Can you widen shoes

Once the bags are in place, carefully fill the interior ziplock bag with water until it fills up the inside of the shoe. Carefully place the shoes into your freezer, and leave them there until the water inside the bag is frozen solid. Remove the shoes from your freezer to allow the ice to thaw slightly. You just need it to thaw enough that you can wiggle the bagged ice block out of the shoe! Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol into an empty spray bottle.

Spray the inside of your too-tight shoes until they are slightly damp. Put the shoes on, then walk around until the alcohol dries. Repeat as necessary if your shoes are still a bit snug. A variation on this method is to take a pair of cotton socks, soak them in rubbing alcohol and squeeze out the excess.

Or maybe your feet are naturally two different sizes. Or perhaps you just HAD to have those heels from the clearance rack even though they're a half-size too small. Typically shoes loosen up naturally as you wear them from place to place, but that entire process could take weeks of tiptoeing around with crunched toes and blooming blisters.

But walking in shoes that pinch is something you can totally avoid. If you did buy shoes that are too snug, there are some at-home tips you can follow to stretch shoes for a more comfortable fit. That is, unless one foot is larger than the other—in that case, experts advise to fit for the larger foot and then add an insert! Don't worry about creasing the skin of your new shoes, either.

Mesquita says this is a normal byproduct of the stretching process—something that would happen regardless of when you start to break in your new shoes. If the lining is synthetic, the shoe stretcher can stick and leave a mark. Leather-lined shoes will give a more supple finish, he adds.

You can speed up the stretching process for leather shoes using thick socks and a blowdryer. The heat loosens up the leather, so it can mold to your foot. Then put on your shoes and blast them on medium heat for 30 seconds—you want to move the nozzle to different spots on your shoes to avoid overheating any particular area and cracking the leather.

Repeat this process until your feet slip in comfortably. I tested this on a pair of suede booties that were a little tight around the balls of my feet. After rotating the dryer around the front of the shoe for about two minutes, there was definitely more room. As the paper dries, it will expand and harden, stretching out the shoe.

Do not saturate the paper, or it could damage the inside of your shoe. Also, avoid using this technique on leather shoes. Stretch the shoe with wet oats, grains, or rice for an old-fashioned approach. Fill a plastic bag with oatmeal, rice, or any other grain that will swell up when it gets wet.

Add just enough water to cover the grains, then seal the bag and place it into the shoe, working it down into the toe box. Leave the bag in place overnight, then remove it and try your shoes on!

As the oats expand, the pressure will help stretch the material of the shoe. Did you know you can get premium answers for this article? Unlock premium answers by supporting wikiHow. Penny Simmons Shoe Care Specialist. Penny Simmons. Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0. Not Helpful 8 Helpful 6. How can I stretch my new shoes if they have glitter on them that I don't want to come off? Not Helpful 4 Helpful 5.

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 9. Not Helpful 6 Helpful 4. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 3. Not Helpful 4 Helpful 4. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3. Neatsfoot Oil is great if they are leather. Not Helpful 19 Helpful You can do this by using the freezer stretching technique in the article above. Not Helpful 12 Helpful Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. If your shoes are expensive or delicate, it may be best to take them to a professional cobbler to have them stretched.

Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Related wikiHows How to. How to. More References 4. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Method 1: Use a shoe stretcher A shoe stretcher is a precise, pain-free way to increase the size of your shoes.

These shoe stretchers can be used in both the right and left shoe. How to use a shoe stretcher: Apply shoe stretch spray to relax the fibers of the shoe for easy stretching.

A shoe stretch spray will also help your shoe stretch evenly and speed up the process. Insert stretching plugs to target problem areas where you get corns or bunions. Insert the shoe stretcher into the shoe. Turn the handle until you have the desired amount of stretch.

Give the handle another full turn every 8 hours until the size is right. Leave the shoe stretcher in the shoe for two days, checking every now and then to see if the fit is right. Method 2: Wear your shoes around the house Slip on thick socks — two pairs if you can manage it — and put on your shoes. Method 3: Fill your shoes with bags of water and throw them in the fridge When water freezes, it expands.

Method 4: Stuff your shoes with sock balls Roll several pairs of socks into small balls, then stuff them into your shoes until your shoes are at max capacity.

Method 5: Wear thick socks and blast your shoes with a blow dryer Slip on at least two pairs of thick socks, put on your shoes, and blast a blow dryer at medium heat for 30 seconds. Be sure to subscribe to our FootFitter Newsletter to stay up to date on the latest footwear and foot care news and tips.