No matter if it’s a $50 shoe or a $50,000 designer shoe, all shoes over a period of time start to crease. But why does your shoe crease? How to keep your shoe without creasing? And how to prevent your sneakers and shoes from creasing?
I know you have lots of questions, and we are here to help you from the bad demon that follows your shoe around — creases.
Why Do Your Shoes Crease?
Shoes crease at the front because they bend during the process of walking. Creasing happens when the shoe is returned to its natural state after being stressed. Meaning the repetition of steps causes the shoe to go from a flat state to bend a little. This happens with every step you take and is the primary reason for creases.
I know you would be screaming like, “But that’s what shoes are for!! Do you want me to stop walking now? “ I know, but it is the simple science of why your shoe creases.
Instead of stopping creases, we’ll tell you how to minimize them.
Basic Shoe Care
Don’t Let Your New Shoe Get Wet
When you wear your new shoe, it will stretch and adapt to your foot, and as you are wearing it, sweat is produced, creating moisture inside the shoe, making the upper sole of the shoe flexible making it fit for your toe shape.
And when your shoe dries, it will dry into the shape that your foot left a lasting impression over a time period. And as you keep using them over a few days or weeks, your shoes will start to wear in.
And during the wear-in period, it is advised to avoid getting them wet because if they do, they will lose their shape as they dry.
Use a Water Repellent Spray
Since we were talking about protecting your shoe from getting it wet, we would also suggest you use water repellent sprays on your shoes so that you could, avoid any accidental splashes and protect your new shoe to complete its wear-in process.
Make sure you protect your shoes with water-repellant sprays every 3-6 months, giving your shoes an extra barrier and helping to keep them looking newer.
Also, be careful with suede shoes as some sprays can cause discolorations.
Using Heat To Dry Your Shoes
One of the worst things you could do to your shoe after getting it wet is using heat to dry it. I’m sure we all have thought of this or have seen people using their hair dryers or leaving their shoes on top of radiators to dry them after their shoes were drenched.
Doing so will dry your shoe but will also make the shoe lose its suppleness. It is like sunbathing all day and burning your own skin.
Let’s Talk About Removing the Creases
Okay! Now let’s talk about removing the creases of your sneakers and shoes.
While creases as a whole won’t be removed, you can minimize their visibility, and you can do that by ironing them out.
Here is how you can do it
- Remove the laces.
- Stuff your shoe tightly with paper.
- Heat your iron to medium-low settings, just a little hotter than you would use for your silk clothes.
- Place a damp white clean cloth over the part of your shoe where it is creased.
- Now iron over the top of the cloth to stretch the leather by warming it.
- At this point, the cloth should still be damp if not, you can dampen it again.
- Leave the damp cloth on the shoe until it has dried.
How To Prevent Creasing
Use a Shoehorn
When shopping for shoes or sneakers, the salesman must’ve helped you try on the shoes by using a shoehorn. If you know why it is used for, then what are you doing already!? If not, were you living in a cave!?
Shoehorns prevent you from crushing the heels of the shoe, preventing creasing on the heels.
This inexpensive accessory is going to help you extend the life of your shoe, and also it is a good practice to use a shoehorn.
Buy the Right Size
Buying the right size that fits you is very important — Buying a shoe that is a size less or that is tight will cause your shoes to crease, and buying a shoe that is a size up or that is loose will flop around and make you fall.
How to know what is the right size for you?
Simply wear your shoe and check if there is a gap between your heel and shoe. If you could insert your index finger in that space without forcing it, then you have found a shoe that is the perfect size for you. Just make sure you don’t have too much space if you do then, it is not the right fit for you.
Also, the shoe that correctly fits should lightly press in on the widest part of your foot without feeling too tight or loose.
And shoes that are too tight or loose will be uncomfortable to wear, cause ingrown toenails, you can get shoe bites. In extreme cases, shoes that are too tight can deform your toes.
Another thing to keep in mind is, there should be just enough space between your foot and the opening of the shoe. If it is short, you are more likely to cause creasing in just a few wears.
Using Shoe Crease Protectors
Shoe crease protectors surprisingly work well by reducing creasing. The protectant solution remains on top of the shoe and provides a semi-rigid flat surface on the top of the shoe allowing it to stay in shape and keep it flat.
While a crease protector can only help and slow the creasing of your shoe, it doesn’t stop creasing all together.
So stop stressing and go on trying and buying different shoes and keep switching up your style
Last Words
While you cannot stop creasing, you can minimize it or slow down the creasing process.
Make sure you follow the etiquette of wearing the shoe and storing it properly after you are done wearing it. This all impacts the life of the shoe.
Also, like all things your shoe age too. So stop stressing and go buying shoes.