Storage can pose a challenge, especially if you don’t have an entire warehouse dedicated to your immense footwear collection. So, instead of allowing sandals to pile up by the front door or get damaged in the garage, we’re bringing you tips and tricks for storing sandals to prevent wear and tear.
Whether you get your summer sandals from a nearby thrift store or a designer store that makes you break the bank every time you try to refresh your collection, you need to pay attention to how you store them to ensure they don’t get damaged or destroyed. Sandals can make or break your outfit, after all.
Sure, cubbies and storage bins are a great way to keep your sandals away from the eye during the winter, but you do need to make sure you store them the right way to prevent them from collecting dust, getting moldy, or falling apart. Leather, suede, or fabric, sandals are sensitive, and you need to take care of them.
With that out of the way, we’re bringing you everything you need to know about storing sandals to prevent wear and tear. Why do you need a storage solution for sandals? What to do before storing sandals? And what’s the best way to store sandals? Uncover all that and more down below.
But first, why do you need a storage solution for sandals?
We’re all guilty of dumping our summer sandals and slides at the back of our closet when fall comes around. When we need to store our footwear, we don’t seem to understand why – so we don’t. And more times than not, we end up with damaged kicks.
Why do you need a storage solution for sandals, then? When you pile your sandals at the back of your closet, leave them outside, or store them in your garage without taking care of them, you’re going to notice that they’re damaged, destroyed, and unwearable once summer comes rolling around again.
Why’s that? Leather, suede, or fabric sandals are sensitive to moisture, mold, dust, debris, and pretty much everything else that might get on them when they’re sitting in the dark, unattended. Sandals can lose shape or color over the winter, or even fall apart due to contact humidity.
Storing them somewhere safe can make a world of difference.
What to do before storing sandals
Before you empty your wallet on brand-new cubbies and storage boxes, make sure you prepare your sandals before you store them.
Firstly, we recommend going through your summer sandals and figuring out which ones you’re actually going to wear again and which ones you aren’t. You can donate the ones you don’t like anymore or gift them to friends and family.
When you’re done with that, you can proceed to clean the sandals you’re going to store.
Scrub them with a soft brush or a soft toothbrush to get rid of excess dirt and debris, and wipe them down with a damp, clean cloth. Make sure to dry them before you store them – that’s the only way to ensure they reach next summer in good condition.
Furthermore, you can always add some deodorizing powder or spray to keep them smelling nice and fresh throughout the winter. Finally, don’t forget to stuff them with proper packing paper or clean, soft socks to prevent them from getting deformed.
When you follow these steps to a T, you’re guaranteed to welcome summer with the softest, cleanest, and freshest sandals ever.
What’s the best way to go about storing sandals to prevent wear and tear?
1. Preparation is key
We can’t stress that enough, and that’s why we’re talking your ears off with the entire preparation process. You need to prepare your sandals before you store them because otherwise, you’re going to end up with dusty, smelly sandals anyway.
When you’re ready to say goodbye to your summer footwear, make sure you clean ’em, dry ’em, and stuff ’em with packing paper before you put them away. When you do that, you can proceed to shop your little heart out and get your hands on a storage solution that makes your heart flutter.
2. Keep them off the floor with an over-the-door caddy
If you want to keep your summer sandals near you at all times, or you don’t have a garage or storage room, you can always keep your footwear off the floor with an over-the-door caddy.
Over-the-door caddies are an inexpensive and non-permanent way to add extra storage without going through too much hassle.
Of course, you can store other shoes in it, too, and you can use it year-round. Organizers and over-the-door caddies are also versatile enough to use them for accessories, jewelry, and toiletries.
3. Use a clever cubby to keep them away from the eye
Cubbies are the first thing that comes to mind when looking at storing sandals to prevent wear and tear.
When you get your hands on a cubby, you’ll notice you have handy little slots you can use to store your summer sandals separately – that’s a great way to prevent them from getting deformed and damaged.
What’s great about cubbies is that you can stack them vertically if you don’t have a ton of spare floor space to work with, or horizontally as a sort of border against a wall. Whatever you do, you’re going to adore them.
4. Organize them with a tiered rack
Closet doors are much more functional and practical than you might think. Did you know you can store your summer sandals with a little help from a tiered rack and your closet doors?
No need for spare floor space or a separate storage room when you can put a tiered rack on your closet doors and store your footwear without worrying about dust, dirt, and debris.
You can even put a tiered rack on other doors you have. Bedroom, bathroom, or garage doors – do whatever works for you.
5. Keep them under the bed with a multi-compartment shoe organizer
We do need to underline that you’re better off storing your summer sandals off the floor, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make use of a multi-compartment shoe organizer.
We’re pretty sure that your bedroom floor doesn’t come with a ton of humidity and mold the same way your garage floor might.
With that out of the way, you can keep your handy shoe organizer underneath your bed and keep your summer sandals out of sight and out of mind. What’s not to adore?
6. Use tension rods to keep your high-heel sandals neat
When wanting to store your Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks, you might make great use of tension rods. They’re a super clever, simple, and cheap solution to storing summer sandals.
Whether you install them at the bottom of your closet or inside a cabinet, you can store as many as ten pairs of shoes, depending on the space.
Make sure to install one angled from the other, just like in shoe racks, and you’re good to go. Moreover, you can go for thicker rods that can withstand the weight when you want to store heavier sandals.
7. Put your high-heel sandals on display with a wire grid
We’ve got another high-heel hack for you! Keep your high-heel sandals on display with a wire grid you can put pretty much anywhere in your bedroom or walk-in closet.
Wire grids are super simple and stylish, and they’re a great way to add functional decor to your room without breaking the bank.
Wire grids are incredibly lightweight and require absolutely no assembly, which makes them perfect for moving them from place to place, depending on your needs and preferences.
8. DIY sandal holders using wire hangers
We couldn’t pass on the opportunity to offer you a DIY solution or two for when you really don’t want to spend money on a storage solution.
One of Pinterest’s favorite DIY shoe storage ideas is fitting sandals and flats onto ordinary wire hangers. Of course, you’re going to need some wire hangers, some pliers, and a bit of patience.
Start by cutting the bottom rung off a few wire hangers, and use pliers to bend the ends into curled hooks. Slip on a few decorations and you’re done. Hang your summer sandals on your brand-new sandal hangers and love your life!
9. Try out ottoman storage to maximize space
An ottoman that doubles as storage for summer sandals? Yes, please! We do need to mention that you might not be able to get ottomans at a nearby store, but they’re available online, and you can get them with a single click (and a little cash, of course!)
How does ottoman storage work? You simply slide the ottoman’s top open to reveal a space where you can store your sandals. You can then slide the ottoman’s top on, and you have something to rest your weary feet on.
10. Go for clear-front shoe boxes for easy access
And, we can’t forget about the simplest storage solution ever. At the end of the day, clear-front boxes can store all your summer sandals neatly wherever you need them to be.
Whether you’re trying to get through the winter or keep them off the floor during summer, you can quickly find the pair you’re looking for and head out the door.
Storing sandals to prevent wear and tear seems pretty easy now, right?
Read more: A Step-By-Step Guide To Different Types Of Sandals
