Everyone has encountered the problem of shoes that don't quite fit. And no matter how carefully you try on and choose a new thing, often in the process of wearing it it turns out to be tight, narrow, rubs your feet and causes all sorts of discomfort. However, you shouldn’t rush to put a new pair on the shelf and forget about its existence. Almost any shoe can be broken in and made comfortable for your feet. In this article we will talk about how to stretch your running shoes.

Sock method

This is the so-called “military” method of stretching sneakers. You need to take thick cotton socks. We soak them in warm water and squeeze them thoroughly. We put wet socks on our feet and put our feet into tight shoes. We wear sneakers until our socks are completely dry. As soon as the socks are dry, remove the sneakers and stuff them tightly with crumpled newspaper. This is done so that the newspaper absorbs the remaining moisture inside the shoes.

Alcohol method

For this method we need alcohol or, at worst, ordinary vodka. Generously moisten the inside of the sneakers with the prepared liquid and put them on your feet. Then we also wet the top of the sneakers and wear them for about two hours. In this way we will not only stretch our sneakers, but also make the particularly hard parts softer.

Chemical method

Perhaps the most popular and simplest method. For this we will need a special shoe stretching spray. You can buy it at any shoe store. We treat the inner surface of the sneakers with the product and put them on. You need to walk around in the treated shoes for a while until you feel that the hard places have become softer and the shoes fit comfortably on your feet. The chemical method is suitable for sneakers and sneakers made of genuine leather. However, before you start using it, it is necessary to conduct a test to determine the reaction of the product to the material. Apply a little product in an inconspicuous place, you can apply it to the edge of the shoe tongue or on the inside of the lacing. If after a couple of hours the skin at the application site changes color, do not use this product. If the color has not changed, feel free to use the product.

Ice way

For it we need a plastic bag, plain water and a refrigerator. Wash the sneakers thoroughly and dry them. Then we fill the bag with water and tie it tightly. We check that the package is not holey or torn. We insert a bag of water into our shoes and put them in the freezer. The method is based on the property of water to increase its volume during the transition from a liquid to a solid state. We wait until the liquid freezes and take out our sneakers. You can’t take out the bag right away - the insert should melt a little, then carefully take it out. The method works very well, but it should be noted that this type of stretching can damage too thin material.

Dry method

The method is suitable for stretching specifically pinching or pressing leather elements of a sneaker. For this we will need a very ordinary hairdryer. Under the influence of hot air, the skin will stretch and take the desired shape. We must be careful when heating the seam area, as the glue in the seams may leak from too hot air.

In fact, there are a huge number of ways to stretch your sneakers at home. You should weigh all the pros and cons, evaluate your capabilities, and only then begin rescuing your shoes on your own. If you are afraid to experiment with new sneakers, you should take them to a good shoe repair and restoration shop. There it is stretched using special metal pads, which are heated and gradually bring the shoes to the desired size. This usually takes a couple of days.

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.

For sneakers and sneakers, you should never use glycerin, petroleum jelly or compounds with a high fat content. The listed products may only be suitable for suede or leather. How to stretch leather and suede shoes, see. And then we’ll look at how to stretch sneakers at home if they’re too tight.

Eight ways to break in sneakers

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. If your heel rubs or pinches, use special stickers on the heels, which can also be bought in every shoe department or salon;
5. 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;
6. 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;
7. 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;
8. 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.

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 woolen or terry socks. Wear for 30-60 minutes.

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 product 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.

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.

New clothes bought in a store are not always as comfortable in the gym. Changing the size of the product is quite possible. Fabric sneakers stretch well, but they also change shape quickly. The best way to solve the problem is to go to a shoemaker. To change the length of shoes, a specialist uses lasts. On sale today you can find their analogue - spacers. Use special sprays and creams to expand your sneakers.

If sneakers cause a feeling of discomfort when worn, and ordinary means for stretching shoes do not help, then use proven folk advice.

Winter

If your winter shoes are too tight, use the frozen water method. Fill the bag with water and place it in the product. Leave the product in the freezer for half a day. If it's cold outside, you can leave your sneakers on the balcony. When water freezes, it will expand and stretch the product evenly. Bring your sneakers into a warm room and wait for the weather to melt. Re-wear your shoes to make sure they are not too tight.

New fabric

A fabric product needs delicate care, so take your time choosing a method:

1. Boiling water. Place the shoes in the bath and pour boiling water over them. Then drain the water, put the product on your socks and wear it until it dries;
2. Rags. We wet them in water and fill the sneakers with them. We wait until the shoes are completely dry. The rag should be white to prevent streaks from appearing on the product.;
3. At home. A pair is worn at home until it stretches and takes on the desired size. This will take a lot of time, but will allow you to resolve the issue naturally.

