How to Stretch Shoes

Your feet should not hurt! Your foot is a network of 26 bones, 29 joints and many muscles. On average, you take several thousand steps every day. So if the shoe doesn't fit, try stretching it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stretcher/ Shokeepers
• Shoe Shining/cleaning Kits
• Athletic Shoe Cleaners

1. Purchase a professional quality shoe stretcher from your local shoe repair shop. For ladies' shoes, the stretchers go by shoe size and are designed for both low heel and high heel shoes, with bunion attachments.

2. Get a bottle of liquid shoe stretch to spray on your shoes while using the wooden shoe stretcher. If your shoes are leather, you'll have greater success.

3. Consider taking the shoes to a professional shoe repair shop. They often use a stretching machine to apply specific pressure and heat precisely where the shoe hurts ' including length, toe raise, instep stretching and so on. On occasion, they'll speed up the process with a leather softening agent.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase shoes at the end of the day, or after work or playing sports, for best fit.
• Measure both feet, as no two feet are the same size. Purchase shoes for the larger foot.
• Walk around the store to ensure a comfortable fit before buying, and always try on shoes with the socks or hosiery with which you will wear them.
• Don't plan on shoes stretching with wear. If they aren't comfortable, don't buy them.

Who Can Help:

• Are you tired of cakey makeup? Try RawMinerals Free.

[gb004]

on 4/7/2009 The hair dryer and broom handle idea works great!

[liljill8]

on 10/28/2006 This article is fantastic! I wish I could just buy a larger shoe. But, at size 10 wide feet with high insteps, larger shoes aren't always available. Thank you!

on 9/14/2006 This trick has worked for me on many occasions, I have very broad feet. To get my shoes to fit from the beginning, I warm them up where I wish them to stretch with the hair drier, then with the handle of the broom I apply pressure. What a difference this makes!

on 3/26/2006 I bought a size 4 pair of wee jun loafers many years ago for $5.00. The problem was I wore a size 6. For one week I stuffed them with heavy duty socks and sprayed them with silicone. I also wore heavy socks and wore them for a few days, still spraying every inch inside and out heavily and constantly with silicone. They fit perfectly and looked as new as the day I got them. Now that my size has changed from 6 to 6.5, I find that I have many brand new shoes never worn, and so I spray them with silicone, wear them with socks for the day and they are perfect. I actually found a couple of pairs to have stretched too much. I am now trying to figure out if I can use silicone to soften leather on clogs.

on 3/26/2006 When you get your new high heels, invest in a set of heel cushions as these will prevent blisters while breaking in your new shoes.