3 Ways To Soften Leather Shoes - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Soften Leather Shoes PDF download Download Article Break in stiff leather shoes quickly with our complete guide Co-authored by Marc Sigal

Last Updated: February 7, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Using Oil
    • |
  • Using Alcohol & Vaseline
    • |
  • Softening Leather Shoes Naturally
    • |
  • Video
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  • Q&A
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  • Tips
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This article was co-authored by Marc Sigal. Marc Sigal is a Shoe Care Specialist based in Los Angeles. Marc has over 19 years of experience working in the world of e-commerce, with extensive experience with the care of luxury goods. He is currently the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Blutag, an e-commerce platform helping consumers find products. Prior to Blutag, he founded ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox reinvented amenity services by placing custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. The company got acquired by Rinse.com in 2021. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 471,311 times.

New leather shoes can be very painful, causing blisters and other foot-related problems. Unless you soften them, they will stay that way. Fortunately, there are several was to soften the leather, making it more comfortable for your feet.

Best Ways to Soften Leather Shoes

  1. Apply mink oil, saddle soap, or coconut oil to your shoes.
  2. Let alcohol dry on your shoes and apply petroleum jelly to them.
  3. Wear your shoes for a few hours at a time every few days until they're soft.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Using Oil to Soften Your Shoes

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  1. Step 1 Clean your shoes before applying any additional substance. 1 Clean your shoes before applying any additional substance. Oil should not be used until after cleaning your shoes. To clean your shoes, use a damp cloth and lightly wipe away any grime or grit attached to the surface. Wipe them again with a dry cloth to ensure they are dry and ready to get oiled.
  2. Step 2 Select your oil. 2 Select your oil. Applying oils to your leather shoes will restore and nourish them, leading to softer shoes. There are many oils which can soften your leather shoes and prevent or reduce stiffness. Mink oil, saddle soap, coconut oil, and foot oil are all useful for softening leather shoes.[1] [2]
    • Seek the aid of a qualified shoe repair professional to help you decide which kind of oil might be best for your shoes.
    • Olive oil has many adherents, but some report that it leaves oily spots behind and leads to deterioration of the leather.
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  3. Step 3 Read the label on your leather oil. 3 Read the label on your leather oil. Beware of leather oils which contain pine tar, castor oil, mineral oils, and other toxic chemicals.[3] These ingredients might harm or cause the decomposition of your leather shoe. Carefully read the label before purchasing a particular leather oil.
    • Consult the sales staff from whom you purchased your leather shoes as to which oil is best for your shoes.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Soften Leather Shoes 4 Apply the oil to your shoes. Pour a bit of oil into a small, clean dish. Wrap two fingers with a clean cloth or torn-up t-shirt. Dab the wrapped fingers lightly in the oil of your choice. After dipping your fingers, lift them out of the oil and allow the excess to drip off. Then, bring your hand to the cleaned surface of your leather shoes and rub the oil into the surface of shoe with gentle, circular motions.
    • After applying one coat, let it absorb thoroughly into the shoe.
    • Depending on your shoe, you might need to wait several hours or a full day before applying another coat. If you can see your shoes are still oily, or feel greasy to the touch, let them continue to sit until the oil has done its work.
    • After the oil has been absorbed, evaluate the softness of the shoe. If you wish it to be softer, apply another coat in the same manner as the first and evaluate the softness again. Repeat as necessary.
    EXPERT TIP Marc Sigal

    Marc Sigal

    Shoe Care Specialist Marc Sigal is a Shoe Care Specialist based in Los Angeles. Marc has over 19 years of experience working in the world of e-commerce, with extensive experience with the care of luxury goods. He is currently the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Blutag, an e-commerce platform helping consumers find products. Prior to Blutag, he founded ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox reinvented amenity services by placing custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. The company got acquired by Rinse.com in 2021. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Marc Sigal Marc Sigal Shoe Care Specialist

    Use oil on your shoes and let it sit overnight. In the morning, bend the shoes with your hands to loosen up the leather.

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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Softening the Shoes With Alcohol and Vaseline

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  1. Step 1 Obtain some rubbing alcohol. 1 Obtain some rubbing alcohol.[4] Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol is readily available at drug stores and supermarkets. Don’t try to use regular alcoholic beverages to soften your leather shoes; you’ll only end up making them smell like booze.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Soften Leather Shoes 2 Pour some alcohol into a small dish. The amount you’ll need depends on your shoe. If you have a tall shoe or boot, you’ll need more than if you have a shoe that only extends to your ankle. Dip a cotton ball in the alcohol and rub it all over your leather shoe wherever exposed leather is visible. Remove the laces, if present, to apply the alcohol to the exposed leather on the tongue and on the inside of the shoe. Let it sit and dry for about thirty minutes.[5]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Soften Leather Shoes 3 Apply petroleum jelly to the shoe.[6] Wherever you applied the alcohol, apply petroleum jelly. Use a small brush or an old toothbrush to work the petroleum jelly into the shoe. Apply the petroleum jelly in such a way that only a thin layer is left on the shoe. Let the shoes sit overnight. After allowing the shoes to sit and soften, wipe them down with a dry cloth to remove any excess petroleum jelly.
    • If your shoes have not as soft as you’d like after a single coat, repeat the process again until your shoes are as soft as you want them to be. Sometimes you’ll need to apply several coats to reach the level of softness you want.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Walking Around in Your Shoes to Soften Them

