Over the holidays, I purchased a pair of Stuart Weitzman boots on sale. However, it came with one catch: they were final sale and not returnable. I purchased by usual size but the shoe ran small, and the bigger size was sold out! So I decided to get crafty by stretching them at-home myself. After applying these techniques, I have noticed a difference and wanted to share these clever tricks with you! Here is my guide on how to stretch boots at home with minimal set-up required.
Things to Note About Stretching Boots at Home
Because leather is pliable and flexible, it stretches well under tension. However, I would not expect the same results with other types of materials. If you are nervous about damaging them, the safest way is to take them to the cobbler.
But if you are looking for a quicker and more affordable solution, the tips I outline here have low risk of damage, and can be easily done with materials you have at home.
Tip 1: Wear Thick Socks, and Walk in Them Around the House.
It may seem obvious, but you don’t need to be outside to break into a new pair of shoes! While they are still clean, wear the boots around the house with a pair of thick socks. Your toes may be squished for a little while, but the movement is helping to expand the shoes before they finally hit the concrete.
Tip 2: Stretch Your Shoes with a Hair Dryer.
I got this tip off of the internet and was super skeptical at first, but it ended up working for me! Keep your boots on with a thick pair of socks. Then take a hairdryer and point it towards the areas that feel tight for ~5-minutes. Leave a 5″ distance so that you do not dry out or damage the leather.
As with many materials, heat causes molecules to expand and hopefully it helps create a little more space around your feet. My go-to hairdryer is the Shark Hyperair, which uses high-velocity heat that minimizes heat damage to my hair strands and was gentle on my shoes too.
Tip 3: Stuff Your Shoes with Fabric or Newspaper.
With tight shoes, it is super important that they maintain shape when they aren’t worn. The best way to do so is by stuffing them with thick socks or newspaper. Luckily, these are items we should have at home. But if your shoes are still causing discomfort, you can also invest in a shoe stretcher.
These contraptions are adjustable in width and length, and even customizable to target specific regions of the shoe that feel tight. I wish I knew of this solution earlier!
Additional Tips on How to Stretch Boots at Home
There are a few additional tips I found on the internet that I have not personally tried on my boots. Although I cannot speak to their effectiveness, people have shared that it works for them.
- Use a 50/50 alcohol spray: I’ve read that people will spray the insides of their shoes with this solution, and then wear them around for a little bit. I personally would not try this. I am too nervous that it will damage the dyes and/or dry out the leather, so it seems like a ‘try at your own risk’ technique.
- Fill your shoe with a Ziploc bag of water, then throw them in the freezer: When the water freezes, it expands and creates a mold that stretches out the shoes. I personally don’t feel great about putting shoes into a freezer where I keep my food. But if it is a desperate measure, then you can give this one a try!
- Use a leather stretching spray: You can buy these sprays that condition your leather and help to stretch them out. I prefer this option over using a 50/50 alcohol spray as these ingredients are leather-approved.
If you are looking for tips on how to stretch boots at home, I hope this guide was helpful! As always you can catch my other posts on simple style hacks HERE.
