Shoes are a sensitive topic for most people. Even if we leave aside its unimaginable high cost, another depressing factor remains unchanged: the limited number of patterns on which it is sewn. There are very few people whose legs fully correspond to the average statistical standards. And it is especially problematic to buy suitable boots with high tops. Even if they fit the size of the foot and in the lower third of the top, it is not a fact that they will fasten all the way. You can try on dozens of pairs and still not find one that suits your feet. It is not surprising that the search for ways to stretch the boot top at home is so popular: you need to walk in something! And men like full calves, but not shoemakers. So ladies have to look for a way out of the situation so as not to be left barefoot in winter - very few people still like felt boots.
When to take a risk
When asked whether it is possible to stretch the boot top, we will immediately answer: yes! However, you should not count on the fact that you can make a real bell out of a pencil boot. The material used to make shoes is not highly elastic. Trying to stretch it further will only lead to the seam coming apart. When estimating your chances of success, you need to be guided by two considerations.
- If the zipper on the boot comes together, albeit with difficulty and on a stretched leg, you can easily take the pair you like: it will stretch to the desired fullness. There is a little more doubt if the lightning did not reach the top by a centimeter and a half. But if it is only fastened halfway, put it aside. Your experiments will fail.
- Immediately give up the idea of shoes made of leatherette, since it is unrealistic to stretch the top of a boot at home using it. The material is more likely to crack or deform than to agree to change slightly.
And get ready for quite lengthy shoemaking procedures: the process will not be quick.
Chemical shoe stretcher for half a size
At home, you can use whatever is at hand - products based on various chemical compounds.
The most readily available on the farm are: vinegar, paraffin, kerosene, and alcohol. But there are also specialized compounds made in industrial conditions.
Shoe stretcher, Vister universal
One of the cheapest sprays, produced in St. Petersburg. Suitable for shoes made from natural and non-natural materials.
Shoe stretcher, shape correction Salton
The German product SALTON perfectly stretches shoes and boot tops by 1 size. Apply strictly according to the instructions, then you need to put on and walk around in shoes until it dries completely. Sometimes once is not enough, the procedure must be repeated.
There are no streaks left on shoes, shoes and boots, the spray is well absorbed.
Shoe stretcher "Dividik"
Dividik stretches any shoes, even nubuck and velor, it is inexpensive. The foam is applied directly inside, then you need to put your shoes on and walk around.
The product has a light citrus scent and functions as a freshener and deodorant.
Shoe stretcher Salamander
The German product softens shoes very quickly. The aerosol can be applied to all types of skin. It is also used to adjust shoes to the foot. When using, you don’t have to break in your boots, but simply leave them with the spray applied for several hours. Shoes made of crocodile leather and patent leather are stretched from the inside.
With the help of such tricks, you can quickly bring narrow leather shoes into proper shape and stretch them to the required size. If none of the listed methods suits you for some reason, or you simply do not want to take risks, it is better to entrust this procedure to professionals. Shoe specialists can easily cope with the problem of uncomfortable shoes.
Iron to the rescue
This is the simplest method of how to stretch a boot top at home. However, it only applies to a limited range of shoes. The leather on boots should not be thin - this is it. The material should not be varnished - that's two. The method is not suitable for huskies - that's three. If all conditions are met, we proceed according to the following algorithm.
- The boot is unfastened and placed on the ironing board as evenly as possible.
- The flannel is well wetted and wrung out so that water does not drip, but the rag is wet, not damp.
- The iron is heated to medium temperature, and the boot is steamed through the fabric.
- When the skin becomes soft and moist, the bootleg is pulled to the sides in the right place. The desired dimensions are measured in advance. You can even just make marks on the board to which you need to reach the boot.
No jerks, just uniformity and persistence! If the boot starts to dry out and tan ahead of time, steaming is repeated. When the goal is achieved, the zipper is zipped, paper is stuffed tightly inside (to prevent shrinkage), and the shoes are left away from the batteries until completely dry.
How to widen the top of suede boots?
