The Organizer: How To Become More Organized: Shoe Organizing: What to Do About Those Shoes?

Thursday

Shoe Organizing: What to Do About Those Shoes?

You may have a lot of shoes along with everyone else in the household. I solved the problem of having shoes piled up in my doorway simply by purchasing a shoe rack. However, over the years, we outgrew the shoe rack and needed to replace. We also went in and out of more than one door, so additional shoe racks were purchased. Then one broke and now we are back down to one.

What happened to the rest of the shoes? Well we discovered that a purging process needed to take place. Those shoes that were barely worn or the children out grew were either sold or given away. Other shoes that were considered “good shoes” were neatly placed in a box or bag and stored on shelves inside their closets and others placed under the bed in storage.

Since our shoe organizing project, I have noticed that other families at various places I worked, more specifically rental communities, shoes were sometimes stored on shoe racks near doors like my family, but other times shoes were still piled up by the door or near bedside. So here are some additional ways you can organize shoes:

Over the closet door organizers.

On shelves inside closets.

In a basement or garage area in a bin, box, on a shoe rack, or a shoe cabinet.

Under a bed in a storage bag or each set wrapped in plastic shopping bags.

In an attic in a chest stored inside individual bags or boxes.

We use odor sprays and fabric softeners to keep the inside fresh. We have water and stain repellant to keep the exterior of shoes looking fabulous. Before shoes are stored long term, like winter boots or tennis shoes, they should be cleaned: outside, inside and soles.

Shoes like cell phones collect so much bacteria. Storing them beside a bed or uncovered under a bed is not sanitary. Also, keeping them placed by doors without using a product to keep the odor under control may be a turn-off for visitors. Not only do you use a product inside the shoes, but also consider a plug-in fragrance placed near them.

Happy shoe organizing!

Nicholl McGuire is the owner and contributor of this blog.