How to Shrink Hey Dude Shoes – A Step-by-Step Guide

By Sophie Williams
Updated: October 27, 2023
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Style, comfort, and fittings are the core reasons behind the ground-breaking success of Hey Dude shoes. When you frequently stretch out or initially feel loosened, there are some steps you need to follow to feel your feet more secure. It also won’t hamper your styling with those pair of shoes. 

How you shrink your Hey Dude shoes, you’ve just come to the right place. So let’s start with the basics!

What does It Mean to “Shrink a Shoe”? 

Shrinking a shoe is a deliberate process aimed at making the shoe material, whether it’s fabric or leather, smaller in size. Why do this? Well, it is helpful when your shoes are too loose or have stretched out over time. 

Hey Dude Shoes are typically very fashionable and prefer to fit, so if you have something that interferes with your overall fashionable or upscale appearance, you must shink the shoes. To shrink your shoe, you can use methods such as heat or water to reduce its overall size.

How to Shrink Hey Dude Shoes: The Two Effective Methods

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You can use two effective methods if you want to shrink your Hey Dudes. The two best methods are :

  • Washing Hey Dudes in hot water, and
  • Shrink Hey Dude footwear using a hair dryer

Method 1 : How to Shrink Your Hey Dude Shoes by Washing Them in Hot Water

It is really possible to shrink your Hey Dude shoes by washing them in hot water. Here you have to remember that shoes that are made of suede, canvas, or socks can be shortened by washing them in hot water. You have to do this carefully; if not, you can damage your shoe. Here are some of the effective steps on how to shrink Hey Dude shoes by washing. Let’s see.

  • Step 1 – Remove the laces and insoles from your Hey Dude shoe.
  • Step 2 – Fill a large pot with hot water but not boiling water.
  • Step 3 – You can add a cup of vinegar to the water. You can also use salt and chlorine. These substances will help you shrink your favourite pair without any damage.
  • Step 4 – Soak your Hey Dude shoes in the water for at least 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Step 5 – Place the shoes in a warm spot and let them dry completely.
  • Step 6 – Once your shoes are dry, you can now put the laces back in and wear them to see if they fit perfectly or not.

Dos and Don’ts of Washing Hey Dudes for Shrinking the Size

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Do’s

  1. You can use vinegar, salt, and chlorine to shrink them perfectly without doing any damage.
  2. If you use a washing machine, try to run the machine on low-cycle.
  3. If you want to wash the dirt during the washing process, please add liquid detergent to do that.
  4. You can use a mesh bag for washing purposes if you choose to wash them in your washing machine.
  5. Always air-dry your Hey Dude shoes and keep them away from direct sunlight.

Don’ts 

  1. Do not shrink leather or wool-made shoes in hot water.
  2. Do not use boiling water; instead, use lukewarm water. Because boiling water can damage your shoes.

Method 2 : How to Shrink Hey Dudes Shoes by Using a Hair Dryer

You cannot shrink Hey Dude shoes by washing them in hot water if they are made of leather or wool. Because hot water can damage leather or wool-made things.

If you’re having trouble with the fit of your Hey Dude shoes and they’re made of leather or woolen material, you can try shrinking them by heating them with a hair dryer.

When buying Hey Dude shoes, try to buy a size smaller because Hey Dude shoes are made of materials that stretch easily. And that’s why you can buy a shoe that’s a little smaller than a perfectly fitted shoe. Later, you can fit your shoes to your foot size with the help of a shoe stretcher.

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  • Step 1 – In the first step, you have to identify which parts of your Hey Dude shoes need to be shrunken. The part can be the toe box, the heel, or any other specific area. Once you identify the stretched areas, dampen those areas with cool water or a damp cloth. Don’t soak the shoes; you have to just make them slightly damp.
  • Step 2 – In this step, you can use a simple hair dryer like those that we use at home to dry our wet hair. First, set the dryer on medium heat. Now, you have to dry the wet part of the footwear. If you don’t obtain the desired fit the first time, repeat the process. This approach also applies to canvas, leather, and suede shoes.
  • Step 3 – Once the shoes have shrunk, let them cool completely. Now put the laces back in and wear them.

