The books are packed. The furniture is wrapped. The junk drawer has been cleaned out. But now, what about the shoes? What’s the best way to pack shoes for moving?

Whether you’re moving to a new home or simply needing to put items in storage, there are several different ways you can approach this task. In this article, we’ll talk about shoe specifics, how to prep your shoes for a move, and the different ways to pack them.

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Shoe specifics

As you are preparing for your move and packing shoes, keep these considerations in mind:

• Do you really need “those” shoes?
• What sizes are your shoes?

Do you really need those shoes?

Let’s start here first. Do you really need that pair of shoes? Those four-inch heels that go with one dress and haven't been worn since 2011. Or those tennis shoes that helped you win the championship game but now only hold sentimental (not functional) value. Either way, it's time to let go.

Before you start buying shoe storage boxes or bags, take some time to decide which shoes truly need to join you at your new place. Or, if you are moving items to storage, be mindful of how much room the “unnecessary” items will be taking up, which could increase the size of the unit you need and also increase your monthly costs.

Sizes of your shoes

The next consideration is knowing how much space your shoes will take up during your move. Packing shoes when you’re dealing with kid and adult sizes can be a challenge, so start by separating all your family's shoes into size categories.

If you need to take up as little space as possible with your packing or storing, consider wrapping smaller shoes in thin packing paper and putting those inside bigger ones. If you have toddler-sized shoes, they'll fit just fine inside an adult's shoes. Be mindful, though, not to force a fit so as not to damage them.

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How to prep your shoes for a move

Once you have narrowed down which shoes have made the cut, take time to clean all your pairs. This is especially important if you need to store belongings, as packing and stowing dirty shoes might attract pests, mold, and decay. And, when you’re unpacking, there's nothing more annoying than taking out a pair of baseball cleats and dropping red clay all over your new floor.

If you’re dealing with some seriously smelly shoes that a teenager just won’t let go of, air them out. Leave the shoes out for 1-2 days before packing them. In more severe cases, try using an anti-bacterial spray, or a safe deodorizer, to eliminate the odors.

Different ways to pack shoes

Now comes the fun part! Let’s decide how best to pack those shoes.

• Don’t pack the shoes you’ll wear on moving day. Nor any shoes you'll need soon afterward. If the senior prom is just around the corner, don’t put the black leather loafers in that box!
• Invest in high-quality packing paper. Don’t wrap your shoes in plastic wrap, especially in humid areas, as the plastic can melt into the shoes. This is also just an invitation for mildew and mold to settle in when storing shoes. For smaller shoes, you can cut the paper in half. When wrapping the shoes, nest them next to each other in opposite directions, like they're positioned in a shoebox. If you opt not to use packing paper, you can use cloth bags (cotton-like material) instead.
• Stuff socks inside your shoes, maximizing space and also protecting the shape of some of your more delicate pairs.
• For those fancy shoes, wrap them in tissue paper, which will stay dry against the shoe, and then again in bubble wrap. If you have boots, you can place a plastic bottle or a poster-sized mailing tube inside to help keep their shape while transporting or storing.
• Do you keep the shoe boxes? Good for you! This is an ideal way to pack shoes for moving; just make sure you clean the boxes first. Once a box is full, use that blue painter’s tape to secure the lid. If you are storing shoes, throw in a charcoal sachet to help prevent moisture and reduce odors.
• Purchase packing shoeboxes, or you can visit your local liquor store and ask for any wine bottle boxes with dividers sectioning off spaces inside. These are great for transporting shoes during moving, but not especially great if you store your shoes, as these boxes tend to degrade over time. If possible, pack a box for each family member to make it easier to deliver to the correct room upon arrival at the new digs.

Visit us at your local BuxBear Storage location to secure a climate-controlled storage unit for all your storage needs! And give us a call with any storage-related questions. We’re happy to help!