Shoe storage

[Anonymous]

How/where do you store your shoes? In bedroom closets? Mudroom? Some other creative storage solution? Also, what do you do with stinky shoes? My kids gets some stinky shoes in the summer (even when I was frequently!) and I need a place to air them out. Has anyone added ventilation to shoe storage?

[Anonymous]

^ Argh. Tons of typos - sorry. I wash the shoes a lot, but they get stinky again quickly. Wondering if they need ventilation...or something?

[Anonymous]

Wash them. Dry them completely. Airing out in the sun with the insoles out will help between washings. Sometimes taking the insoles out to make sure they dry. You can put cornstarch in when wearing shoes to absorb moisture.

[Anonymous]

The dressier ones are in a garbage bag in my closet. The more casual are in a cardboard box by the door. The three I wear most frequently are on the floor in front of the cardboard box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The dressier ones are in a garbage bag in my closet. The more casual are in a cardboard box by the door. The three I wear most frequently are on the floor in front of the cardboard box.

Haha. This sounds like what we have now. Trying to find a better "home" for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wash them. Dry them completely. Airing out in the sun with the insoles out will help between washings. Sometimes taking the insoles out to make sure they dry. You can put cornstarch in when wearing shoes to absorb moisture.

I'll have to start taking out the insoles. It's mostly my DD's shoes because she rarely wears socks.

[Anonymous]

Container store sells a three tier rotating shoe rack that is pretty awesome for kids shoes. We keep our by the front door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Container store sells a three tier rotating shoe rack that is pretty awesome for kids shoes. We keep our by the front door.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/closet/shoeStorage/floor?productId=10024251&N=73669

[Anonymous]

For the stinky ones - if they're getting wet, try putting newspaper inside when they get wet - two benefits: helps absorb quicker and help keep shoes shape.
If its like a pair of Toms, for your DD, that aren't truly getting wet but are just sweaty - you can get (I don't know what they're called specifically) these plastic balls from any shoe store, I've even seen them at Bed, Bath and Beyond that are made to go into sneakers and absorb smell. You may also try Baking Soda (Powder? the one that goes into the fridge/freezer).
Finally, you may want your daughter to try wearing a "ped" which is like half a sock around her foot and toes and it should cut down on the sweat transfer from foot to shoe.

On topic - I have most of my shoes on shelving in my closet, and I'm also guilty with my more commonly worn casual pairs next to the front door. I've debated getting a basket, but it hasn't been that big of a deal.