If your shoes are too big: how to downsize at home

Shoes are an integral part of every person's wardrobe. However, choosing the most suitable model can be quite difficult. In addition, an already purchased pair may stretch out over time. An equally common situation is when, when purchasing through an online store, the purchased model turns out to be too large. However, you shouldn’t get upset and put your shoes in the closet - the situation when the shoes are too big can be corrected.

Is it possible to walk in shoes that don't fit?

If the model is comfortable, you shouldn’t give it up. In this case, you can use one of the following tips:

Wear thick socks. The simplest and most common option. There can be several pairs of socks. This option is great for sneakers or closed shoes. Please note that it is not very comfortable in hot weather.
Place thin compressed paper. The method is suitable for any closed-toe model. Do not forget that the paper will continue to be compressed when worn, so this option is not suitable for long walks.
Additional insole. The insole is used not only to ensure wearing comfort, but also to reduce the size of the boots. Moreover, it can be used for any model, even with an open nose.
Special pads. There are special inserts for the instep of the foot. If your shoes are too big, you should use them. The tabs are completely invisible, so they can be used with open sandals.

Important! The pads can chafe your feet, so you should test them before purchasing.

A few tricks to reduce your shoe size

One of the easiest ways is to take a pair to a workshop, where they will do this task perfectly. But shoemakers most often do not take on sneakers, boots and shoes made of leatherette or woven materials. You also need to take into account that this can cost a pretty penny. If you have time and desire, you can reduce the size using additional materials.

Insoles are one of the simple ways to reduce not only the size, but also the volume of shoes. When one insoles are not enough, you can use two. The material from which the insoles are made is chosen depending on the time of year. For a winter pair of shoes, fur, felt or wool insoles are suitable. For demi-season boots, foam or synthetic insoles are usually used. If the insoles are intended for sports shoes, then they will reduce the size of the sneakers and have a shock-absorbing effect.
Silicone inlays - can be purchased at almost any shoe store. Initially, they are intended to prevent slipping and rubbing of calluses. But they are also capable of narrowing the shoes a little. But to make high-heeled shoes smaller, it is better not to use them.
Double-sided tape - you can stick it on the inside of the sole of the shoes, but you need to put them on bare feet, otherwise the tape will not stick. This method is mainly used by models during shows. Walking in such shoes for a long time is uncomfortable.
Cotton wool, paper or fabric - placed in socks, it will help make shoes a size smaller. Our mothers and grandmothers also used this method, because back then they often bought shoes for children to grow into, or they got them from older brothers or sisters. But you need to keep in mind that this method is only suitable for closed-toed shoes.

On a note! Shock-absorbing orthopedic insoles are considered a good size reducer for closed shoes.

Methods for reducing shoe size

Using simple home remedies, you can reduce your shoe size at home.

Hot water. You should thoroughly wet the sole and side parts from the inside with hot water. Then leave the boots at room temperature until completely dry. It is prohibited to leave shoes near sources of open fire and various heating devices.
Cotton swab. You need to wet a cotton swab and put it in the toe of your shoe. Then you need to put them on. The tampon should not cause discomfort. To make the method more effective, it is advisable to first stretch the cotton into fibers and only then moisten and lay it.
Freezer and battery. You need to pour hot water into the basin, then place the shoes in it for 5 minutes. After this, they need to be removed and hung so that the water completely drains. Next, the shoes must be wrapped in a plastic bag and placed in the freezer. They must stay there for at least 3 hours. When the time is up, the boots should be placed near the battery. Due to such temperature changes, shoes shrink significantly;
Steam and cold. First, the boots should be held over the steam for about 10 minutes, after which they should be immediately placed in the freezer. The method is quite effective, however, with frequent use it leads to damage to the boots.

Important! Before using any method of reducing shoes, it is advisable to first find out what material it is made of. Depending on the material, the reaction may vary.

How to choose the right shoes

Wearing uncomfortable shoes is fraught with ingrown nails, the appearance of calluses, the occurrence of thrombophlebitis, and the development of pathologies of joints and muscles. It is better to purchase shoes in the afternoon, then the shoes or boots will not be too tight. You shouldn’t chase fashion or save money; you need to purchase models with soft elastic soles made from natural materials.

It is not recommended to wear narrow pumps with stiletto heels or high platforms every day, or to buy shoes for children to grow into.

How to make leather shoes smaller

Genuine leather shoes can also be made smaller. This is a fairly elastic material that quickly contracts and expands under the influence of temperature. To make leather shoes smaller you need to:

Pour hot water into a basin, then pour in a small amount of washing powder. The powder can be used for both manual and automatic washing.
The boots should be placed in water and left in it for about 5 minutes.
After the time has passed, the shoes must be completely dried.

