Best Methods for Shoe Storage

As you add to your shoe collection, does it seem like you are running out of space to store them? Are you just tossing your footwear into a laundry basket or onto your closet floor? There are methods of shoe storage to help you get the most out of them and keep them looking and feeling great for a longer period of time.

It’s especially important to properly store your shoes if you need to put them into long-term storage, so that you don’t have an unpleasant surprise when you take them out later. Here are a few good ways to store your shoes and some ways that are best avoided:

Protecting the Shoe

Sure you need to store your shoes, but you will also want to wear them sometimes. So what can you do to protect your shoes as you wear them? Here are a couple of things to consider:

Add rubber soles and heel caps. The soles of fancier shoes are made of leather and can easily scrape or thin out after just one wear. Consider adding a thin layer of rubber to the sole of your shoe and heel caps. Any shoemaker can do this and can even match the color of the sole. Doing this will prevent wear on the sole and heel of those pricey shoes.

Condition. If you have leather shoes, you really should consider conditioning them. Adding the moisture will keep the leather soft and prevent it from cracking.

Storage for the Short and Long Term

You paid good money for your shoes, but you wear some more than others. Here are a few ideas that will help you sort out and store your shoes in a way that keeps them in good shape. For some, you will want to put them into long-term storage, and other will need to be more easily accessible:

Shoe storage bins. If you have room in your bedroom or coat closet, consider getting some clear shoe storage bins with lids. These can be great for those seasonal shoes like flip-flops and winter boots that you don’t need to wear for long periods of time. These bins are also a great place to store those pricey dress heels and shoes that may need some extra protection while not in use. If you need some extra storage space, these bins can easily go into your portable storage container for as long as you need!

Storage shelves. There are so many options for shelving out there that can be great for your shoes. Shelves allow you to categorize your shoes and set them up in a way that gives you access to what you wear the most and helps you rotate your shoes based on the season. Using these storage shelves also helps you see every pair you have, so you don’t forget that you have a pair and go buy something similar.

Store boots upright. Boots can be pricey, and they are hard to store, even on storage shelves or in shoe storage boxes. They are bulky and never stand up straight on their own. There are a couple of ways that you can store your boots upright though. Simply cut a pool noodle to size and slide that down into your boot. This will hold it upright and help it keep its shape. Then you can store them on that shelf properly. You can also invest in some hanging boot slips. These are hangers that have a clip on the bottom for you to clip your boots to and hang them up in a closet. You can also go a step further and get some boot shapers, which are hangers that have a shaper attached to the bottom as well.

Store sneakers in baskets or cubbies. This is one of the few times that tossing your shoes into a basket is okay. Sneakers are usually the go-to for most everyone in the family, and the shoes that get the most wear. You want easy access to them daily. Getting a basket or shoe cubby for family members to set by the front door or in the coat closet is a great idea. It keeps these shoes accessible and ready to grab when they are needed.

Some sneakers are more valuable than your everyday Nike. If you have a pair of older Air Jordan’s or other nice sneakers, you might want to store those in one of the above-mentioned shoe storage boxes!

Store your flats and sandals in an over-the-door organizer. These types of organizers are lifesavers for those lightweight and casual shoes and areas with less storage space available. You can easily fit a couple of pairs into one slot, allowing for more space to store more shoes. One organizer can hold up to 20 pairs of shoes, which should be enough to hold most if not all of you daily casual flats. This organizer keeps them nice and secure and lets you see every pair that you have.

How Not to Store Your Shoes

While it’s easy to just open your closet door and toss your shoes onto the floor in a giant heap, it’s not a good way to store your shoes. There are other methods you should avoid when it comes to storing your shoes, so let’s take a closer look at those now:

Do not store your shoes wet. If you have just cleaned your shoes or you just came in from a rainy day outside, you want to make sure you place your shoes in a well-ventilated area and let them dry out completely before you store them.

Do not wrap leather in plastic. Shoes that are made from natural materials need to breathe. If you are wrapping leather shoes up for a long storage period, you want to make sure you are using acid-free tissue instead of plastic. Plastic can cause unwanted moisture and ruin your nice leather shoes.

Do not pile shoes on top of each other. If your shoe pile just keeps growing, those shoes on the bottom will change in shape due to all of the weight being placed on top of them.

There are many types of shoe storage options out there, and there’s sure to be one that will work for your space and shoe collection. Just remember that you paid good money for these shoes, and you want to do all you can to make sure you get the most out of them for as long as you can!

If you want more storage tips, check out Porta-Stor’s other blogs, such as this one that goes over more packing and storage tips to avoid!