Tips for breaking in shoes quickly. How to break in tight shoes at home - Best tips. How to keep your shoes attractive and well-maintained

Why do shoes rub? This question always arises when the fact is revealed that the purchased shoes, which correspond to the size of the feet and were tried on several times in the store, suddenly turned out to be tight in everyday use.

Criteria for quality shoes

Shoes are an important detail of a person’s appearance and one of the main foundations for the formation of his image, and must meet the following criteria:

It is according to these principles that such an important thing is chosen. And what a disappointment it is sometimes when the shoes you put on for the first time rub, causing great discomfort when walking. In proportion to the appearance of calluses on the legs, the mood catastrophically deteriorates. It is not always possible to return a tight pair of shoes to the store; buying another one is expensive, and not everyone can afford such unplanned expenses. at home?

The easiest way to distribute tight shoes- give it to a shoe workshop, where it will be stretched using special equipment. But you can try to take rescue measures yourself, at home. What can I do to prevent my shoes from rubbing?

Immediately after purchase

Firstly, you don’t need to go out in new shoes immediately after purchasing them, otherwise pain, discomfort and blisters will be an unpleasant end to a hard day.

Painful sensations in the feet can be relieved if, after removing shoes, immediately immerse them in hot water. If blisters are found, soak your feet in water for 10 minutes. warm bath with green tea to soothe pain, reduce the likelihood of infection, and kill bacteria.

You need to wear out your purchase gradually: first better at home(preferably several days), giving the foot time to get used to new shoes or boots. It is recommended to lubricate the legs first thick cream. Then you can walk short distances in your new shoes: for example, to the nearest store.

If the seam of the shoe rubs, it should be treated with alcohol, lubricated with soap, rubbed with a candle, or tapped on it with a hammer, placing a piece of material on top. The skin will lose its rigidity and stop rubbing. The procedure must be repeated several times until the desired result is obtained. What else can you do to prevent your shoes from rubbing?

Old newspaper method

The above measures may not have the expected result. In this case, if your leather shoes are rubbing, you can try the newspaper method, which was widely used in Soviet times. It was necessary to take a large number of newspapers, soak them in water, tear them into small pieces, which you can use to stuff tight shoes into. After these manipulations, the shoes should have been left to dry for about a day. Moreover, drying should be done naturally, without placing shoes near a radiator or other heating devices. In most cases, the results obtained met expectations. Perhaps not everyone will like the newspaper method. The problem remains: the shoes rub. What to do? What other measures can be taken?

Manipulations with a wet towel

An accessible solution this issue is to use vinegar. It requires moistening a small towel, which is placed in tight shoes and left overnight. After drying, the shoes should fully conform to the shape of the foot and no longer cause discomfort. You can wrap a box with new shoes with a wet towel and leave it for several hours. This will create a moist environment, making the skin more pliable and softer. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated more than once. After such actions, the shoes will be much easier to wear out.

Stretch your shoes with alcohol

How to distribute new shoes at home? You can rub the inside of tight shoes with vodka, alcohol or beer, then put them on your feet and walk around the house for a while. Alternatively, the inside of the shoes can be sprinkled with boiling water. You should be aware that alcohol is not suitable for fabric and suede shoes, he is capable of ruining her appearance. In this case, it is better to choose another method of breaking in.

Or place in the freezer

Shoes are rubbing - what to do?

You can take advantage of the cold: you need to put it in tight shoes plastic bags, fill them with water and tie tightly. Then place the shoes in the freezer. When water freezes, it will begin to expand and stretch the shoes.

Sprays to help

What can I do to prevent my shoes from rubbing? You can use store supplies, in particular with special sprays, the action of which is aimed at stretching tight shoes. You should spray the rubbing areas with an aerosol, then immediately put on new clothes and walk around in them for a few minutes (preferably in woolen socks). This action may have to be repeated several times, but in the end the result will please you: your legs will feel comfortable in the update. For a faster effect, before using the spray, it is recommended to warm the inside of the shoes with a hot hairdryer.

In order not to buy a special product, you can use what you have at home regular deodorant, which should be applied on the sides of the foot, as well as along the back surface from the heel to the ankle. Acting as a protective lubricant, it will protect your foot from friction.

You can fill the toe box of your shoes with a small amount sheep wool- breathable, airy material that, unlike a napkin, will not roll into a lump. Or you can use cotton swabs.

