How to Stretch Plastic Shoes

Co-authored by Moe Draper and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: October 29, 2021

Sometimes, you'll find a perfect shoe with a less than perfect fit. With synthetic materials like plastic, the stretching process may be more difficult than that of leather or fabric. Luckily, with the use of some common household items like kitchen storage bags and a hairdryer, your shoes can find that desired fit.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Blow-Drying Your Shoes

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1
Wear thick socks and put on the shoe. Wearing thick socks before putting on the shoe will give more room for it to stretch. Wear one or two pairs to fit into the shoe snugly. If the shoes have zippers, zip them up as far as they can go.
- Wear thick wool socks for the maximum amount of stretching.^{[1]
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2
Use the blow dryer in 20-30 second intervals. While on the hottest setting, hold the blow dryer a few inches away from the shoe and heat the areas that feel tight. Wiggle your foot and toes to allow the plastic to expand.^{[2]
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- For shoes with zippers, as you heat the shoe, work the zipper up to promote stretching and a perfect fit.^{[3]
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While the shoe is still hot from the blow dryer, walk around the house to allow the shoe to stretch more. Leave on the thick socks to allow for the shoe to expand.
4
Remove your socks and try on the shoe. Use this time to ensure that the shoes now fit. If they still don't feel right, put the socks back on and continue to blow dry and stretch. Work the shoe with heat and your foot until it fits exactly how you want.
- Run your thumb between your skin and the shoe to stretch the fit for shoes that come past the ankle or calf.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Freezing Water in Your Shoes

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1
Fill a resealable bag halfway with water. Use a durable bag that will not come undone through the process. Fill it with enough water to fit inside of your shoe. Remove the excess air from the bag and seal tight.^{[5]
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- Be sure not to overfill or else the bag could break and cause water damage to the shoe.
Push the bag into the toe area of your shoe. The bag should fit snugly into the shoe and fill the volume that you wish to be stretched. Ensure the seal is tight and no water is leaking.
3
Freeze your shoes overnight. Allow for the water inside of your shoe to freeze. As it freezes, the ice will expand and stretch your shoes.
- To protect the outer sides of your shoes (and the rest of your freezer items), you can put your shoes in another plastic bag before putting them in the freezer.^{[6]
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The following morning, allow your shoes and the bags to thaw for 20-30 minutes before removing the bags.^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Shoe Stretcher

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Purchase a shoe stretcher that fits your style shoe.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Moe Draper
Shoe Care & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview. 5 April 2021.} Shoe stretchers come in a variety of styles depending on the type of shoe you're trying to stretch. Different stretchers will be available for flats, boots, high heels, and other styles. Determine if you need to adjust the length, width, or both. One shoe stretcher will work on both the left and the right shoe.
- A 'two-way' stretcher will adjust both length and width.
- Other common shoe stretchers are toe stretchers, vamp stretchers, and high heel stretchers.
- Many stretchers have holes to add attachments for trouble areas, such as bunions.^{[9]
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Tighten the stretcher in your shoe. Turn the knobs clockwise until the shoe stretcher fits tight in the shoe. After that, twist the knob three or four more times to stretch the shoe. Leave the stretcher in the shoe overnight.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Moe Draper
Shoe Care & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview. 5 April 2021.}
- Remember to start small as to not overstretch the shoes too quickly.
3
Try on your shoe. Loosen the stretcher by turning the dial counter-clockwise and remove. If the shoe is still too tight, continue to use the stretcher in your shoe. Use an extra few turns when stretching again.
- Be careful not to overstretch the shoe as a loose shoe will not be comfortable either.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you expand plastic shoes?

Moe Draper
Shoe Care & Repair Specialist
Moe Draper is a Shoe Care and Repair Specialist and the Owner of Detroit Shoe Shine and Shoe Repair. With over 20 years of personal experience, Moe specializes in shoe shining, cosmetic restorations for quality leather goods, and minor/major shoe repair services. Moe and his staff at Detroit Shoe Shine and Repair have over 30 years of combined experience and knowledge.

Moe Draper

Shoe Care & Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

Unfortunately, plastic shoes can not be stretched very much because they are plastic. If you stretch them too much, you risk ruining (tears/holes) your shoe. If you are willing to take the risk, you may do the following: To stretch out shoes that are too tight, you can purchase your own wooden shoe stretcher and hand crank them to the appropriate tension to stretch them. If this is too difficult, you can always google your local shoe repair or shoe cobbler and take them in to have them professionally stretched.

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Question

How can I stretch the calf of my leather boots?

Moe Draper
Shoe Care & Repair Specialist
Moe Draper is a Shoe Care and Repair Specialist and the Owner of Detroit Shoe Shine and Shoe Repair. With over 20 years of personal experience, Moe specializes in shoe shining, cosmetic restorations for quality leather goods, and minor/major shoe repair services. Moe and his staff at Detroit Shoe Shine and Repair have over 30 years of combined experience and knowledge.

Moe Draper

Shoe Care & Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

The best way to stretch out calves of leather boots is to take the boots to your local shoe repair or cobbler and have them use a calf stretcher to stretch out the boots. You should measure your calves to report it to the cobbler so that when they measure the circumference of your boot, they know how much they need to stretch the boot. This process sometimes takes longer than a regular shoe stretch, as different people have different size calves which may affect the stretch time.

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Question

How can I stretch leather shoes without damaging them?

Moe Draper
Shoe Care & Repair Specialist
Moe Draper is a Shoe Care and Repair Specialist and the Owner of Detroit Shoe Shine and Shoe Repair. With over 20 years of personal experience, Moe specializes in shoe shining, cosmetic restorations for quality leather goods, and minor/major shoe repair services. Moe and his staff at Detroit Shoe Shine and Repair have over 30 years of combined experience and knowledge.

Moe Draper

Shoe Care & Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

Leather shoes have the elasticity to be stretched out, however, you should be careful in stretching them too much, as you may not want to invest in a repair on synthetic shoes. To stretch out leather shoes use a wooden shoe stretcher and a hand crank. In order to get a good stretch, you should stretch them for at least 3 days, and you should wear them for the remainder of the day to ensure that the stretch lasts. To further maintain the stretch, you should purchase cedar shoe trees to hold the stretch when you are not wearing the shoes.

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Tips

When not wearing the shoes, leave a shoe stretcher inside so they retain their shape.

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Walk around your house while wearing the shoes to continue breaking them in.

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