Pack your Shoes Properly for a Move
Don’t just toss them in a box – Pack your Shoes Properly!
It is tempting to toss your collection of bulky shoes and boots of various shapes and sizes – into a big box … and deal with it later. However, this risks damage and makes them difficult to unpack. If you have the shoe boxes, pack your shoes in their boxes. If not, use unprinted newsprint paper to wrap them individually. Be sure to let them air out for a couple of days after wearing them before packing them.
Here are some tips to help pack your shoes so they arrive in good condition when they reach your new destination:
- Prior to packing, fill the toes of each shoe with a sock or crumpled packing paper.
- Pack heavy shoes on the bottom of the moving box. You want to balance out the weight so that the box is easier … and safer to carry.
- If you have an expensive pair of heels that you want to be sure to protect, wrap them individually in packing paper and place them in a plastic shoe bin.
- If using shoe boxes, remove each shoe and wrap it in packing paper and place them back in the box. Fit them on their sides into a moving box that has been lined with crumpled paper. Fill in empty spaces with more crumpled paper.
- For shoes without boxes, wrap one and then the other as a pair and tape to close. Fit these in a packing box lined with crumpled paper with other shoes and fill empty spaces with more crumpled paper.
- Keep sneakers paired by tying their laces together. Then you won’t waste time looking for the sneaker’s mate when you are unpacking.
- Keep shoes fresh with tea bags. Put unused tea bags in each shoe to eliminate odors. If you have shoes with an obvious unpleasant smell, put them in the freezer, which will kill latent bacteria.
- Pack a few essential or favorite pairs of shoes in a separate box. You’ll want easy access to two or three favorite pairs of shoes that you want to wear before you get all of the shoes unpacked. Pack flats, a couple of shoes for work, and perhaps one pair of dress shoes in this go-to box and label it so you can locate it easily.
- Pack out of season shoes separately so you don’t waste time unpacking shoes that you won’t be wearing for months. You won’t be looking for those muck-luks in the summer so wait to unpack them until winter is looming.
- It may seem obvious but be sure to tape each moving box securely and label it appropriately.
Another obvious observation:
Chances are, you have shoes in your closet that you haven’t worn in years. Instead of packing shoes that won’t be worn, pack them up and donate them to those less fortunate. Soles4souls is a non-profit organization that receives shoe and clothing donations from individuals and distributes them to various programs around the world. Another option is Goodwill. If they are not in good condition, contact your recycling center to ask how to recycle them properly.
If you have questions about what happens before, during, or after a move, call the Relocation Specialists at Ayer Moving and Storage at (800) 233-6683 or email.