Also, to double the protective effect, you can purchase an anti-chafing foot balm at the pharmacy, which you can use to lubricate your feet in areas where blisters and corns form.

Often chafing of the skin on the feet and the formation of calluses occurs due to the constant displacement of the foot from side to side. To avoid this, you can use tightly fixed and non-shifting gel or silicone insoles.

Still chafing my shoes. What to do?

Decrease painful sensations in the instep (which is important for high-heeled shoes) is possible if you purchase pads for the instep of the foot, which are glued to the front of the shoes (sandals, boots) where the foot meets the shoe.

To prevent new shoes from chafing, you can use soft strips sold in stores that need to be glued on the inside.

As an analogue, you can stick an adhesive plaster on the areas of rubbing. Small silicone pads (heel pads) are also available for sale, which are attached to the heel in areas of friction and prevent the formation of calluses. You can stretch your shoes to the required size and comfortable shape using special lasts available in shoe stores.

A few shoe tricks

  • If for some reason your shoe laces are left without tips, it is recommended to lubricate their ends with nail polish. The latter will harden and the laces will easily fit into the holes.
  • If light shoes lost their appearance, they can easily be repainted black: rub with raw potatoes, then grease with black cream and clean until shiny.
  • Stains that appear on colored shoes can be removed by wiping them with lemon peel.
  • If new shoes stain your stockings, it is recommended to sprinkle the inner surface with talcum powder.

How to keep your shoes attractive and well-maintained

To ensure that shoes last a long time and always look well-groomed and attractive, you need to keep them in a dry, warm place and often rub them with cream. It’s worth remembering: than better quality shoes, the fewer problems there will be with it after purchase.

Be sure to try on several times before purchasing. It is better to do this in the afternoon, when the leg has larger size than in the morning. You should always take good care of your own feet, and then new shoes will not bring discomfort, but pure pleasure.

When buying shoes in a store, we are often guided not by the practicality of the product, but by originality, style and beauty. We buy shoes one size smaller because you like them and you want to own them. And if your finger is a little tight or your shoes are too narrow, it’s not a problem, they wear out.

But time passes, and the shoes remain in the closet after you walked one day in new shoes and rubbed blisters, barely crawled home, wanting to take them off on the way and go barefoot. But prestige. intelligence did not allow you to commit such stupidity.

So they stand in the closet, you just have to admire them. And I feel sorry for the money, the purchase turned out to be expensive, and so were the legs. And sometimes, when you buy shoes in a store or at the market, after trying them on, you think that they fit, but at home it turns out that they are too small.

What to do? What should I do? Don't worry, we'll teach you how to break in tight shoes properly at home.


How to quickly break in tight shoes?


Water tends to expand when it freezes. Turning into ice, it will press in different directions, stretching the shoes in length and width. Remove the shoes and wait for the bag to thaw.

Do not suddenly tear the ice pack out of your shoes to avoid scratching or tearing them. If it didn’t work the first time, try stretching the shoes a second time.

How to wear shoes made of genuine leather

The fastest way to distribute leather shoes because it is soft and elastic.

First of all, wrap the shoe box with a wet towel and leave for 4-5 hours

Use soapy water. To do this, dilute colorless liquid soap with water 1:4, mix well, pour into a spray bottle and spray inside the shoes. Then put on thick socks. Wear it around the room for 2 hours.

Take vinegar, smear the inside of your shoes, put on a thick sock and wear for about an hour. Unpleasant smell remove vinegar with soap solution.

Another way is to break in leather shoes using boiling water. Pour boiling water into your shoes and pour them out immediately. Don't be afraid that your shoes will get damaged; leather goods can withstand high temperatures.

You shouldn’t do such tricks with leatherette, because the artificial leather can get damaged. Put on socks and wear for 20 minutes. The cooled skin will take the shape of the leg.

Put on wool socks, bend your foot and heat the bend with a hairdryer. Put away the hairdryer. Do not take off your shoes until they cool down. Repeat until the skin is soft and stretched. Apply conditioner to moisturize the shoes.

Pour grain into shoes and pour water, leave overnight. The grain will swell and stretch your shoes. Then remove the grain, wipe the shoes and wear them until they are dry.

How to break in faux leather shoes

It is very difficult to break in leatherette shoes. If you try very hard to stretch it, trying after attempt, it can crack and lose its aesthetic appearance. But this is no reason to despair.

