How to Stretch Leather Sandals

Leather sandals are usually quite stiff and hard when you first get them. This is a perfect recipe for blisters once you start wearing them. It usually takes days, or even weeks, to stretch leather sandals out enough that they no longer cause blisters. In the meantime, you have to deal with painful, bloody feet. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy ways to stretch leather sandals quickly and safely.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stretching spray
• Thick socks
• Shoe stretcher
• Potato

1. Buy stretching spray from a shoe store. Spray the solution into the insides of your sandals and then put the sandals on and walk around in them for at least 5 minutes. The stretching spray will go to work with the help of the heat from your feet and soon your sandals will be comfortable.

2. Put on two to three pairs of very thick socks and walk around in your sandals for about 20 minutes to stretch them out to a comfortable fit.

3. Purchase shoe stretchers from a shoe store. Place the stretchers inside your sandals every night for one week and your sandals will soon feel good on your feet.

4. Cut a potato up into small chunks and then stuff the chunks into your sandals in the places that need stretching. Leave the potato chunks in the sandals overnight and the starches in the potato will soften the leather. When you put the sandals on the next day, they should stretch out easily to fit your feet.

5. Take your sandals to a professional shoe-repair shop and ask that they be professionally stretched. Shoe repair shops have stretching machines and commercial leather softeners they can use to stretch your shoes quickly and safely. This usually requires a 24-hour turnaround time.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're using a shoe stretcher, it will take two to three days for your leather sandals to be adequately stretched. In the meantime, you may still be getting blisters if you wear the sandals. Help your feet out by covering up blister-prone areas with adhesive bandages, cotton balls or a square of felt fabric. You can also wear one or more pairs of socks with your sandals to provide a cushion against the blister-inducing rubbing from the sides and edges of your sandals.
• If your leather sandals are waterproof, soaking the sandals in water and then wearing them until they are dry will often stretch them out adequately.