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  1. Step 1 Walk around in your shoes for half a day. 1 Walk around in your shoes for half a day.[7] One way to soften leather is to wear it. Repeatedly wearing leather shoes will help them become more pliable. However, if you walk around in new leather shoes all day, they might start to hurt. You can minimize that chance by wearing them for just half a day, then swapping them for some more comfortable shoes.
    • If your feet start to hurt while wearing the shoes, take them off and swap them for another pair, even if you haven’t worn them the whole half-day.
  2. Step 2 Wear the shoes again for just half a day two days later. 2 Wear the shoes again for just half a day two days later.[8] And then wear them for another half day two days after that. Continue wearing the new shoes every other day in half-day increments. When they feel softer, try wearing them for a full day. Continue to wear them as regularly as you wish thereafter.
    • Feet are sweaty. If you wear the shoes two days in a row when they’re new, they will not have time to adequately dry out, especially when they are new and still tight around your feet.
  3. Step 3 Be patient. 3 Be patient. Breaking in a new shoe can take time. Leather often requires a long break-in period in order to become as soft as you may want it to be.[9] Thinner leathers like calfskin will likely soften more easily, but if your shoes have a lot of stitches and needlework, they will take longer to break in. You can speed up the softening process by wearing a pair (or two) of socks when walking about. EXPERT TIP Marc Sigal

    Marc Sigal

    Shoe Care Specialist Marc Sigal is a Shoe Care Specialist based in Los Angeles. Marc has over 19 years of experience working in the world of e-commerce, with extensive experience with the care of luxury goods. He is currently the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Blutag, an e-commerce platform helping consumers find products. Prior to Blutag, he founded ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox reinvented amenity services by placing custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. The company got acquired by Rinse.com in 2021. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Marc Sigal Marc Sigal Shoe Care Specialist

    Use a low-heat source like a blowdryer. Place the heat on cool or medium and hold it several inches away for several minutes. Your shoes will slowly start to soften.

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Community Q&A

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  • Question How do I get the inside of my leather shoes to be softer? Rayca Rayca Community Answer Look for a leather conditioning product with lanolin and follow the directions for best results. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 36
  • Question Where can I obtain saddle soap? Community Answer Community Answer Saddle soap is readily available from your local shoe store or online. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 11 Helpful 22
  • Question Can I use Johnson's baby oil? Community Answer Community Answer No, it’s a mineral oil, and it specifically says in the article not to use mineral oil. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 6
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Tips

  • Do not soak your shoes in water. The leather will shrink and you’ll end up with shoes that are both hard and too small for your feet.[10] Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • When picking out leather shoes, choose unfinished over treated leather for a naturally softer feel. Thanks Helpful 15 Not Helpful 7
  • If you continuously find shoes of a certain brand pinch your toes or heels, invest in another brand. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 8
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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References

  1. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=AbxTl7BNmpwC&lpg=PA18&pg=PA18#v=onepage&q&f=false
  2. ↑ http://www.hairfinder.com/fashion/soften-leather-belt.htm
  3. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=OIMDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA66#v=onepage&q&f=false
  4. ↑ http://www.hairfinder.com/fashion/soften-leather-belt.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.hairfinder.com/fashion/soften-leather-belt.htm
  6. ↑ https://vkool.com/how-to-soften-leather/
  7. ↑ https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-make-new-shoes-feel-comfortable-1415211017
  8. ↑ https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-make-new-shoes-feel-comfortable-1415211017
  9. ↑ https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-make-new-shoes-feel-comfortable-1415211017
More References (2)
  1. ↑ https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-make-new-shoes-feel-comfortable-1415211017
  2. Videos provided by The Provider

About This Article

Marc Sigal Co-authored by: Marc Sigal Shoe Care Specialist This article was co-authored by Marc Sigal. Marc Sigal is a Shoe Care Specialist based in Los Angeles. Marc has over 19 years of experience working in the world of e-commerce, with extensive experience with the care of luxury goods. He is currently the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Blutag, an e-commerce platform helping consumers find products. Prior to Blutag, he founded ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox reinvented amenity services by placing custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. The company got acquired by Rinse.com in 2021. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. This article has been viewed 471,311 times. 46 votes - 87% Co-authors: 11 Updated: February 7, 2025 Views: 471,311 Categories: Breaking In New Shoes | Care of Shoes Article SummaryX

To soften leather shoes, rub some coconut oil, mink oil, or saddle soap into them using a cloth. Then, let the oil absorb into your shoes and reapply if necessary. You can also soften your leather shoes using rubbing alcohol and Vaseline. Just rub the alcohol into your shoes, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then cover your shoes with a thin layer of Vaseline. Let your shoes sit overnight and then wipe them down with a clean cloth. For more ways you can soften leather shoes, like using a curling iron, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Iris Boone

    Iris Boone

    Jun 19, 2017

    "I had no idea how to start to soften the leather on shoes so that I can wear them. A quick Google search brought up..." more Rated this article:
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Marc Sigal Co-authored by: Marc Sigal Shoe Care Specialist Co-authors: 11 Updated: February 7, 2025 Views: 471,311 87% of readers found this article helpful. 46 votes - 87% Click a star to add your vote Iris Boone

Iris Boone

Jun 19, 2017

"I had no idea how to start to soften the leather on shoes so that I can wear them. A quick Google search brought up..." more Rated this article: Moira E.

Moira E.

Aug 7, 2016

"Love the different methods, and the information about the different types of oils that might and might not work...." more Om Prakash Pandey

Om Prakash Pandey

Jul 5, 2017

"I was searching for the methods of softening my shoes. I physically searched shops to shops, but did not find..." more Rated this article: Sheila Doris

Sheila Doris

Jun 28, 2017

"I have some lovely white sandals but the leather really hurts just under my ankle bone. I never thought of treating..." more Rated this article: Ajay Kumar

Ajay Kumar

Nov 27, 2016

"Quite informative, using coconut oil to soften leather foot wear. I tried and succeeded. I strongly recommend the..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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