It is still possible to stretch it. To stretch it, put on socks soaked in cologne and walk around the room for 20 minutes. Wear 10 times a day, and so on every day until worn out.

To others effective way helping to make shoes from artificial leather more - stuffing artificial shoes with newspaper cut into small pieces. When you place the paper inside the shoes, make sure that the product does not lose its shape.

Scraps of newspaper, filled with water and placed inside shoes, will swell and stretch the shoes, both in length and width. Then dry naturally.

Breaking in suede shoes

Suede is elastic and soft material. It takes the shape of a leg. To break in suede shoes, put on damp socks and walk around in them for a while.

Just be careful. Suede is afraid of water. Try not to get it on the outside of the product so as not to spoil the attractive appearance of the product.

An excellent means for breaking in is beer, which should be poured inside the shoes. Wear thick woolen socks and wear the shoes for several hours.

How to break in tight patent leather shoes

Patent leather shoes also wear out. But this is much more difficult to do than breaking in leather shoes. You can only increase the size of patent leather shoes in width if the leather underneath the patent leather is soft and thin.

To wear patent leather shoes, you need to soak woolen socks with vodka and wear the shoes until they dry. You can use alcohol by diluting it with water: one third alcohol two thirds water. Vodka and alcohol are safe for patent leather shoes.

When breaking in patent leather shoes, handle them delicately, because they are very fragile, and if handled carelessly, they can crack and lose their shine.

You can also stretch patent leather shoes using a hairdryer. Warm up the inner surface of the shoes until high temperature, and then put on your socks and put your feet in your shoes. Be careful not to overheat your shoes with a hairdryer; the polish may stop shining. This procedure should be repeated from time to time.

Patent leather shoes can be smeared with rich cream or Vaseline, carefully treating the toe and heel, and then put on the last. If there are no lasts, then put on a sock and wear the shoes for 2 hours, moving around the room.

How to break in tight textile shoes?

You can use the solution with boiling water, which we have already mentioned. The socks should dry on your feet. You can fill your shoes with wet paper so that it swells and stretches the shoes. The paper dries in the shoes. Newspaper should not be used, because it can ruin the fabric and stain it.

We told you about how to break in tight shoes. Breaking shoes in to size is very difficult, sometimes impossible. Be careful when buying shoes so as not to waste time and nerves on breaking in tight things.

It's better to shop in the afternoon, when your foot is a little swollen. When stretching, handle your shoes carefully, do not overdo it, so as not to tear them or wear them out more than expected and then not suffer from loose shoes.

Don't forget to wash your shoes and lubricate them with cream. Dry it away from heating appliances. It is better to use shoe mold holders.

Careful care of your shoes will allow you to wear them for a long time and enjoy such beautiful comfortable shoes, boots, and sandals that already fit your feet exactly and match the size of your feet.

Greetings, my dears!

We girls have our weaknesses. One of them may be the desire to be beautiful no matter what. It happens to you that you bought some beautiful dress, for which it’s good to lose a couple of kilos, but you can’t give it up and carry a nice purchase home? Assuring yourself that for his sake you will go on a diet right from tomorrow. Well, well, it’s good if you really lose weight and shine in this outfit, otherwise it often happens that the item remains untouched in the wardrobe.

The same thing happens with shoes. I have a friend whose weakness is shoe addiction. If she sees something interesting in a shoe store, then at least seven of her will not help! He will buy what is needed and what is not needed. And if the coveted shoes are sold at a tempting discount, then everything is clear; she definitely won’t pass them by.

This is typical for many of us, some to a greater extent, some to a lesser extent. And just in such a fervor of buying excitement, it is easy to grab a pair that is “slightly not yours.”

You come home and find that your shoes are rubbing! There is good news! This matter is often quite fixable, unless, of course, you bought 36 for your 39. And just today we’ll discuss, if your shoes are tight, how to stretch them? I’ll tell you all the secrets that I know myself and that my friend shared!

How to break in shoes if they are too tight? There are several methods, let's look at them based on the material.

  • We pull the skin.

Genuine leather is perhaps the most best material for shoes. Beautiful, soft, easy-to-fit product. And it’s not difficult to stretch such shoes, even at home. You can easily add about half a size. Just wet it down leather shoes and wear them indoors for a while.

