How To Organize Your Shoes in 4 Simple Steps

So, you’re wondering how to organize your shoes. No one likes a messy shoe pile in the back of the closet! No matter the size of your shoe collection, keeping your boots, sneakers, heels, and flats organized will save you time in the long run. It will also save you money as it will prevent your shoes from getting damaged. It will help you feel put together and will be one less thing that you have on your to-do list. These 4 simple steps will have your shoe collection organized in no time!

This post is all about how to organize your shoes.

Step 1: Sort your shoes

The first step to organizing your shows is to sort. Go through your collection to determine which shoes you actually want to keep. Did you find a pair of broken flip flops? Or maybe you noticed that you found a pair of heels that are so uncomfortable they never see the light of day? Whatever the case, first see if any need to be donated or thrown away.

My personal rule of thumb is that if I haven’t worn the shoe within the past year, it’s going in the donation bin. Also, sort out shoes that you only need for certain seasons. If it’s wintertime, you may not need sandals right now. Alternatively, if it’s in the middle of August, you don’t need to keep your winter boots handy. Take this opportunity to find a new home for your seasonal shoes. Whether it be in your garage or storage unit, having them out of the way reduces clutter in your closet.

Step 2: Prepare your shoes

Can your white shoes use a cleaning? It’s probably a good idea to clean your shoes. After all, we love that freshly-cleaned-shoe feeling. I like to clean my cloth and canvas shoes in the sink with dish soap and an old toothbrush and leave them outside to air dry. This is especially necessary if you work in the food service industry (as a former baker and barista, I know exactly how gross the bottom of your shoes can get, lol). Don’t forget to clean the bottoms of your shoes and your shoelaces! Taking the time to repair shoes that you already own can prevent you from buying new ones when you don’t really need to.

Step 3: Find a storage solution that works for you

This part is the most fun because you in control of how you organize your shoes. I use a hanging shoe organizer for my closet. It was gifted to me by my grandmother and it’s amazing in the summertime when I just wear sandals, flats, flip flops, and Sperry’s. All you have to do is hang it up and you’re good to go! This would be perfect for you if you can spare some closet space and you only need storage for a few pairs of shoes. The one that I use fits 10 pairs, but if you needed to, you can double up to make it work for you.

You can find similar shoe hanging organizers at Target, Walmart, Amazon, Ikea, and The Container Store.

If you’re tight on space and maybe don’t want to sacrifice closet real estate to your shoes, there are many other organizational solutions to your shoes. I really great idea is to use an over-the-door shoe organizer. If you’re looking for a solution that less in your face, looking into under-the-bed shoe organizers might be a good step for you. Not to mention, there is always the tried and true shoe rack option. If you’re looking for something more innovative, The Container Store has awesome shoe organization options available.

Step 4: Get organizing!

The final step is to get going and start organizing. Now that you have the tools and resources that you need, you’re on your way to having the organization solution of your dreams. If things don’t seem quite right, try another option. Keep trying and adjusting to see what works best for you.