How to Remove the Shoe Top From a Pair of Heels

Removing the heels from a pair of shoes may save a trip to the podiatrist.

Torturous to feet as some designs are, high-heeled shoes are viewed by many as a fashion statement. If the arch is not too steep, a pair of shoes can sometimes be converted into more comfortable flats by removing the heels. If you wish to save the expense of a trip to the shoemaker, you can remove the shoe top from a pair of heels yourself with a few common hand tools.

Things You'll Need

• Adjustable shoe tree
• Rubber jar opener
• Vise
• Hammer
• Needlenose vise grip pliers
• Silicone sealant

Instructions

1. Pull the insole from the shoe with your fingers.

2. Place a shoe tree inside the shoe. Adjust the shoe tree to fit the shoe snugly so there is as little wiggle as possible between the tree and the inside of the shoe.

3. Wrap a rubber jar opener around the sides of the heel of a shoe. Clamp the heel of the shoe tightly into a vise.

4. Place one hand at each end of end of the shoe -- one hand at the bottom of the heel and the other over the toe. Wiggle the shoe back and forth until the heel begins to come loose from the base of the shoe. Push the base of the shoe tight against the heel.

5. Attach the tip of the jaws of a pair of needlenose vise grip pliers to the heads of the nails protruding through the sole inside the shoe. Pull straight back on the pliers with gentle, steady pressure while gently wiggling the pliers until the nails come free.

6. Fill the nail holes, from the bottom of the shoe, with silicone sealant. Replace the insole in the shoe.

Tips & Warnings

• In the absence of a vise, clamp the heel of the shoe to a table or bench with a carpenter's or C-clamp.

References

• "How to Fix Damn Near Everything"; Franklynn Peterson; 1996

Resources

• Shoe and Foot Care: Shoetrees