How to stretch your sneakers

No one is immune from trouble. We bought a wonderful pair of sneakers, brought them home, and for some reason they cause discomfort. The effectiveness of sports activities, as well as the health of your feet, depend on the comfort of sneakers.

Don’t rush to put them on the shelf and forget about their existence. Give your sneakers a chance to live and try stretching them to your size.

What kind of sneakers can be stretched?

You should definitely consider what material your shoes are made of. You can stretch leatherette and leather products. Keep in mind, other material may lose its original appearance or become deformed.

note that Some models have a molded sole, with a hard heel and toe. Such shoes can only be increased in width.

Important! It is impossible to increase the size range, i.e. change the length of the product by more than one centimeter!

Four affordable ways to stretch your sneakers

There are several ways to do a wide stretch at home.

Temperature effect

High and low temperatures will help solve the problem with tight shoes.

The first method is ice stretching.

You will need to prepare plastic bags. You will also need water and a freezer. Sneakers must be clean and dry.

• Take the package and first check its integrity.
• Pour water into it and tie it tightly.
• Place the bags in your shoes and put the structure in the refrigerator.

Reference. Water increases in volume when it changes from a liquid to a solid state.

• When the liquid turns into ice, take out the sneakers. Give the ice some time to thaw so as not to damage the shoes when removing them. Carefully remove the package. The sneakers will become stretched out.

The second method is heat treatment.

Hairdryer

This method is suitable for stretching individual areas that cause discomfort. To you You will need a regular household hair dryer.

• Take the device and point the nozzle at the pressure element in the shoe.
• Use a stream of hot air to heat the skin in a targeted manner, this area will heat up and soften..
• Wear a sock to avoid getting burned. Put on your shoes, walk around a little in sneakers. The material will cool and take the desired shape. Taking your sneakers in will become easier.

Just don’t be too zealous; the glue in the seams may soften and leak from prolonged heating.

Hot water

You can also use hot water.

• Pour boiling water inside the sneakers that are too tight. Allow 10 minutes for exposure.
• Stuff with newspaper to remove moisture. Change the paper as it swells.

Important! Hot water stretching is suitable for genuine leather products.

Ferry

Another “hot” method is steam. If you are concerned about the appearance of your shoes, replace hot water with a steam bath.

• Hold your sneakers over the spout of a boiling kettle.
• Make sure that the steam gets strictly inside the shoes.
• Put them on your feet and walk around in them until they cool down.

The third method is alcohol

The alcoholic method of stretching is carried out using alcohol, vodka, lotion.

• We wet the sneakers generously from the inside and put them on their feet. You can wet your socks first and then put on your shoes.
• Then we moisten the outside of the shoes with alcohol.
• After two hours you can take off your shoes. The material will not only stretch to the size you need, but will also soften.

The fourth method is using improvised means

Wool socks

The sock method is also called the army method. You will need thick woolen socks and warm water..

• Wet your socks.
• Put on your wet socks and put your feet in tight shoes.
• Walk like this until things dry.
• After this, stuff the paper tightly into the sneakers so that it absorbs any remaining moisture.

Newspapers

Stock up on printed materials in advance to help you.

• Hold the shoes over steam to soften the material.
• Stuff your sneakers tightly with pre-moistened sheets of newspapers or magazines.
• Try to do this carefully, do not deform the shape of the shoe..

Reference. In this way you can stretch the product in width.

• Dry your sneakers naturally, do not place them near heating devices.
• As the paper dries, remove it.
• If necessary, the procedure can be repeated.

Other stretching agents

Vinegar

Rub the inside of the sneakers with 3% table vinegar. An excellent option for softening the material. Be sure to dry and ventilate after the procedure to remove the specific odor.

Castor oil/ Drying oil

Using a cloth or cotton swab, apply the product to the underside of the sole. It softens the skin well and creates a wonderful barrier against street moisture.

Cologne

If they cause discomfort, moisturize the heel and toe areas from the inside out. And then rub these places well with 72% laundry soap.

Kerosene

Carefully process the inside of the product. Stuff it tightly with rags or put it on your feet and walk for 30 minutes. After the procedure, be sure to place the sneakers on the balcony for air.

Glass cleaning liquid

The technique is the same as when using kerosene. The thicker the socks you wear, the more the shoes wear out.

Use of special means

Devices for mechanical stretching of shoes

If you do not dare to conduct independent experiments on new sneakers, then take them to a good master.

In a shoe repair shop, your shoes will be stretched professionally using lasts.

Under the influence of temperature and sliding metal spacers, specialists will bring the shoes to the desired size.

Don’t forget, the resource of leather products is not unlimited! Don't risk going up too much.

Sprays and foams

This is the easiest way to add length or width to your shoes..

Spray

All you need to do is buy stretch marks spray. For leather products, use a spray designed specifically for leather.

Important! You cannot treat leather shoes with a product adapted for leatherette.

• To avoid trouble, conduct a test to see how the material reacts to this product. If the skin has not changed color or shrunk, then feel free to use the spray.
• Direct the stream inside the sneakers and moisten the coating generously.
• Put them on your feet and walk around in them.
• When you feel that the hard places have become softer, you can take them off your feet, your sneakers have stretched.

Foam

• Shake the foam canister thoroughly.
• Apply the contents evenly to the inner and outer surfaces of problem areas.
• Wear foam-treated sportswear over a thick sock.
• Walk around the apartment in them until the stretching agent is completely dry.

Additionally, one last piece of advice. Sometimes all you need to do is change your insoles. Take out the thick ones, replace them with thin ones and forget about those sneakers ever being narrow!