Suede is one of the capricious and delicate materials. Suede boots are quite difficult to stretch at the top, especially if the shoes are winter. In order to get 100% results, it is better to go to a workshop, where, with the help of special pads, the master can slightly widen the boot. It is almost impossible to stretch the top of suede boots at home, but there are still several methods that you can try.
Suede boots
Method 1. A simple and affordable way is to use special products that are used to treat the problem of tight shoes. Such products help soften the suede in areas where the shoe needs to be pulled. Before using them, you need to read the information indicated on the packaging; you also need to apply them from the inside of your boots. In the process of stretching the boot, you need to apply the selected product inside the boot, put on a long sock and walk until the product dries completely. If it is not possible to walk in boots, then you can place a jar inside the boot.
Method 2. Warming up the suede will help to slightly widen the top of suede boots. This procedure can be carried out using steam, which is used to treat the inside of the boot, then put it on the foot and walk until it dries completely. This procedure can be carried out several times. If there are various buckles on the boot, then it is better to abandon this procedure.
It is very difficult to stretch the top of suede boots, so if, when buying shoes, the top is too tight or the zipper on it is not fastened, it is better to refuse such a purchase.
Freezing shoes
For more delicate materials, another way has been invented to stretch winter boots at the top. It is not suitable for leatherette and rubber. The bottom of the boot, which will not stretch, is stuffed with newspapers so that it does not become deformed. A thick polyethylene bag is placed at the top, into which water is poured. Its volume should correspond to the current thickness of the boot. The air is released from the bag, but it is tied so that there is free space inside. The boot hides in the freezer overnight. The water will expand and stretch the boot. If it turns out that the volume is still insufficient, the process is repeated. The technique is especially good if you need to stretch suede boots: no external influence, which usually leaves stains on the material. Just make sure the freezer is clean. Better yet, to be sure, cover it with clean, dry cloth.
How to stretch the tops of leather boots
Much of the success of any home method depends on the elasticity of the material from which the shoes are made. Genuine leather stretches best and retains its shape. There are several simple ways for her to stretch her boots at the top. However, any of them must be used carefully so as not to deform or tear the seams, which will ruin the impeccable appearance of the shoes.
Fat cream or castor oil
This option is great for thin demi-season boots. Castor oil or fatty cream is applied from the inside out, or on both sides, in places that require stretching. After this, the boots are put on thick high socks and worn in for several hours. You can also place a bottle of warm water in the boot of a suitable diameter. If necessary, repeat the action 2-3 times. However, this method is effective if you only need to slightly increase the volume of the boot.
Warm
High temperatures temporarily make the skin larger and help stretch it. To do this, the boot is heated by dousing it with boiling water, steam, or using a hairdryer. After which, while the skin remains warm and elastic, shoes are put on with thick high socks or over thick trousers. So the boots are left until the material cools completely. You can try stretching models made of thick leather without a thick lining by ironing the desired areas through wet flannel napkins. While still hot, they are stuffed tightly with newspaper and then allowed to dry at room temperature.
Cold
As you know, water increases in volume when it freezes. This feature can be used to stretch the boots at the top. To do this, fill thick plastic bags with liquid and place them in the boot tops. Next, you just need to put the shoes in the freezer of the refrigerator for 10 - 12 hours. Water, turning into ice, will very slowly and gently stretch the skin in the right place.
Gentle heating
The exact opposite option of how to stretch a boot top at home: now we will use increased temperature. The method can be called a softened version of the very first one. Suitable for any natural materials, but heavier for the owner of boots. Stubborn shoes are pulled onto your feet with difficulty and creaking. Moreover, you need to wear thick socks underneath, which will hold back the shrinkage a little later. In places where the boot does not fit well, it is diligently, for at least half an hour, warmed up with a hair dryer turned on at maximum. Afterwards, the owner of the shoes must walk in them until the boots cool down. It is advisable to actively move while doing this, this will help the boot to take the shape as close as possible to your leg. If your leather or suede boots are not fastened all the way the first time, after cooling, the zipper is brought all the way and the manipulations are repeated.
