The Right….and Left of Packing Shoes

When it comes to packing up your shoes one might think tossing them in a box is good enough…right?.. WRONG! Just think where those shoes have been…walking down a busy city side walk, strolling though the grass in the park, caught in a rain storm, and hiking up that dirty mountain... You get this picture. You do not want to pack away all that dirt, germs, and bacteria with your precious footwear!

The first step to getting your shoes ready for storage is to clean them. Gently wipe them down to remove all dirt and debris. For heavily soiled shoes use soap and water. Do this early to allow ample time for your shoes to dry completely before packing them. Even the slightest bit of moisture can cause your leather to MOLD…YUCK!

Stuff each shoe with either socks or paper. This will not only help retain their shape but also help absorb moisture. Using the original box the shoes came in is the best way to pack them (placing the smaller shoe box into your larger moving box). If you do not have the original box, wrap each pair of shoes in packing paper. Once wrapped place the shoes sideways in the bottom of the box (rather than piling them directly on top of each other). Place larger heavier more durable shoes on the bottom and lighter more delicate shoes on the top. You would not want your precious designer heels crushed by a pair of heavy winter boots!

This may seem tedious but talking a little extra care and time can save you a lot of frustration when you retrieve your shoes from storage!