The following methods are suitable for changing the size of fabric shoes:

1. Newspapers. Shoes must be rinsed in warm water. After this, take sheets of newspaper, roll them up and place them in your sneakers. After 7 days the material will stretch. It is recommended to fill the product with damp newspapers. Wait until the item dries and put it on your foot. Shoes should be comfortable;
2. Oats. Fill the sneaker with cereal. Moisten it with water in advance and leave it overnight to swell. Shake out the cereal and walk around in your shoes until it dries completely;
3. Potato . Peel the potatoes and leave them inside the product overnight. The product will not leave any odor. In the morning, take it out and wipe your shoes with a rag.

Every person faces the problem of narrow shoes and boots in the toe, heel and shaft. Unfortunately, such custom-made products are very expensive, and choosing one that immediately fits your leg is difficult and almost impossible.

Most people have to look for ways to stretch their shoes at home, because they don’t want to return their favorite new thing, but they also don’t want to walk around with blisters. Is it possible to stretch shoes or sneakers to size? Can. If you have such a problem, use home methods on how to break in shoes that are too tight.

Water packs

If the couple is too tight, try another interesting life hack - freezing.

As the liquid freezes, it expands in volume, allowing new shoes to break in faster.

To stretch your boots you will need clean distilled water and tightly sealed bags.

How to stretch rubber boots, shoes or sneakers:

1. Fill 2 large or medium (check by size) zip-L lock bags with water. There should be enough liquid so that they stretch well when frozen. Squeeze all the air out of the bags and seal.
2. Place them in boots and place them in the freezer for 4-8 hours. During this time, the liquid will have time to freeze.
3. When the water turns to ice (check the refrigerator occasionally, it may happen much sooner), remove from the freezer, remove the bags and put on your boots.

If necessary, repeat the process to stretch them another size.

Medical alcohol

There are many special sprays available in online stores that help with stretching if your shoes are too tight. But why shell out big bucks when you can get the same results with inexpensive rubbing alcohol?

It can also be used to clean stains.

Alcohol works best on natural fabrics. If you are wondering how to stretch leather shoes at home, then know that this method is one of the best.

Test the alcohol on an inconspicuous area to see if the paint starts to peel off or not. The method is used only once; repeated use of this method is not recommended.

To widen or lengthen narrow shoes you will need rubbing alcohol, a spray bottle or cotton pads.

How to stretch new shoes:

1. Since the product is easier to spray, transfer it to another bottle. If you don’t have a spray bottle, use a cotton pad or white cotton cloth (do not use a colored one, it may fade).
2. Spray rubbing alcohol onto tight areas of your boots. Do not spare any money, pour it generously on those places where leather shoes are too tight. The fabric must become damp for the shoes to stretch well.
3. Put it on your feet and try to trample it. Walk around in it until the alcohol dries. The product works while they are wet.
4. If the shoes are small after the manipulations done, then how to break the shoes in? The issue is resolved. Soak thick socks in alcohol and put the product back on. Walk in your shoes until the alcohol completely evaporates from your socks.

After such manipulations, she no longer presses.

Remember that alcohol should not be used if there are wounds on your feet. Or first cover them with a bactericidal adhesive bandage.

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:

1. 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.
2. Wring out the sheets well and stuff them tightly into the shoes.
3. 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.

It's time to use your chemistry lessons and learn how to stretch leather or suede shoes. The thermal method can only be used on these types of products. Another fabric may not stand up to the heat, and your favorite item will end up in the trash.

You will need to wash the products, take a hairdryer and prepare clean socks.

How to break in new shoes:

1. Wear thick socks. If you feel they are not tight enough, use a second pair. It is necessary that the products fit snugly on the leg. You should also know that the denser the material, the thicker the socks should be.
2. Wear tight shoes. If your leg is difficult to climb through, use a special spoon.
3. Turn on the hairdryer to maximum airflow and direct a stream of hot air to the places where your shoes are pinching.
4. Continue blowing hot air on the areas where your shoes are too small for a few minutes. While blowing, try to wiggle your toes. This makes the shoes stretch faster.
5. Turn off the hair dryer and continue wearing it out.
6. Take off your socks and try the product on your bare foot.

As a result, the foot should slide freely inside and not rub bloody calluses.

If it is necessary to stretch the shoes further, the procedure can be repeated.

How to stretch sneakers? Such products are always durable and made of good breathable material. A hairdryer is ideal for stretching sneakers, you just need to warm them up inside and out.

Soap and paraffin

How else to break in tight shoes at home?

Products are quickly enlarged using paraffin or regular soap. Only this method is not suitable if you are looking for how to break in sneakers or how to stretch rubber shoes one size larger.

This method can be used on leather, patent leather or suede items.

How to stretch tight shoes:

1. Take a regular candle or baby soap.
2. Rub the product from the inside, sparing no expense.
3. Leave it overnight.
4. In the morning, remove any remaining paraffin with a damp cloth and try on the shoes.

Paraffin does not harm natural or artificial leather. This remedy is harmless.

The next method to stretch your shoes is to use steam. The procedure cannot be performed with artificial leather or suede products.

How to break in shoes that are pinching and rubbing?

Use the method first for one shoe, if you can stretch it, you can steam the second one.

Exercise in clean shoes, free from dust and dirt. Otherwise, it will be unpleasant to walk around the house in them.

