How to Stretch Tight Ballet Flats

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Co-authored by Moe Draper

Last Updated: July 3, 2025

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Using Plastic Bags and Ice

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Using Socks and a Hair Dryer

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Stretching with a Device

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Using Other Methods

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Tips

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Warnings

Ballet flats are a staple in many girls' closets. They can complete almost any outfit, and make it look chic, cute, or flirty. Unfortunately, it can take a while before ballet flats become comfortable enough to wear. This article will show you a few simple ways on how to stretch your ballet flats and make them more comfortable to wear.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Plastic Bags and Ice

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The bags need to be big enough to fit inside your shoes. This method is best used for shoes that are a little tight in the toe area.
Tuck them down towards the toe area. If you are worried about the bags leaking, place them into another bag before putting them inside the shoe.

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If you are disgusted by the idea of sticking your shoes into the freezer, stick your shoes into plastic bags first.
As the water freezes, it will expand and stretch your shoes.
If the bags are difficult to take out, let the ice melt a little. You can also try breaking the ice with a hammer.
This will help them retain their shape, and ensure that they don't shrink while they warm back up.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Socks and a Hair Dryer

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1
Put on a pair of thick socks.^{[1]
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Research source} If you don't have any thick socks, put on two pairs of regular socks instead. The socks will help expand the shoes.
- This method is best for shoes that are just a little too snug.
- Use caution for this method. If the soles are glued on, the heat from the hairdryer can cause the glue to weaken and the soles to peel away.^{[2]
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  Research source}
Focus on the tight sections, such as the toes. The heat will help soften the material and make it more pliable.
They will feel even more snug than before, but after you stretch them, they will feel just right.
Give your toes a wiggle from time to time to help loosen them further. As the shoes cool down, they will retain the shape of your foot. This can take a while. Be patient, and don't take them off until they have completely cooled down.
They should be a bit larger than before, and more comfortable to wear. If they are still too snug, repeat the whole process again.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Stretching with a Device

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Prepare the shoes for stretching. Depending on what your shoes are made out of, you will need to either dampen them or heat them up. This method will work for most materials, including synthetics. Keep in mind, however, that leather stretches more than synthetic materials, such as vinyl and fabric.
- Dampen leather or fabric shoes. Warm water is the easiest, but can stain or discolor the leather. A leather stretching solution would be safer, if you can find it.
- Heat shoes made from vinyl or urethane with a hairdryer. Keep in mind that this can damage some vinyl or urethane surfaces.
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Expert Source

Moe Draper
Shoe Care & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview} Don't worry if the stretcher appears too small. You want it to fit loosely inside the shoe. If you have bunions, consider popping in the bunion attachment into the shoe stretcher first.
^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Moe Draper
Shoe Care & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview} Keep turning until you see pressure on the surface of the shoe. Don't overstretch your shoe; three or four turns will do. You can always repeat the process again if the shoes are still too snug.
While the shoes dry/cool down, they will keep that stretched shape.
Turn the knobs counter-clockwise until the shoe stretcher returns to its original size. Pull the shoe stretcher out.
If the shoe is still too snug, repeat the process again. Keep in mind that some materials, especially synthetics, may return to their original size over time. If that happens, simply re-stretch your shoes.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Other Methods

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1
Wear the shoe out. Most shoes will stretch out on their own, especially if they are made out of leather. If the shoe is just a little too snug and not painful to wear, consider wearing it around the house a few times. It will eventually loosen up and become more comfortable.
- Keep in mind that this will only loosen the shoe in the toe area. It won't work to make the shoe longer.
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Try dampening the shoes with rubbing alcohol and wearing them. Spray the inside of the shoes with rubbing alcohol until they are damp.^{[5]
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Research source} Place them onto your feet and wear them until they dry. The wet material will stretch to the shape of your foot, and it will keep that shape once it dries.
- This method is best for stretching shoes in the toe area. It is not good for lengthening shoes.
- This method works best on shoes made from canvas, leather, and microfiber.
- If you have very sensitive skin, consider diluting the rubbing alcohol with some water first. You can also use just plain water.
- Consider doing a spot test first. Some materials do not react well with rubbing alcohol.^{[6]
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  Research source}
3
Try using water and newspaper. Dampen the entire shoe with water, then pack the inside firmly with newspaper. Leave the shoes stuffed like this for 24 hours. Dampen them every four to eight hours, as needed. Let the shoes dry fully before you take the newspaper out and try them on.
- If you are worried about the ink staining your shoe, you can use a paper bag or butcher paper instead.
- You can also use olive oil, Goo Gone, or even petroleum jelly, but keep in mind that these may stain your shoe. Use the oil only once during the 24 hour period.
A professional will use his or her tools and experience to stretch your shoes until they fit. Usually, shoe stretching costs between $10 and $25, but this also depends on the shoe cobbler's experience. Keep in mind that shoes can only be stretched so much—about half a size.

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Tips

If you ballet flats chaff your feet too much, consider lining them with moleskin. You can also soften the inside with a nail file.

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Use an anti-blister balm on your heels and upper part of your feet, as you put on your shoes.

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Most shoes will loosen up and stretch out on their own the more you wear them.

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Warnings

Avoid cutting the elastic if your shoes come with them. This elastic keeps the shoes on your feet. If the elastic keeps biting your heels, consider putting on a thin strip of moleskin along the heel of your shoe instead.

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If the shoes are too painful to wear, give them to a friend or donate them. No shoe is worth the potential damage to your foot.

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You can only stretch a shoe so much. It is nearly impossible to stretch a shoe more than half a size.

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Leather stretches easier than synthetic materials. If you shoe is made out of vinyl, fake leather, canvas, and so forth, it may not stretch that much.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Moe Draper
Shoe Care & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview}

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