Breaking in the worst of footwear

MANILA, Philippines - Everybody has suffered from a case of the “new stiff and blistering shoe blues” at some point in their lives. It’s the worst feeling in the world stepping out all bright-eyed with a brand new pair of shoes then returning home with “hammertime” feet. Spare yourself the heartache and remedy those shoes from hell. Here are a few tips on how to break them in:

One method is to wear them around your home in the evening. They say that after a hard day’s work, your feet expand, so it’s best to break in your shoes in the comfort of your home at night. Do this even if you are just sitting down, relaxing or having a meal. Do this with minimal walking, because you don’t want to overdo it and hurt yourself. Wearing thick socks while doing this is also another suggestion. Do this several times before taking them out for a real spin.

Another way would be to put on socks, wear the shoes and grab a hair dryer. The idea is to aim the hair dryer above the area of the shoe that you find stiff. After this, wiggle around in the shoe and keep them on until they cool off. If you find that the shoe is still stiff, repeat. This is ideal for leather shoes.

The third method is to use a bit of rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Dab the alcohol on the inner part of the shoe that you want to loosen up. Be careful not to put on too much. For slight stretching, use your bare foot or wear stockings. For a more drastic stretch, wear thick socks. Then wear shoes and stroll around for 15 minutes or so.

Another method I discovered is to waterproof your shoes. You obviously do this with waterproof spray, which you are more likely to find in a hardware store than at the groceries.  You then dunk them in water, put them on your feet and walk around with them until they dry. This may not be something you want to try with expensive shoes.

If your motive is to stretch out a shoe, grab two airtight sandwich bags and fill them up halfway with water. Place the bags inside each shoe. Be sure to push them into place allowing them to cover the entire space from heel to toe. Then simply place them in your freezer. Yup, your freezer. When the water inside the sandwich bags turns into ice they will automatically expand your shoes. Allow the ice bags to thaw before trying to remove them. Repeat if necessary. Not recommended that you use this method on expensive shoes.

For shoes with slippery soles, the remedy is as simple as brushing the bottom of the shoe with a bit of sandpaper.

If all else fails, run down to the nearest pharmacy and grab yourself a box of plasters or stock up on the wide array of shoe cushioning products available. Gel soles are a miracle cure for extremely high and uncomfortable heels.

If you find yourself in a situation wherein you are stuck with uncomfortable shoes, treat your feet to some pampering afterwards. Always remember that your feet play a vital role in your life, so keep them happy.