How to stretch & Soften Leather Sandals

First, double check the material of the sandal and the care instructions on the label. Leather sandals are usually made of good quality materials and depending on the type of manufacturing process and style, different leather sandals may have different care options – this advice is not a one-size-fits-all, you should always check the label.

If you want to know how to soften leather sandals fast, then read on to get to know how to get past the blisters and jump straight to the comfy!

Can you stretch leather sandals? You absolutely can, but if you’re looking to know specifically how to stretch leather sandal straps, then first consider how much you need your sandals stretching. Different options will gain varying results, so be careful not to go full blast and over stretch your new leather sandals! You want to take the time to mould your sandals into the perfect shape.

To stretch leather sandals, you will need to use a couple of tools– all of which you can likely find around the house. One of the most effective methods to stretch leather sandals is to use a hair dryer. Heat is an amazing and easy resource to help stretch leather. Simply use the hairdryer to blow warm air onto the sandal straps, be sure to keep it at around 30cm or more from the sandal so as not to risk any damage. We find it works best on a medium heat and in short regular bursts. You can even stuff the leather sandal with rolled up socks or scrunched newspaper to make the stretching even more effective, but we recommend doing so slowly to avoid over stretching. Move the hairdryer around the sandal straps to ensure even distribution of heat and be careful of any metal detailing that will become very hot under the heated air, this will burn if you catch it! Once cooled enough to handle, but still warm, pop those sandals on and walk a few laps to help stretch them to the perfect size.

If you’d like to know how to make your leather sandals softer, then there are a few very easy solutions to come by. When any leather item is first purchased, it is naturally quite stiff and can be unmalleable to begin with. Investing in a leather conditioner can help resolve this issue swiftly. Be sure to check the fabric of your sandals and the care instructions to see if conditioner is a suitable option. It is always best to patch test the conditioner in an inconspicuous place on the shoe. Once the patch test is complete, you can use a soft cloth with the leather conditioner applied to it and start to massage into the sandal. This method may only be needed a couple of times and may even require a little elbow grease, but it is a fantastic and speedy way to get your leather sandals beautifully softened.

There are two reasons as to why you may want to widen leather sandals. Either they are a narrow-fit style, or you may have wider feet and find it difficult to find perfectly fitting footwear.

If you find you regularly struggle to find a wider fitting shoe, then being able to widen sandals could be a saviour for you. Widening leather sandals is best done with a specific apparatus. If you regularly struggle to find shoes that are a comfortable width for you, then investing in a shoe stretcher could be the key to opening all your footwear opportunities. Leaving a shoe stretcher in your sandal, or any shoe, overnight could be all it takes to have that Cinderella moment when you come to wear it the next day.