Keep in mind that these tips for stretching shoes work better on natural materials such as canvas and leather—shoes made of polyurethane and other synthetic materials tend to shrink back to their original size over time.
How to Stretch Shoes
Tip: Apply a little leather conditioner after you stretch your shoes to help keep the leather in tip-top shape. RELATED: How to Make Any Type of Shoe More Comfortable To use a shoe stretcher, start by spraying the parts of the shoe you want to stretch with a shoe stretching solution, which can help relax the fibers of the leather or canvas so they can expand. Put the stretcher into the shoe so that it’s tight against the toe box. Turn the handle until you see the shoe expand and leave it for six to eight hours. Try it on to see if it fits—if it doesn’t, turn the handle a few more times and repeat the process until it does. It may take a few days to get you to the size you need. If you have specific spots that need a bump out (to stop rubbing on a bunion, for instance), most stretchers come with small plugs you can place in with the stretcher to give you a little extra space in just the right spot.
