Here Are Three Methods to Break in New Leather Shoes

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   Remove any existing adhesive from your shoes and then reapply it. Clean your shoes before applying oil. You can clean your shoes by using a damp cloth to gently wipe away any dirt or grime that has adhered to the material. To double-check that they are dry and ready to be oiled, wipe them down with a dry cloth.

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   Pick out an oil. Oiling your leather footwear will nourish it, making it softer and more supple. Softening your leather shoes and keeping them from stiffening can be accomplished with a variety of oils. Shoe softening products like mink oil, saddle soap, coconut oil, and foot oil are all beneficial. [1] [2]

   • If you're not sure what kind of oil is best for your shoes, you should consult a professional shoe repair person.
   • Many people swear by olive oil, but others say it ruins leather by leaving greasy stains. [3]

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   Take a look at the instructions on the bottle before applying the leather oil. Keep away from leather oils because they may contain harmful substances like pine tar, castor oil, mineral oils, and other chemicals. Your leather shoe could be damaged or decomposed by these substances. Make sure you check the product's label thoroughly before making a leather oil purchase.

   • Get advice on the best shoe oil from the store where you bought your leather shoes.
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   Put some of the oil on your footwear. Put some oil into a clean, small dish. Protect your fingers by wrapping them in a clean cloth or a piece of a torn t-shirt. Rub some oil of your choosing onto the wrapped fingers. Once you've dipped your fingers in the oil, lift them out and let the excess drain. The next step is to rub the oil into the leather in soft, circular motions using your hand on the freshly cleaned surface of your leather shoes.

   • The shoe needs time to fully absorb the coating after the first application.
   • It's possible that you'll need to wait a full day or several hours between coats of polish on your shoes. If the oil is still visible or the shoes still feel greasy, you should let them sit longer.
   • Try on the shoes again after letting the oil soak in to see how supple they feel. If you'd like it softer, give it a second coat using the same technique and see how it turns out. At Least Once More

   EXPERT TIP

   

   A. Marc Sigal

   Expert in the care of footwear

   Formed in the Los Angeles area by Marc Sigal, ButlerBox is a dry cleaning and shoe care service. Convenient pick-up and drop-off of items is possible around the clock, thanks to ButlerBox's custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers, which are installed in high-end apartment complexes, corporate office towers, and retail centers. Marc attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned a bachelor's degree in international studies.

   

   Apply some oil to your footwear and leave it alone for the night. Loosen the leather by bending the shoes with your hands first thing in the morning.

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   Solicit some rubbing alcohol. You can find rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol in most drug stores and supermarkets. Don't try to soften your leather shoes with regular alcoholic beverages; all you'll do is make them smell like alcohol.

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   Get a small dish and fill it with alcohol. What you'll need to fill your shoes is dependent on their size. More than if your shoe tops out at the ankle or less is required if you wear boots or heels. Cotton dipped in alcohol should be rubbed over the entire shoe's exposed leather. If your shoes have laces, take them off so you can saturate the tongue and the inside of the shoe with alcohol. Wait around thirty minutes for it to dry. [6]

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   Put some Vaseline on your footwear. Seek the aid of a qualified shoe repair professional to help you decide which kind of oil might be best for your shoes Vaseline the areas where you've used rubbing alcohol. Massage the Vaseline into the leather using a small brush or an old toothbrush. It is recommended to use as little Vaseline as possible when treating shoes. Leave the shoes out of the closet for the night. After letting the shoes sit for a while, wipe them down with a dry cloth to remove the excess Vaseline.

   • If your shoes are still too stiff after one application, you can apply additional coats of shoe polish. It may take several coats to achieve the desired degree of softness.

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   Spend a day and a half walking around in your shoes. [8] Wearing a leather item can help break in the material. Wearing leather shoes frequently softens them and makes them more comfortable to walk in. However, new leather shoes can become uncomfortable after a day of walking around. You can reduce the likelihood of this happening by wearing them for only half a day before switching to a more relaxed pair of footwear.

   • Even if you haven't worn the shoes for the full half day, you should take them off if they start to hurt your feet and switch to a different pair if possible.

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   Just two days later, wear the shoes again for half a day. Then, two days later, wear them again for another half a day. Keep rotating the new shoes in and out every other day. To break them in and make them softer, try wearing them around the house all day. After that, wear them as often as you like.

   • Some perspiration has been detected in the feet. Shoes, especially brand new ones that are still somewhat snug around your feet, should not be worn for more than two days in a row before they have had a chance to air out and dry completely.

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   Be patient It may take some time for your new shoes to break in. Getting leather to the desired level of softness can take a long time and regular use. [10] Calfskin and other thinner leathers may soften more quickly, but shoes with elaborate stitching and embroidery will take longer to break in. The wearing of socks while walking can hasten the softening process.

   EXPERT TIP

   

   Author: Marc Sigal

   Caretaker of Shoes

   Marc Sigal started the Los Angeles-based dry cleaning and shoe care company ButlerBox. ButlerBox installs crease-proof lockers at convenient locations like high-end apartment complexes, corporate office towers, and retail centers so that customers can access their belongings whenever they need to. Marc earned his bachelor's degree in global and international studies from UCSB.

   

   Make use of a low-temperature appliance, such as a hair dryer. Set the temperature to medium or low and keep your hand a safe distance away from the heat source for several minutes. The soles of your shoes will gradually loosen up.

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