# Dress shoes left in freezing temps (need answer fast) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 9, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-shoes-left-in-freezing-temps-need-answer-fast/829240 "2019-02-09T19:32:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-shoes-left-in-freezing-temps-need-answer-fast/829240/1 "2019-02-09T19:32:58Z")
Have a pair of leather (or synthetic leather) dress shoes that have been left in cold or near-freezing temperatures for months. Wonder if this will cause some expansion or water condensation or something when brought in and worn indoors? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-shoes-left-in-freezing-temps-need-answer-fast/829240/2 "2019-02-09T20:22:15Z")
You should probably just chuck 'em and get a new pair. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-shoes-left-in-freezing-temps-need-answer-fast/829240/3 "2019-02-09T20:27:16Z")
There’s only one good way to find out; bring them inside and let them gradually adjust to normal room temperature. They may be fine, although if they were wet, the freeze/thaw cycle might have caused damage. If they’re OK, you won’t need to toss them. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-shoes-left-in-freezing-temps-need-answer-fast/829240/4 "2019-02-09T20:27:25Z")
Wrap them in a plastic bag before you bring them in to protect them from condensation. Then let them warm up and find out if they are ruined before you toss them. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-shoes-left-in-freezing-temps-need-answer-fast/829240/5 "2019-02-09T20:35:33Z")
Freezing likely wont hurt them, it’s how wet they got. Likely OK. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-shoes-left-in-freezing-temps-need-answer-fast/829240/6 "2019-02-09T20:38:54Z")
Given that it’s winter, we can assume the inside air is fairly dry. I think you can safely bring them and try them on when they feel room temperature. Just DON’T try to warm them too fast, like by putting them on a heating vent. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-shoes-left-in-freezing-temps-need-answer-fast/829240/7 "2019-02-09T20:40:43Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Wrap them in a plastic bag before you bring them in to protect them from condensation. Then let them warm up and find out if they are ruined before you toss them. That’s what I would suggest. Even when I get stuff delivered that’s been on my porch all day, I’ll leave the package all sealed up just like it is for a few hours before I open it. You could also put a fan on the shoes so if there is any condensation, it evaporates right away. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-shoes-left-in-freezing-temps-need-answer-fast/829240/8 "2019-02-09T21:24:27Z")
I still think condensation won’t be much of a problem, but a fan–NOT A SPACE HEATER–couldn’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-shoes-left-in-freezing-temps-need-answer-fast/829240/9 "2019-02-11T19:56:36Z")
I had some dress shoes left in my car for a couple of weeks. They got as cold as -21F. They seem fine. ---
**Author:** ![mind\_the\_gap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mind\_the\_gap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mind_the_gap)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-shoes-left-in-freezing-temps-need-answer-fast/829240/10 "2019-02-11T20:59:08Z")
I was gonna say something snarky, but I got cold feet. I’ll be here all week folks.😃