How to stretch leather shoes? Folk methods
Today, there are several ways to make comfortable shoes out of narrow shoes. Thanks to any of the following methods of influencing the leather from which your favorite pair of shoes, boots or boots is sewn, they will fit comfortably on a person’s foot.
Using alcohol
Shoes made of genuine leather can be moistened with alcohol from the inside, then put them on a thick sock and walk around the apartment for several hours.
If shoes or boots press extremely hard, then you can stretch them in several approaches: put them on for 5-10 minutes 3-5 times a day, so as not to hurt your feet.
Freezing shoes
Another original way is to stretch your boots using cold. Plastic bags filled with water are placed inside the shoes, and everything is placed in the freezer for 12 hours. In this case, the bag, which is inserted into the toe of the shoe, is tied tightly, and the upper analogue remains open. After the allotted time period, the shoes are pulled out of the freezer and after the ice has slightly thawed, the bags can be removed. This option stretches leather boots not only in width, but also in length. This feature is explained by simple laws of physics, when water, transforming from a liquid form into a solid state, significantly increases in volume, stretching the skin in all directions.
Using boiling water
Shoes that put a lot of pressure on your feet can simply be stretched at home using boiling water. To do this, you need to pour it into your shoes and wait until the water cools down. As soon as the water temperature approaches room temperature, you need to put on your shoes and walk in them for a while. To prevent your feet from getting wet, you can put a plastic bag on top of the sock. After wearing this method, the shoes will quickly take on the appropriate shape.
Paraffin
Ordinary paraffin will also help to stretch narrow shoes. A pair of shoes is rubbed with paraffin from the inside and left in this state for 10-12 hours. Then the remaining paraffin is removed and the shoes are tried on. If your heel rubs when wearing shoes, you can also get rid of this inconvenience using paraffin.
In a bowl of water
If, for example, boots need to be made a size larger, then you can simply put them in a basin of water for a day, after which you can start breaking them in.
But this can only be done with factory-made shoes, which are not only glued, but also stitched. In this case, boots or shoes of dubious manufacture may become unstuck.
Using castor oil
Castor oil can help stretch your shoes wider by applying them to the inside and outside of your shoes.
After this, you can start posting. After 3-4 hours, the oil should be removed from the surface of the shoe. This method is applicable for carrying shoes made of any material (except suede). Also, castor oil will help bring old, hardened shoes back to life.
Hairdryer
Thick socks are put on the feet, and leather shoes are placed on top. After this, you need to turn on the hair dryer to dry your hair in hot mode. It is worth pointing it in the direction where the shoes are tight.
Newspaper
The most popular method for resizing leather shoes is using a wet newspaper. Immediately before the procedure, it is recommended to hold leather shoes over steam for a short time. Then newspaper or fabric is tightly stuffed inside the product. After which the pair of shoes is left until the leather is completely dry. You cannot use additional heat sources to dry the product; everything must happen under natural conditions at room temperature. When exposed to sunlight or a heater, shoes may become deformed.
Special stretch block
If leather shoes need to be stretched 1 size in length, then this stretcher is perfect. For this purpose, the last must be inserted inside the shoe, and then it will do all the work for you. How long you need to leave the stretch in the product is up to you. It all depends on what size the leather shoes need to be enlarged to.
Ferry
Leather shoes can be held over steam. After this, you need to put on the product and walk around in it for some time. You need to act very carefully. The steam must get inside the shoes or boots, in which case it will act and will not harm the shoes.
We use primitive chemistry
The following technique can also help in the case of stretching artificial leather shoes. You will need vodka (pure, without any additives like birch buds or quail eggs) or medical alcohol. The latter will need to be diluted to 70 percent strength. In a more concentrated form, alcohol can damage natural materials. Some masters use vinegar essence. However, in addition to a sharp and persistent odor, it can discolor the surface. Suede is especially vulnerable in this regard - even its structure can be damaged. The required areas are generously sprayed or coated generously with the solution. It is advisable that it does not fall on non-stretchable areas. Alcohol evaporates very quickly, so it is better to carry out the procedure with boots already on, with the participation of a sympathetic family member. And, again, thick socks should be worn underneath. To consolidate the effect, you need to walk in shoes for half an hour (more is better, but not necessary, since the alcohol will have time to evaporate during this time). If necessary, you can repeat the process tomorrow.
