Crocs are popular shoes, and they are well-known for their unique adaptability and design. They can be worn everywhere. However, a common concern owners face is whether or not Crocs shrink in the heat. They are not sure whether they can safely wear their Crocs outside for the entire Summer, since the scorching sun will produce that heat.
Yes, Crocs will shrink when exposed to high temperatures such as direct sun. The shrinking happens due to the croslite material getting weakened after being exposed to intense heat. However, you can also apply heat to reverse the process. If Crocs are hot they become malleable and can be stretched back to their original size or even larger.
The best way to unshrink your Crocs is by putting them in boiling water for about a minute. Then bringing them out, putting on a few pairs of socks and wearing Crocs as soon as possible. Because the heat from the boiling water makes the material malleable, wearing will stretch them immediately.
Alternatively, you can place them in a clothes dryer or heat with a hairdryer. Just ensure that your Crocs are not designed from tie-dye and are not fur-lined, otherwise the color will peel off or the fur can get damaged.
Other than fur-lined and tie-dye, these methods are applicable to any other Crocs models, whether you have Crocband, Crocs Specialist, Crocs all Terrain, Crocs Baya, or Crocs Classic.
If your Crocs have shrunk, and you are not confident about what to do, do not fret. In this post, we will discuss how to effectively unshrink your Crocs. So buckle up, you are covered.
Here’s my YouTube guide that will introduce you to the process:
How long does it take for Crocs to shrink?
Crocs may start shrinking when the material gets affected by 86°F (30°C) temperature and higher. On average, you can expect your Crocs to slightly shrink within 30 minutes of being exposed to such heat.
Under extreme heat, Crocs can shrink to almost half their size. Extremely shrunken Crocs are often too hard to unshrink. But with dedication and care, that can still be done.
Why Do Crocs Shrink in the Sun?
The Croslite material that Crocs are made from is designed to be durable, comfortable, and lightweight – everything you’d want for summertime wear!
However, Croslite material cells can also get weakened when exposed to heat. When that happens the material becomes malleable and starts shrinking. So if you allow your Crocs to heat under the sun for too long, they will start to shrink and end up being uncomfortable to wear.
The sun is not the only element that can make your Crocs shrink. Other sources of heat, such as a tumble dryer, hot garage, attic or even the dashboard of a car (Crocs can shrink in hot cars) – all of that can also cause your beloved footwear to shrink.
On the other hand, malleable Croslite material can be stretched back and even more if you need to. Now that’s pretty cool!
In either case, if you are happy with you Crocs size, you can maintain their original size by leaving them in an environment with appropriate temperature. When you are not wearing your Crocs, ensure that you store them indoors away from intense heat.
We cannot overstress the importance of storing your Crocs in a cool, dry place.
Does Crocs warranty applies for shrunk products?
Crocs warrant their products for 90 days, but only for manufacturing defects. So, if your Crocs have shrunk from heat, they will not be covered under the warranty.
If you happen to shrink your Crocs too much and thinking of replacing them, it’s always worth reaching out to Crocs customer service first. Who knows? They may be willing to work with you to find a resolution that works for both of you. After all, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Otherwise, your other best go is to try stretching them back.
How to Unshrink / Stretch Crocs out
While some owners would like to shrink their Crocs, several others are in need of unshrinking them. We take you step by step through several methods so you can apply them correctly when the Crocs are too small for you.
Method 1: boiling water
For this process, you will require the following:
- Basin (or other heat resistant container to insert the Crocs)
- Cooking pot
- Boiling water
- Kitchen tongs (or anything that will help you push Crocs into the water)
- Thick socks
As soon as the above requirements are ready, boil water in a pot – the water should be enough to cover the Crocs when poured in a basin. Place the Crocs in the basin and pour the hot water over them.
After pouring the water into the basin, use your kitchen tongs to press the Crocs firmly into the water until they are submerged. Flip the Crocs around in the water so that the hot water gets to all their parts.
Bring the Crocs from the water after 45 seconds – 1 minute and wear them immediately. Make sure that you wear a pair of thick socks not only to prevent your feet from getting burnt but also help you stretch Crocs for a more loose fit. Depending on preferred fit, you can even put multiple pairs of socks on.
With your pair on, start walking around the room. Ensure that you leave your feet in the Crocs until the heat is gone – this is very important.
Finally, once the pair is cooled down, take out your socks and evaluate the result. You can perform the process over and over until you are satisfied with the outcome.
Method 2: tumble dryer
This method follows a similar procedure as the first one. When you put your Crocs in a tumble dryer you are exposing them to high heat which allows them to be malleable and stretchy.
For this method you’ll need:
- Tumble dryer
- Two damp towels
- A pair of thick socks
To begin, adjust the temperature of the machine to the highest heat and its timer to 10 minutes. Put the Crocs inside the machine, add two damp towels, and begin the cycle. The damp towels also dampen the material of the Crocs, causing them to be more pliable.
