Keep in mind that, no matter what you do to the inside of your shoes, they'll still be about the same size on the outside. This can unfortunately sometimes lead to posture and gait problems. When you're wearing an oversized pair of shoes, it's important to maintain good posture to compensate for your "bigger" feet. See our posture article for a good selection of tips and pointers. A few general points include:  Stand up straight. Keep your head and chest up and pointed forward. Pull your shoulders back slightly to align your arms. Use a heel-to-toe walking motion. Start each step by putting your heel down in front of you, then rolling through your arch, balls, and toes. Finally, push off! Try to squeeze your abs and glutes slightly as you walk. These supporting muscles help keep your spine straight and well-supported. Oversized shoes are usually slightly longer than what you're used to wearing. This means that it's extra-important to pick your feet up off the ground as you walk. If you let your feet drag, it's easy to catch the toe of your shoe on the ground. This can lead to tripping or stumbling, so be aware of this common issue. No matter what solutions you're using for your too-big shoes, almost nothing provides the support of a shoe that fits properly. Try to avoid using too-big shoes for longer treks like day trips and hikes. You will spare your feet the discomfort of blisters, cuts, and sore spots caused by big shoes sliding around as you walk. More importantly, you'll also reduce your chance for injury. Ankle injuries (like painful twists and sprains) are more likely in shoes that are too big. This is especially true in athletic situations. This may seem obvious, but it bears mentioning: the tricks above will only go so far. If your shoes are more than one or two sizes above your normal shoe size, no amount of padding will help. Don't risk pain and injury just to wear a pair of new shoes. In these cases, you'll want to switch for a better-fitting pair of shoes — even an old, worn-out pair is usually a better choice than a pair that's far too big.

Summary: Try to maintain your posture when wearing big shoes. Be careful of tripping over your toes. Don't wear shoes that fit poorly for prolonged walking. Replace shoes that are significantly bigger than what you're used to.


Remove the wet packaging once the rice is defrosted. The defrosted rice can be heated in the microwave at 1-minute intervals until it is hot enough to eat, or it can be stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve your meal. Rice that is defrosted in a water bath should be eaten within a day of defrosting to prevent bacteria growth.

Summary: Eat the rice within a day of defrosting it in the water bath.


The support posts belong in the open areas on the boat’s deck. Each post needs a bottom and top cap to hold it in place properly. Place the first post near the bow, making sure it’s at least 10 in (25 cm) above the highest point in your boat. Place a second post near the boat's stern.  If you wish to make your own posts, measure the boat’s height from the deck to the highest point. Purchase 2 in × 4 in (5.1 cm × 10.2 cm) wood posts 10 in (25 cm) taller than your measurement, then fit them with foam caps purchased online. You only need 2 posts for small powerboats. Place additional posts to support the shrink wrap on larger boats. Install an additional post for every 8 ft (2.4 m) of boat length you need to cover. Run a support strap from the back end of the boat to the front. Thread it through the grooves on the support post caps. Then, lay more straps side to side across the boat, including a single strap through each cap. Buckle all of the straps to grab rails or cleats along the boat’s edges to keep them locked in place.  Make sure the straps are tight and secure. They form a stable frame to fit the shrink wrap over. If the straps look loose, the shrink wrap will also be loose. If you can’t find a place to anchor the strapping, run it all the way down to the trailer underneath the boat. Measure from the end of the strapping to about 8 in (20 cm) below the metal rub rail around the edge of the boat. Cut new straps to length, then tie the straps to the cleats and edge rails. Shape the free ends of the straps into well-tied loops about 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) in size. Tie the straps in place using a basic overhand knot. Using a different kind of knot is also fine as long as the straps are well-secure. Start at the rear or stern end of the boat. Run a new piece of strapping through each of the loops you tied, making sure it fits tightly against the boat’s side. When you get back to the stern, tie the ends of the strap together with a buckle.  Pull the strap as tight as you can before tying it. For assistance, use a strap tensioning tool, available online and in most shrink wrap kits. You can tie the perimeter band around the boat’s propeller. Use it as an anchor point to keep the strap tight and secure.
Summary: Set up support posts along the center of your boat. Tie the support posts in place with polyester straps. Tie loops to the end of each piece of strapping. Wrap a perimeter band all the way around the boat.