If you’re a sneakerhead, you know there’s nothing worse than getting that dreaded bend right across the toe box, which pretty much ruins the shoe and turns it into an everyday beater. You may even take good care of your shoes, storing them away, or even just wearing them on special occasions. Sometimes that seems to just make the creasing situation worse.
There are easy ways to remove creases from sneakers , so a crease that’s starting to come in isn’t a death sentence for your favorite kicks. Just a little time, the right method, and a few things you probably already have lying around.
The Root of the Issue: Why Sneakers Crease in the First Place
Creasing is normal and inevitable. It happens every time you walk, flex, or move in your shoes. Leather, synthetic materials, even canvas, it all bends eventually. You may store your sneakers away and pull them out only for special occasions, and the crease may still form with your sneakers just sitting there.
Creases don’t just look messy. They make your kicks look older, worn out, and not in the cool vintage way. It makes people look at you and feel pity that you can’t part ways with your bent sneakers or afford a new pair. So here’s some easy DIY techniques on how to get creases out of sneakers at home.
Different Methods To Remove Creases From Sneakers
Method 1: The Iron and Towel Trick (Works Best for Leather)
This is the go-to DIY method for getting out creases from leather sneakers.
What you’ll need:
- Clothes iron
- A small towel or cotton T-shirt
- Shoe trees or socks
- Water
How to do it:
- Start by stuffing your sneakers to restore their shape. You can use shoe trees, balled-up socks, or even old t-shirts—just make sure the toe box is firm and filled out.
- Soak a towel or cotton t-shirt in water and wring it out until it’s damp, not dripping.
- Place the damp cloth over the creased area.
- Set your iron to a medium heat with no steam. Gently press it on top of the towel for a few seconds at a time.
- Keep checking every few presses. You’ll start to see the creases smooth out as the heat and moisture soften the material.
Pro tip: Don’t press too hard or leave the iron in one spot too long. You’re fixing your sneakers, not frying them.
Method 2: Use a Sneaker Crease Remover Insert
If you don’t want to mess with heat or just want an easier option, try sneaker crease protectors or toe box inserts.
Best for: Preventing and lightly reducing creases in leather and synthetic sneakers.
How they work:
These inserts are shaped to fit inside the toe of your shoe. Some have a ridged design that pushes the toe box back into shape from the inside. They’re especially useful if you wear the sneakers regularly and want to stop new creases from forming. There are smaller foam inserts that can be comfortably worn while wearing the shoe, and larger, sturdier inserts to keep inside your sneaker’s toe box when stored away.
Recommended products:
ForceFields Toe Box Crease Preventers
TUPEED 4 Pairs Shoe Crease Preventers
Slide them in and wear your shoes as usual. Over time, the creases will ease out a little, and new ones won’t form as quickly.
Method 3: Steam It Out with a Towel
This method is a gentler version of the iron trick. It’s especially good for synthetic materials that might get damaged by direct heat.
You’ll need:
- A kettle or pot of boiling water
- A small towel
- Tongs
How to do it:
- Boil water and hold the towel over the steam using tongs.
- Let the towel get hot and damp, but not soaking.
- Place the hot towel on the creased area of your sneaker and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Press down with your hand or something flat like the back of a spoon to help reshape it.
Repeat a few times if needed. The heat and moisture will soften the material and ease out some of the bend.
Method 4: Hair Dryer and Shoe Trees
This is a low-effort method if you don’t have an iron but still want some heat action.
What you need:
- Hair dryer
- Shoe trees or socks
Steps:
- Stuff the shoes to hold their shape.
- Use the hair dryer on high heat and blow directly at the creased area for about 30 seconds at a time.
- While it’s still warm, use your fingers to smooth the crease and press it out, then store away with a crease protector inside.
Don’t overheat the shoe. Keep the dryer moving and stop once the material gets soft.
Method 5: Use Leather Conditioner
If you’ve already removed the crease or just want to refresh older kicks, leather conditioner helps rehydrate the material and soften creases naturally.
How to use:
- Apply a small amount of conditioner to a clean cloth.
- Rub gently over the creased area.
- Let it soak in and then buff off any excess.
This won’t magically erase a deep crease, but it can make the crease softer, resulting in less cracking. It’ll help blend the crease with the rest of the leather.
Recommended leather conditioners:
Tarrago Sneakers Rescue
CLOUT Premium Leather Sneaker Care Kit
Can You Prevent Sneaker Creases Altogether?
Not completely. If you wear your shoes, over time, eventually they’ll crease. But you can minimize it.
Tips to prevent deep creases:
Storing your sneakers in their original boxes or on shelves in a dark closet is not enough prevent and remove creases from sneakers. Use shoe trees when storing your sneakers as well as crease protectors. You may have a favorite pair of kicks, but try your best not to wear them every day. Many of us find our self with over 20+ pair of shoes but rotating the same 4-5 pairs. Why? Challenge yourself to breakout those old throw backs, and pair them with a retro, trendy outfit.
When you are wearing your sneakers, try to make it a habit of not bending your toes when walking and avoid crouching and standing on your toes. Just be aware of how your feet move so you’re not putting stress on the shoes. That’ll also help keep them cleaner, allowing you to wash them less, which over time, can damage the leather as well. And lastly, you may enjoy a tight, cozy fit, but try to loosen your shoelaces when you put them on to reduce stress on the toe box.
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