You can also spray your boots with a spray bottle and leave them to dry near the battery. You can also use another option:

shoes should be put on your feet, and then placed in a basin of ice water;
After 3-5 minutes, the shoes must be removed and left to dry.

Important! This option is only suitable for closed models. Otherwise, there is a risk of catching a cold.

Reducing your shoe size at home is quite simple. You just need to choose the most suitable option and strictly follow the instructions. The easiest way is to use special sticky tabs. This completely eliminates the possibility of damage to the products.

All of the above options are effective if the model is at least one size too large. If the difference is greater, then the pair should be taken to the store.

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Basic methods

When making a shoe model, certain parameters are taken into account, but not all people have feet that fit that different size. You can narrow or reduce shoes using pads and aerosols, foam rubber and cotton wool, choosing the best option in each specific case.

If the pair is wide or falls off the heels

Shoes don't fit well when a person's feet are too narrow and the length is the right size. Shoes begin to wobble if the instep does not match the heel height. Both men and women feel comfortable in a model in which the heel fits and there is room for the toes.

Liners or insoles

If sneakers do not fit on your foot, although the model was purchased according to size, insoles that are placed inside help correct the situation. They are made from different materials. Products for winter shoes are manufactured:

made of wool;
felt;
fur.

To reduce the bulk of shoes, open-toed shoes use foam insoles with an adhesive backing.

For sports shoes, you can choose special gel products that soften the impact of the foot, and orthopedic insoles reduce the load on it.

Silicone inserts, which are sold on the market and in stores and are placed in the sock, reduce the volume of the shoes and prevent rubbing of calluses, but they are not suitable for high-heeled dress shoes. Suede overlays are suitable for shoes made of genuine leather.

Cotton wool or tissue paper

If the boots are too long, it’s worth remembering an old but effective method. When putting on socks, they are filled with soft napkins, medical cotton wool or very thin paper, but of course for sandals or open shoes, this option is unacceptable.

Double-sided tape

Girls who present chic shoe models at exhibitions and catwalks sometimes have to show products 1 or 2 sizes larger or smaller than their own.

To prevent shoes or boots from slipping or dangling, double-sided tape is glued inside, and it sticks to the foot, but does not stick to the tights.

Manipulations with water and temperature

If simple methods do not help narrow your shoes, it is worth remembering the laws of physics. Leather responds well to mechanical and thermal effects.

Temperature difference

Suede shoes shrink in volume if they are first warmed up and then placed in a cold place. Such manipulations with shoes must be carried out carefully, since there is no guarantee that the product will not lose its attractive appearance.

Hot water basin

To narrow leather sneakers or reduce the size of shoes, it is better to take such items to a workshop, but such a service is expensive. To do this work at home:

Hot water is poured into a bowl or basin.
Stir the washing powder.
Shoes are placed for 5 minutes.

They dry things in the sun, but you need to make sure they don’t dry out. There are other ways to make your shoes comfortable. The inner surface of the shoes should be sprayed with a spray bottle and left after the battery. This method is suitable for synthetic products that deform when in contact with water.

Steam and freezer

Suede shoes are afraid of moisture, and such things should not be wet. To reduce shoes made from this material by at least half a size, the products must be held over hot steam and then sent to the freezer for a while.

Ice water and hairdryer

You can narrow leather sneakers or shoes in an unusual way: put the shoes on your feet and put them in a bowl filled with water for about three minutes, the temperature of which is no more than 3 degrees Celsius. After this, the shoes are removed and dried with hot air coming from a hair dryer.

Special means

To prevent deformation of leather products, sprays are produced that give the material elasticity and softness. Shoes that have been kept in hot or cold water are treated with this composition after drying.

Spray stretcher for shoes made of patent leather

Not everyone knows how to reduce the volume of models made of expensive material that cannot be wetted, washed, or heated under steam. A special agent used for stretching shoes is used to treat the inside of patent leather shoes and place paper in them. After drying, the steam decreases in size.

How to narrow the boot shaft yourself

Thin girls with long feet often cannot find shoes to fit their feet, since they are wide in the calves, and suede boots do not look good at all. To sew the boot, you don’t have to take things to the workshop; you can simply make a dart with an elastic band and get to work:

Using a tape measure or a centimeter, measure the circumference of both legs in the lower leg area.
From the inside, a marker is used to mark the insert.
A ruler in the form of a triangle with equal sides marks the dart.
Using scissors, make a vertical cut in the middle of the figure.
Excess fabric is removed at an angle.
The resulting triangular flap is secured to the elastic with a needle and the dart is sewn.
Do the same with the outer strips of skin.

