You wouldn't be the first person to think that using the oven would work as a fast track. But please, in the name of all that's good, don't use the oven to stretch your shoes. It's just too hot and will melt your brand new shoes.
It's generally not a good idea to dry your athletic shoes in the oven or microwave, since the heat can damage the adhesive holding your shoes together. Stuff your shoes with newspapers and air dry them or place them near a fan instead.
Apply a little heat
To stretch leather shoes, a blow dryer and thick socks are all you need to address too-tight shoes. Put on a thick pair of socks with the shoes, then aim your blow dryer at the tight spots, using medium heat to soften the shoe until it fits comfortably.
A common question is “How long do you leave a shoe stretcher in?” We recommend leaving the shoe stretcher in your shoe for at least 6 to 8 hours. Anything less will not give sufficient time for the material to set in its new stretched form.
Exposing shoes to extreme heat will alter the shape of the shoe, making them “not your shoes anymore. Fit is so important.” You should also keep shoes away from any major heat source like a wood stove or a space heater for the same reason. Similarly, you should never leave shoes in a hot car.
-Set oven to 90°C / 200°F then turn oven on. -Place shoes in the oven with heels toward the back. Be careful to not let the shoe upper touch any hot parts of the oven.
In the beginning, wear the shoes for about 10 minutes at a time. Walk around, climb steps, and try other activities. Other methods to break the shoes in quickly include heating the shoes with a hair dryer or stuffing them with water-filled bags and freezing them.
Freeze the shoes until they are icy. Once the water has fully hardened, leave them out for 20 minutes. Take the ice out and the shoes should be loosened. With this method, shoes can be stretched up to a full size larger.
Shoe stretchers work, but they are not working miracles. Therefore, you should be patient in the process. Do the stretching once, wear the shoes along with a pair of thick socks, and walk around for several hours. Come back and stretch them again if the pair is still tight.
In general, stretching your shoes can add a quarter- to a half-size in space, David Mesquita, owner of The Leather Spa, a leather repair boutique in New York City, tells SELF.
If your shoes are too narrow or short, the extra pressure placed on your toe can lead to the edge of a toenail growing into your skin. Ingrown toenails can cause pain and the skin around your nail to become red or infected. Ingrown toenails are most common on the big toe, but can also occur on other toes.
Apply ice to reduce pain and swelling. Keep your painful foot elevated as much as possible. Reduce your activity until you feel better. Wear shoes that fit your feet and are right for the activity you are doing.
Another easy way to make those tight shoes roomier is with wet newspaper. Scrunch wet newspaper into your shoes and leave to dry. The paper will expand as it does, and your shoes should have more give.
Apply Vaseline to the shoe.
Let the shoes sit overnight. After allowing the shoes to sit and soften, wipe them down with a dry cloth to remove any excess Vaseline. If your shoes have not as soft as you'd like after a single coat, repeat the process again until your shoes are as soft as you want them to be.
Carefully place the shoes into your freezer, and leave them there until the water inside the bag is frozen solid. As the water freezes it will expand (by approximately 9%!) and stretch out your shoes. Remove the shoes from your freezer to allow the ice to thaw slightly.