You may be tempted to toss all of your shoes into the bottom of a box when packing for an upcoming move or when putting away in storage. This puts them at risk for physical damage and it can also make it that much more difficult to unpack. Please read these tips on how to pack shoes to help your footwear survive seasonal storage or your moving truck.
When packing your shoes for a move or storage:
Step 1. Dry shoes out and keep them dry.
Footwear May Contain Moisture. If your shoes are not properly prepped and packed your shoes may get moldy during moving and storage. Be sure to air out ALL SHOES especially leather athletic and work shoes prior to packing so that they are free of moisture when you place them in the box.
Ditch the plastic wrap, bubble wrap, and baggies. Even for short local moves, plastic wrapped leather shoes can trap moisture allowing the quick growth of unhealthy mold, stinky fungus or even melt in the heat, sticking to and ruining the surface of your shoes. Wrap in clean paper or cloth instead. As an extra measure of security, you may want to powder the insides to ensure all moisture is drawn out of the leather and fabric.
Step 2: Wrap shoes individually, preferably in their shoe box.
Shoes should not be packed too tightly or touching. It is recommended that you wrap shoes in tissue paper and place them in the original shoeboxes to prevent damage from contact with other shoes. This will protect patent finishes and ornaments from accidental damage during transit.
Do NOT use newsprint to wrap your shoes! The ink may stain them.
How to pack shoes with no shoebox? If you threw away your shoeboxes or you’d like to avoid wrapping and boxing shoes in pairs, you can also place them in a closet door shoe hanger. Flip-flops and slippers are easier to store this way. Folded carefully, this innovative storage solution can keep your flat shoes organized and firmly in place during your move. When packing tall boots, stuff them with a few pairs of clean socks or use “boot shapers” to help them keep their shape before wrapping them in tissue paper. Use extra packing paper if no shoebox is present.
Step 3: Donate or trash the shoes you no longer want or need!
At every stage of packing, stop and consider if you really want or need the item you are packing. It benefits you to take every opportunity before moving day to lighten the load. A few shoe boxes may not seem like much, but every square foot of space not taken on a truck can equal savings. Go ahead and toss those shoes that are too damaged to repair. But why not donate those hardly worn like-new shoes that never fit well on you? Small clothing items and household goods are happily accepted by many local charities. Some can even conveniently pickup your bags or boxes of items directly from your home leaving you with a receipt for more savings via possible future tax deductions (From $2. to $25 per pair of shoes on average per the Salvation Army suggested donation value guide).
When you are done deciding what shoes will be donated, pack the rest of your shoes into small to medium sized moving boxes (tall boots will need larger boxes). Avoid packing too many shoes or shoeboxes into one cardboard moving box because it might get too heavy to carry. Double-tape the bottoms of your boxes to play it safe. Write “SHOES” on the outside of each box.
If you have used any plastic storage bins, be sure to inspect them carefully for any cracks or breaks before moving day because a broken storage bin may collapse in transit and items inside may get crushed. Replace the cracked bin or pack it into a larger box for additional protection of your items in transit.
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