How to Get Rid of Creases in Sneakers

New sneakers look great and keep their shape nicely. However, much-loved and worn sneakers tend to lose their original shape and develop creases around the toe break. Instead of tossing your shoes and buying new ones, get rid of the creases. All it takes is some elbow grease, a few household items, and patience to get sneakers looking like new again.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Paper towels
• 8- or 10-lb. weights
• Large hardcover book
• Cleaning solution
• Soft rag

Instructions

1. Using a mild cleaning solution (for cloth or nylon sneakers) or leather cleaner (for leather sneakers) and a soft rag, thoroughly clean the sneakers. Be sure to pay special attention to the creases where dirt and grime tend to accumulate.

2. With the sneakers tightly laced, wet them thoroughly with water. This can be accomplished by dunking the sneakers in a laundry room sink or bathtub, or by spraying them with a hose.

3. Line the inside of the sneakers with paper towels, and stuff them tightly with wadded up balls of newspaper. The paper towel prevents the newspaper ink from transferring to the inside of your sneakers. The top of the sneakers should be slightly bulging upward where the downward creases used to be.

4. Place paper towels or the soft rag on top of the wet, newspaper-stuffed sneakers. Put the hardcover book over the top half of the sneaker, starting at the tongue and covering the entire front of the shoe to the tip of the toe.

5. Place one 8- or 10-lb. weight on top of each shoe. This will put enough pressure on the shoe to greatly decrease, if not permanently eliminate, the crease in the sneakers. Place the shoes in a warm, sunny spot until they have dried completely. Once they are completely dry, they are ready to be worn again and should look almost like new.

Tips & Warnings

• For a speedier solution, stuff the wet shoes with large, dry balled up T-shirts and toss them in the dryer on low heat. Do not attempt this with leather sneakers, only cloth or nylon.