Shoes and boots are the most-used accessories you have, and they don’t come cheap either. Even though shoes are important, it’s easy to not think about long-term shoe care. If you are one of those people who just throws all their shoes into a closet, then you’re not alone, but don’t worry because this article will help you find the right ways for shoe storage.
The key to maintaining your shoes and making them last for a long time is to store them properly. When you store your shoes properly, they will remain in good condition for longer, and you will save money in the long run, as you won’t have to buy a new pair quite so often.
Regardless of whether you require storage for your shoes in the short term or the long term, these shoe storage recommendations will get you started.
Types of shoe storage and organisers
Wire racks, cartons, and custom cabinets are all alternatives for specialised shoe storage, but the best solution depends on how long the shoes will go without being worn. For shoes that you wear often, open storage is the best option, as it allows the moist shoes to breathe, keeping them fresh and dry. However, this open storage may not be enough to fulfil your long-term storage needs.
Here are a few different types of shoe storage options to think about:
Shoe Storage Box
Shoe boxes are a classic way of shoe storage.
Shoe boxes safeguard your shoes from dust, sunshine, and extreme temperatures that can degrade the suppleness of leather shoes. After stuffing and wrapping old shoes and boots, putting them in a box will help keep the leather, cork, and other natural materials in good shape.
Plastic boxes are another option for shoe storage, but make sure your shoes are clean and dry before storing them to avoid mildew growth. Another alternative is to use photo storage boxes in place of the original shoeboxes you brought home from the store. Whatever you choose, make certain that the shoe storage box is acid-free.
Shoe Racks and Cabinets
Shoe racks can be convenient if you have many types of shoes
A rack or cabinet with an open door allows air to circulate around your footwear while preventing dust from gathering on delicate fabrics. Shoe shelves with open fronts also aid in the organisation of sneakers, sandals, boots, and other sorts of footwear.
Consider installing a shoe rack in a handy location, such as the entryway, walk-in closet, or garage. On their way inside the house, family members can swiftly put their shoes where they belong. By positioning the cabinet or rack in the most convenient location possible, family members will have no reason not to put their shoes where they belong, out of harm’s way. When it comes to keeping your shoes in good condition, an orderly entryway goes a long way.
Shoe Trees
Shoe trees are also a great way to store and organise your shoes in style.
Trees and peg boards that keep shoes off the floor are great for keeping closets tidy and making some extra space to store other items in them. Just know that these handy things aren’t made to hold shoes for a long time. That’s because leather and fabric uppers can stretch over time if something fits inside the shoe and changes its shape.
So, instead of using shoe trees as a long-term way to store your shoes, keep them for the shoes you wear most often. A shoe tree is a great place to store running shoes, flip-flops, flats, and other types of everyday shoes. You can also keep your shoes in good shape by changing how you hang them or put them in your pockets.
Tips to store and protect
Besides choosing the right shoe organiser for you, there are a few other things to keep in mind when storing different kinds of shoes. Here are our best tips for storing shoes to make them last longer:
For short-term needs
Shoes can suffer damage from gravity, dampness, and aridity. The natural creases and folds that appear in shoes eventually turn into structurally irreversible deformations.
Additionally, materials can stiffen with time. A clear indication that vintage shoes have been stored for too long without any proactive shaping or filling is the presence of curled leather insoles and crumpled toe boxes. Thus, it is important to consider what type of shoe storage is best for your needs.
Certain styles of footwear only truly require the slight support of a shoe tree or a brief reshaping by hand as you lay them on a shelf for short-term shoe storage. Every time you take off your shoes, make sure to properly place them on the shoe tree. Shoes will deform if they are thrown on the ground in a pile.
For long-term needs
Daily footwear storage solutions differ from long-term shoe storage solutions. Wooden shoe horns and stretchers are an excellent option to maintain the shape of shoes that will be stored for at least a week.
However, the correct size must be used to avoid straining the shoe. Adjustable versions of stretchers allow for the best storage customization.
Let your shoes dry for at least a day before putting in wooden or plastic shoe horns. Putting in a shoehorn or stretcher too soon could trap moisture inside the shoe and cause damage.
Using acid-free tissues
Acid free tissues are easily available in your nearby pharmacy
Consider packing your shoes with acid-free paper for long-term storage, which is a terrific, albeit uncommon, alternative. As a highly absorbent material, acid-free paper preserves the appropriate level of moisture in shoes while preventing their deterioration. Instead of using newspaper to pack shoes for moderate or long-term preservation, choose acid-free tissue. Ink can cause irreparable damage to footwear, and newspaper is not a great absorber of moisture.
If you need to pack boots or more substantial shoes, unbleached muslin fabric is an ideal alternative to paper for filling boots and strong leather or felted shoes, as paper may not have sufficient weight. Like paper, muslin soaks up extra moisture and keeps buckles and sequins from getting damaged.
Avoiding extreme temperatures
Extreme temperature and humidity can cause the leather to become brittle, textiles to deteriorate, and glues to loosen, so climate-controlled storage is excellent for shoes. If shoes are kept in attics or basements for too long, they can be ruined by two seasons of rough use.
If your home or apartment lacks ample space for shoe storage, you might want to consider purchasing a climate-controlled storage unit nearby. By rotating your seasonal footwear with the changing seasons, you can free your home from clutter and save valuable storage space. In addition, you may be confident that your shoes will be safe and secure in an environment that is shoe-friendly.
You should also store brightly coloured shoes away from direct sunlight, which can bleach them. However, this applies to virtually every sort of shoe!
Adding silica
Summer footwear is typically made of lightweight and delicate materials. Because of this, espadrille-style sandals and shoes with cork soles typically do not fare well with frequent humidity fluctuations.
Simply add a package of silica gel to your summer shoes’ storage container for further protection. This will remove any moisture and wetness, keeping your favourite sandals ready to wear when summer returns.
Bottomline
It is important to store your shoes properly to make them last longer. Simply cleaning your shoes and throwing them on a pile of footwear is not good enough for maintaining their perfect condition. Likewise, storing your shoes in the most expensive shoe racks won’t do you any good if they aren’t cleaned before storage. Whether you have a whole wardrobe full of shoes or just a few reliable pairs that you use on a regular basis, we hope that this shoe storage advice has been helpful in pointing you in the right direction.