Everything about your brand new pair of “babies” is just fabulous, except the way your legs feel in them. Does that mean you’ll have to choose between suffering and letting them sit in your shoe closet? Of course not! Don’t be silly! Those gorgeous girls deserve their big night just as much as you deserve your comfort so, here are 7 ways to have it both:
1. Hot Steam
People say it works like a charm but just to be on the safe side, don’t try it unless you’re 100% sure you’re dealing with a leather shoe. So, if your brand new “babies” are real leather, boil some water and hold them over those hot vapors until you feel them becoming slightly “moist” to touch. You know…kind of like your hair feels when there is a lot of moisture in the air. So, once you’ve managed to do that, wear them until they get completely dry. This easy trick is supposed to loosen them up and make sure you never have any trouble wearing them again.
2. Cotton Socks and Fabric Softener
Soak clean, cotton socks in fabric softener, squeeze the excess out, jam them inside the shoe and leave them like that until they get completely dry. Fabric softener is supposed to soften the inside of the shoe while the socks expand as they dry, stretching the shoe in the process. Now, in case you’re worried about possible stains, you can always replace fabric softener with regular, clean water.
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When opting for this method, it's best to choose a pair of socks that closely resembles the thickness you normally wear. This ensures your shoes will stretch to accommodate your day-to-day comfort. Keep in mind that sensitive materials might not fare well with direct contact to fabric softeners, so testing a small, inconspicuous area first is wise. Patience is key, as the drying process can take a good 24 hours, depending on the humidity and air flow. Once done, your shoes should greet your feet with a new level of comfort, making that break-in period a breeze.
Frequently asked questions
Oh, I totally get the struggle! Canvas shoes can be so stiff at first. A quick trick I love is to wear them around the house with thick socks. You can also try gently bending and twisting them with your hands to make them more flexible.
Absolutely! Shoe softeners can work wonders on hard leather or stiff fabric shoes. Just make sure to follow the instructions on the product and test it on a small area first to make sure it doesn't discolor your shoes.
Espadrilles can be tricky, but one thing that works for me is lightly misting the fabric with water and then wearing them around until they dry. This helps the material mold to your feet. You could also try placing a soft cloth inside and using a shoe stretcher overnight.
I wouldn't recommend it. Fabric softener is great for clothes but can make your shoes too soft and even damage the material. Stick to shoe-specific products or gentle methods like wearing them with thick socks.
Canvas sneakers can be a bit stubborn, but I've found that putting them in the freezer inside a plastic bag for a few hours can help soften them up. Just let them thaw out naturally before you wear them. It's a quirky trick, but it works!
3. Milk
This is one of those tricks our grandmas often suggest so, if you’re brave enough to give it a try, here’s how it’s supposed to be done. First of all, make sure the shoes are made from leather because it only works for this type of shoes. You’re still willing to give it a shot? Okay, now rub some milk in and leave them to dry. Once that’s done, the only thing you’re supposed to feel is comfort, at least according to the girl who told me about this. No stains, weird smells or anything of that sort.
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Remember to test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure the milk doesn’t affect the leather's color or finish. If it’s all clear, you can lightly dab a cloth in milk and gently work over the tight areas of the shoes. The theory is that the fat content in the milk softens the leather, making it more pliable. It sounds a bit wacky, but strange as it seems, some swear by this old-fashioned method. Just imagine explaining that fresh dairy scent at your next outing!
4. Freezing
Use plastic bags to make something that looks like those water balloons kids play with. Stuff them inside the shoe and leave in the freezer overnight. Ice is bigger than water, it has more volume, so to speak. So, as the water in the bag begins to freeze, the whole “balloon” will start growing bigger stretching the outer shell (read: your shoe) enough for it to finally fit right.
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When using the freezing method, make sure to partially fill the bags with water to avoid them bursting when the water expands. Once they're in place, easing your shoes into the chilly confines of your freezer may feel like a frosty beauty routine for your beloved footwear. Remember to remove them in the morning and allow time for the ice to slightly thaw before trying to extract the bags. You don't want to damage the material. Try this chilly trick and watch those shoes give in to a roomier, more comfortable fit after their cold stretch session.
5. Alcohol
Locate that critical spot inside the shoe and rub some alcohol in it. This trick is supposed to help soften up that specific spot that has been giving you troubles and since you’re supposed to put the alcohol inside the shoe, there is no reason to worry about possible stains. Cool, huh?
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6. Potato
WARNING! This method sounds very weird to me and I’m definitely not brave enough to give it a shot. However, a lot of women swear potato has a magical, shoe-softening property so I guess it wouldn’t be fair to let my dislike of the method get in the way. Anyways, let’s say you’re brave and you have an ill-fitting pair of dark, preferably totally black (read: hard to stain) shoes to stretch. All you have to do is peel a medium-sized potato and let it spend the night inside your shoe. Potato juice is said to soften the leather, making it easier for you to wear those troublemakers.
7. Water
Best ideas always come unexpectedly and that’s exactly how I’ve managed to find the “cure” for my unbelievably tight satin&canvas strappy sandals. I was too scared to try any conventional methods due to the delicate nature of the fabric and just decided to live with the fact that being stylish often has rather painful consequences. That was until I got surprised by one of those tricky summer rains. My feet (and sandals) were completely wet and since I had no other choice but to keep going, the poor things dried on my feet. And guess what? They never caused me any problems again! You can use the same trick on your canvas shoes. Just replace “rain” with “tap water” and make sure you don’t put any foot cream before you wear them. My sandals were brown so dirty rain didn’t ruin them although I did have some problems to remove stains caused by the fore mentioned foot cream.
Do you have any other ideas on how make the process of breaking in new shoes a little easier and less painful?
Top Photo Credit: sⓘndy°
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