Boil water and bring the products to the steam. Let the boots sit over the steam for a few minutes.

Breaking shoes in at home is not difficult. Just take some time for this process.

Do not use this method many times, otherwise the shoes will be too trampled.

This method can be used to quickly break in sneakers and clean them.

How to stretch narrow shoes if none of the above methods worked, and you don’t want to give up, because you really want to show off in new shoes in the evening?

Use a stretcher. With its help, you can stretch your sneakers in length; it is perfect if your shoes are tight in the toe or if you need to make your shoes a size larger.

Stretchers are different. They are available online and are made for boots, heels, or flat for sneakers, ballet shoes, etc.

How to stretch sneakers at home:

1. Spray a special product on them. Pay special attention to denser areas. If leatherette products are pinched in only one place, then spray the product only on it.
2. Insert the stretchers inside and turn the handle to increase your shoe size at home or expand.
3. Leave her alone for a while. Then remove the stretcher and put it on your legs. If the sneakers are no longer tight, then there was a point in stretching, and the manipulation was a success.

How to wear shoes if they are too tight or chafing?

The problem of uncomfortable shoes is familiar to many. Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular, and without trying on any shoes may simply turn out to be too small. Although fittings don’t always help. Even the perfect sneakers in the store can begin to feel tight over time.

There are many reasons. The most common is swelling of the legs. This is why it is recommended to try on shoes after lunch. Sneakers often feel tight if they haven't been worn for a long time. If you store them incorrectly, they simply dry out and become tight.

Real branded sneakers should be chosen so that they are slightly small. They should stretch during wear and then fit perfectly to the foot. But they can only press in width. It is impossible to stretch the sneakers in length!

When purchasing real brands, a stretch spray is required. They need to spray the inside of the shoes, then put on thick socks and wear them for about an hour. Ideally, it is during this time that the sneakers will become comfortable for the owner, and the problem of discomfort will disappear.

This spray can also be purchased separately. But at the same time, you should carefully study the information on the packaging in order to choose the one that is suitable for the material from which the sneakers are made.

If the shoes have not stretched and there is no way to exchange them for others, you can use other methods of resizing.

Soap and paraffin

How to stretch sneakers made of different materials at home

Before you start changing the size of an item at home, focus on the following factors:

1. The manufacturing material can be expanded, but only in width.
2. Fabric products cannot be increased by more than half a size. Only leather products are stretched to size.
3. Synthetics do not change shape well and can be damaged when stretched.

In length

To change the size of sneakers, use proven popular recommendations:

1. Leather shoes can be treated with hot water. The material will soften and it will be easier to stretch it. However, this method is not suitable for leatherette. This material involves the use of alcohol on problem areas;
2. You can change the size of suede sneakers in the freezer. Place bags of water inside the product. Leave the shoes in the refrigerator for 12 hours. This method is not suitable for items made of genuine leather;
3. To change your sneaker size, use socks. Wet and squeeze them out. Put on your socks and then your shoes. Walk until they dry. If the product does not press much, then do not wet your socks.

Width

The following methods will help you change the width of your shoes:

1. You can adjust the size of products using newspapers. Hold the item over steam, and then fill it with newspapers soaked in water. Dry naturally. This method is suitable for stretching items that have shrunk after washing.;
2. Vodka. Treat the item from the inside with it. Put on thick socks and moisten with vodka. You need to walk around the house for two hours in these sneakers;
3. Hair dryer. The most effective method for stretching shoes. Put socks on your feet and then shoes. Use a hair dryer to heat the material. It will take the shape you need. This is ideal for stretching leather sneakers.

Have you ever encountered a situation where sneakers that fit perfectly when you tried them on in a store later turned out to be a little too small? What to do in such a situation? The easiest way to deal with tight sneakers is to return them to the store or change them to a larger size. But what to do if the deadline for returning has expired, and there is no way to sell or exchange them? In this case, you can try stretching your sneakers at home.

Width stretch

To stretch your sneakers wider, you can use both folk remedies and those specially developed by shoe manufacturers. First, let's use what we have at hand. Soak thick wool socks in hot water.

Wait until they cool down a bit. Put on your feet, then put on your sneakers. In order for the shoes to take the shape of the foot and stop pressing from the sides, you need to walk in sneakers and socks for at least an hour. If necessary, repeat the procedure several times.

Vodka is another folk remedy that helps stretch sneakers wide. Wet the inside of the shoes generously and put them on your feet. Now wet the outside of the sneakers. Walk around in them for at least two hours or until the vodka dries completely. This method works best for athletic shoes made from fabric or non-elastic materials.

Length stretch

You can stretch your sneakers to length at home using newspapers and steam. Hold the shoes over boiling water until the material softens slightly. Moisten newspapers with water and stuff them tightly into your sneakers. Don't overdo it, proceed carefully.

Make sure that the sneakers do not deform or lose their shape. Leave the softened and newspaper-stuffed shoes to dry at room temperature. Do not speed up the drying process or place your sneakers near heating devices or in direct sunlight. After the shoes are dry, try them on.

