How to store shoes and boots so they keep their shape

Step 1: clean them first

Dirt, salt and mud left on shoes for months can stain and dry out the material.

• Brush off loose dirt from the uppers, soles and welt.
• Wipe smooth leather with a soft, slightly damp cloth.
• Brush suede and nubuck with a suede brush, in one direction. Our guide to cleaning suede shoes and boots covers marks and salt.
• Wipe synthetic and rubber shoes with a damp cloth.
• Take out removable insoles and let them air separately.

Step 2: dry them completely

Never store shoes damp. Moisture trapped inside is what leads to smells and mould.

• Leave them at room temperature in an airy spot for a day or two after cleaning or a wet walk.
• Stuff wet shoes with plain paper to draw out the moisture, and change it when it is damp.
• Keep them away from radiators, heaters and direct sun. Heat can crack leather, warp soles and loosen glue.

Avoid newspaper inside light-coloured shoes, as the ink can transfer to the lining.

Step 3: condition leather

Leather dries out over time. Before putting leather shoes or boots away for a season, apply a little conditioner or a matching polish, following the product's instructions, and let it soak in. Test anything new on a hidden spot first.

Step 4: keep their shape

• Shoe trees are the best way to hold leather shoes in shape. Unvarnished cedar ones also absorb a little moisture.
• Boot shapers or a rolled-up magazine keep tall boots upright, so the shafts do not crease and fold.
• Plain paper or tissue works for everything else. Stuff the toes lightly, without stretching them.

Step 5: choose the right storage

• Breathable boxes or cotton bags protect shoes from dust while letting air move. The original shoebox works well.
• Avoid sealed plastic for leather and suede. It traps moisture.
• Store pairs separately, wrapped or in a bag each, so they do not scuff one another.
• Label the boxes, or tape a photo to the front, so you can find a pair without opening everything.

Step 6: pick the right place

• Cool and dry: a wardrobe floor, under the bed or a cupboard inside the home.
• Out of direct sunlight, which fades leather and fabric.
• Not in a damp garage, shed or loft, where temperatures swing and damp gets in.
• Not squashed, with nothing heavy piled on top.

For shoes you wear every day, a rack in the hall is fine, as long as they can air and dry between wears.

Step 7: check them now and then

Every few months, take them out, look them over and let them air for a while. If you spot white or green mould, take them outside, brush or wipe it off, let them dry completely and air them thoroughly before putting them back somewhere drier. Persistent mould on good leather is a job for a cobbler or specialist cleaner.

Wellies, trainers and sandals

• Wellies: rinse off mud, dry them upside down or on a boot rack, and store them out of the sun, which can make rubber perish.
• Trainers: clean them, take the laces out to wash if they are grubby, and store them with paper inside.
• Sandals: wipe the footbeds, let them dry and store them flat.

Buying or selling shoes after storage

Shoes that have been stored well often look almost new, which makes them easy to sell. Before listing, give them a clean, air them, and check the soles and heels. Give the size on the label and the insole length in cm, heel to toe inside the shoe. Our guide to selling shoes online covers photos and packing, and our UK shoe size conversion guide explains why the insole measurement matters.

Common mistakes

• Storing shoes wet or dirty.
• Drying them on a radiator.
• Sealing leather in plastic.
• Folding tall boots over in the bottom of the wardrobe.
• Storing them in a damp garage or loft.

The short version

Clean them, dry them completely at room temperature and condition leather. Fill them with shoe trees or paper, keep tall boots upright, and store them in breathable boxes or bags somewhere cool, dry and dark. Check them every few months for damp.