Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Prepare your shoes for storage
• Part 2 of 3: Finding a suitable storage method
• Part 3 of 3: Knowing what not to do
• Tips
• Necessities

If you store your shoes properly, they will continue to look good and will last for as many seasons as possible. You must protect your shoes from dust, water and sunlight so that the color does not fade and the material does not warp when the shoes are stored. Make sure you don't pile or throw your shoes together. This can cause them to deform. Keep your shoes in the original shoe boxes or in storage boxes to keep them looking like new.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Prepare your shoes for storage

1. Clean your shoes. If you store shoes that are dirty, dusty, or have other residues, the material the shoes are made of can deteriorate over time. This is especially true for leather and suede shoes, but for all types of shoes it is better if you clean them before putting them away. Even if you only store your shoes overnight and plan to wear them again tomorrow, it's a good idea to clean your shoes before putting them away. Let your shoes dry before putting them away.
   • Clean leather and suede shoes by brushing away dirt and dusting the material with a soft brush that does not scratch. Use a special leather or suede cleaner to remove stains.
   • Clean canvas shoes by brushing them. Then use soapy water to remove stains.
   • Wash plastic shoes with soap and water.
2. Sort your shoes by season and goal. If you used to throw all your boots, high-heeled shoes, and trainers in a pile and keep picking out the shoes you needed, it's time to sort your shoes. Sorting your shoes by season and purpose keeps your wardrobe organized. Plus, your shoes will stay in better condition than just throwing them all together.
   • Put all your high-heeled shoes and other smart shoes together.
   • Store winter boots and other winter shoes in the same place.
   • Put flip flops, sandals and other summer shoes together.
   • Put sneakers and sneakers together.
3. Find a dark storage place where you can regulate the temperature. Shoes remain in good condition when they are not exposed to a lot of sunlight or high or low temperatures. The best place to store shoes is in a cool, dark closet that won't get unusually hot and stuffy. If you don't have enough space in your wardrobe, you could keep your shoes under your bed or along the wall of your bedroom.
   • Don't store your shoes in the basement, garage, or other places that can get cold in winter and get hot in summer. The fibers that your shoes are made of can be affected over time under these conditions.
4. Stuff the shoes with acid-free paper that you have rolled up into balls. If you want to store your shoes for a month or more, you can stuff your shoes with paper to keep their shape. Just make sure this is acid-free paper. Paper that contains acid can damage the materials from which the shoes are made. Do not use newspapers as they can discolor your shoes.
   • Shredded toilet paper rolls also work well.
   • Use shoe trees for your best shoes. If you have a nice pair of leather shoes, put shoe trees in them during storage to keep them in good condition. Shoe trees made of cedar wood keep your shoes smelling fresh and also repel moths and other insects. You can buy shoe trees at a shoe store or on the Internet.
5. Store boots upright. If you have a nice pair of boots that you want to store, use a boot stand to keep them upright. If the ends fall down, permanent creases could form after a few months of storage. You can use a clever trick if you don't want to spend money on a boot stand: Use empty, dry wine bottles to keep your boots upright.

Part 2 of 3: Finding a suitable storage method

1. Set up a special mat for everyday shoes. If you and your family wear certain shoes almost every day, you can conveniently keep them in one place by placing them on a special mat. Place this mat near the front door or coat rack and have all members of the family stretch their shoes and line them up neatly on the mat. That way, everyone always knows where to find their shoes.
   • You can also purchase a shoe cabinet for this purpose. Only use the cabinet for the most commonly worn shoes, such as school shoes and sneakers.
   • Designate a separate area for wet shoes that need to dry. This could be a mat under a canopy outside or a mat in the hall by the front door.
2. Use a shoe rack. If you have a large collection of shoes, then you need a second storage space for the shoes you don't often wear. With a shoe rack you can easily and orderly store your shoes in a wardrobe or along the wall of your bedroom. Choose a plastic or wooden shoe rack and sort your shoes according to their purpose. Line them up neatly and put them away every time you wear them.
   • If you have an old wooden ladder, consider making it a unique shoe rack. Simply paint the ladder a different color to match your room and then lean the ladder sideways against a wall. Arrange your shoes neatly on the rungs of the ladder for easy storage.
   • Another good solution is to get a wooden pallet from a hardware store or interior design store. Hang the pallet on the wall (check beforehand if there are also pipes running through the wall) and store your shoes by putting the noses between the slats. It is best not to use this method on your expensive leather shoes as it can cause wrinkles in your shoes. However, this method is very suitable for sneakers, sneakers, slippers and similar footwear.
3. Store your shoes in shoe bags that hang from your door. If you have limited storage space at your disposal, buy a shoe bag at the store that you can hang on a door and store your shoes here in pairs. You keep your shoes well organized and away from the floor so that the bottom of your wardrobe doesn't get cluttered.
4. Put your shoes in boxes if you want to store them for a longer period of time. If you're storing shoes that you don't plan on wearing for at least a month, it's best to put them in a box. You can store shoes in the original shoe boxes or use transparent plastic storage boxes so that you can see exactly which shoes you have stored.
   • Old wine boxes are a great alternative to shoeboxes if you can't find the original shoebox of a pair of shoes.
   • Wrap the shoes in acid-free tissue paper for safe storage.
   • You can also use silica gel to keep the material your shoes are made of fresh and dry. You can buy a pack of silica gel at a hobby store.

Part 3 of 3: Knowing what not to do

1. Do not store wet shoes. Do not put your shoes in storage boxes or in a shoe closet until they are completely dry. Wet shoes can become moldy while in storage. If you store them wet, it is also more likely that they will stink. Place the shoes in a dry, well-ventilated place to let them dry completely before putting them away.
2. Do not wrap leather shoes in plastic. Leather and suede shoes must be able to breathe when stored. Wrapping them in plastic could cause them to mold or discolour. Always wrap your leather shoes in acid-free tissue paper instead of plastic.
3. Store your shoes with cedar balls instead of moth balls. Mothballs are made from toxic chemicals that repel moths, but are also dangerous for children and pets. Mothballs also have a distinctive, dank, chemical odor that gets into all the items they are stored with. This odor is very difficult to remove. Do not store your shoes with mothballs, but together with cedar balls or shoe trees made of cedar wood. Cedarwood naturally repels moths, is non-toxic and leaves your shoes smelling fresh.
4. Don't stack your shoes on top of each other. Many people keep their shoes in stacks to have more space. However, if you store your shoes this way, they can lose their shape over time. It's okay to stack your slippers on top of each other, but you should place shoes that have more structure next to each other. Even if you stack your shoes so that one shoe is upside down, if you store your shoes in this way for several months, they will deform.

Tips

• Make it a habit to check all of your shoes once a year to see if they need a repair or if there are any you want to give away to a local thrift store or charity.
• Place labels on your shoe boxes with a brief description of the shoes. This way you can easily find what you are looking for.
• If you are using the original shoe boxes, take a photo of the shoes in the box and tape the photo to the outside of the box. This way you know where you have stored which pair of shoes without having to open every box. You can decide where you stick the photo on the box, but make sure you do this in the same place and in the same way for each box. Also, stick the photos where they are still visible when all the boxes are stacked on top of each other.
• Boots can be difficult to store because they are generally sold in boxes that are much larger than a regular shoe box. Keep this in mind when thinking about how to organize your storage space.

Necessities

• Your shoes
• Storage means for shoes
• Storage space