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Canvas shoes are comfortable, cheap, and versatile. However, they can be narrow in the toes when you first buy them, so breaking them in takes effort and patience. You can stretch canvas shoes with DIY methods such as using heat, stuffing them with newspaper and socks, wearing them around the house, using a stretching device, or taking them to a cobbler. If one method doesn’t work, try another until you find one that makes your shoes fit right.
Steps
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Microwave canvas shoes for a quick way to stretch them. Put your shoes in the microwave on high for no longer than 30 seconds. The heat from the microwave will make the fabric more malleable to your feet. [1] X Research source
- Make sure there are no metal pieces in the shoes before putting them in the microwave. Make sure the eyelets in your shoes aren’t metal, too. [2] X Research source
- Take the shoes out of the microwave and put them on right away while the material is still warm. Walk around with them on for a minute. [3] X Research source
- After a minute, they’ll start to cool down, so take them off and put them in the microwave again for 20 seconds. After 20 seconds, wear your shoes again, and they should be widened enough. [4] X Research source
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Use a hair dryer on the shoes while wearing socks. The heat from the hair dryer will soften the fabric for stretching. While wearing thick socks, put your shoes on and aim a hair dryer at them for 20-30 seconds. [5] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Use steam to soften canvas shoes for stretching. Steam will relax the shoe fibers and make them more malleable to the shape of your feet. Boil a kettle of water and hold your shoes over the steam for 3 to 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn yourself. [8] X Research source
- Try the shoes on and flex your feet around in them until the fabric has been stretched wide enough to accommodate your foot. [9] X Research source
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Stuff your shoes with bags filled with water and freeze them. As water turns to ice, it will expand in the tight areas of the shoes and stretch the material. Fill two small zip-lock bags with water and seal them tightly. Place the bags in the shoes all the way to the toe area, and put them in the freezer overnight. [10] X Research source
- Take the shoes out of the freezer, and try them on to test their fit. Repeat this process if necessary. [11] X Research source
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Stuff newspapers into the toes of your shoes to widen them. By wadding up and tightly packing newspapers into the toes of your shoes, you should be able to create some wiggle room for your toes. [12] X Research source
- Leave the newspaper in your shoes over night to give it time to stretch the material, and then remove it in the morning. Repeat this step if there’s still not enough room. [13] X Research source
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Wear your canvas shoes around your house if you can. By wearing new shoes around your house, you can break them in while doing daily tasks and sitting at your desk. [16] X Research source
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Use a ball and ring shoe stretcher to widen problem areas. This should provide immediate results, and this type of stretcher can be left in your shoes overnight.
- Decide which area of your shoes needs the most stretching, and place the ball inside the shoe with the ring on the outside. [19] X Research source
- Put the arms of the stretcher together over the area of the shoes giving you the most problems. You should see progress immediately, but you can leave the stretcher in your shoe overnight to make sure it makes enough room for your feet. [20] X Research source
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Use a two-way shoe stretcher to stretch the whole shoe at once. If the entire shoe feels too tight rather than one area, a two-way stretcher widens and lengthens the entire shoe. [21] X Research source
- Shoe stretchers come with bunion plugs that can be attached to enhance stretching in extra tight areas. [22] X Research source
- You should spray a stretching liquid on your shoes prior to using this device. [23] X Research source
- When the solution saturates the fabric, turn the knob of the stretching device one full turn every 8 hours. You may leave the stretcher in overnight. [24] X Research source
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Go to a cobbler for a professional shoe stretching. A professional can use a shoe-stretching machine to either widen or lengthen your canvas shoes. [25] X Research source
- Cobblers charge between $10 to $20 to stretch your shoes. It’s also one of the safest ways if you don’t want to be bothered with a DIY method. [26] X Research source
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Join the Discussion...
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Tips
- Because canvas doesn't have much elasticity or give, it can be really difficult to stretch canvas shoes. [27] X Expert Source Penny Simmons
Shoe Care Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.Thanks
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Warnings
- If you don’t have a microwave, do not use the oven as a substitute. Ovens are hotter than microwaves and will melt your shoes. [28] X Research sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd-0GjFqeQc
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlW6yeFvsRU
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlW6yeFvsRU
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlW6yeFvsRU
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/news/a41484/how-to-break-in-shoes-hack-hairdryer/
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/news/a41484/how-to-break-in-shoes-hack-hairdryer/
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/news/a41484/how-to-break-in-shoes-hack-hairdryer/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLDxrDIEJyI&t=16s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLDxrDIEJyI&t=16s
- ↑ https://lifehacker.com/stretch-tight-shoes-with-a-baggie-of-water-in-the-freez-1640246360
- ↑ https://lifehacker.com/stretch-tight-shoes-with-a-baggie-of-water-in-the-freez-1640246360
- ↑ https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/how-stretch-shoes-that-are-too-tight.html
- ↑ https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/how-stretch-shoes-that-are-too-tight.html
- ↑ https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/how-stretch-shoes-that-are-too-tight.html
- ↑ https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/how-stretch-shoes-that-are-too-tight.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLDxrDIEJyI&t=16s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLDxrDIEJyI&t=16s
- ↑ http://www.thefashionspot.com/life/659177-how-to-stretch-shoes/
- ↑ https://www.footankle.com/shoe-therapy/how-stretch-shoes/
- ↑ https://www.footankle.com/shoe-therapy/how-stretch-shoes/
- ↑ https://www.footankle.com/shoe-therapy/how-stretch-shoes/
- ↑ https://www.footankle.com/shoe-therapy/how-stretch-shoes/
- ↑ https://www.footankle.com/shoe-therapy/how-stretch-shoes/
- ↑ https://www.footankle.com/shoe-therapy/how-stretch-shoes/
- ↑ http://www.thefashionspot.com/life/659177-how-to-stretch-shoes/
- ↑ http://www.shoe-tease.com/2016/09/22/how-to-stretch-shoes-make-bigger/
- ↑ Penny Simmons. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd-0GjFqeQc
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To stretch your canvas shoes, put them in the microwave on high for 30 seconds, since the heat will make the fabric more malleable to your feet. Alternatively, aim a hairdryer at your shoes for 20 to 30 seconds to create the same effect. If you don’t have a hairdryer, hold your shoes over a boiling kettle for several minutes so the steam can soften the shoe’s fibers. Then, put your shoes on to stretch them. You can also stuff your shoes with 2 or 3 sealed bags of water. Next, place your shoes in the freezer overnight, which will cause your shoe's to stretch as the water expands. If your toes feel tight in your shoes, stuff them with newspaper to widen them. For tips on how to get your shoes stretched professionally, keep reading!
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