Who hasn’t ever tried perfect pair of shoes, and then realize that these are more like a strict corset for your feet? No one enjoys having to return shoes or, worse still, having a collection of uncomfortable shoes waiting for the okay from the shoemaker’s proverbial elves to shrink and mould themselves to the feet. The good news? No need for any complicated AI patterns for this (don’t get offended, robots), just some professionals which I know really work.
Okay then – let’s take a look at some basic and practical techniques to stretch shoes and to allow your feet get some room to breathe. And yes, we’ll include some fun because as much as dealing with too-tight shoes, a little fun wouldn’t be bad.
1.The Thick Sock & Blow Dryer Method
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book on how to stretch shoes. It’s as basic as putting on your heaviest pair of sock and blow with the shoe dryer. Here’s how it works:
Wear the thickest socks you can find and if you’re a bit more daring, don’t hesitate to put two pairs on.
Slip on the too-tight shoes.
Take your blow dryer and direct it at the tight spots for 20 -30seconds at the balance power setting. Remember to keep moving the dryer so that the shoes do not stick to the surface, that’s if you did not want them to have a different color.
Wear them while they are still hot or wear them while still wet. Because the materials you made your shoes with undergo some changes and they should start to become more flexible and loosen up.
It is quite similar to giving the shoes a facial and a body scrub, isn’t it? But don’t do that with a blow dryer held at the feet – it must be hard to explain to somebody that was watching you.
2.Freezer Ziplock Bags (also known as Ice Growth)
Here’s a cool (literally) way to stretch shoes: pour water in ziplock bags and put on your feet the shoes will do just fine. Water also tends to expand when it isturning into ice – which also means that it will slightly pull your shoes apart while you are sleeping.
Place the shoes in zip lock bags and pour water in the bag (make sure the shoes are well sealed in the bag, you wouldn’t want your shoes to be wet).
Put the bags between the shoe’s material and your foot with emphasis on the parts that are most snug.
Put the shoes in the freezer you know like the freezer of the refrigerator for the whole night.
In the morning, for some time take them out of the freezer and then take the bags away.
It is the only way to avoid wearing shoes that seem to be extremely possessive of you most of the time. Well, it’s probably as close as your shoes are going to get to a glacier!
3.Shoe Stretching Sprays and Shoe Stretching Devices
As for those people, who are not fond of shoe stretching techniques, regular everyday tips, there is still a great opportunity to use sprays and the stretchers. These products are purposed to help break up the material without causing harm.
Place the shoes inside and spray them with a stretching spray.
A better option is to use a shoe stretcher to help expand the shoes over some time. Many of these gadgets have accessories to deal with certain regions, so that’s where the bunion-referencing company resides.
Leaving the stretcher in for this time is enough, although it may also be left in overnight for the optimum time.
This method might not sound as fun as freezing your shoes but it is a little more professional than that. But most importantly, it is a perfect opportunity to acquire more devices. Because, who doesn’t need a device specifically for shoe stretching?
4.Wear Them Around the House
Occasionally the best way to stretch shoes is to wear them… regularly. Shoes which you cannot wear outside, you know those shoes that are too tight on your feet are too painful to wear outside? Well, break them in at home.
Put on a pair of socks.
You should wear your shoes as you do chores, sit, or walk around the house thinking of how to stretch shoes without purchasing other stretching devices.
The more they are worn the more would adapt to the shape of the feet that are wearing them. This one is a slow process, but effective – and you can do it while watching your television shows, right?
5.Visit a Professional
Despite all of this, if everything is inconclusive and you still don’t know how to stretch shoes, then the best person to turn to is a cobbler. It has retrieves that cobblers continue to exist, and to say that they reside in houses like the ones from fairy-tales. They are equipped with methods and experience necessary to expand your shoes without a single harm to them. Also, it is an opportunity to buy shoes that fit perfectly and would be buying from a locally owned store of shoes.