How to Stretch Out Shrunken Crocs So They Fit Again

Crocs are super comfortable and easy to care for, but there’s one big problem: they can shrink several sizes when exposed to high temperatures. If your Crocs have shrunk, don’t panic! We spoke to footwear expert Victor Adrian to teach you how to unshrink Crocs using boiling water, a hair dryer, or by putting them in the dryer or freezer. With a bit of patience, you’ll have your Crocs reshaped in no time.

How do you stretch Crocs?

Footwear expert Victor Adrian says to place your Crocs in a sink or tub and pour boiling water over them. Use a weight to keep them submerged. After 5-7 minutes, remove the Crocs, and walk around in them while they’re still warm and wet so they can adapt to a new shape.

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How to Unshrink Crocs with Boiling Water

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You already found out the hard way that Crocs are heat-sensitive, but that means you can use heat to stretch out your shoes as well! Boil enough water to submerge your Crocs in a large pot. Hot water softens the foam material, making your Crocs malleable and easy to resize.^{[1]
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Meet the wikiHow Expert

Victor Adrian is a footwear expert based in London, UK. He is a researcher, tester, and editor for BestForMyFeet.com, a leading footwear and foot care blog.
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Place your Crocs in the boiling water. Add the shoes to the pot, using tongs to rotate them and keep them beneath the water. Be sure to dunk your duds well so they’ll stretch out evenly. Adrian recommends adding some weight on top of the Crocs to keep them submerged.^{[2]
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Victor Adrian
Footwear Expert

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- Remove any Jibbitz (Croc charms) before placing your Crocs in the boiling water. You don’t want to risk damaging those cuties!
- If both shoes won’t fit in the pot, soak them one at a time.
- Alternatively, Adrian says to “boil some water in the kettle and pour it over [your] Crocs.”^{[3]
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  Victor Adrian
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  Expert Interview} Place your Crocs in the sink or a sturdy, heat-resistant tub, and be careful not to burn yourself.
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Let your Crocs soak for about 5 minutes. “After 5-7 minutes, the rubber should be malleable,” explains Adrian.^{[4]
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Victor Adrian
Footwear Expert

Expert Interview} Give them a gentle squeeze with the tongs. If they feel less stiff and a bit squishier, you know the heat is working! Use the tongs to remove them from the water and place them on the floor.
- Be careful not to burn yourself when removing the Crocs. Let the excess water drip off into the pot.
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Put on a pair of thick socks, then slide your feet into your Crocs. Adrian says, “Put your Crocs on while they’re still warm and wet, and walk around in them so they can adapt to a new shape while they’re cooling down.”^{[5]
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Victor Adrian
Footwear Expert

Expert Interview} It may take some effort to wriggle your feet in, but the foam should be malleable enough to stretch. Walk around for about 20 minutes while they cool.
- If you don’t own thick socks, put on 2 or 3 pairs of regular socks.
- Place the straps behind your heels to keep your shoes in place.
- Put your shoes on while they’re still hot, but not hot enough to cause burns. As much as you love your Crocs, they aren’t worth blistered feet!
- If your shoes haven’t stretched enough, give the boiling process another go. It might take a few tries to get the perfect fit.

Section 2 of 5:

How to Unshrink Crocs in the Dryer

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Dampen two towels with water, then place them in the dryer along with your Crocs. Adding damp towels makes the rubber more pliable and keeps your Crocs from scorching.^{[6]
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After your Crocs have gone for a spin, check to see if they feel hot. If they feel toasty, remove them; if not, continue to dry them for a couple more minutes.^{[7]
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Put on a pair of thick socks and wear the Crocs to stretch them. The shoes will be hot and you don’t want to burn your feet! Wiggle into your shoes, then walk around for 20 minutes while they cool.^{[8]
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- Put your shoes on while they’re still hot, but not hot enough to cause burns. If you find yourself shouting “ouch,” wait a little longer.
- Place the straps behind your heels to keep your shoes in place while they stretch.
- If your shoes haven’t stretched enough, don’t stress! Just repeat the drying process. It may take a few attempts to stretch your Crocs to the right size.
- If you don’t want to wear your Crocs around to stretch them, Adrian says, “If you have an extendable boot tree at home, you can simply use that to extend your Crocs.”^{[9]
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Section 3 of 5:

How to Unshrink Crocs with a Hair Dryer

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Place your Crocs on the floor. Point your hair dryer at one shoe and move it back and forth to soften the foam, aiming at the inside of the shoe as well.^{[10]
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Put on thick socks and wiggle your foot into your warm shoe. You probably won’t be able to slide your foot all the way in yet, but that’s okay. Continue heating your shoe with the hair dryer as you gradually inch your foot into it. Repeat with your other shoe, and wear them until they’ve cooled completely, usually about 5-10 minutes.^{[11]
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- This method may give you a more custom fit because the shoe molds to the shape of your foot as it’s heated.

Section 4 of 5:

How to Unshrink Crocs in the Freezer

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Fill freezer bags with water and place them in your Crocs. Fill two freezer bags with enough water that they fit snugly in each shoe. Make sure the bags are well-sealed and fill the entirety of the Crocs, including the toe area.^{[12]
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- This method isn’t as well known as the above methods, but many Crocs owners swear by it.
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Place the Crocs in the freezer overnight. As the bags of water freeze, they will expand and stretch the material of your Crocs. In the morning, remove the Crocs from the freezer, take the bags out, and see if the fit has improved.^{[13]
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- If the Crocs are still too small, repeat the process.

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What causes Crocs to shrink?

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Crocs commonly shrink when left in direct sunlight. Many people report having their Crocs shrink when they leave them in direct sunlight or in front of heat sources. They may shrink in a hot car or when washed in a washing machine with hot water. Luckily, the material is pretty malleable and can also be reshaped and stretched when exposed to mild heat.^{[14]
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- Because most of the above methods use heat, they can also be used to shrink Crocs that are too big.

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Tips

Crocs come with a 90-day warranty that covers manufacturing defects. The warranty doesn’t cover issues arising from “normal usage, fair wear and tear, or damage by you.” So if your Crocs have shrunk, it’s unlikely that you’ll get a freebie replacement pair. Good thing you can fix them yourself!^{[15]
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Prevent Crocs from shrinking by keeping them out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. Your Crocs are your babies, so never leave them in a hot car.

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Warnings

Microwaving your Crocs is dangerous. Heating your Crocs in the microwave will cause them to scorch and melt. Do not attempt to use a microwave to unshrink your Crocs.

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Wait until your shoes are at a bearable temperature before putting them on. They should be hot, but not hot enough to burn your feet.

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