If one stretch is not enough, repeat the procedure again.

Sometimes discomfort can be caused by a hard heel or a tight sock. Try softening them with steam, and then knead the problem areas with your hands. Particularly hard material can be lightly beaten with a smooth hammer head. Do this carefully. Otherwise, the appearance and shape of the sneakers will suffer.

Leather and suede

Leather and suede products are the easiest to stretch and take the desired shape. It is enough to wet your shoes with water, put on a thick sock, put on sneakers and walk around in them for a couple of hours. 2-3 such procedures are enough to obtain optimal results.

You can also achieve a pleasant shoe width if you use professional stretchers from well-known brands Salton and Salamander. These products are sprayed onto the problem area, soften it and ensure a comfortable fit for the shoes.

One of the folk remedies that allow you to increase your sneakers size is ice. Place a thick plastic bag inside your shoes and fill it with water. Tie tightly and place in the freezer overnight.

Remove the water containers and dry the shoes at room temperature.

The opposite method is no less effective - stretching natural leather sneakers with hot water. Pour boiling water over the inside of the shoes. After 10 minutes, put on your sneakers and walk for 30-40 minutes. It is advisable not just to walk, but to perform active actions (squats, jumping, etc.). In this case, the load on the softened skin will be greater, which means it will quickly take the desired shape.

You can also use a hairdryer and vegetable oil. Hold the shoes under the hot air for a few minutes. After the sneakers have softened sufficiently, grease them with sunflower oil and put them on thick socks. Walk around for an hour. Remove any remaining oil with a napkin.

Textile

Stretching textile sports shoes should be done very carefully and carefully. The most effective result when stretching such shoes can be achieved using boiling water. Place the sneakers in the bath. Pour boiling water over it. While the sneakers are cooling, put on thick socks. Put on your shoes and walk until your shoes are dry. If necessary, repeat the described steps again.

Using paper and rags also helps a lot in stretching tight textile shoes. Soak them in water and stuff the sneakers tightly. Wait until completely dry and remove the padding. Don't use newspapers. They can leave streaks and ruin the appearance of the shoes.

Leatherette

Shoes made from leather substitutes do not withstand shape changes well. Leatherette sneakers should never be exposed to temperature changes, nor should boiling water, ice or steam be used to stretch them. Is it even possible to stretch such capricious and unreliable material at home? Yes, you can. And alcohol-containing products, such as cologne, will help with this.

If you have tried all the methods described and still cannot stretch your shoes, try taking out the insoles and walking around for a while without them.

Here are a few more products that can be used to treat leatherette sneakers to effectively soften them:

• 3% vinegar solution - soak a cotton swab in it and saturate the inner surface of the products;
• kerosene - applied to the inside of the shoe;
• glass washing liquid - applied liberally to the inside and outside of the products.

If you have tried all the methods described and still cannot stretch your shoes, try taking out the insoles and walking around for a while without them. The legs will not be very comfortable in such conditions, but they will gain a few necessary millimeters.

Using the methods described above allows you to increase the length and width of shoes by half a size or even a size. Sneakers made of leather, suede and textiles can be stretched under the influence of steam and boiling water.

It is better to soften leatherette and leatherette with chemicals: kerosene, vinegar, cologne and glass washing liquid.

How to stretch sneakers or sneakers at home

Many of us have encountered the problem of tight shoes. It is distracting, painful and harmful to health. If we are talking about sports shoes, then the problem only gets worse. After all, the main purpose of sneakers and trainers is to be comfortable and not restrict movement. Is it possible to cope with the problem and stretch sports shoes at home?

• 1 Is it possible to stretch sneakers or sneakers that are too small?
• 2 Professional means to increase shoe size

• 3 How to increase the length and width of shoes at home
• 4 Correct ways to stretch children's shoes

Before you start changing the size of sports shoes yourself, consider the factors that influence the result.

If after purchasing you realize that the shoes are too small and too tight for you, the best solution to the problem is to contact the store and request an exchange or return.

If for some reason you cannot return tight sneakers or sneakers to the store, use professional stretching products. Shoe repair shops use:

• surface treatment liquid;
• lasts on which shoes that require stretching are pulled.

Manufacturers offer special sprays and stretching foams as a liquid that helps increase the length of shoes. When purchasing them, pay attention to the purpose. If the spray is labeled “for all types of natural leather,” then it will be ineffective for textile sneakers.

Before using stretching agents, test on an inconspicuous area of ​​the shoe.

Mode of application.

What tools can be used

“Stretching” sprays have appeared on the market relatively recently, but the methods proposed below have been used for many years. Some may seem a little strange, but they actually work. Just don't try everything at once. If one does not help, let at least a week pass before the next attempt.

Ice "therapy"

This method works in 90 cases out of 100. The explanation is that water expands when it freezes. You need to take thick bags, insert them into your sneakers and fill them with water. Tie tightly and put the shoes in the freezer for a day.

After this time, take it out, let it “warm up” for about 20 minutes, remove the bags from the sneakers, put them on and wear them for several hours.

The bags must be very strong so that water does not spill.

