How to Stretch Leather
Leather accessories and clothing like shoes, jackets and pants are popular among consumers because they are not just fashionable but also sturdy and long-lasting. While some items may fit perfectly initially when fitting inside department stores, you may notice that some may become stiff and uncomfortable to use eventually.
Once this happens, you need to stretch leather for the clothing item to fit perfectly and to avoid discomfort. Here are some tips you may try:
Use warm water.
Fill a container or tub with warm water. Submerge the leather item completely. Make sure to work the leather by twisting and kneading it until everything is fully soaked and underwater. Leave the leather item in the water for 10 minutes.
To get a better fit, particularly for pants, put the item on while it is still wet. The leather will mold and stretch to fit your body perfectly. Do this for an hour or two.
Employ the ice method.
For leather shoes, it is best to use the ice method to yield the best results. Get a plastic bag and fill it up with water three-fourths of the way. Then place the plastic bag with water into the leather shoe that you want to stretch. Make sure that you put the plastic bag on the area where you want to stretch or where it is uncomfortable or too tight. Place the shoe inside the freezer and allow the water in the plastic bag to freeze fully before removal.
Try the alcohol method.
Mix three parts of water and one part isopropyl rubbing alcohol and pour it into a spray bottle. Gently spray the area where it is too tight. Wear the item until the water and alcohol mixture dries up completely.
Use a leather moisturizer.
Before trying out any method to stretch out the leather, lightly apply a high-quality leather moisturizer first to the exterior area to prevent cracking and splitting specifically during the stretching process.