The shoes that seemed comfortable at the store can disappoint you in the first day of wearing them. Few people manage to buy perfect shoes. But if you feel some discomfort, and the shoes are hurting your feet, do not rush to part with your new buy. There are ways to get rid of excruciating sensations and avoid blisters.
Why shoes cause blisters
When buying a stylish and beautiful pair of shoes, we often ignore some minor issue. For example, we ignore a not quite suitable size and width, the quality of the seams, or unfamiliar new materials. But those things are very important, especially if you take into account that manufacturers of shoes sew them based on the standard size. Therefore, if you want your new shoes to be comfortable, you need to break them in.
How to soften leather shoes
The easiest way to deal with the problem is to take the shoes to the shoe-repair shop. They have all the necessary tools and equipment.
Also, you can buy a special wax, cream, spray or liquid at the shoe store. They are always in stock and at different prices.
There is also an option to use improvised means and soften newly purchased shoes at home using “grandma’s” methods.
Many of the popular methods are quite effective and easily help to cope with the problem.
Castor oil and glycerin
These are quite affordable products that you can buy at every pharmacy. Using castor oil or glycerin, you will not only soften hard leather but also protect the shoes from harmful external influence.
- If you want your shoes to rub less, saturate a cotton pad with castor oil, and treat rough problem areas. In an hour, repeat the procedure.
- Glycerin is applied to the entire surface for several minutes.
Flax-seed oil
Most often, rough seams are the source of discomfort. After treatment with flax-seed oil, they become softer and rub your feet much less.
Soften the backs of shoes
Beeswax, a paraffin candle or bar soap will help to soften the inside part and especially the backs of the shoes. They are applied several times to parts that are especially tight, and then the shoes are polished.
An even more effective way is obtained by mixing castor oil, melted beeswax, and turpentine. To prevent shoes from rubbing, lubricate them with this compound, which will not only soften them but also reliably protect them from the negative effects of moisture.
To soften the back of the shoes, you can gently tap on it with a hammer. Be sure to put some fabric over the leather so you don’t scuff it.
Special products
There are a few different products you can buy in the store to soften shoes with:
Special silicone heel plasters – small silicone adhesive strips that attach to the back of the shoe where it rubs.
Foot petals to protect the feet from blisters – special soft strips glued to the inside of the problematic part of the shoes.
Special foams and sprays that can be used repeatedly. Heat your shoes with a hair drier, apply the spray, then put the shoes on and wear them to break them in.
How to break shoes in quickly
In most cases, new clothes and shoes need to be broken in. If you put on your newly purchased shoes for the whole day, painful blisters will certainly appear. But it is possible to soften your shoes, quickly break them in, and forget about the blisters forever, if you follow the tips and instructions we are providing.
At the first signs of light rubbing, stick a band-aid on the spot, brush the back of the shoe with bar soap or a candle. If you still feel discomfort, move on to more difficult methods of breaking the shoes in.
Genuine leather shoes
Real leather is easy to stretch, so it will become comfortable quickly:
- Wet the leather with alcohol, put the shoes on, and walk around for half an hour. You can also use kerosene the same way.
- A washcloth soaked in table vinegar can be put inside uncomfortable shoes and left for a day.
- Hot water will help too. A small piece of cloth is soaked in boiling water and placed inside the shoe. After 15 minutes, wear the shoe with a thick sock.
- To break-in the shoes, you can use the freezer. Pour water into two bags, put them inside the shoes, and leave them in the freezer for a while until the water freezes and expands.
Patent leather shoes
If the pair of shoes are made of thin soft natural patent leather, it is better to use a special product for breaking them in, which you can buy at a shoe store. You just need to apply it to the inside o the shoes, put the shoes on with thick socks and walk around the house for about an hour.
If that doesn’t help, try these methods:
- warm the inside with a hairdryer;
- apply a thick cream or Vaseline;
- put the shoes on and walk around the house during the evening;
- apply cream again and leave overnight.
Note that patent leather is too delicate, and if there is a need to soften or stretch it, do this with caution. Cracks and scuffs appear very easily on its shiny surface. Do not expose to very high or low temperatures. Aggressive formulations containing silicone, alcohol, gasoline, can be applied only from the inside. Mechanical softening of the back of shoes with a hammer is also prohibited.
Not everyone succeeds in buying comfortable shoes, so they have to soften them and break them in. Here is the best piece of advice for making sure your shoes are comfortable and you end up with fewer blisters: try on and buy boots or shoes at the end of the day. In the evening, most people’s feet are slightly swollen. If the shoes are comfortable in the evening, they will be just fine during the day, too.