This way to stretch shoes involves using boiling water. If the shoes are made of genuine leather, you can safely pour it inside and leave for 10-15 minutes. You can use steam rather than water. It is enough to hold tight sneakers over it for a few minutes, and then wear them for a couple of hours so that they “sit” on your feet.

This method is not suitable for other materials. If the sneakers are made of leatherette, they will simply “creep”.

Sneakers are stretched using regular newspapers. It is enough to slightly moisten them and stuff them tightly inside. When drying under natural conditions, the shoes should stretch. However, it is strictly forbidden to place it on or near the battery. This method is physical, but there are several chemical options:

• Wipe the inside of the sneakers with a cotton pad or gauze, after moistening them in a 3% solution of ordinary vinegar. This softens the material and helps stretch it;
• treat the sole with castor oil or drying oil. It also improves the elasticity of the shoe;

• Wipe the inside with medical alcohol and the outside with laundry soap. The chemical reaction will allow the shoes to stretch;
• lubricate the inside of the sneakers with kerosene, then wear for a couple of hours;
• Spray the inside and outside of the shoes with glass cleaner and wear for two hours, wearing warm socks.

Using socks

The easiest way to break in sneakers is with socks. To do this, you need to wet them in warm water, put on tight shoes and wear them until completely dry. You should wear thick socks. It is advisable to use cotton ones.

When the socks are dry, the sneakers should be tightly stuffed with newspaper. They will absorb any remaining moisture.

Alcohol method

To stretch shoes, you can use vodka, moonshine or regular medical alcohol diluted in half with water. You should wet the inside of the sneakers well with alcohol, then put them on with a thick sock, spray them on the outside and wear them for at least two hours.

This method helps increase the size and soften the hard parts that rub the foot.

Table vinegar can stretch shoes by 1-2 mm in just an hour. It is enough to moisten the cotton pads, place them from the inside in the part that presses the most, and then put on your shoes and walk around in them.

Spacers

This method is called radical, but there is nothing criminal in it. It consists in purchasing special spacers. With their help, a mechanical effect is exerted on the sneakers. The lasts are equipped with a screw, when turned, they move apart and thereby stretch the shoes one size larger.

It is better to buy wooden blocks. The most reliable are those made of cedar, birch or beech. They are more expensive than their plastic counterparts, but they will last several times longer.

Usage is simple. Shoes should be wetted with alcohol, window cleaner or special stretching sprays, inserted inside the lasts and pulled apart. The result can be assessed in about a day.

• 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 product 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.

When you bought your sneakers, you thought they were the right size for you, but after wearing them for the first time, calluses appeared? It happens. If it is not possible to exchange shoes, you can try using improvised means. They may be able to cope with the task of making sneakers a size larger.

• Popular home method - shoe softening. For this, products such as alcohol, cologne, castor or regular sunflower oil are used. One of the products is to lubricate the sneakers outside and inside, either completely or only in problem areas. Then you need to wear the pair wearing warm socks.
• If you have to put on your shoes immediately after purchasing them, you can use alcohol spray for tight areas. This can also be a solution to the problem of breaking in sneakers at home.

Please note that a lot depends on the material. Here are the recommendations given by experts on this matter:

• Leather sneakers You can try treating it with boiling water. It will soften the shoes and make them easier to wear.
• For shoes made from natural materials, fabric or rubber, you can try to use the method of lengthening and expanding shoes, familiar to our grandmothers, using newspapers. First you need to hold the sneakers over the steam, then stuff them with wet newspapers. It is important to dry the products naturally to prevent their deformation.
• If the sneakers are suede, you can try to hide their tightness using the freezer. You need to place a plastic bag or even a simple balloon inside the shoe, pour cold water and leave it in the freezer overnight. This even solves the problem of stretching sneakers to fit. But do not resort to this method for shoes made of genuine leather, as they will simply “shrink”.
• Synthetic materials they stretch extremely poorly, and not all home methods are safe for them. But you can still slightly increase their width. To do this, you need to put on wet, bulky socks and wear your shoes in them.

How to stretch your sneakers in length and width yourself - ways

Use professional products to stretch your sneakers.

Cosmetics are applied to problem areas or over the entire surface, then shoes are put on and walked in them for an hour.

The procedure is repeated until the desired result is achieved.

Pads and spacers for stretching products are available on sale today. Focus on those products that change both the length and width of the product. Spray a special aerosol inside and wet the surface with water. Insert the structure and leave it for one day. If the shoes are tight in the heel area, use stickers on the heels, which can be found in the shoe department.

Having returned from the shoe store with new clothes, we often find that the shoes do not fit as well as we would like. In the store it seemed that everything was chosen perfectly, but at home it turns out that either the width is tight, or the fingers are too resting in front. There can be many reasons for this. Therefore, it is important to be able to stretch your sneakers or shoes yourself.

Difficulties in choosing

It often happens that a person may have various deformities and bone growths on his foot.

For example, a valgus deformity of the first toe can be so severe that the second toe bends under the first, and the first metatarsophalangeal joint is sharply hypertrophied and dislocated, protruding strongly in the medial direction.

