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Moving is one of the most stressful things you can do in your life. While things like the weather on move-in day or the punctuality of the people you hire to help is beyond your control, there are a few things you can do to try to help the move go as smoothly as possible. One of those is to make sure your shoe storage game is strong.
Why Protect Your Favorite Pairs?
We all have a favorite pair of shoes, one that we spent quality money on and we hope to wear for years to come. While anything and everything can become damaged in a move, investing in proper shoe storage can protect those favorites.
SORT YOUR SHOES
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Everything you move costs you money in the form of packing supplies, space on the truck or manpower to carry the box. So, it makes sense to only move things you like and will use again. Before you assemble any boxes, you need to sort through your shoe collection. That means you should look at every shoe and throw out worn-out or damaged pairs.
Even if the shoes are nice, if you have not worn them for a while and don’t see yourself wearing them in the future, now is the time to donate them. If you have expensive pairs, it may be worthwhile to sell them online or at a garage sale. Usually in the chaos of the move, it is easier to just donate everything to a charity or Goodwill.
Once you have narrowed down your collection, you should sort them into types — high heels, boots, sneakers, etc. Packing similar shoes together can help them survive the move.
PREPARE SHOES FOR PACKING
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Now is time to prepare your thinned collection for packing.
CHECK YOUR SHOES
You will need to check your shoes in order to see if any need any minor repairs, such as a zipper replaced of a sole mended. Now is the time to bring these shoes to your local shoemaker to find out how much it will cost to fix them. If it will cost more money to fix the shoe than it's worth, you know what to do. Unless you love the shoe, they are not worth being moved.
CLEAN YOUR SHOES
No matter how careful you are when walking outside, shoes get dirty. Packing dirty shoes with clean ones can ruin your nice shoes. Clean your shoes, focusing on removing all the dirt and loose debris from the bottoms.
DRY YOUR SHOES
Just like your shoes get dirty when you walk around in them, they can also trap moisture. If you pack damp shoes, then mold can grow. Air your shoes out for a few days before you are ready to pack them. If needed, try placing crumpled up paper into the shoes to help absorb more moisture. You can also powder the insides to dry out moisture from leather and fabric.
PACK YOUR SHOES
In order to help your shoes keep their shape and prevent them from being crushed during the move, it is helpful to stuff them with paper. We recommend buying clean paper (such as the brown moving paper sold at your local hardware store) or save money and use soft fabric such as towels or socks that need to be moved, anyway.
PURCHASE PACKING MATERIAL
Instead of throwing your shoes into plastic bags or boxes, you will want to invest in quality moving supplies. Sturdy boxes, packing paper, good tape and even a permanent marker will do the trick.
HOW TO STORE SHOES FOR SHIPPING
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Now that you have prepared your shoes for packing, you will need to store them for the move. Below are some of our best tips on shoe storage while shipping.
PACK THE SHOES YOU DON’T NEED FIRST
Depending on the season, there will be some shoes you will not be wearing during your move. We recommend packing the shoes you are confident you won’t need at the beginning of your packing process.
SET ASIDE YOUR MOVING-DAY SHOES
With all the chaos of packing, you'll want to make sure you leave out the shoes you are planning on wearing the day of the move. These should be both sturdy and comfortable.
PACK FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER THE MOVE
While it may be nice to think you will get to your new home and unpack immediately, that is not going to happen. Make sure to pack any shoes separately that you may need for a week after your move.
PACK SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY
If you can find the shoeboxes your shoes came in, that is the ideal method of packing. Make sure to wrap the shoes in packing paper before putting them in the box. In the likely event that you do not have a closet devoted to empty shoeboxes, you can easily find small- or medium-sized boxes or even plastic bins to use instead. Tape them securely so they stay together during the move.
Some additional tips are:
HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT SHOE STORAGE FOR YOUR NEW HOME
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Surviving the move is half the journey for your shoes; once they make it into their new home you will then have to figure out the right type of shoe storage to fit your space. There are several shoe storage options available.
Before you can decide on the best shoe storage for you and your new digs, here are some considerations:
You should always size up your shoe storage needs. If you have enough pairs of shoes that you will need to think about the storage, chances are the number of pairs you own is not going to go down. When selecting the right shoe storage for you, always size up.
Plan for visibility. How will you wear shoes you forget you own? When choosing shoe storage, it is important to think about how you can best view and access your collection. Make sure whatever solution you pick is easy to browse.
Prioritize shoes you wear more often. Make sure the storage solution you choose has a spot to place frequently worn shoes so you can easily grab and go.
HANGING CLOSET ORGANIZER
This option is ideal for someone with a small closet. Instead of storing your shoes on the ground, they are placed in a number of stacked cubbies that hang from the pole in your closet. Make sure the rack is wide enough so shoes can be placed in side-by-side, instead of jammed into a cubby.
SHOE RACK
This is probably the simplest shoe storage option. Racks come in all shapes and sizes. You can get fixed ones that usually look more like a real piece of furniture or ones that can expand to fit your space.
OVER-THE-DOOR SHOE RACK
This is another good solution if you have a small closet. Utilizing the back of your closet door is essential for getting the most from your closet. While there are a number of cheap options that have vinyl pockets, we recommend going for a slightly more expensive model to accommodate more shoes while looking better.
SHOE CABINET
If you have the space, then why not invest in a shoe cabinet? Placed anywhere, this cabinet looks like regular furniture and keeps shoes out of sight, so no will know it is a shoe organizer.
BOOKCASE-STYLE ORGANIZER
If you have a lot of shoes, a bookcase-style organizer may be right for you. In addition to storing shoes, you can also store handbags or scarfs on the rack.
If you are interested in a less utilitarian look, then why not go for the real thing — an actual bookcase? These can be a little more expensive than the ones made just for shoes but they are typically nicer to look at and will last longer.
SHOE TOWER
If you want your shoes out but don’t want to commit to a whole bookcase, a smaller shoe tower may be just right for you. They typically only hold four or five pairs, which makes it ideal for storing your more expensive kicks. It is also small enough to be portable so carrying your shoe options with you around the house as you get ready is perfectly reasonable with this tower.
CEILING-MOUNTED SHELF UNIT
If you want a statement piece to fit your statement pumps, then this is it. A shoe rack mounted from the ceiling can turn any room into a shoe boutique.
TV STAND
Don’t overlook a simple TV or media console. They typically have a few shelves that sit low to the ground, making them the perfect spot to house your shoes. As long as your unit is sturdy and built to hold a large television, you can also use the top as a bench. How handy when you need to actually put your shoes on.
Conclusion
You spent a lot of money on your shoe collection. There is no reason they need to get damaged in a move as long as you plan accordingly. And with every move comes a new opportunity to create a better shoe storage solution than you had in your last home.
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