Shoes are very tricky items; though they are considered to be accessories, they are not exactly optional, nor can they be stored away with all your jewelry, gloves, eyewear, scarves, and shawls. On the other hand, shoes are not clothing garments either; you can’t keep them away in your drawers and on wardrobe shelves along with your clothes. Shoes, because they are the most industrious accessory items, require the most maintenance and care. Organizing and storing them can be a nuisance.
The problem is that shoes come in different materials and styles, and each one of them requires a different level of care. For instance, when stored improperly, stilettos can break, soles can loosen up, leather can crease, suede can stain, white shoes can turn yellow, and the list goes on. Shoes are not cheap to replace, but at the same time, developing the perfect storing solution for every pair of shoes that you own can be impossible. This is why we are here to tell you how you can properly store and organize your shoes without destroying them.
Shoe Trees
Who hasn’t noticed, at least once, that their favorite pair of shoes was starting to crease, and so they thought they were wearing it too much? If this happened to you, you might have also thought that letting your shoes rest for a while was probably the most pragmatic solution. This was, of course, until you realized that you now have to accept that the folds and creases in your shoes have become a permanent element of design- and structure. This is because many factors, including humidity, aridity, and gravity can affect the integrity of our shoes. Materials can stiffen up over time, as well.
If you leave your leather shoes stored incorrectly for too long, toe boxes can become crumpled, and leather insoles can become curled. If you want a short-term storage solution or something that you can rely on for keeping your shoes in good shape from one wear to the other, you can use a shoe tree for support. You can also gently reshape your shoes by hand, as you organize them on a shelf. Make sure not to pile your shoes on top of each other, as this will make your shoes lose shape and structure.
Wooden Shoe Horns
When you are organizing your shoes, you should always determine whether you use them frequently or occasionally. Long-term shoe storage methods vary greatly from the storage techniques that you use to organize the shoes that you wear more regularly. If you plan to keep a pair of shoes off your feet for a week or longer, you must consider structure. In this case, stretchers and wooden shoe horns can come in handy. Wooden shoe horns are among the most elegant shoe storage ideas that you can implement. They will give your shoe organizer a unique, vintage feel while allowing your shoes to maintain their shape. However, the problem with wooden shoehorns is that you must be very careful while using them. Using the wrong size shoehorn comes with a great price to pay; a size too small would be ineffective, and a size too large will stretch your shoe.
Buying an adjustable version of the shoehorn would be a great idea; this way, you can always adjust the length if you are unsure. You should make sure to allow your shoes to rest, for one day at least, after you’ve worn it and before you insert the shoehorn. This is to ensure that any remaining moisture evaporates; otherwise, moisture will be trapped in by the stretcher, resulting in further damage.
Acid-Free Tissue
Stuffing your shoes with acid-free tissue or paper before storage is an awesome idea. This way, you will ensure that your shoes remain in the right form and shape and that the moisture levels are maintained. Maintaining adequate moisture levels will help you ensure that your shoes are well-protected from any possible deterioration or damage. Acid-free tissues can be used for both long- and short-term uses. While many people use newsprint to stuff their shoes, you should go for acid-free ones to avoid jeopardizing the shoes’ quality. If you find that acid-free tissues and papers are not voluminous enough when it comes to filling up your boots and felted or chunky leather shoes, you can always use unbleached muslin material instead. Muslin works like paper; it makes sure to get rid of any extra moisture.
You can also use it to wrap any sequins, metal buckles, or zippers to keep them safe from scratches. To keep your boots up, you can roll up pieces of acid-free cardboard for the shanks. If you leave your tall boots with no support, the boots will fall to the side, resulting in creases.
Clean Them shoehorns Thoroughly
Before storing your shoes, especially for the long term, you must clean them quite thoroughly. You should also make sure to apply leather conditioner on your shoes’ leather soles, as well as the uppers. You should proceed to stuff your shoes with non-damaging material to smoothen out the heels and toe boxes; though, make sure that the material is just the right amount so that your shoes don’t stretch out. After stuffing your shoes, wrap them around in acid-free paper or unbleached muslin before you keep them away in their storage containers.
Climate Control
You should always try to control the temperature at which you store your shoes. Temperature and climatic extremes can severely harm your shoes; they can weaken the integrity of the fabric, make leather dry and brittle, and make glue less sticky. If you store your shoes in unsuitable or harsh weather conditions or areas like basements and attics, they can easily become unwearable within just a few seasons.
Shoes are usually among the most expensive wearable things that people can own. With the amount of walking and the number of errands that we run each day, it feels like there can be no adequate amount of care to compensate for this knacker. This is why we decided to tell you different ways in which you can store shoes for the long and short terms.