There may also be heel spurs, and simply features of the bone structure that do not fit into the average characteristics.

A very common problem is flat feet, which can be longitudinal or transverse.

With flat feet, it is necessary to be very careful when choosing a last, which should reproduce the physiological curves of a normal foot in order to compensate for the lack of shock absorption associated with the physiological defect.

It is especially bad for choosing shoes to have transverse flat feet, since in this case the transverse ligament of the foot is very loose and the metatarsal bones spread to the side, significantly expanding the foot.

There are companies that fundamentally produce ultra-comfortable shoes (Rieker), however, even they are not able to take into account all possible variations in pathological foot deformation and physiological characteristics.

Sports shoes are often bought by people who have nothing to do with professional sports, but who want to go jogging in the morning or take out a subscription to a fitness center. It also happens that a person simply loves sneakers as an option for very comfortable shoes. There is a huge selection of sneakers made from a wide variety of materials:

• genuine leather;
• leatherette;
• textiles;
• suede;
• nubuck, etc.

Often, having bought sneakers, people are faced with the problem that they are not entirely comfortable during prolonged wear. And then they wonder: how to break in sneakers? To break in sneakers that are too tight, you must first determine the material from which they are made.

You can take your sneakers to a workshop where a master will work on them. Here their fate is approximately the following: the leather from which the sneakers are made is treated with foam, liquid or a special composition intended for this purpose.

Then special pads are inserted into the sneakers and left alone for a day, during which they stretch. The pads come in different widths and lengths.

The client first discusses with the master the problem that worries him.

If the client has protruding bones on the foot, then the master can use special pads that will take this feature into account: in this case, the selected area is generously moistened with spray and locally stretched so that there is no feeling of pressure in the area of ​​the hypertrophied bone. The whole procedure takes a day, after which the client comes for a fitting: if necessary, the process is repeated.

Methods of breaking in

You can do approximately the same thing at home by purchasing a special stretching product: spray, liquid, foam, pads. However, we must remember that in the case of patent leather shoes, foam is not used to avoid cracking.

How to stretch shoes using improvised means at home, without the help of a professional. Folk wisdom has invented a lot of ways. However, it should be noted that you most likely won’t be able to increase the length of your sneakers by a size larger on your own, especially when it comes to artificial leather: it can all end in unraveling or cracking.

Some craftsmen have adapted to using oats and other grains that swell strongly in water to make shoes bigger. To do this, cereal is poured inside to the top, then water is poured on top until it is equal to the top layer of cereal. The shoes are left overnight, during which the grass swells greatly, absorbing water. This causes the shoe to expand.

This method is quite gentle and is also suitable for shoes made of textiles and artificial leather.

Another radical method suggests pouring boiling water into new shoes for 2-3 seconds, then pouring it out, putting it on and breaking it in. You should not perform this trick with artificial materials. They might just burst.

When dealing with faux leather, you should say goodbye to the idea of ​​stretching your sneakers to fit. Most likely this won't happen. In the case of artificial skin, one can only hope for a slight increase in width and adaptation to the bony features of the foot.

Shoes made from artificial materials should initially be comfortable.

Castor oil is a good help in breaking in. To do this, you need to lubricate your shoes with oil, both inside and outside. Then wear it in thick socks. The oil helps stretch the skin.

Textile sneakers should be worn in more carefully. Large temperature changes are unacceptable. The easiest way is to walk in sneakers in the rain, and when you return home, continue to break them in. You can steam them with an iron, and then put them on and walk around in them for a few days at home.

It is also appropriate to stuff your sneakers with wet newspaper and leave them that way. As the newspaper dries, it stretches. All manipulations should be carried out very carefully to avoid unsticking. Textile shoes are perhaps the most sensitive to stretching and it is important not to damage them.

To avoid this, it is best to entrust your shoes to professionals and take them to a workshop.

The easiest home method is to lubricate the inside of the sneakers with 50% ethyl alcohol or vodka (you can use vinegar), then put on very thick socks and sneakers treated with alcohol on top. You should walk with shoes on for 1-2 hours.

Don't try to walk outside as it will be very uncomfortable. You can repeat this action several times until the sneakers begin to feel right to you.

If you used vinegar, you can remove the smell with soapy water or lemon peel.

If you have problems with the back of your shoe (your heel rubs), you can tap the heel with a hammer: it will become flatter and will not injure the skin as much. Alternatively, you can wet the backdrop with a thick soap solution or alcohol and wear it at home.

If you urgently need to put on new shoes and there is no time to stretch them, then you should cover with adhesive tape those areas of the foot that rub most often. As a rule, everyone knows their weak points.

A more exotic way to stretch your sneakers in width and length is to use raw potatoes as an alternative to lasts. And this method has some advantages.

Stretching can be done at any time, sometimes changing the potatoes to suit the new sensations.

There are very extreme methods of stretching: take two sealed bags, fill them with water, leaving some air on top.

