Soak your fingers in it and knead the product in the heel area. Do not apply excessive force and do not use this technique; if the design contains cardboard elements, they will lose their original shape.

All vegetable oils are suitable for use from the inside - rub and leave to soak for 12 hours, followed by wiping off any remaining residue with a napkin. Oil can be replaced with glycerin, it is absorbed faster, after which it will be easier to break in the shoes.

Purchased synthetic shoes rub the skin on the heel. The method involving the use of a damp hot cloth, a hammer or pliers also works, but the risk of damage remains.

Return

If you have no idea how to break in a purchased pair of shoes (or this is not possible), use the return-to-store option. The legislation regulates such a procedure, so there is nothing terrible here if you adhere to certain rules, using your consumer rights:

a product purchased for a maximum of 14 days before the buyer decided to return it to the seller is subject to return;
mandatory preservation of the packaging in its original condition and availability of a receipt;
shoes must be returned in their original condition.

If there are significant defects, the goods may not be accepted legally. If the buyer does not comply with the stipulated standard conditions, the return may also not take place. If the buyer feels that he is right, then he has the opportunity to express his claims in writing to the store owner with a copy sent to the manufacturers or for use in legal proceedings.

If the decision is positive, the buyer will be offered options to get out of the situation: return the entire amount or replace it with a new pair, or with another model with an additional payment, or vice versa, return the difference if the purchase is less expensive.

Why new shoes rub your heel, and what to do to avoid mistakes when buying

There are many reasons for this problem. It is important to know the basics in order to avoid problems when purchasing.

The size is incorrect.
The model is not right for you, since everyone has different fullness and width of the foot, as well as a different curvature of the heel.
The back of the shoe is too hard.
Poor quality material, rough seams.
Excessive sweating of the feet.

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Dealing with the consequences

My shoes rub my heels, what should I do? There are two sides to the problem. In parallel with breaking in, you need to worry about the legs, which have already suffered. It is not always possible to protect yourself from the appearance of calluses in a timely manner. If it has already appeared, then first of all we change the pair to a familiar and comfortable one. And we use it until the wound heals.

Wet blisters

The so-called dropsy is very painful, so the bactericidal patch should protect the neoplasm from exposure. Do not try to pierce it, to avoid the risk of infection. To speed up regeneration processes, use freshly cut aloe or plantain to prepare a compress.

The healing of dropsy is a long process and requires special actions:

Iodine, brilliant green, peroxide are used for disinfection in the wound area.
We prepare a bath and disinfect the sewing needle in it for 5 minutes.
We heat the bubble on several sides to drain the exudate. Punctures are made parallel to the skin.
There is no need to tear off the skin of the bladder; it will act as protection for the wound during the healing process.
Apply antibacterial ointment and cover with a bactericidal plaster.

Correctly carried out actions minimize the risk of infection of the wound surface. In the future, the bandage must be changed every 5 hours.

Dry corns

The skin's response to constant pressure is its hardening. Dry calluses appear in such places. They get rid of them with baths and compresses using potassium permanganate and chamomile decoction. The temperature of the prepared solution should be within 40 degrees.

How to prevent calluses

New shoes rub your skin - how to get rid of this problem? Only ideally selected shoes and their correct placement can serve as a guarantee. The correct size and comfortable last is reinforced by gluing a bactericidal patch to critical areas of the foot.

How to choose the right shoes

Questions about what to do to prevent shoes from rubbing and why they feel too tight are always nearby. The discomfort experienced by the foot and lower leg can lead to health problems, so you need to take the choice of good, high-quality, and most importantly, comfortable shoes seriously and carefully. Here are some tips on how to do it correctly:

Choose boots, sneakers, sneakers or shoes half a size larger.
Be sure to try on two shoes before purchasing.
Jump or run in place in your new clothes. Try turning your foot in different directions. Check your shoes for comfort.
Look carefully at the condition of the seams and other parts of the boot.
Do not buy shoes that are too tight and hard. Give preference to soft and comfortable sandals and sandals.
Go shopping for new things in the evening. Your feet may swell, which is why you shouldn’t go to the store in the morning, because then you might not be able to fit into your sneakers.
Try on a new sock, preferably a thick one or a winter one. The exception is summer shoes.

As you can see, there are many tips and recommendations on how to cope with regular rubbing of calluses. Try different options and wear your shoes with pleasure. Let it be not only beautiful and stylish, but also very comfortable and practical. Our tips for different fabrics and materials will help you in this matter.

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Video material

There is no universal and 100% effective method for softening shoes. The choice of one or another method and means depends on the material used to make the shoes, the style and many other features of a particular pair. If there is an opportunity to return an unsuccessful model to the store, then take advantage of it. If this is not possible, then use our advice and folk wisdom, and next time be sure to choose the right shoes.

Prevention

Even a correctly selected pair does not guarantee that the product will not chafe. Before the shoes fit on your feet, you need to break them in correctly.

Preventative measures that will protect your foot from calluses:

To prevent worn shoes from shrinking and causing discomfort during a year of storage, push crumpled newspapers or rags inside before storing.
Apply the patch to areas that are frequently subject to friction. This way you will not damage the skin of your feet.

Soften hard soles - shoemaker's advice

The soles of shoes can become hard over time. This is especially true for those products in which it is made of rubber. Walking in such shoes is uncomfortable, but this is a natural process that cannot be stopped. However, there are methods to make the hardened sole much softer:

The easiest way is heating. To do this, you can use a hair dryer, radiator or clothes dryer. It is also possible to place shoes in the oven for 5-10 minutes with the soles facing up so that they do not stick to the baking sheet. The optimal temperature is 90-100 degrees. This is quite enough; overheating can simply ruin the product;

If the sole is removable, it is convenient to soften it with a special impregnation. Pour a solution of medical alcohol and wintergreen oil, taken in a 3:1 ratio, into a container prepared in advance. Carry out all procedures wearing gloves to prevent an unpleasant odor from coming from your hands later. Place the product in the solution so that it is completely immersed in the liquid and leave. Softening may take several hours or several days. Then remove the sole and remove excess moisture with a napkin. Despite the strong smell of oil, it is better not to rinse it with water: this will make the material even more pliable over time.

Useful video

You can watch a useful video here:

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Shoemaker tips: how to soften shoes if they rub: 1 comment

Previously, I also always suffered from uncomfortable shoes. You buy shoes and are happy until the moment you go outside in them for the first time. In general, my feet were rubbing until they bled, but the problem turned out to be very trivial, the shoes were not comfortable and comfortable. I solved this issue when I bought shoes for the first time in a specific chain store! And since then, my shoes have only come from this store and any style fits perfectly without any problems. The fact is that each chain store supplies several collections of shoes, and they are made according to a specific last. You just need to choose a collection or line that suits your foot.

What to apply after the cream

Any shoes, even if they are intended to be worn in conditions of high humidity (winter or autumn), need protection from moisture and dirt.
Therefore, in addition to daily cleaning, it is necessary to additionally treat it with special products.

In modern shoe stores you can find shoe grease that does an excellent job of this task.

It can be of either natural or artificial origin, but in any case it will help extend the life of the product. The product is applied to the surface of the material and left overnight, during which time it soaks it well. Before covering the entire product with fat, test it on an inconspicuous area.

Particular care should be taken to lubricate the places where the body elements meet. A well-impregnated seam is guaranteed not to let water through and will become more durable.

Even patent leather shoes need such treatment. To care for such products, it is recommended to purchase a special balm or oil. They will not only help protect the material, but also prevent it from tarnishing.