Shrinking shoes made of non-flexible materials, such as sneakers, dress shoes, or boots, may be hard. However, you can add padding for a better fit. This can be an excellent alternative.

You can add cushions to the inside of the heel or toe box to fill empty space, or you can wear thick socks to get a tighter overall fit.

You can also add a second cushioned insole or an orthopedic insert if there is too much room at the top of the boot.

Dos and Don’ts of Hair Dryer Hey Dudes for Shrinking the Size

Dos and Don’ts of Hair Dryer Hey Dudes for Shrinking the Size

Though the water method is good for shrinking a pair of Hey Dude shoes, you must know that it doesn’t work with leather-made shoes. In the world, people believe that leather made shoes have a long life span; over time, they’ll be softer and more heat-tolerant. So most people use a hair dryer to shrink their shoes. Below, we’ll show you some do’s and don’ts that you should know. 

Do’s

  • Apply heat with a hair dryer on high, moving it around.
  • Always test on a hidden area to gauge material response to heat.

Don’ts

  • Don’t rush; gradual heating is safer.
  • Don’t use open flames; they can damage shoes.
  • It’s for small adjustments, not miracles.

What Factors Reconsider Before Shrinking Hey Dude Shoes

As you know, Hey Dude shoes are made with a variety of materials. Shrinking shoes made of non-flexible materials, such as sneakers, dress shoes, or boots, may be hard. However, you can add padding for a better fit. This can be an excellent alternative.

  • Know your shoe’s material.
  • Your feet size
  • Keep updated on whether the shaping process works well or not.
    Add cushions to the inside of the heel or toe box to fill empty space.
  • Add a second cushioned insole or an orthopedic insert for extra room

Some Important FAQs on Shrinking Hey Dude Shoes

1. How to Make Hey Dudes Tight?

There are some pretty easy methods to tighten your Hey Dude shoes at home. You do not need to be a pro to make your shoes tight for a better fit. I’ve written a definitive guide to tightening Hey Dude shoes. You can enjoy that guide.

2. Why Hey Dude Shoes Stretch Out?

Let me discuss some reasons that can stretch out your hey, dudes.
Hey dudes, stretch out:
There are some reasons that can stretch out your favorite pair of Hey Dudes. The reasons are:
1. If you wear your Hey Dude shoes for longer periods, they can stretch out.
2. If you wear the shoes when they are wet, like if you walked for a long time or a longer distance while it was raining. This can cause this problem.
3. Machine washing can stretch out your Hey Dude shoes.
4. A shoe can be stretched out very quickly due to the material it is made of, like suede or leather.

3. Do Hey Dude Shoes Shrink When Washed?

Hey Dude shoes are typically made from cotton or a polyester blend. If you wash them in a washing machine, then they can shrink. That’s why this brand always recommends hand-washing the shoes.

4. Can You Put Hey Dudes in the Dryer?

No. Don’t do that. Do not put your favorite Hey Dude shoes in the dryer. Because if you do that, the fabric will shrink fast and the color of your shoes may fade.

5. Do Hey Dudes Fit Smaller?

The answer to this question is a bit tricky. It depends on some factors, such as the style of your shoes. Hey Dude, shoes can run small, and sometimes they can be stretched too. To get the best fit, you can order a size up from your normal shoe size.

Wrap Up:

Almost all of us have the problem of shoes becoming too big after a few days of wearing them. And the only way to fix this is to shrink the shoe.

I have written this blog entirely on this topic. I hope it will be very useful for you. If you like the blog, don’t forget to share it with your friends.

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Sophie Williams

Sophie Williams

Sophie Williams is popularly known as a dynamic and creative footwear specialist, and she sharpened her skills and developed a strong foundation at College for Creative Studies, especially in design principles, boot and shoe materials, and boot construction techniques.

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