The bags are placed inside the sneakers and placed in the refrigerator for a day. During this time, the water freezes, expanding along the way (that’s why we need an air supply) and gradually stretches the sneakers.

However, remember that this number will only work with leather products. Leatherette is likely to burst.

The easiest way: put on your shoes, wet them with water, and heat them with a hairdryer for 30 seconds. Under the influence of heat, the shoes will become more stretchable and pliable. Subsequent wearing for 1-2 hours in an apartment will lead to some increase in volume. This method can be repeated many times.

You can wear very thick socks and warm up your sneakers a little with a hairdryer. Continued stay in them should help. You should be careful about excessive temperature exposure, as this can lead to unsticking along the adhesive seam and cracking.

When buying another pair of shoes, you should consider how problematic (or problem-free) your feet are. If you have arthrosis, flat feet and other pathological conditions, then you should tune in to high-comfort shoes and choose the appropriate models. Maybe in your case it’s even worth having your shoes made to order.

Any shoes should be purchased in the afternoon. Many people experience swelling in their lower extremities at this time, even if they do not visually notice it. In this case, the width of the foot can vary. It is also worth considering the material from which the sneakers or shoes are made. The leather stretches more easily and fits well to the leg, adapting to the shape of the foot.

Stretching faux leather sneakers to length is an impossible task. Therefore, immediately buy comfortable shoes made of artificial leather, without the expectation that you will then adjust them to suit you.

How to stretch genuine leather shoes

Genuine leather becomes elastic when heated and exposed to alcohol. High-quality leather sneakers will stretch the first time. There is just a risk of discoloration, so before using any method with chemicals, you need to do a small test on an inconspicuous area of ​​the sneakers.

For dermantine, it is dangerous to use any stretching methods other than wet socks and newspapers. Heating, freezing, and chemicals can immediately render such sneakers unusable.

Sneakers should be comfortable! If your shoes feel a little tight and you can’t break them in, use the suggested methods. We are sure that these recommendations will be useful to you, and you will be able to stretch your sneakers to size at home.

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Tight shoes can cause serious damage to the health of your feet. To avoid this, you can use home methods for stretching tight shoes. But before you stretch your sneakers, you need to find out what material they are made of. Otherwise, the shoes will be irreparably damaged.

Before you start, you should consider some features of sneakers that affect the final result:

1. The material from which sports shoes are made can be stretched mainly in width.
2. Fabric products cannot be stretched more than half a size.
3. The threads with which the shoes are sewn do not stretch.
4. Shoes made from rigid synthetic materials are practically impossible to stretch.

Professional products

Professional products include:

• special liquid;
• wooden blocks.

If the store has spray or foam for stretching shoes, you should pay attention to the labeling. Sprays for leather and eco-leather will not work with fabric products.

How to use stretching fluid.

1. Shake the can.
2. Apply the product to the inner and outer surface of the product.
3. Wear sneakers over thick wool socks.
4. Stay in the shoes until the product dries completely.

Before using the spray, you need to test its effect on an inconspicuous area of ​​the sneakers.

In the store you can buy a means for mechanical stretching of shoes - wooden lasts. They are quite expensive, but you can use shoe spacers many times. In addition, high-quality spacers help increase the product not only in length, but also in width. The pads should be used as follows:

• moisten the product with water or apply a stretching spray;
• insert the spacer inside the sneakers;
• use a screw to set the size to which the sneakers should stretch;
• let dry completely.

Traditional methods

In order to make shoes a size larger, people often use improvised means. For example, if sneakers need to be worn immediately after purchase, they can be treated with alcohol or cologne. The material from which the product is sewn is also important.

1. Leather sneakers are treated with hot water. This will help make the material soft and therefore easier to spread. Under no circumstances should this method be used for leatherette. For this capricious material, the method of lubricating problem areas with alcohol is suitable.
2. Sneakers made of fabric or rubber can be increased in length and width using newspapers. To do this, you need to hold the sneakers over steam for a few minutes, and then stuff them with damp newspapers. Dry away from radiators and heating devices. This method can also stretch shoes that have shrunk after washing.
3. You can stretch suede sneakers in the freezer. You need to put plastic bags inside your shoes and fill them with water. The sneakers should stay in the freezer overnight. This method is not suitable for natural leather, because it shrinks from the cold.

Popular Stretching Methods

These methods have been known for a long time and still effectively eliminate the problem of tight shoes:

1. Thick socks. To increase your size with socks, you need to wet them and wring them out slightly. Then pull them on your feet and put on your sneakers on top. You need to walk in wet socks until they become dry. If the sneakers are only slightly tight, you don’t have to get your socks wet.
2. Vodka. To begin with, she processes the inner surface of the sneakers. Then they are put on thick socks and slightly moistened with vodka on top. You should walk in treated sneakers for two hours.
3. Hair dryer. One of the fastest and most effective methods is stretching with a hairdryer. To do this, put warm socks on your feet, followed by sneakers. A hairdryer carefully heats the material of the product and acquires the required shape. The method is great for leather shoes, but it must be used with caution. Otherwise, hot air may damage the material.

