Wearing your leathers shoes on a daily basis leads to inevitable creases. As much as we’d like to keep our shoes in pristine condition, they’re eventually going to show some wear and tear.
Luckily, there are ways to refresh your footwear so that they look more presentable the next time you wear them. While your shoes won’t look like they did when you first bought them, these tips will breathe new life into a pair of shoes that have a few miles on them.
Please note that while these methods can help remove creases from your shoes, there are some risks involved so be cautious when attempting these tips.
Use a Hair Dryer or Heat Gun
Heating up the leather to loosen the material is a tried-and-true way of removing creases from shoes. Our preferred method is to use a hair dryer, or you can choose to use a heat gun if you are more experienced.
Here are the steps to remove creases with a hair dryer or heat gun:
- Insert a shoe tree or a shoe stretcher into the shoe to maintain the shape of the footwear. If using a shoe stretcher, make sure the device is not expanded as it will stretch the leather as well.
- Set your preferred heating element to its lowest setting.
- Hold it about 6-8 inches away from the shoe.
- Carefully heat the leather by moving the hair dryer/heat gun around the creased areas of the shoe.
- Once the leather is warm and pliable, smooth out the wrinkles using your fingers.
- Rub the leather against the shoe tree/shoe stretcher to maintain the shoe’s structure.
- Repeat as needed until creases are gone.
- Keep the shoe tree/shoe stretcher in the shoe until it is ready to be worn again.
- Make sure to insert a shoe tree into each shoe after you have worn them to minimize creasing.
Use an Iron
This is another popular method people use to remove creases from their leather shoes. Just like using a hair dryer, this approach utilizes heat to relax the leather, which allows you to smooth out any creases.
Though this requires using an iron, the idea is not to place the hot element directly onto the shoe. Rather, you place a damp cloth over the creased area and use the iron to gently heat the cloth.
The tricky thing about this method that you’re placing a damp cloth onto the leather. Excessive moisture on leather could damage the material, so it is best to use a cloth that is not dripping wet.
Here’s how to use an iron to remove creases:
- Insert a shoe tree or a shoe stretcher into the shoe to maintain the shape of the footwear. If using a shoe stretcher, make sure the device is not expanded as it will stretcher the leather as well.
- Set the iron to its lowest setting. If you can control temperature on your iron, set it to around 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Lay the damp cloth over the crease, then place the iron on the cloth.
- Heat the cloth for about 10 seconds, then flip it over and continue heating.
- After about 30-40 seconds, check the shoe and the creases.
- When the wrinkles have been removed, remove the cloth and wipe the shoe to remove any excess moisture.
- Leave the shoe tree/shoe stretcher in the shoe as it cools.
Use Shoe Stretching Spray
If you’re looking for a method that does not involve heat, one solution is to use a shoe stretching spray. The FootFitter Shoe and Boot Stretch Spray makes leather more pliable, which will allow you to remove any creases from your shoes.
Here’s how to use shoe stretching spray to remove creases:
- Spray the inside and the outside of the shoe with shoe stretching spray. Focus on the areas that are creased.
- Insert a shoe tree or a shoe stretcher into the shoe to maintain the shape of the footwear. If using a shoe stretcher, make sure the device is not expanded as it will stretcher the leather as well.
- Smooth out the wrinkles using your fingers. Press firmly against the shoe tree/shoe stretcher to maintain the shoe’s structure.
- Repeat as needs until the crease are gone.
- Keep the shoe tree/shoe stretcher in the shoe until it is ready to be worn again.
- Make sure to insert a shoe tree into each shoe after you have worn them to minimize creasing.
