How to Remove Wrinkles from Shoes in 12 Easy Steps (with Images)

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   Shoes made of leather, canvas, or suede can be ironed to remove wrinkles. Leather shoes and sneakers can crease and wrinkle over time, but a hot iron can relax the material, removing the creases and smoothing out the wrinkles. Use an iron to gently remove wrinkles from your shoes. [1]

   • Wrinkles in patent leather, like those on sneakers and shiny dress shoes, can be ironed out as well.

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   Get your shoes unlaced. Your shoelaces probably aren't made of metal, so don't use a hot iron on them because they're made of cotton, fabric, or some other material that easily catches fire. In order to prevent damage and make the shoes easier to pack and unwrinkle, remove the laces. [2]

   • After you've removed the creases from your shoes, you may want to consider washing the cotton laces you plan to replace them with.

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   Put newspaper, rags, or a shoe tree inside the footwear. [3] The front of the shoe, known as the toe box, can be stretched to tighten the material, making it simpler to iron out any wrinkles. Put in a shoe tree to give the shoes some breathing room, or stuff enough material into each shoe so they stay tightly packed. [4]

   • Do not use newspaper or colored paper, as the ink may transfer to your shoes.
   • Don't risk soiling the interior of your shoes by using dirty rags or towels.

4. 4

   Preheat an iron between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (16 and 27 degrees Celsius). When using an iron, fill the water reservoir to the point where steam can be produced. Avoid singeing or otherwise damaging the material by setting the temperature low. It's important to wait until the iron is fully heated before using it. [5]

5. 5

   A white towel, dampened with water, can be used to wipe the sneaker's surface. If you want to avoid any possible discoloration or staining of your shoes, use a white towel. Get the towel damp, but not drenched, by wetting it and wringing out the excess water. Cover the top of your shoes with the damp towel. [6]

   • The water will prevent the surface of your shoes from overheating.
   • Your shoes, especially any suede ones, could get warped or damaged if the towel is too wet.

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   To remove wrinkles from a wet towel, simply iron over it. Put the damp towel covering your shoe against the iron. Smooth out wrinkles and creases with a light, circular motion of the iron. [7]

   • Do not let the iron rest in one place for an extended period of time, as this can cause the material to rust.

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   Scrunch up the towel and smooth out the wrinkles in both shoes. Look at the shoe to see if there are any creases that need to be smoothed out. To finish ironing the shoe, simply replace the damp towel over the top to protect the fabric and continue to iron as usual. Next, smooth out the wrinkles in your other shoe with an iron. [8]

   • Add a bit more water if the towel dries out in the heat. But you shouldn't let it get too wet

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   Take the wet cloth off the shoes and let them air dry. When you're finished ironing both shoes, throw away the damp towel. Please let the shoes air out for a few hours until they feel dry to the touch. [9]

   • The ironing process can be repeated if there are still wrinkles or creases after the garment has dried.

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   New folds can be easily removed with leather oil. It's best to use leather oil on wrinkles and creases as soon as you notice them rather than waiting for them to get worse. [10] Massage the leather by placing a few drops of high-quality leather oil on the crease and rubbing it in with a dry, soft cloth. Put some oil on the leather and stretch it out with your hands. [11]

   • In particular, when breaking in a pair of leather shoes, it is to be expected that there will be some creasing and wrinkles. However, their visibility can be reduced by regularly applying oil and massaging the leather.
   • Visit your neighborhood shoe store or leather goods retailer to find leather oil. It is also available online.

   EXPERT TIP

   

   Moe Draper

   Expert in Shoe Care and Repair

   Moe Draper is the owner of Detroit Shoe Shine and Shoe Repair and a specialist in shoe care and repair. Moe has been in the shoe business for over 20 years, during which time he has honed his skills in the areas of shoe shining, cosmetic repairs for high-end leather goods, and shoe repairs both small and large. At Detroit Shoe Shine and Repair, Moe and his team have been in business for over 30 years.

   

   Moe Draper
   Expert In Shoes And Their Maintenance

   Without using plastic or wooden shoe trees, it can be difficult to get rid of creases in your shoes. Investing in shoe trees at the time of purchase will aid in keeping the shoes wrinkle-free for a longer period of time.

   While some cobblers and shoe repairmen may be able to help you get rid of those pesky creases, the service may be more expensive than you anticipate.

   Going to a Bootblack, Shoe Shiner, or other shoe care professionals can help you hide the creases at a lower cost. High-quality leather footwear may benefit from this method, as it can help reduce the visibility of creases.

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   Old folds can be removed with rubbing alcohol and a shoe stretcher. Create a spray by filling a spray bottle with water and rubbing alcohol. Apply the solution by spraying it onto the crease and working it in with your hands. Shoe stretchers can be slid into the shoes and expanded to smooth out wrinkles while you wait for the shoes to dry. [12]

   • You can wait to remove the stretchers from the shoes until right before you need to wear them.

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   To remove creases, place shoe trees inside and dry with a hair dryer. In order to prevent the creases from forming in your leather shoes, insert shoe trees and expand them. Use a low-heat blow dryer, held about 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm) from the shoes. Gentle heating from the blow dryer will help loosen the leather and smooth out any creases. [13]

   • Don't point the dryer in one direction, as doing so could cause the leather to buckle.
   • Roll the hair dryer back and forth over both pairs of shoes.

4. 4

   Keep your shoes crease-free by storing them with a shoe tree. [14] Place a shoe tree inside your leather shoes when you aren't wearing them to keep them from flattening. The leather can be made wrinkle- and crease-free by expanding the tree to a point where it no longer allows for expansion. The shoe tree will keep your shoes from creasing while they wait to be worn. [15]

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