All of these tools allow you to stretch your sneakers by half a size or size. However, folk remedies can do more harm than good. It is better to use products designed specifically for shoes.

But all this is subject to the correct size. Alas, even in sneakers you can experience all the torment that is inevitable when you have uncomfortable shoes on your feet. What to do if brand new sports shoes squeeze your foot like a vice, preventing you from taking a step without discomfort and pain? We are ready to give you some practical tips that will allow you to adjust the size of your pair, making it exactly as required.

What are the risks of wearing smaller shoes?

Sometimes, when trying on shoes you like in a store, you cannot 100% evaluate their comfort. And even if, according to the first sensations, it fit perfectly, staying in it for a longer period of time will clearly signal that the size was incorrectly selected. After all, in sneakers, like in no other shoes, it is important to feel complete comfort; ideally, they should not be felt on your feet at all.

Remember, staying in tight shoes for a long time not only promises discomfort and a bad mood, but is also very harmful to health. With strong compression, blood circulation in the foot is disrupted, the nail plates suffer, which can be completely lost if you stubbornly continue to walk in uncomfortable shoes.

Systematic wearing of tight boots is fraught with:

Development of diseases of veins and joints;

Deformation of bone and cartilage tissue;

Impaired gait and deterioration of posture.

It is strictly forbidden for children and adolescents to wear narrow shoes, because their skeletal system is in the process of formation. Therefore, take your time - carefully try on the pair you like on both feet, and walk around the store in it.

How to stretch narrow sneakers?

Did the shoes you bought turn out to be too small? Don't despair, there are several ways to stretch it. Many of them are known to most, others are quite extravagant and unusual.

1. First, try to exchange your sneakers or return them. If 14 days have not passed since the date of purchase, and the purchase was not made under special conditions (sale, promotion, defective product), the store administration does not have the right to refuse you. When a return is impossible, try to get rid of the unsuccessful new thing yourself - resell it.

But, if you don't want to think about it, try the methods below.

2. The first thing they advise you to do is simply walk around the house in tight boots for several days. Natural materials - leather, nubuck and suede - are slightly stretchy; shoes made from them over time follow the shape of the owner's foot. Therefore, many manufacturers of high-quality sports boots advise buying them half a size smaller. And to speed up the process of “grinding in” new shoes and feet, companies include a special spray with their products. Spray the inside of the boots, put the shoes on a sock, preferably a warm and thick one, and walk around like this for half an hour. Do this several times if necessary. Don’t forget to protect the most vulnerable places of the foot with a plaster, and lubricate the back of the pair with regular candle wax/soap or wipe with alcohol. This will protect you from corns and calluses.

3. If this method does not help, try going to a shoe shop, where, using special stretching devices, the shoes are increased by 0.5-1 size.

4. Another option is to buy wooden blocks for mechanical impact on a tight pair. With their help, you can not only stretch, but also store shoes correctly. Before inserting the lasts into the boots, treat the lining with a stretching spray, or, if you don’t have one, with alcohol or glass cleaner. You can evaluate the result within a day.

Remember that you can stretch the shoes only in width; the length is clearly fixed with fastening seams. Therefore, if you feel like your toes are pressing hard into the toe of your new boots, you will most likely have to look for a new owner.

Traditional methods of stretching a new pair

There are several popular, easy methods for getting tight sneakers to stretch out a little.

5. The first is based on a principle known to everyone from school physics lessons, namely, the increase in the volume of water when it freezes. To carry out the experiment, you will need a narrow pair and two thick bags filled with water. The bags are placed in sneakers, which must then be kept in the refrigerator for a day. They promise that this will make them more pliable and softer.

6. The second method is exactly the opposite, it involves exposure to high temperatures. You can simply pour boiling water into your sneakers or hold them over steam, kneading them thoroughly with your hands. The method is applicable only to leather shoes, which really soften from high temperature. Leatherette boots will simply lose their appearance and become hopelessly deformed.

7. You can put on a new pair of terry socks, previously soaked in hot water, or carefully beat off the problem areas of the shoes (toe, heel) with a hammer. But you should act carefully so as not to spoil the fashionable Adidas or Nikes.

There are also such ways:

8. Stuff the sneakers tightly with sheets of newspaper soaked in water and let them dry completely at room temperature (do not place them on a radiator, do not dry them with a hairdryer).

9. Wipe the inside of the boots with a 3% vinegar solution.

10. Soak the inner surface of the pair with ordinary alcohol, and then rub generously with laundry soap with a fat content of 72%.

11. Treat the lining fabric of the boots with kerosene and walk in them for 20-30 minutes.

12. Carefully apply window and glass cleaner on both sides of the sneakers, then wear them in for an hour.

13. Heat the pair with a stream of hot air from a hairdryer, grease with sunflower oil and put on warm terry or woolen socks.

As you can see, individual methods must be used extremely carefully, otherwise instead of a broken pair you will end up with a damaged one. In addition, not all methods are applicable to products made of leatherette or thin leather. Therefore, be extremely careful when buying new shoes so as not to subject them later to your chemical and physical experiments.