https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/does-anyone-stretch-their-own-shoes-at-home Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 19 Apr 2026 04:20:30 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/does-anyone-stretch-their-own-shoes-at-home#post-813224 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:41:54 +0000 Mander 813224@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I stretched a pair of cowboy boots that were a bit too tight in the toes by putting them on with thick socks, standing in a bucket of water until they were damp all the way through, and wearing them until they were dry. Worked very well and now they are one of my go-to pairs of shoes!</p> <p>I should mention that they were a (unwearable) £5 eBay purchase to begin with -- I don't think I would try it with anything expensive. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/does-anyone-stretch-their-own-shoes-at-home#post-811500 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 04:58:25 +0000 Anonymous 811500@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've tried Shannon's grandmother's potato trick successfully on an area of the shoe that was too narrow. I left the potato in over night. I think moisture is key. When this came up before, someone suggested wearing the shoes with slightly damp socks for awhile around the house. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/does-anyone-stretch-their-own-shoes-at-home#post-811482 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 04:26:41 +0000 MsMaven 811482@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Aha MIa! I think you've discovered something important with the mind alteration. I haven't been able to figure out why I can walk/stand around shoes in the store for 10 minutes and they feel great, then I get them home and they hurt. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/does-anyone-stretch-their-own-shoes-at-home#post-811479 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 04:22:40 +0000 Mia 811479@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have had some shoes professionally stretched with mixed results. I wish I'd used a potato I must try this! </p> <p>I think that sometimes if the shoe shape is wrong for your foot that one must move on. I swear those carpets in the shoe departments have some kind of mind altering substance in them. The shoes feel so different at home! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/does-anyone-stretch-their-own-shoes-at-home#post-811469 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 04:13:38 +0000 Makrame 811469@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I bought this stretcher. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PMPTEA/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ.....05_s00_i00</a><br /> So far I used it to stretch one pair of shoes and it worked very well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/does-anyone-stretch-their-own-shoes-at-home#post-811436 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 03:30:24 +0000 Emily 811436@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shannon, your grandmother is a genius. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/does-anyone-stretch-their-own-shoes-at-home#post-811347 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:15:21 +0000 Transcona Shannon 811347@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ahhh yes - the potato method. My grandmother taught me this one. You just need to find potatoes that are slightly wider than your feet and cram them into the toe box (I'm assuming they are too tight across the bridge of your foot?) - BTW keep them peeled. The potatoes are soft so don't damage any delicate leather and the moisture in the potato kind of warms up the shoe. Keep them in there for a few hours and then check - you don't want to over stretch. If they need a bit more, shove the potatoes back in for a while. Works like a charm and does no damage to the shoe. Of course, throw out the potatoes after!</p> <p>I also bought a shoe stretching kit for a tough stretch job where the potatoes didn't quite work. It included a softening/stretching spray that you spray on the inside of the shoes first and then insert the stretchers. They have several of these kind of kits for sale on Amazon for relatively little.</p> <p>But I'd try the potatoes first. If the leather is soft enough in the shoes or boots, it should work and costs pennies. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/does-anyone-stretch-their-own-shoes-at-home#post-811321 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 01:46:25 +0000 Anonymous 811321@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shannon has a method using potatoes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/does-anyone-stretch-their-own-shoes-at-home#post-811197 Mon, 07 Jan 2013 23:46:44 +0000 Kristin SF 811197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just curious if it's an easy thing to do, and where you bought your stretchers from? And what is your typical process for stretching shoes (to make them wider)? Like, how long do you stretch them for, do you prep the shoes somehow first, etc.?</p> <p>thanks! </p>