Do Crocs Shrink In The Sun? (My Experience & Fixes)

Perhaps you would like to wash your Crocs and leave them to dry in the sun, but you are worried the heat might cause them to shrink. Or maybe you want to wear them out all day under the sun by the pool, or you accidentally left them by your back door in a patch of super concentrated summer sunlight and they now feel oddly tight.

I certainly have had these concerns myself when wearing my own Crocs in the summer months!

The sun can cause Crocs to shrink. EVA is an elastic polymer found in Croslite, the material Crocs are made from. EVA is rubber-like, and interaction with sunlight degrades the materials and causes them to shrink. With exposure to heat, Crocs can stretch and return to a comfortable fit.

Personally I’ll avoid leaving my own Crocs in patches of sunlight when they aren’t in use, but I’m not too concerned about them shrinking if I wear them out on a sunny summer walk. Mine have never shrunk when worn on holiday either, so I wouldn’t worry as long as they are on your feet.

In addition to them potentially shrinking if left in a hot sun patch, their color may also fade due to sun-bleaching, so it’s best practice to avoid this. I hope that gives some perspective!

If you have ever found your Crocs a little tight after they’ve been in the sun, don’t throw them away. The chemistry behind “Croslite,” the material Crocs are manufactured from, is complex, and it responds to hot and cold temperatures. Here is an in-depth guide to why Crocs shrink in the sun and how to get them to fit comfortably again.

Why Do Crocs Shrink In The Sun?

Everywhere you look you will see somebody wearing Crocs, mainly because over recent years this casual slip-on shoe has become the favorite footwear for millions of consumers.

Crocs are light, easy to clean, and durable, making them a popular shoe. However you may have noticed after washing them and placing them in the sun that your Crocs are tighter than before (uh oh!).

We are used to things expanding or melting when placed in the sun. Crocs do the opposite and shrink when heated, especially in concentrated, strong sunlight. Crocs shrinking in the sun is confusing, considering that they are made from a foam rubber which you would think would expand rather than shrink.

If you accidentally bought a size too big, placing them in the sun will make them smaller. The material used in Crocs will stretch a little as you wear them over time too, and for many placing them in the sun for 10 minutes or so returns them to their manufactured size. I personally wouldn’t do this, but it’s a hack many swear by online.

Crocs returning to their manufactured size after placing them in the sun is a great advantage for the shoe. Most plastic or rubber shoes, like sandals or flip-flops, once stretched, do not return to their original size, and they sometimes become so big that they do not fit comfortably anymore.

Why Does Croslite Material Shrink When Exposed To Sunlight?

Croslite, the rubbery foam used to make Crocs, contains ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), which can cause the shoe to shrink in the sun. In addition, Croslite provides Crocs with distinct flexibility, toughness, and soft cushioning, making them popular among comfort-seekers. Ethylene vinyl acetate, or “EVA” as it is known, is part of the material used to make Crocs.

EVA is an elastic polymer that produces “rubber-like” materials, and interaction between photo-chemical (interaction with light) degrades the material’s mechanical properties that cause it to increase and decrease when exposed to sunlight. The scientific aspects of why crocs shrink after being in the sun are complicated, and if you want to get a detailed breakdown, this link will help.

How To ‘Unshrink’ Crocs After They Have Shrunk In The Sun

Crocs shrink in the sunlight, and they are sensitive to heat. Placing your Crocs in hot water makes the Croslite material malleable to stretch.

If you find your Crocs too tight and difficult to get your feet to fit after you leave them in the sun, do not worry; this happens, and you can make them fit again. You can get your Crocs to fit again without much effort; here are three ways to get them to fit comfortably again.

