You finally bought those leather shoes you wanted so badly, and the best part is that they look fabulous! However, after wearing them, blisters began to appear that made you vow never to wear them again. AS It’s time to stretch and break those leather shoes. Here are some tricks to achieve it.
What problems do tight shoes cause on my feet?
While it may seem harmless, a pair of shoes that looks good but is a nightmare to walk on can seriously harm your health. From too high a heel to being too baggy or tight, problems will appear quickly.
Here are some of the difficulties you will face if you decide to wear tight shoes:
- Instability when walking.
- Deformities in the toes. In addition to developing blisters, conditions such as hammertoe can get worse.
- Aggravate the condition of the foot such as bunions, flat feetbone spurs or metatarsalgia.
- Long term, wear and tear of cartilage in the fingers.
Practical tips to stretch and soften leather shoes
Since we don’t want any foot problems to appear or get worse, the most sensible thing to do is to stretch and soften your leather shoes. We show you some practical tips so you can do it without mistreating the material.
1. Start using them little by little
While it may seem obvious, this is one of the most effective ways to get rid of the stiffness in leather shoes. Use allows these to become soft and comfortable.
Now, wearing tight shoes all day can be a real ordeal. For this reason, and to avoid blisters, start using them for half a day. Remember to have an extra pair of shoes to make the change.
Sure, be sure to change them as soon as the foot pain starts. This is regardless of whether or not you have complied with the provisions. Then give yourself a break for two days and continue to enter them for half a day every other day.
Don’t have time or your routine doesn’t allow you to make these changes? Try putting your shoes on at home at night. Also keep in mind that if they are new and the possibility of returning them is latent, you can only walk on the carpets.
2. Get some socks and a hair dryer
The heat is known to soften the skin, which makes this one of the best tricks to be able to use shoes without pain. Just make sure you follow these steps:
- Put on a pair of thick socks and then shoes.
- Using a hair dryer, warm up problem areas for 20-30 seconds.
- Try to use a medium setting and keep the dryer moving. This way you will avoid mistreating the material.
- Leave the shoes on until they cool.
Another recommendation regarding this method is to apply a little leather conditioner to the shoe after you’re done.
3. Try the shoe trees
Besides the heat stretchers are also very effective. Consider shoe trees. Although they are made of wood or metal, they are characterized by being very easy to place.
Some of these stretchers come with sprays that help stretch and soften the material. Just put them in their shoes and let them do it. The instructions will tell you how long is appropriate.
4. Rub a spoon over the material
Yes, one of the solutions for those tight and problematic leather shoes is in your kitchen. Find a spoon and start scrubbing, so as to stretch the problem areas.
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t be very rough, as you can rough up the skin. However, the spoon is perfect because it mimics the effect of feet in shoes without having to suffer from terrible blisters.
5. Stuff your shoes with newspaper
This trick may be old, but that doesn’t make it any less effective. Gather an old newspaper and crumple it up until you have enough to fit in your shoe. Next, moisten the newspaper slightly. Do not immerse it, as it could ruin the stencils.
Finally, introduce it into the shoes and leave them to dry in the open air. Don’t forget to take out the newspaper when you go to put on your shoes!
6. Try applying some oil
Did you know that oil softens and nourishes shoe leather? Therefore, this advice is not only to end stiffness, but to make them look better.
The most recommended oils include mink oil, coconut oil, foot oil and even saddle soap. However, make sure the ingredients don’t include castor oil, pine tar, or other skin-damaging products.
How is the oil applied? Very easy. Take a clean washcloth and proceed to wrap it around two fingers. Then, apply a little oil and rub the shoes in circular motions.
7. Use a peeled potato?
It may sound ridiculous, but a peeled potato is ideal for shaping the toe of the shoe. To do this, peel the potato, wash it, dry it and put it in your shoes overnight. By following this tip, you can make your shoes feel less tight.
8. Take rubbing alcohol and petroleum jelly
If you’re thinking about substituting isopropyl alcohol for regular alcohol, you should know that it’s not a good idea. clarified this, take a cotton ball, dip it in isopropyl alcohol and apply it to the surface of the shoes. For a better finish, remember to remove braids.
Then let it dry for half an hour and apply petroleum jelly. You can use an old toothbrush in this step. Once done, let it sit overnight and pat dry. If you think the shoe is still stiff, repeat the process.
9. Use some ice
This is another well known trick, although it may be less effective on leather shoes. If you want to try it, follow the steps:
- Grab a ziplock bag and partially fill it with water.
- Then close it and put it in the shoe. Arrange it so that it presses on the most troublesome spots.
- Finally, put the shoe with the bag overnight in the freezer. When the water freezes, it will expand the shoes.
10. Go to a professional
If you’ve tried everything and your shoes still won’t give up, Time to see a pro. These have the tools and products needed to soften the material. Likewise, consider taking them to a trusted specialist if they are high-quality leather.
How do I know if the shoes don’t fit me?
One sure sign that your shoes are too tight is the position of your toes.. When the shoe is snug, the toes don’t point forward, but overlap each other. In well-fitting shoes, the toes point forward and each has its own space.
Tight fitting shoes can cause serious damage to foot health, as well as worsening of pre-existing conditions (bunions, flat feet, dewclaws). It also increases the chances of having an accident.
In this sense, if you end up with a pair of skin-tight leather shoes, try following some of our tips to stretch and soften the material. From walking around a bit or using thick socks and a blow dryer to scrubbing with a spoon or stuffing them with newspaper.
The post 10 Tips to Stretch and Soften Leather Shoes first appeared in research-school.