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Most of us are guilty of letting our shoes pile up by the front door or getting shoved into the back of a closet. However, I've just learned about one no-go spot in the house where shoes should never be stored — at all costs.
According to experts, the bedroom is a no-go space to store shoes, even if they are contained in your closet. And since I’ve run out of space-saving ideas to organize shoes in my entryway, this is a mistake I’ve been making myself.
Luckily, I’ve called on the pros to find out exactly why we need to avoid this common shoe mishap and the best places to store your footwear collection instead.
Why you should never store shoes in your bedroom
If, like me, you’ve been storing shoes in the back of your closet for years, you may be causing your allergies to flare up and inviting all sorts of bacteria into your room. This is mainly because our footwear are breeding ground for germs, dirt, and potentially bacteria from pet waste, so if you store them in your bedroom, you are essentially transferring that into the room.
You may be causing your allergies to flare up and inviting all sorts of bacteria into your room.
This is made worse if you don’t have adequate ventilation in your room/storage area, creating the perfect conditions for bacteria to develop and spread to your other items.
“Storing dirty shoes in your closet traps moisture from sweat inside the closet as well as in your sleeping quarters,” states Marisol Rivera, a professional cleaner and organizing expert at Sparkly Maid Austin. “This creates a warm, poorly ventilated environment that allows odor-causing bacteria and fungi to grow and spread to your clothing and other household items.”
“Practically speaking, most people have to walk further into the house after taking off their shoes than they would have had they simply taken off their shoes outside the home, which spreads dirt and germs throughout the entire home rather than confining them to the entry area.”
However, if closet storage is your only option for shoes, it is best to place them in a well-ventilated shoe bag that is designed to allow air in. “Storing shoes in a wall shoe bag is ideal for limited storage,” agrees Barbara Brock, Founder & CEO of Barbara Brock Inc. “Underneath hanging clothes can also be a place for placing shoes.”
Additionally, shoe clutter in your bedroom increases the “visual noise” in a room, which might affect your quality of sleep. For more inspiration, check out this bedroom organization tip that helps you fall asleep fast and reduces anxiety — here’s how.
What should we do before putting our shoes away for storage?
Germs are inevitably everywhere. But is there anything we can do to minimize the risk before putting our shoes away? “Tap or wipe the soles of shoes to loosen any dirt, and quickly wipe down any visibly muddy shoes with a damp cloth to prevent dirt from drying and crumbling onto floors and shelves,” advises Rivera.
“Allowing shoes to air out for a brief period before sealing them within a cabinet or container will minimize odors because feet produce moisture every single day, and warm, enclosed environments promote bacterial growth.”
And while that might be practical for everyday wear, what about the pairs in storage that hardly see the light of day? “When storing shoes long-term, each type of shoe should be brushed or wiped down based on its material and stuffed with acid-free tissue paper or shoe trees to absorb remaining moisture”.
What is the best way to store our shoes?
Beyond simply tossing shoes into the back of a bedroom closet, there are other, expert-approved methods for shoe storage.
“Keep a shoe station designated near the entry point of the home (mudroom, entryway, garage entry, or a small landing zone) that includes a bench with open cubbies, a slim shoe cabinet, or a simple tiered rack located in or adjacent to a coat closet,” advises Rivera.
“This provides ample opportunities for everyone to take off their shoes upon entering the home and to retrieve their shoes quickly upon exiting. Also, use breathable materials such as open racks, slatted shelves, or woven baskets for everyday shoes so the air can circulate and moisture can dissipate. And using a hallway or utility closet to store clean, seasonal shoes in breathable containers.”
Of course, if you want to maximize a small space, you can opt for wall-mounted shoe cabinets with a tip-open function, door organizers that can attach to the back of a closet, or slim vertical or rotating towers.
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