Crease on the recently-bought premium Doc martens can make any new owner worried.
So, are Doc Martens supposed to crease? Is It Normal?
The answer is, yes, Doc Martens are supposed to crease. The creases are part of the “distressed” look that makes them so popular. The creases also help to break in the shoes, making them more comfortable over time.
However, I’m aware that some individuals hate creases. So, it’s natural for them to want to learn how to get creases out of Doc Martens. So, we’ll cover that in our article as well in addition to the reasons why the boots crease in the first place.
What's Inside:
Why Do Creases Appear?
Even though wrinkles and creases on leather boots might sound worrying, it is completely normal. In fact, it is not normal for a leather shoe not to crease. Yes, you just read that right! No matter how cheap or expensive a pair of shoes is, leather creases will happen.
But what actually initiates all the creases? Well, you need to understand that shoes are usually flat. And when you are walking, your feet bend. When your feet bend, the shoes that you wear will flex too. That is what initiates the shoe creasing problem.
Do Doc Martens Crease?
As we mentioned earlier, leather or suede boots are bound to crease. You can not stop the shoe creasing problem if you plan to wear leather boots. The same applies to Doc Martens. Even though the material of the shoes is pretty durable, the leather boots will surely crease sooner or later.
How to Not Crease Doc Martens?
Creasing for leather boots is inevitable. However, if you keep a couple of things in mind, you can certainly save yourself from the process to remove creases from leather boots. And the factors that we are referring to here are:
Wear the Correct Size
Do not wear too loose boots because they are more likely to bend frequently. And when that happens, you can not prevent creases, no matter how high-quality leather the shoes are.
So, get a boot that will fit your foot perfectly. Yes, Doc Martens do not have half sizes. In such cases, buy a size below. As Dr Martens are true to size, a size below will have the right shape and will fit snug but will not be uncomfortable.
Now, if you have ended up with a one-size higher shoe, wearing thick socks can help. It will help the shoe fit correctly and maintain its shape for a prolonged time.
Store the Boots Properly
Even if you are wearing Doc Martens that are perfect for each foot, creases might happen. In other words, the right size shoes can also get worn or crease over time. And that would occur if you are not storing the boots properly.
You need to understand that no matter how good the quality of the shoes is, the leather will deteriorate if you do not store the boots properly.
Do Not Let the Moisture Settle on Top of the Shoes
One of the ways to prevent the shoes from creasing would be to wick away all of the moisture after every wear. Use cedar shoe trees for this because they will work like a charm.
However, that does not mean that you would need a cedar shoe tree for keeping your boot free from moisture. The other shoe trees will work as well.
Now, when you get the moisture away from the shoes with shoe trees, you will help your boot to retain its shape and stay perfect for your feet for a prolonged time. It will also keep the creases away from the exterior of the shoes.
How to Get Creases Out of Doc Martens?
The quality of Doc Martens might even have made you buy two pairs of these beautiful leather boots. However, if you do not know how to remove creases from the shoes, you might end up not using them after a while. So, here are a few tips that can help to keep your Dr martens in pretty much new condition for an extended time:
Method 1: Applying Leather Oil
Ideally, you would want to work on the shoes when there are slight creases visible on the surface. And in such a scenario, leather oil will work like a charm. Nonetheless, here are the steps that you would need to follow to remove creases with the leather oil:
- Get yourself a soft cloth and find the areas on the shoes that have the wrinkles
- Drop a few drops of the oil on the creased areas
- Massage the oil gently on those areas with your fingers
- While massaging, stretch the leather a bit
- Wait for a while for the creases to fully absorb the oil
- Clean off the excess oil using a clean cloth
- Let the boots dry by hanging them high
On that note, when you notice the slight creases on your boots, follow this method as soon as possible. That will make you prevent putting more stress on the bots and eventually making them ruin their exterior shape.
Method 2: Use Rubbing Alcohol
Another simple solution to get the creases out is rubbing alcohol. You will need water, alcohol, a spray bottle, a shoe stretcher, and a good leather conditioner for this method. After getting checking that list of stuff, follow these steps:
- Fill one half of the spray container with alcohol and the other half with water
- Spray the solution onto the wrinkles of the shoes
- Gently rub the spots; you will need to apply a bit more pressure if the wrinkles are on the toes or heel
- Let the boots dry, and then apply a layer of leather conditioner; do not use the conditioner if there is still moisture on the shoes
- Polish the pair of boots after you use the leather conditioner
- Use the shoe stretcher to stretch the shoes
Method 3: Use Clothes Iron
Yes, you just read that right! It is possible to get the creases out of the boots using a clothes iron. However, we will not suggest the cloth irons that do not have a steamer function. Those will not work.
But for the suede boot or nubuck, do not make the exposure to moisture too much. You will damage the boots with the heat and moisture. Nonetheless, here are the steps that you would need to follow if you want to fix the creases with iron:
Wrap a good amount of newspapers on the inside of the boots, which will make them retain their shape when you heat the exterior up. Put extra emphasis on the toes region of the shoe.
- Remove the laces from the shoes
- Place a dry washcloth on the top of the shoe
- Heat up the steamer and then place the iron on top of the washcloth
- Move the iron around the areas of the shoe where the creases are available
- Keep the shoe under open-air or fan overnight, and it should be all good
Method 4: Use a Blow Dryer
If you do not have an iron with a steamer or do not have an iron at all, you can still take care of the entire shoe with heat. And for this method, you will need a blow dryer. Yes, the one that you use to style your hair.
Insert newspaper inside the shoe. As we have discussed earlier, it will let the shoe retain its shape when you apply heat. Again, prioritize the toe region. After you get yourself the heat gun, go through these steps:
- Massage the shoes with a little bit of leather oil
- Place the heat gun close to the shoe and let it heat up the shoe. If the creases are on the toe region, you will need to hold the gun a bit longer than usual.
- Massage the oil again after heating up the shoes
- Using a lint-free cloth, get the excess oil out of the shoes
- Dry up the shoes and keep them in the open air overnight
- Get your feet into the shoes and check if the boots still have the creases or not
FAQs in doc martens creasing
Can I return creased Doc Martens?
No, you can’t. Once you’ve used them, you can no longer return them.
Do docs stretch?
Yes, they will stretch as you continue to wear them.
Final Words
Let us recapitulate things a bit. Firstly, are Doc Martens supposed to crease? The answer is yes! Secondly, is it okay for Doc Martens to crease? They are leather shoes, and leather shoes are supposed to crease. Finally, if you want to learn howyou should get the creases out of Doc Martens, go through the methods we just discussed.
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Hello, I’m Kristin, the founder and main author of footwearsfact.com. I’ve been working as a footwear designer and have built a keen interest in different footwear problems, suggestions, and designing. I hope I’ll be able to serve your needs with my skillful team member.