Please, just do not soak your shoes or spray them with a spray bottle - this may damage the paint or insole, and the product itself may become damaged.

A good way: take not very thick socks, moisten them with vodka or a 2 to 1 dilution of alcohol. Put on those wet socks and put on your shoes. Walk around the house for several hours. Then dry the pair.

If the result is not very satisfying, then simply repeat the procedure, but with less alcohol, i.e. make a vodka solution.

Attention! Shoes should not be wiped with alcohol on top!

You can also use water, but to achieve the best effect, the temperature of the liquid, which is also used to wet the sock, must be high, i.e. as tolerant as possible. You can even first scald the inside of the product with boiling water. Or blow them from the inside with a hairdryer on hot air. Well, then put on your socks. Be careful and don't get burned!

A good result can be achieved using vinegar. Wipe the inside of the product with a 3% solution and wear for a while. This should help!

  • What about suede?

Let's now consider what to do with suede shoes if they rub. In general, this material breaks in very well on its own, just walk around for a couple of days and the shoes will fit comfortably on your feet. But if you need to quickly increase their size, then choose the same “vodka” method that is proposed for leather products.

Do not use water for these purposes so that the product does not fade or become covered with stains!

A caveat: when breaking in, take a thin sock, otherwise the suede shoes may become too big and then hang loose on your feet.

If your shoes are too tight, it is best to use a special stretching foam for suede. It is sprayed only inside the product, on those places that rub the most, after which the shoes also need to be worn with socks.

Important: do not use on suede fatty products, because they leave streaks and spoil the material!

  • Even varnish will succumb!

This is perhaps the most difficult material to break in. Firstly, such shoes are rigid and difficult to deform in themselves, and secondly, if you overdo it with the products, the varnish may crack. When deciding to purchase such products, choose a pair that is suitable in length and where your fingers are free.

If you still have to stretch new patent leather shoes, then fat comes to the rescue. What to do: take Castor oil, Vaseline or glycerin, lubricate the shoes both inside and outside and wear them on your toes. The material will soften and the product will be able to stretch.

  • Leatherette, fabric and oilcloth - what to do with them?

Frankly speaking, shoes made of such material are almost impossible to break in. The fact is that inexpensive artificial materials simply cannot withstand deformation and burst. Of course, you can try to stretch such shoes with water, but the risk that the color will fade and streaks will remain is too great. It is best to use the “freezing” method, but more on that below.

Perhaps these are the main methods of breaking in, but this is not the entire list. What do you do? Tell us in the comments how else you can increase the size?

Contactless methods

Above, I told you how you can quickly break in your shoes yourself, but there are also methods to stretch your shoes without wearing wet or alcohol-soaked socks.

  1. Steaming.

Hold the shoes over the steam, and then put wads of newspaper inside. Lay them as densely and as large as possible, but try not to disturb the shape. Then we leave the shoes to dry in a dry place (but under no circumstances near the radiator!) for about a day.

The disadvantage of this method is that there is a possible risk of streaks. And also, there is a possibility that after some time the product will dry out and begin to shrink even more.

  1. Freezing.

A rather unusual, but effective way to widen shoes. Pour water into plastic bags(it is advisable to take them with a special fastener) and insert them into the toes of the shoes. We put this pair in the freezer for a day. Freezing, the water will begin to expand and put pressure on the walls of the shoe, thereby stretching it. After the allotted time, we take out the pair, remove the bags and let the shoes “come to their senses” in a dry place.

Partial breaking-in

It often happens that the product fits well in length and is comfortable for the fingers, but the back feels tight. How to deal with it:

  • Rub the back of the shoe with paraffin. In just a day you can forget about this problem.
  • Knead the back with a hammer. Tap this area very gently until it becomes soft.

Before buying a new pair, you should remember that you cannot take them apart:

  • Shoes 2 or more sizes.
  • If the shoes are tight in the edging seam.
  • Products from some artificial materials.

How can a shoe shop help?

There is another way. Almost any shoe shop offers a shoe stretching service. Everything happens simply, you say how much you need to increase, widen your shoes. Then the master looks at the material and its quality, and if everything is real, then he places them on special things. After a day or two, you pick them up and get the size you want.

This method helps some, but not others. I applied for this service a couple of times, but was not satisfied. In the first case, my shoes were overstretched, and in the second, I didn’t feel any changes at all and I still had to use my grandmother’s method of wearing them (with thick socks).

When buying new shoes, it is best to close your eyes and listen to your feelings - whether you are comfortable enough in length, width and instep. The product simply must be comfortable, otherwise it can significantly worsen not only your mood, but also your health.

Wear only the right shoes and don’t forget to share in the comments your ways of how to quickly land a shoe on your foot!

See you again on my blog,

Anastasia Smolinets

Having bought beautiful shoes in the store and put them on for the first day, you barely made it home? Find out how to wear leather shoes that are tight, so that nothing overshadows the joy of your purchase!

Folk experts offer 10 effective home remedies at once.

Alcohol solution

The most popular method has helped hundreds of thousands of women - now it's up to you!

  1. Wipe the inside of the shoes with alcohol, cologne or vodka diluted with water. The outer surface of the pair can be treated in the same way.
  2. Wear thick cotton socks.
  3. Walk around the house for at least two hours.

You can treat the entire shoe or just those areas that cause discomfort.

Castor oil

Simple oil - castor or sunflower - will help you break in new shoes. Cosmetic Vaseline can be an analogue.

  1. Take any product and anoint your shoes well both outside and inside.
  2. All that remains is to put on socks (preferably old ones) and walk around the apartment for 3 hours.
  3. At the end of the specified period, wipe off any remaining oil.

In this way you can stretch shoes made of artificial or natural leather.

Hot water

The cheapest option that can soften the skin and expand it a little.

  1. Pour very hot water into the middle of your shoes or leather sneakers.
  2. After a few minutes, drain it and let the shoes cool slightly.
  3. Put your shoes on your socks and wear them until they dry.

You can also wrap your shoes in cotton cloth soaked in boiling water. After about half an hour, remove the material and lubricate the skin with any oil. Leave it for the whole day.

Another useful advice– soak warm socks in very hot water, put them on and put on your shoes. Walk around the apartment for half an hour.

Newspapers

Old proven method! If your shoes feel too tight in your toes, wet newspapers with water and push them into your socks (meaning the toes of your shoes). Push in very tightly - the final effect depends on this. But be very careful to follow the original shape. Wait for the paper to dry completely (this takes a day) and wear your worn-in shoes!

Freezing

How to break in tight shoes? Try freezing it!

  1. Pour water into new plastic bags.
  2. Tie them well and check for leaks.
  3. Place the bags in your shoes.
  4. Wrap them in newspaper and put them in the freezer - the liquid expands when it freezes, so your shoes will become a little looser.

Laundry soap

You can remove tight shoes using soap. They just need to polish their shoes before going outside. Soap reduces friction and prevents calluses. Do this until the pad stretches and you feel comfortable.

Hairdryer

To quickly break in shoes, use a hair dryer.

  1. Wear warm socks and appropriate shoes.
  2. Turn on the hairdryer on hot mode and warm up particularly narrow areas for 10 minutes.
  3. Walk around for a quarter of an hour.
  4. If necessary, warm up the shoes again with a hairdryer.

Grain or cereal

This method has been known since the days of cowboys!

  1. Pour cereal into your shoes, which swells when wet.
  2. Fill it with water and leave it overnight.
  3. Pour out the cereal and wipe the shoes with a rag.

Vinegar or kerosene

To achieve the result, soak a close pair with a 3% vinegar solution or pure kerosene. This helps a lot, especially if it’s tight in the toe and toe area.

Candle paraffin

If you have paraffin in the house, feel free to use it! Wipe the inside of the shoes and leave it overnight, and in the morning, brush off the paraffin.

If you were unable to stretch tight shoes at home, contact a workshop. There are special devices there for these purposes. You can also buy shoe stretcher at the store and immediately spray it on the inside of your shoes. Afterwards, the shoes are put on and wait until they dry.

Similar articles:

There are several ways to answer the question of how to break in tight shoes. But before taking action, it is necessary to remember that only Genuine Leather. It is extremely difficult to stretch other materials without compromising their integrity. There is no point in stretching shoes that are too short in length.

There are several reasons why we buy shoes that are smaller than we need. Knowing them, you can avoid mistakes and choose the most comfortable pair for your feet.