After 10 minutes, bring out the Crocs from the machine and wear them immediately with a thick pair of socks on your feet. The socks should protect your feet from the high temperature and will help stretch the Crocs.
Walk around the room and continue to wear the Crocs until the heat has cooled off. Finally, evaluate the result and repeat with a few additional pairs of socks on if more stretch is needed.
Method 3: hair dryer
Perhaps one of the safer methods is to use a hair dryer to perform the unshrinking process. You have full control over the device that will help introduce minimal heat onto your Crocs, as opposed to a clothes dryer or boiling water.
You’ll need:
- Hair dryer
- A pair of thick socks
All you need to do is blow your shrunken Crocs with a hairdryer for a couple of minutes. While doing that, ensure that you move the hair dryer around to distribute the same level of heat on all the parts of the Crocs.
And once again, as soon as the Crocs are warm enough, put them on immediately with a pair of thick socks on. Walk around the room until Crocs cool off and evaluate the result when that’s done.
Since the heat from a hair dryer is not as intense, you may have to repeat this method several times.
Method 4: freezer
Unlike the other methods, this is the only one that doesn’t require heat exposure. Simply put, you freeze your Crocs until they are hard, then you stretch them back into their original shape.
For the freezer method you’ll need:
- Freezer
- Plastic bag that fits into your Crocs
- Water
- Socks (optional)
Here’s how to go about it:
- Fill a small plastic bag with water and insert it into your Crocs
- Put your Crocs into the freezer throughout the night.
- The following morning, take out the Crocs from the freezer, remove the plastic bags and allow your Crocs to thaw for a few minutes.
- As soon as the Crocs are thawed, wear them and walk around for 5 – 10 minutes. Obviously, they will most likely still feel cold, so feel free to put on a pair of warm socks.
- If you feel that this worked but your Crocs are still not yet the size you want them to be, you can repeat this process with a bit more water in a plastic bag.
The Freezer Method is effective because the freezing process contracts the Croslite material and works well with the water that expands after getting frozen.
Note that the freezer method can make your Crocs stiff and uncomfortable, so ensure that you walk around in them for some minutes after you have stretched them.
Method 5: oven
This particular method is the least common among the rest, but it is as effective. To shrink Crocs in an oven, place them in and set the machine to a low temperature 120 – 175°F (50 – 80°C) and then stretch the Crocs back when they are still warm.
You have to exercise caution while carrying out this method though, because it can accidentally melt your Croc if the temperature is too extreme. Some sources state that the potential Crocs melting temperature is somewhere between 212°F and 338°F (100°C – 170°C), so don’t go higher than what we recommend.
You’ll need:
- Oven
- Baking sheet
- A pair of thick socks
Here is the process to follow:
- Preheat the oven at a 50 – 80°C temperature for 5 minutes.
- Put your Crocs on a baking sheet or an oven-safe wire rack before putting them in the oven.
- Allow the warmth of the oven to cover every part of the Crocs for about five minutes, then take them out and wear with a pair of socks to start stretching your Crocs.
- Once slightly cooled off, if the Crocs are still too small or shrunken for you, you can return them to the oven for a couple of more minutes. Just make sure you watch them carefully so that they aren’t any close to melting.
- When they are the right size that you want, allow them to cool completely before enjoying your brand new size.
How do I tell if my Crocs are too small?
The best way to know if your Crocs are too small is when it is hard to get them on your feet. Another way to tell is if the Crocs pinch your feet after you have them on. You may also notice that your toes feel somewhat cramped in the Crocs, especially if you wear them for a long time not giving you any wiggle room.
If your Crocs are too small, it’s a good idea to reach out to the seller and ask whether you can replace your pair to a bigger size. If that isn’t an option, consider using one of the stretching techniques mentioned earlier to increase the comfort of your shoes. It’s always better to take action to alleviate discomfort than to suffer through it.
After you’ve achieved the perfect size, your safest option moving forward is prevention. Clean your Crocs regularly, and try to keep them away from extreme heat to save yourself the trouble of having to unshrink them again.
Is it a good idea to microwave Crocs?
Due to the steps already provided above, some owners may be wondering if they could shrink or unshrink their Crocs by heating them in a microwave. Since it is safe to use the clothes dryer, hairdryer, hot water, etc. – then why not put them in a microwave?
According to the online experiments, we can certainly conclude that it is not safe to microwave your Crocs.
The power of microwave ovens are indicated in watts, which is not very comparable to the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature measures used in other methods above. Nevertheless, what you’ll notice after less than a minute of microwaving your Crocs is that the plastic rivet and croslite material itself begins to melt. So by no means consider unshrinking Crocs using a microwave.
