Each of us at least once in a lifetime has encountered the problem of tight shoes. How it turns out: it seems that you come to the store, try on, and everything sits wonderfully, and when you get home, it’s crowded, uncomfortable, crushing. What to do in this case?
First of all, let's talk about how to avoid such unpleasant moments:
- If there is such an opportunity, give preference to leather or suede shoes. It is stronger and sits quite quickly on the foot. In addition, if necessary, you can carry out some procedures to increase comfort (but on how to stretch shoes at home, later).
- Go shopping in the afternoon or at the end of the day. Your feet swell a bit after a busy day, and therefore your shoes need to be wider.
- Carefully inspect the model you like, be sure to try on both shoes and walk around or, if necessary, run around.
However, if the trouble nevertheless happened, and the shoes are so to the liking that there can be no question of returning, then human ingenuity comes to the rescue.
My advice is go to a professional! Almost every shoe repairman has a special tool for stretching it and will gladly help you.
But if there is no desire or opportunity to contact a specialist, you can try to cope on your own.
There are many different tips on how to stretch shoes at home. I will only talk about those that really work. Important! If your shoes are made of suede or velor - in no case do not use alcohol, cream, vinegar or any other means (except specially designed) on its surface.
How to stretch shoes at home
1. On sale there is a small banner for shoes, which you can buy in special departments for
shoe care or in the market. The thing is very useful and inexpensive.
2. Use a solution of alcohol and water (1: 1). Spray on the surface and inside, shoe the shoes on a tight toe and walk until dry.
Attention! For patent leather, it is necessary to use a solution of alcohol and water in a ratio of 2: 1.
3. For smooth skin, you can use oily cream, castor oil, glycerin, petroleum jelly or vegetable oil. Apply to the surface and problem areas inside, let stand for about 2 hours, peel and then shine on a tight toe. Under the influence of fatty acids, the skin becomes more elastic and easily sits on the leg.
4. Hold your shoes over the steam, put on a tight toe and walk for a few hours.
5. Insert the plastic bags filled with water inside the shoe and leave it in the freezer overnight. Under the influence of low temperatures, the water expands and stretches the walls of the shoe. In the morning, remove the shoes from the freezer and let stand until the ice begins to melt. Then remove the packages and you can safely shoe.
6. Lubricate the problem areas on the model with paraffin and put it on a tight toe.
7. Spread 3% vinegar solution over the surface of the problem areas, wrap it on a tight toe and walk until it dries.
If you don’t have time or desire to wear tight shoes, you can always fill the models with wet newspapers and leave them to dry.
Now you know how to stretch shoes at home. However, be careful when buying. Do not forget that stretching shoes in length is only possible half the size. If you try to fit shoes that are disastrously small for you, you risk spoiling either them or your legs.