  • If your legs are noticeably swollen, it is better to make a purchase in the afternoon. Then you will choose a slightly larger size, and you will not have to worry about deciding how to wear shoes that are too tight.
  • Take your time when buying a very nice and cheap pair, because in a hurry you may not notice that it is a little too small for you. Try it on, walk around the store a little, making sure that neither the left nor the right shoe is squeezing your feet.
  • For those who change their minds when they come home and want to return their shoes, there is always such an opportunity. Therefore, keep your receipt and become familiar with your consumer rights.

To stretch the skin there are folk remedies and products produced by specialized companies.

Sprays, creams and pads

Some shoe stores sell special foam in cans and cream. The products are applied to areas of shoes that are especially pressured. On delicate suede shoes, foam is applied only from the inside, and on smooth skin inside and out for greater effect. It softens the material, making it stretch easily.

After this, you should put on socks, put on your shoes and walk around in tight shoes until the foam dries. If necessary, this stretching procedure is repeated for several days in a row.

For those who want to break in new shoes quickly, you can suggest using a last, such as those found in shoe workshops. After treating your skin with the same spray and using the pad at night, you can test the result in the morning.

Alcohol solution or vinegar

A well-known recipe for breaking in shoes is the use of vodka or an alcohol solution. Let us immediately note that suede shoes cannot be stretched in this way. Moisten the inner surface with vodka, put on shoes and walk in them until the skin dries. Since the alcohol evaporates quickly, you won't have to wait long. Then the process is repeated until the shoes take the desired shape.

For those who know how to break in tight shoes using vodka, we offer another method that uses vinegar. Take 3% vinegar, moisten the inside of a sock with it and stretch a new pair by wearing it. This allows you to slightly expand the lower part, giving more freedom to your fingers.

Water use

When there are none at hand special means, you can use ordinary water. To do this, you need to wet non-fading cotton socks, put them on and put on your shoes. You should walk like this until your socks are dry.

This method also applies to suede shoes. Although it stretches very well, it happens that the first days the shoes are very tight. You can quickly break in a new pair of suede using the method described above. Just be careful with suede and do not allow water to get on its surface, otherwise the shoes will lose their appearance.

If the model requires especially careful handling, then you can moisten it by wrapping the shoe box with a wet rag and leaving it like that for several hours. This is the most gentle method of exposure to moisture. Then the moistened shoes or sandals are broken in in the usual way.

Sometimes, in order to make leather shoes more comfortable, boiling water is poured inside for a few seconds. But this method should be used with great caution on shoes or boots, as they may simply fall apart.

The original way is to use water that is frozen. It is known that water expands when frozen. If you place a tightly sealed bag of water inside your sneakers or shoes and then put it all in the freezer, the ice will expand the leather shoes.

How to soften skin

Many people wonder whether it will be possible to wear leather shoes after long-term storage. You've probably noticed that if you don't wear your shoes for a long time, they become a little tight and seem to narrow. The material dries out and hardens, and at the same time discomfort arises when worn, and calluses appear on the feet.

In this case, you can soften it with Vaseline or vegetable oil. The same products are suitable for artificial leather. Just remember to dry your boots thoroughly afterwards. In addition to softening, natural vegetable oil helps get rid of skip soles. Just drop a little oil onto a clean, dry sole and rub it in.

It is best to use castor oil because it leaves no odor, is quickly absorbed and gives elasticity to the skin.

Newspapers

An old and proven method for expanding shoes is newspapers. With its help, the fullness of even things made of artificial materials, as well as fabric, is increased.

First, the shoes are held over steam for several minutes so that they are slightly moistened and warmed up. The newspapers are soaked in water, wrung out, and I begin to place them inside the shoes. You should lay it very tightly and carefully, repeating the shape of the shoe, otherwise after drying your shoes will become crooked. Stuff the newspapers as tightly as possible so that they slightly expand the rise, as if increasing the volume.

After this, you need to leave the shoes to dry in natural conditions at room temperature. You cannot place it on a heater, radiator or leave it in bright sun. The drying process should take place evenly and gradually.

When the newspapers are completely dry, they are taken out and slightly increased in size. Instead of newspapers, you can use any paper or old socks.

You can find other ways to increase the size of beautiful, but not very comfortable shoes. Some of them use beer, others use paraffin or oatmeal, which swells when wet, or even peeled potatoes to slightly stretch the skin. But it’s still better to buy boots, sneakers and shoes correct size and not suffer.