News

If you’re planning to pack for the big house move, you might be wondering how to pack your shoes. Despite the urge to fling all your shoes in a box and call it a night, it’s important to pack your shoes with care to keep them protected.

To pack shoes for moving house you should:

1. Organise your shoes into keep, donate and bin piles.
2. Clean and repair shoes.
3. Stuff with socks or packing paper.
4. Pack in a box with protective materials.
5. Consider custom shoe boxes for expensive, designer or sentimental shoes.
6. Keep your essential shoes separate.

1. Organise your shoes into keep, donate and bin piles

First things first, organise your shoes into keep, donate and bin piles. Deciding which shoes you want to get rid of will help to determine how much you actually need to move to your new home, streamlining the process down the line.

Although this process will look different for each person, Nathan from Falconer Removals says that its a good rule of thumb to get rid of an item if you haven’t used it for two years – and if it has no sentimental value.

2. Clean and repair shoes

Then, take some time to clean and repair the shoes you want to keep. How you clean your shoes is dependent on the material; leather will require a much different process to suede and canvas, for example. It is best to refer to the brand’s care guide before you begin.

Companies like Crep Protect and DFNS offer smart shoe cleaning solutions, which are also designed to protect footwear from rain and stains over time. If you’re cautious about using standard cleaning products, these are a fantastic (and safe) option to get your shoes clean and prepped for the move.

Make sure you clean your shoes ahead of the move, to give them time to dry before its time to pack.

3. Stuff with socks or packing paper

Now your shoes are clean (and dry), stuff them with socks or packing paper. Just like when you purchase a new pair, this will keep your shoes protected and maintain their shape in transit. Depending on the shape and style of the shoe, you may want to add another pair of socks to the heel as well.

Avoid using newspaper. Although it functions as a great protective material for other objects, newspaper (or coloured tissue paper) can stain your shoes.

4. Pack in a box with protective materials

If you have it, put your shoes back in the original box with packing paper and other protective materials filling the gaps – clean, scrunched up paper or packing peanuts function as an excellent protective barrier.

Using the original shoe box when moving house will offer the best protection.

If you don’t have the original box, another small box with the same protective materials in will do. What you want to avoid is lots of empty space around your shoes, as this can cause them to rattle around and get damaged in transit.

With your shoes in one box, you now want to put them in another. Put your shoe boxes into a heavy-duty, triple-walled box, stacking in order of weight (heaviest shoes on the bottom and lightest on the top).

5. Consider custom shoe boxes

For expensive, designer or sentimental shoes that require additional care, consider custom shoe boxes and/or storage. This might be a little more effort with a higher price tag than a standard cardboard box, but if you’re the type to have a shoe collection you’re proud of, you’ll know it’s worth it.

You can also wrap each shoe individually in clean packing paper for additional protection. It takes some time, but it’s worth it to keep those special pairs safe. For heels, Holzband suggests wrapping the heels in bubble wrap so that they don’t break during the move.

Make sure you have a few pairs of shoes that are separate and easy to reach. Shoes are often not one of the first things you’ll unpack, so it’s good to have the essential pairs on hand. We’d recommend a good pair of trainers, some work shoes, a pair of slippers, and some slip-ons for nipping out into the garden at the very least — but tailor this to your lifestyle and needs.

Keeping a comfortable pair of trainers aside for moving day will make the whole experience smoother.

At Falconers we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your shoes, clothes, accessories and other belongings are moved with expert precision and care. To learn more about our storage facilities, or our removals service, take a look at out our website or contact Nathan.