Did you nab a great pair of shoes at a Black Friday Sale, only to discover that they don’t fit on arrival? Yep, I know that song. I recently snagged a great pair of loafers on final sale that I had been eyeing, but when they arrived, they were too snug. I couldn't return them, so I did what any self-respecting woman with a failed sale purchase would do: I made it work.
Here’s how I stretched out my sale shoes successfully:
Start with a Blow Out.
The age-old method of pushing through the pain barrier while you "break them in" is outdated. We have the technology to side-step the suffering. If you clean and protect first, applying direct heat to your leather shoes won't damage them. Apply a liberal amount of Leather Cleaner to the inside and the outside of your tight leather shoes. Now, wear them with the thickest socks you can manage and blast them with a hot blow dryer for at least 30 seconds. Walk around the house as long as you can withstand the pressure and blast again. You can repeat this process a few times, depending on how much stretch you need.
Use the Force!
The easiest and most effective way to stretch tight shoes is to use a Shoe Tree with a mechanical stretcher. They can extend the length or width by a half size or more, depending on the shoe style and leather type. Go slowly and use an emollient treat first, or you run the risk of cracking the leather. Apply the liquid - don't overwet them -and insert the stretcher as you would a shoe tree, then carefully crank the dial to stretch the shoe. Leave it in there overnight (or longer!). Repeat this process until they feel more comfortable.
Treat and Protect.
No matter what, when you're done stretching out your leather shoes, treat them with Leather Cleaner. This product not only cleans but also protects and prevents stains, cracking, and scuffs. Use it to clean and protect your bags and luggage. It also works beautifully to polish stone, marble and stainless steel.
Realistically, you can only stretch out most shoes about a half size, but this dramatically changed my comfort level. The more you condition your tight shoes, the more they will loosen up as you wear them.
Happy Feet!
Xx, mlk
