Let’s paint a pretty picture for you. So, it’s a nice, sunny day outside! You’ve decided to finally break out your Jordan 1 Court Purple and break it in. All goes well until you spot some suspicious creasing going on in the toe box area. CREASING. The ultimate death to every sneakerhead flex. Creased shoes are a total turn-off. This is when you have to take matters into your own hands. AKA, Google. And so, here you are; learning how to get creases out of shoes.
Although, proper shoe repair and care sometimes feel like it takes way too much effort. But, it doesn’t necessarily have to!
And, it also doesn’t mean that it should require any special tools or techniques. You can do this all with household items that you can find at your home! In other words, we’re here to help you learn how to get creases out of shoes at home. Without any special repair kits or stuff like that! Keep reading to find out more!
HOW TO GET CREASES OUT OF SHOES
So, the process behind this at-home guide on how to get creases out of shoes uses heat. It is a five-step method that is very straightforward and easy. The entire process requires two things that you definitely have at home. All you need to get rid of creases in shoes is:
– A damp cloth
– An iron or blow dryer
(Optional: a shoe tree)
However, this method removes creases on shoes mostly made out of leather or suede. On the other hand, for canvas shoes, it’s all about cleaning them and letting them out to dry. It does the trick! But, suede and leather need a little bit more effort to remove the wrinkles. So, let’s get right into it!
Time Needed: 15 mins
Estimated Cost: Maximum $20
BONUS TIP: For optimum results, we suggest that you clean your kicks before removing the creases. So, check out these epic and easy cleaning guides for reference!
– Jordan cleaning guide
– Yeezy cleaning guide
STEP 1: DAMPEN A CLOTH
The first thing you need to learn on how to get creases out of shoes is a cloth-like a washcloth. But, you can use basically anything you have at hand, like a towel, old socks, or a piece of fabric. Soak it with warm to hot water and then wring it out. You want it to be damp, but not wet.
STEP 2: LAY IT DIRECTLY OVER THE CREASE
Next, stuff your shoes with some balled-up socks, newspapers, or a shoe tree if you have one. Just to the point where you don’t see the creases anymore. Also, this will make it easier to work with! Finally, lay the damp cloth over the shoe on the creased area.
BONUS TIP: It’s better if you use a white cloth or a light-colored cloth to avoid the possibility of color transfer! No one wants to risk ruining their favorite sneakers because of a cloth!
STEP 3: TURN ON YOUR IRON
STEP 3: TURN ON YOUR IRONThe key to learning how to get creases out of shoes with iron is temperature. But, you gotta make sure that your iron isn’t too hot, or else you’ll burn your sneakers right through! So, here’s what you gotta do.
First, fill your iron with water and set it between 60 – 80°F which is about 16 to 27°C. This is about low to medium heat so it doesn’t damage your kicks. Then, for best results, let it heat up completely before using.
STEP 4: IRON OVER THE TOWEL
Next, gently press down the iron to the damp cloth for 10-second intervals. In other words, put it on the cloth for 10 seconds and then remove it for around 5 seconds alternating between. Make sure to press and slide the iron over the shoe creases. Also, you can move the iron in small, gentle circular motions to remove creases from shoes. You can also try using a high-powered blow dryer to do the job – which also helps in stretching shoes
WARNING: Do NOT keep the iron in one spot for too long or else you will most definitely damage the material.
STEP 5: FINISHING TOUCHES
Finally, the last and most important step in learning how to get creases out of shoes is constant checking. Just make sure to give your kicks a sneak peek between every 10-second increment. And, once you’re done, just remove the damp towel and leave the stuffing inside it overnight. You gotta let it dry out completely.
However, make sure you do NOT wear your shoes immediately after the process. They will crease right back up! If there are still some stubborn wrinkles on your shoes, you can repeat the ironing process to smooth them out. Also, if the towel dries out, just dampen it again!
AVOIDING SNEAKER WRINKLES
Sometimes learning how to get creases out of shoes, means learning how to avoid them! Avoiding a problem is so much easier and less time-consuming than having to fix it. So, the best way to avoid sneaker wrinkles is to:
- Make sure you get sneakers with high-quality materials
- Apply leather oil on your shoes to soften the toe box and avoid creases
- Get sneakers in the right size that fits properly so there’s no space for toe box creasing. So, check out these guides:
OTHER WAYS TO REMOVE SHOE WRINKLES
BLOW DRYER
How to get creases out of shoes without an iron? Well, as we mentioned before, you can use a blow dryer! Just make sure you got your shoe stuffed or just insert a shoe tree first. Then, turn it on at a low heat setting at about 8 to 10 inches away from the shoe. Pass it over the toe box a few times and then rub it gently with your fingers. And, that’s it!
STEAM
Another cool method you can try to remove shoe creases is steam! Now this works best on fresh creases on leather shoes. All you have to do is put a damp cloth in a microwave-resistant dish. Heat it on high for 30 seconds in your microwave and use it to rub the creased area. Stuff your shoe with some socks or a shoe tree and leave it to cool. You may have to reheat the towel a few times to get it right. But, this works well if you don’t have an iron!
SHOE TREES
Finally, this last no-heat method on how to get creases out of shoes uses your run-of-the-mill shoe tree. It’s slow but effective. You can put it in your shoe overnight until it regains its original shape!
Try out all these methods and find out which one works best for you! Just make sure you regularly clean your shoes and take care of creases right when they appear. This way, your sneakers will last so much longer and they’ll keep that out-of-the-box look 4LIFE!