How to Stretch Your Shoes With Ice

Co-authored by Penny Simmons

Last Updated: December 24, 2023 Approved

'Have you ever bought shoes that happened to be a tad too small but it was too late to return them? Before wear your tight shoes out and about and give yourself painful blisters, try using ice to stretch out your shoes at home. This fast and easy shoe stretching technique will allow to wear your shoes – with a little bit of breathing room – in no time!

Steps

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Fill freezer bags with water. Fill two plastic baggies with water: one bag for each of your shoes.^{[1]
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Research source} Use strong plastic baggies made specifically for the freezer, so they don't break when the water freezes into ice. Depending on what area of your shoe you're trying to stretch, the amount of water used fill the baggies with will differ:
- Toe: 1/4 of the way with water
- Toe and instep: 1/2 of the way with water
- Toe, instep, and ankle area: 1/2 - 1/3 of the way with water
Make sure the bags are sealed and remove any extra air from within the bag. This will help keep the bag from popping in the freezer, allow all the water to fill out the shape of the shoe without bubble pockets, and make inserting the bags into the shoes easier.^{[2]
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Place the bag in your shoe. Be careful that the bag doesn't open or rip as you're putting in your shoes.^{[3]
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- Try to get the bag as close to the toe of your shoe as possible (if that is the area you are trying to stretch out).
Leave your shoes with the baggies of water in the freezer for at least 4-8 hours.^{[4]
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Research source} This ensures that the water has enough time to freeze into ice.
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Remove the bags of ice. Let your shoes sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before you try and take out the bags of ice. Allowing the ice to thaw will make it easier to remove the baggies.^{[5]
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- After allowing the baggies to thaw, if the bags of ice still won't come out of your shoes, you can try waiting longer for most of the ice to melt, or try to break the ice and then remove the bags.
- These two alternatives are better than pulling on the baggies, ripping them, and then having open bags of water and ice in your shoes. The water could potentially damage your shoes.

The Takeaway: Stretching Shoes in the Freezer

Fill two freezer-safe plastic bags with water and seal them carefully to remove any extra air. Slip a bag of water carefully into each shoe, and stash both shoes in the freezer for 4-8 hours. Let the shoes thaw for 20 minutes before removing the ice bags.

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Question

Does this actually work?

Community Answer

Yes, you should be able to stretch them about half a size.

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How long do I need to stretch my shoes with ice, and do I need to repeat it every time I wear them?

Community Answer

Leave the shoes in the freezer for 6-8 hours or overnight. Repeat as needed for a perfect fit.

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If water is bulging out of the shoe, will it stretch them too much?

Community Answer

If you're referring to a pair of heels, for instance, it might stretch them more than you would like. You can always do a second or third round to achieve your desired fit, so don't overfill the bag on the first try just in case!

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Tips

Be sure to stretch little by little, especially with leather shoes. If you over stretch them, you cannot shrink them back to their original size.

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Check for leaks in the bags before you put them into your shoes.

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