How to break in a pair of shoes

Ever hear the saying ” if the shoe fits, wear it?” Well, what about when the shoe doesn’t fit?

You make it.

That can be true for many aspects of life, but this post is literally about shoes, and making them fit better, so we won’t go there. (sorry if you thought I was going to disclose some type of miracle to make your size 9 feet fit into a size 6 shoe).

Breaking in your shoes doesn’t have to be painful, although occasionally it is. Here’s how you do it:

METHOD 1 – Stretching

- Physically stretching, bending and manipulating the material may be enough. Trying bending the toe upward to flex the sole.

- Wear them around the house, or as much as possible (this can get painful)

- Most shoe repair places are able to stretch shoes, for a fee or you can purchase a shoe stretcher from them

- Keep in mind that some synthetic materials may not stretch

METHOD 2 – Softening

- Stuff them with damp newspaper balls, be careful not to damage the upper part of the shoe with water.

- Another method for leather shoes is to water proof the top and then soak the shoes in water for about 2 min. Put on a pair of thick socks and walk around in them until they are dry. This will help the shoe mold to your foot. Be sure the shoes are completely dry before you wear them out, or you could have a huge smelly, moldy problem on you hands down the line

- Some synthetic materials can be softened with a blow dryer. Wear the shoes with a thick pair of socks and blow dry them and wear them around the house. The heat will help to make the material malleable

METHOD 3 – Friendship

- Yes, friendship is a method. Find a friend whose foot is larger than yours, and in the name of fashion, have them wear your shoes around the house.

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