How to Unshrink Crocs [4 Ways to Recover the Original Shape]

Left your beloved Crocs in direct sunlight or in some overheated place?

I know you did this and now the pairs become bad-looking and ill-fitted. That’s why you’re unable to style with your footwear.

But no worries because I’m gonna reveal the methods of recovering the shrunken crocs in their actual size.

So, let’s go ahead and learn the ways of fixing the curtailed crocs.

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How Do You Fix Crocs That Shrunk in Heat?

Soaking in boiling water, heating in the clothes dryer, or using the hair dryer – these 3 are the most convenient method of unshrinking the Crocs shoes to their natural shape. Dipping the crocs in steaming water is more familiar among these effective techniques.

However, it takes a thorn to remove a thorn!

Likewise, you can restore the shrunken Crocs using the heat, the very thing behind its ruining!

So let’s see how to stretch out Crocs from its shrunken state:

1. Dip the Crocs in the Boiling Water

Before starting the procedure, you’ll need a large-shaped pot, stove, water, a clean towel, and a pair of thick socks.

Here are the procedures for unshrinking Crocs:

Take a container that doesn’t melt in the heat and is big enough to make room for both of your pairs. But if your pot is small, you should do this task separately with each pair.

Pour enough water required to submerge a pair in the bowl.
Put it on the stove and wait until the water boils.
Place the shoes in the boiled water and stir them for 45 seconds.
Take out the crocs from the pot and wipe off the extra water.
Wear shoes with thick socks and walk in them for 30 minutes. This will help the footbed and upper to unshrink and adjust with your foot shape.

This method greatly works to regain the structure of twisted crocs. But there is enough risk of unexpected injuries as steamed water is utilized in this technique.

If you want safe crocs unshrinking methods, I’ll recommend following any of the upcoming processes. So, tag along!

2. Use of Hair dryer

Heating the shoes with a hairdryer softens the Croslite material of Crocs. Therefore, the curled portion of crocs is reduced.

Likewise, in the previous method, a pair of right-size socks are also required in this phase.

Here’s how to fix misshapen Crocs with a hairdryer:

Apply heat on each shoe for about 3 minutes.
Continue moving the dryer in a back-and-forth motion at the heating time.
Wear thick socks, put on shoes, and try to adjust to that warm-flexible pair.
Apply heat again for 2 minutes with the shoes on your feet.
Move around with the shoes until it completely cools down. Thus your shoes will tend to return to their actual form.

This method works well for resizing the less shrunken crocs. But when the shrink is higher, this technique won’t be so effective.

3. Put the Pairs in the Clothes Dryer

Crocs can go in the dryer and the method is as simple as drying your regular clothes in the dryer.

Just place the shoes in the drawer and switch on the low-dry mode. Wait for 2 minutes then take the shoes out of the dryer. Now, walk around for 20-30 minutes wearing the shoes with socks. Hence your shoes will return to their previous plain configuration.

However, apart from helping you unshrink your Crocs, socks like Merino Wool socks are beneficial for feet. Try to wear them with Crocs to enhance the shoe’s utility.

4. Overnight Freezing

If you’re an idle person like me and looking for the easiest way of expanding crocs, keeping the footwear in the refrigerator is the best way. You will need 3 ziplock bags in this case. If bags aren’t available, use two plastic water bottles as an alternative.

Let’s learn how to do it:

Pour water into two ziplock bags or two plastic bottles.
Lock the bags properly and place the bags in two separate shoes.
Wrap the shoes in another plastic bag. You can also use newspaper or paper towels for this wrapping. This optional step helps to keep your refrigerator neat and clean.
Place the shoes in the freezer and leave them overnight or for 12 hours. The water will turn into ice and its volume will increase. Hence, the shrunk area will be flat by the force created by enhanced ice volume.
Take out the shoes after a certain period and see how plain it is.

What to do now? Well, start walking in your shoes with or without socks. But going on with socks is a good idea for better unshrinking and molding with your feet.

Why Do Crocs Shrink?

Crocs are made with highly comfortable Croslite. Actually, this material is a proprietary closed-cell resin that is susceptible to excessive heat sources and direct sunlight. Consequently, crocs shoes shrink and their exact size is disrupted.

Croslite material doesn’t contain any EVA foam and latex. Rather, it contains resin which is an adhesive and flammable substance.

As a result, a pair of crocs is easily damaged when it comes in contact with any high-tempered sources like a fireplace, microwave oven, and superfluous sunlight.

So, avoid exposing your Crocs to direct sunlight or any heat-producing sources. Always dry the pairs in a shaded yet well-ventilated area. Also, make sure to wash Crocs with cold water.

Can I Return Shrunken Crocs?

Yes, you can return defective, unworn, and unwashed crocs within 45 days of purchasing. But there is no option of returning the ‘Final Sale’ tagged products. Additionally, it’s a full refund policy, you just have to pay the shipping charges only.

Defective shoes, however, do not offer a smooth walking experience and degrade the outlook rather than enhance it. And twisted Crocs are considered faulty shoes.

So, either find a remedy for developing the conditions of these shoes or just return or exchange them.

Here are the things to consider before returning Crocs: