How To Get Creases Out Of Shoes

Most of us can relate to the uncomfortable feeling of wearing stiff, new shoes. However, once you start to properly break in your shoes, you may come across a different, but equally frustrating problem: creases. 

As shoes begin to mold to the shape and movements of your feet, you will probably notice creases starting to form. This is perfectly normal and happens to all shoes, no matter what material they’re made from. 

However, if you want to restore your shoes to their original condition, there are some crease removal techniques you can try. 

Here are our top 5 suggestions for getting creases out of shoes: 

Methods For Fixing Creased Shoes 

Ironing 

The most popular method for getting creases out of shoes is simply to iron them. You can iron leather or suede shoes, but be careful with suede because it doesn’t react well to water, which you’ll be using for this process. 

First, stuff your shoes so that they hold their shape while you’re ironing them. You can stuff shoes with a variety of materials, from newspaper to cardboard. If you don’t have any of these materials, you could even insert a bundle of socks into the shoe. 

Once your shoe has been stuffed, take a damp washcloth (make sure to wring this cloth out thoroughly, especially if you’re working with suede) and lay the cloth over the crease. Fold it if necessary so that it doesn’t cover more of the shoe than you need.

Set your iron to between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and once it’s reached the desired temperature, apply the iron to the cloth for 10 seconds at a time. Between each ironing session, lift the cloth (carefully since it will be hot) and check on the crease. If it’s still there, keep ironing, but don’t apply more heat than you need. 

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When the crease is gone, you can take the cloth away, but don’t remove the stuffing until the shoe has cooled down.

Conditioning 

If you’re looking for a heat-free method of getting creases out of your favorite pair of leather shoes, you should try conditioning. 

You can purchase conditioner for different shoe materials online. Alternatively, you can purchase shoe oil since this does basically the same thing as conditioner. Be sure to buy the right conditioner or oil for the material and color of your shoe to avoid any damage. 

Always read the instructions that come with the product you choose before applying it to your shoes because application may look a little different for different products.

However, generally speaking, you’ll want to massage the conditioner or oil into the crease before either stuffing the shoe or using a shoe tree (see below) to help the shoe keep its shape while the oil does its work. 

Hopefully, you should notice that the conditioner has moisturized the leather and made it supple enough that the crease significantly diminishes by the end of the drying time. 

How To Get Creases Out Of Shoes (1)

Steaming 

For a heat-based crease removal method that doesn’t apply as much direct heat as an iron, try steaming your creased shoes. Don’t worry, you don’t need any special steaming appliances – all you need is a functional microwave and a damp cloth. 

Again, just like with ironing, you should carefully wring out your damp cloth to avoid applying too much excess moisture to the shoe. Then, heat the cloth in the microwave for 30 seconds on the high setting, using a heat-resistant dish. 

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Now, apply the towel (which should now be hot and producing steam) to the creased area of the shoe. Hold the towel in place, regularly checking on how the crease is looking. You might need to put the towel back in the microwave a few times. 

Once you’re happy with how your shoes are looking, it’s time to stuff them to make sure they hold their shape as they cool down. 

Blow-Drying 

You might not have thought of blow-drying your shoes to get rid of creases, but it’s actually a very effective and easy method for crease removal. 

Holding your dryer about 8 or 10 inches away from the shoes, and making sure it’s on the lowest setting, gently blow-dry the area of the shoe that is creased. 

Next, put your shoes on a shoe tree for stability and shape retention before running a finger over the crease. The support from inside the shoe combined with the heat from the drier should allow you to effectively iron out the crease with your hand.

Just make sure your hands are clean so you don’t transfer any dirt or oils onto the material.

Shoe Trees 

We’ve mentioned shoe trees a couple of times during this article, and for good reason. Using a shoe tree might not be the fastest method of getting creases out of shoes, but they can help to gradually get your shoes back to their original shape, pressing out any creases in the process. 

Moreover, regularly using a shoe tree is one of the best methods for preventing shoe creases in the first place! A shoe tree will provide internal support for your shoes, counteracting the creasing that begins to occur when you wear the shoes on a regular basis. 

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If you use a shoe tree from the moment you start wearing your shoes, you can minimize the chances of visible creases forming for longer. 

Final Thoughts 

Noticing creases in your favorite shoes can be upsetting, but rest assured that there are plenty of ways to tackle those creases. 

If you’re comfortable applying heat to your shoes, you can iron out the creases using a regular household iron, or you can steam them using a microwaved cloth. You could even blow-dry your shoes for a similar effect. 

Alternatively, you can get creases out of your shoes without using any heat if you purchase a compatible shoe oil or conditioner. Using a shoe tree can also help to prevent and remove creases, so definitely consider getting one of these if you don’t already have one.