Return to comfortable size

Before tapering your boots, you need to decide what tights they will be worn with. Measurements should be taken on the left and right legs along the upper edge.

To restore the previous size, if necessary, embroider the dart and use a stretching spray.

If shoes that were previously worn begin to fall off or become loose, insert inserts or insoles, lower them into warm water, and dry them in the sun. Leather must be lubricated with glycerin, nubuck or suede - with a special conditioner.

Rubber

To narrow high boots without a zipper, turn the boot top inside out, rip out the inner fabric along the seam, insert a thick, wide elastic band into the hole and sew it to the lining, masking the mark.

How to reduce your sandal size

Choosing summer shoes is no easier than choosing boots or sneakers. Small shoes pinch your fingers, big ones are uncomfortable to wear, and without fastening they fall off. To fit spacious sandals to the forefoot, gel inserts are placed and insoles, pads, and anti-slip inserts are selected. Such items are sold in pharmacies and medical equipment stores; the range is limited to only three colors.

Workshop

To reduce the size of sandals or sandals, it is better to take them to a professional shoemaker, who, using special tools, carefully separates them upward from the sole and sews them back, placing them a few millimeters closer to the middle. In the workshop, the tops of boots are narrowed, and tired heels are shortened.

Tips for choosing the right shoes

Over time, shoes made of genuine leather will wear out, so buy a pair strictly in your size. It is also necessary to protect shoes from getting wet and keep them away from sunlight. These factors contribute to shoe damage.
Before trying on shoes, sit down, put them on, and then walk around a bit. If you feel comfortable, feel free to make a purchase.
When trying on warm shoes, use the socks or tights that you plan to wear with them. There is no point in measuring boots for thin summer knee socks if in fact you will be wearing thick woolen tights with them.
The toes inside the boots should not be squeezed, move them to check if there is free space.
It is imperative that there is room for the thumb; it should not rest against the inside of the sock. Shoes that are too tight impair circulation and can contribute to foot deformities. In addition, ingrown toenails and painful calluses bring great discomfort.
If you choose pumps, pay attention to the circumference of your leg at the heel. This is important so that the foot does not jump out when walking.
You should not buy boots that hug your feet tightly. There should be some space left inside.

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Reviews

Anna
I once bought shoes on sale. The store thought they were absolutely delicious and inexpensive. I came home and tried them on, it turned out that they were too wide for me, I was very upset and was already thinking about taking them back, but a friend advised me to wet them with water and then dry them. I was afraid at first, but then I finally decided to try. As it turned out, I worried in vain, everything worked out and they fit like a glove.

Regina
After two years of wear, my autumn suede boots stretched out at the shins and looked ugly on my feet. I decided to restore their previous shape, I sprayed the tops with a spray bottle, and then dried them with a hairdryer. Of course, they did not tighten completely, but the width decreased, I decided that I would not experiment a second time, I would repeat the procedure if I stretched again.
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Without magic: you can only make shoes one size smaller

If the refund or exchange is unsuccessful, you will have to think about how to make the pair wearable and stretch it yourself. Note that this can be done using:

various inserts and insoles,
specialized chemicals and home recipes.

The first option is suitable for any shoes, but the second is optimal for products made from smooth genuine leather. Shoes made of textile, suede or artificial material may lose their presentation or may not respond to your tricks at all. In addition, this way the pair will decrease, at best, by 0.5–1 size . Therefore, sometimes it is wiser to turn to specialists.

In the workshop, shoes are narrowed using lasts of the required size.

Specialists make shoes smaller by means of complete or fragmentary reupholstery. In this case, the heel and sole are removed, and the upper part is placed on a last of the required size. Then a suitable heel and sole are selected and the structure is reattached. After this procedure, the shoes will fit you perfectly, but, unfortunately, not all styles are subject to it. And such work will not be cheap. You can return the size to worn-in shoes, but not from all materials.

Additional methods

It also happens that shoes stretch during wear. In this case, you can make your sneakers smaller in a simple way: take them to a shoe repair shop. The master will easily give a decent look to a stretched or incorrectly purchased pair. This service does not cost much, but a good specialist will be able to ensure that you feel comfortable when wearing it.

If the pair you bought turned out to be half a size or a size larger, then you can try using these methods. If the difference is more than two sizes, it is still better to return the pair to the store.

Don't be tempted to buy the sneakers you like if they're too big for you. When purchasing shoes, always remember that, first of all, they should be comfortable. Now you know how to reduce the size of your sneakers if they are too big, and you can handle it yourself.

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