Use Boiling Water To Unshrink Your Crocs

Boiling water softens Crocs, and here is how you can use this process to stretch it to fit comfortably again:

• Find a large pot that can fit your Crocs, fill it with water and bring it to a boil.
• Remove any bedazzling that could potentially damage.
• Use tongs to avoid burning, and place your Crocs in the boiling water.  
• Your Crocs must be fully submerged to ensure it stretches evenly.
• If you squeeze your Crocs with the tongs and they are soft, you can remove them from the pot.
• Take the tongs and lift them out one at a time but hold it on top of the pot until all the access water is gone. Be careful not to burn at this stage because the Crocs are hot.
• Leave the Crocs to cool just enough that it does not burn your feet to cause blisters, but not to cool that it will not stretch.
• Put on thick socks and slip your feet into them. Getting your feet in the Crocs may take some effort, but keep at it until you have them on.
• Hook the straps of the Crocs behind your heel to ensure that your feet stay secure in the shoe while you stretch them back to size.
• With both Crocs on your feet, walk in them for about half an hour until they are cooled down and their firmness returns.

Your Crocs might not stretch the first time fully, and you may have to repeat the boiling process to get them to fit comfortably. You may encounter that both your Crocs do not fit in the pot, but you can boil one at a time.

Use A Dryer To Unshrink Your Crocs

The heat from a clothes dryer softens Crocs, and here is how you can use this process to stretch them to fit comfortably again:

• Place your Crocs in the dryer with two dampened towels to prevent the Crocs from burning and to help the Croslite material become pliable.
• Set your dryer on medium heat for about five minutes. 
• Once the drying cycle is complete, check if the Crocs are hot; take care not to burn. 
• If the Crocs are hot and soft, remove them; if they are not, place them back for another drying cycle.
• Leave the Crocs to cool just enough that it does not burn your feet to cause blisters, but not to cool that it will not stretch.
• Put on thick socks and slip your feet into them. Getting your feet in the Crocs may take some effort, but keep at it until you have them on.
• Hook the straps of the Crocs behind your heel to ensure that your feet stay secure in the shoe while you stretch them back to size.
• With both Crocs on your feet, walk in them for about half an hour until they are cooled down and their firmness returns.

Use tongs to take the Crocs out of the dryer and to see if they are soft and not your hands. Crocs are made from a rubbery foam, and when they are hot can cause a serious injury if you do not handle them carefully.

Use A Hair Dryer To Unshrink Your Crocs

Like a clothes dryer, a hair dryer is just as effective in heating your Crocs, and here is how you can use this process to stretch them to fit comfortably again: 

• Place your Crocs on the floor, preferably tiles or surfaces that will not burn from the heated air from the hair dryer.
• Set the hair dryer on its heat setting and point it to the Crocs.
• Do not hold the hair dryer too close to the Crocs to prevent heat damage.
• Be sure to heat the whole Croc and not just one portion of the shoe by moving the hair dryer’s heat to get every spot of the Croc.
• Do not handle the Croc with your hands if it is too hot; use tongs to see if it is soft.
• Leave the Crocs to cool just enough that it does not burn your feet to cause blisters, but not to cool that it will not stretch.
• Put on thick socks and slip your feet into them. Getting your feet in the Crocs may take effort, and you can use the hair dryer to heat it while you slip your foot into it. Again, be careful not to burn.
• Hook the straps of the Crocs behind your heel to ensure that your feet stay secure in the shoe while you stretch them back to size.
• With both Crocs on your feet, walk in them for about half an hour until they are cooled down and their firmness returns.

Conclusion

Crocs are made from a rubbery foam called Croslite that shrinks when exposed to the sun. Exposure to sunlight causes “EVA,” a product used to make Croslite to shrink. If your Crocs are too tight, you can stretch them to fit comfortably with hot water, a clothes dryer, or a hair dryer. Stretching your Crocs with heat is effective but should be done carefully to avoid burns or injury.

For more Crocs content, check out:

Are Crocs Comfortable? – Ultimate Q&A Review Guide

Are Crocs Non Slip? A Review and Model Breakdown

Best Crocs For Women – Two Women Review (Photos)

Why Do Crocs Have Holes? 8 Surprising Reasons

Why Are Crocs So Expensive? (Top 15 Reasons)

Are Crocs Closed Toe Shoes? Crocs Styles Breakdown