A common problem with suede shoes is that they can often be a bit too tight. This can make them challenging to put on and take off and uncomfortable to wear. However, there is a way to stretch suede shoes to be more comfortable to wear. In this article, we will show you how to stretch suede shoes. So if you have a pair of suede shoes that are too tight, read on!
The good news is that stretching suede shoes is easy and doesn’t require any special tools or equipment. You can do it with just a few household items.
Required Tools and Materials
- Suede shoes
- Water
- Bowl
- Towel
- Hairdryer
- Shoe stretching tool (optional)
A Detailed Guide on How to Stretch Suede Shoes
Step One: Prepare Suede Shoes for Stretching
Wet suede shoes are prone to ripping, so the first thing that you have to do is prepare your suede shoes for stretching.
Saturate a towel with warm water and wipe the entire shoe surface until damp. This will help loosen up dirt on the surface of your leather shoes, preventing them from stretching evenly. Be careful not to get out any creases or unfinished edges on your shoe, as this may cause permanent damage.
Optionally, you can also dip a small brush in some warm water and scrub down any scuffs on your shoes at this time while you’re waiting for them to become damp. Just make sure that they are scorched before moving onto Step 2 of How to Stretch Suede Shoes.
Step Two: Stretch Suede Shoes With Sock
A common way to stretch suede shoes is by using a sock. Put on a thick sock and then shove your foot into the shoe. This will cause the sock to stretch, which will stretch the shoe. How much stretch you’ll get varies from shoe to shoe. It’s a good idea to wear two or three different socks, each in turn, until the desired amount of stretch is achieved.
Step Three: Stretch Suede Shoes With Stretch Spray
Another way to stretch suede shoes is by using “stretch spray”. Stretch sprays usually come in either aerosol or pump-spray cans. How much stretch you can get will vary from brand to brand, so you must test the spray on an inconspicuous spot before applying it everywhere.
Ensure to follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions for applying the material and allow enough time for the shoe to dry when complete. Be careful not to use too much of this stuff at one time, as some brands may take days instead of hours for their products to dry completely.
Step Four: Stretch Suede Shoes With Hot Water and Towel
If there are no sprays available, you can use hot water and a towel to stretch suede shoes. How much stretch you’ll get will depend on how wet the suede receives, so this is something that you might need several attempts at to perfect.
Place your shoe on top of some aluminum foil (or something else disposable) on your kitchen countertop and pour some boiling hot water onto it. Keep adding more hot water until the surface of the shoe becomes visibly damp all over, but do not let the water run down into any creases or unfinished edges, or else they may become damaged!
After around 15 minutes, remove your shoe from its makeshift steamer and wear it for about an hour. The heat from your body should have helped stretch out the fibers in your leather shoe. If it’s not stretched enough, repeat the process until it is.
Step Five: Stretch Suede Shoes With a Bowl
Once your shoes are wet, take a bowl and place it upside down over the shoe. First, make sure that the bowl is large enough to cover the entire shoe surface without creases or overlaps. Next, apply pressure by stepping on the bowl so that it molds to the shape of your shoe. You can also use a stretching tool at this point if you have one available, as it will make the process much easier.
Leave the bowl in place for about 15 minutes, then remove and check to see if the suede has stretched. If not, repeat Step 2 until you achieve the desired results. Just be careful not to over-stretch your shoes by pressing too hard or at too many points, as this will result in leather cracking.
Step Six: Stretch Suede Shoes With a Hair Dryer
Once you have stretched your suede shoes with a bowl, take out your hairdryer and begin to heat the surface of the shoe. Keep the hairdryer about an inch away at all times so that it doesn’t become too hot to handle. While stretching suede with a hairdryer is not nearly as effective as boiling water, it produces valuable results if done correctly.
Stretch the shoe in all directions for about 10 minutes, then wait for it to cool down. If it’s still not stretched to your liking, repeat Step 3 until you’re satisfied with the outcome.
Step Seven: Stretch Suede Shoes With a Shoe Stretching Tool
A shoe stretching tool is probably the best way to stretch suede shoes without causing any damage, as it evenly distributes pressure across the entire surface of the leather. If you have access to a shoe stretcher, follow these simple steps:
- Insert the stretcher into your shoe and tighten the screws until it’s firmly in place
- Pump up the stretcher by turning the handle until the desired level of tension is reached
- Leave the stretcher in place for around an hour, then remove
- Check the shoe to see if it needs further stretching or not
- Pump up the stretcher again if necessary until you’re ready to wear your shoes.
You Can Check It Out to Can You Wear Suede Shoes in the Summer
Step Eight: Stretch Suede Shoes With Shoe Trees
Inserting a shoe tree into your shoes after stretching them will help your shoes retain their new size. Then, slip the stretcher inside the shoe and put the shoe on as usual. The last thing that you need to do is remove any residual moisture by lightly brushing the suede with a suede cleaning pad.
Take care not to over-brush your shoes, as this can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the material, which may ruin its original appearance! Try to keep brushing suede down to a minimum whenever possible. Of course, if one of these methods doesn’t work for you, there are always good old household items like hairdryers or towels, but be sure to test these methods on an inconspicuous area of the shoe before you start. I hope these steps will help in how to stretch suede shoes.
Tips
- If your shoes are extremely tight or the suede is starting to tear, you can also use a shoe stretcher to help stretch out the material.
- You can also try moistening the shoes with water before stretching them. This will help them to stretch more easily.
- If you have a spare pair of shoelaces, you can try threading them through the eyelets of your tight shoes and pulling on the laces until the shoes stretch out.
- Finally, if you’re struggling to get your shoes to stretch, you can try using a blow dryer on low heat to help soften up the suede. Be careful not to overheat the material, or it may start to melt!
How to Tell if Shoes Aren’t the Right Fit?
There are a few ways to tell if shoes are the wrong fit, even if you can’t feel it when you try them on. One way is to look at the width of the shoe. If the shoe is too wide, it will have extra room in the front and back, leading to blisters and discomfort. You can also check the length of the shoe by placing your longest toe at the end of the shoe.
If there is extra space beyond your toe, the shoe is too long. Another way to tell if a shoe doesn’t fit properly is to see if it bends in the wrong places. When you turn a shoe that fits correctly, it should only bend in the middle. The shoe is too tight if it leans in other areas, such as the toe or heel.
Do Shoe Stretchers Work?
If you thought shoe stretchers were just a gimmick, you might be surprised. But if your shoes are already stretched out and don’t fit the same anymore, it’s time to think about taking them in or getting new ones that fit correctly.
You’ve probably noticed that different types of shoes require different tools when it comes to making them bigger. For instance, casual shoes usually need insoles, while dress shoes can be stretched by hand from an experienced cobbler.
Conclusion
Follow the article on how to stretch suede shoes. We know how difficult it can be to get the perfect fit when buying shoes online. Do not worry; here’s what we recommend based on our own experience stretching suede shoes over time: gently pull at the toe box of the shoe with both hands; use your fingers or fingernails to loosen up any bits of excess material in between the stitches (or seams) around the heel cup; gently tug at each end of one strap until they’re even lengthwise. Repeat these steps with another pair if necessary!