Photo tips on how to stretch the boot top
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Professional products
We left them for last for several reasons. Firstly, they will extract more funds from the budget. Secondly, you need to take their composition extremely seriously and read the instructions carefully: they may have a narrowly targeted effect and will not suit your shoe material. Thirdly, most of them are toxic, and can only be used on the balcony (which is not good for you or your boots). Finally, they need to be tested first in an inconspicuous area as they can cause discoloration and warping. If you decide to resort to this method of how to stretch the top of leather boots, it will be enough to buy a suitable spray and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Care Tips
Leather shoe lovers would do well to learn some useful tips on caring for this product. They are not that difficult and quite doable. By following them, you can keep your leather shoes in perfect condition for a long time.
Here are some recommendations:
- You should not treat too thin leather with alcohol-containing liquids, as well as products with aggressive components, so as not to harm the fragile product;
- if you are planning to use an industrial product and cannot be 100% sure of a positive result, it is better to first try the composition from the inside, and only then use it to its fullest;
- shoes made of leather cannot be stretched by more than 1 size, therefore, if the product is very small, you should not try all the listed remedies so as not to harm the capricious material;
- as a result of prolonged wear, the shoes will stretch in any case and without additional effort, but it is unlikely that anyone will endure for so long and will wear tight shoes, waiting for this moment;
- narrow new shoes can be worn at home in your free time from work and additional activities, and when they stretch under the influence of the foot and socks, you can safely go outside in them;
- Do not rush too much and try to somehow speed up the process of breaking in a leather product, as haste can only harm the structure of the leather;
- try to buy shoes not for “tomorrow”, but a little earlier (1-2 seasons earlier), so that you can distribute the product either yourself or with the help of special means;
- if you doubt your abilities, you can always turn to a specialist, he will competently and easily cope with the problem of tight shoes;
- It is best to initially choose shoes by size in a shoe store, this will save time and money on eliminating the negative consequences that narrow shoes will cause;
- if a product is purchased in another country, then it is always necessary to take into account the discrepancy in world standards and designations of different countries; in Europe they are the same, but in Asia and America they are different;
- It is best to try on and buy shoes in the afternoon, since by the evening the foot may become swollen due to prolonged walking, and then it will not be so easy to fit into such shoes;
- do not rush to immediately throw away the receipt from a new pair of shoes, perhaps it can be useful for exchanging for a more suitable model;
- You should not save on shoes and buy too cheap shoes, as there is a risk that they will not last as long as higher quality products made from genuine leather;
- If you are tempted to buy a model you like on sale, even if it’s not the right size, it’s better not to do it.
Thus, following all the advice from experts, you can immediately make the right choice in the shoe department and thereby save yourself from the procedure of carrying leather goods in the future. Let your shoes bring you only pleasant sensations while walking!
If all else fails
It’s one thing if you’re just buying boots - you can refuse to purchase them even before going to the checkout if you can’t fasten them. However, what if your calves have gained weight (for example, due to pregnancy), and your boots are new, expensive and beloved? If none of the suggested recipes for how to stretch a boot top at home helped, go to a shoemaker. Long tops can be cut, an elastic wedge can be inserted, and cuffs can be made. Choose an option that suits your tastes and money and don’t give up on comfortable boots!
How to stretch boot tops at home
Shoes are not only a means of protection from bad weather, but also a way to emphasize your image and style. It often happens that you have to search for a very long time for a suitable pair of boots. After all, manufacturers work according to certain standards, and leg girth may not correspond to standard parameters.
However, a narrow boot can be stretched using improvised means at home. This does not even require special tools, and anyone can cope with this task.
