How to stretch a pair of leather shoes

[farmerslife]

I have a pair a lovely Clarks brogues, however I can't wear them for long with out crippling my very un glamorous bunions !! I thought I would try to stretch them a little I have had them a couple of years and think if I could get past this stage they would be nice a comfy, so any tips !!

[JosephWasAChippyMinton]

A tip I have read but not tried is to wear the shoes with a pair of thick and wet socks (indoors obv.) to stretch the leather.

[farmerslife]

Umm might give that a whirl my feet are not my best feature and finding nice shoes is just so hard x

[MisForMumNotMaid]

Get the leather really hot with a hair dryer/ on a hot radiator then (wearing thick socks so you don't burn your feet) put them on till the leather cools.

[Greengardenpixie]

Punch do a shoe stretching spray. Its great. You can also buy sho stretchers that can be used with the spray. Buy from amazon or ebay. I have heard you can also get them stretched st a cobblers.

[SomethingOnceInRoyalDavidsCity]

The local shoe man said he can do spray and stretch after I mentioned my shoes were tight because of bunions. You know, I actually mind the word 'bunions' more than the things themselves!

It may be possible to DIY but if I loved the shoes I'd rather not risk making a bad job of it.

[AlistairSim]

A good cobblers will have a stretching machine, should only cost a few pounds and will be more effective than trying yourself.

[farmerslife]

Think will brave the cobblers it would be a shame to ruin them.
Yes something I think you are right the word Bunions has such old lady vibes but I have had them all my life !!! Hate the wa y the hurt wouldn't mind the way they look if they didn't hurt so much !

[ChablisChic]

Something I've seen, which I haven't tried, but seems to make sense is: half fill two strong ziplock bags with water, squeeze most of the air out, and put one in each shoe. Then freeze the lot overnight. I suppose the science is that the water expands as it freezes, so stretching the leather.

[WerewolfBarMitzvah]

My mum used to put damp newspaper in shoes, pack it really tight then dry them out on radiator.

Agree on being careful - you don't want to hurt them

[LoadsaBlusher]

I have done the freezer bag thing.
Popped them in the freezer twice , each time as soon as they came out I put the shoes on whilst wearing thick welly boot socks and walked around wiggling my toes!

Also blasted them with hairdryer then pressed inside them (down the toe end ) with the handle of a wooden spoon to slacken / soften the leather.

This combination of jiggery pokery worked a treat , Very comfy leather courts now .