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1, 2, Buckle My Shoe
Shoes. We all have them. We may not be shoe crazy and have dozens of pairs, or even hundreds of pairs, but we all have them. Heels or flats? Sneakers or loafers? Flip flops or sandals? Let’s face it, regardless of what your preference is, we all need shoes.
One of the most common sources of frustration for our clients is the growing, unorganized pile of shoes in their hall closet, the bedroom closet, the spare room closet, and…..you get the point. Shoes have a tendency to pile up all over the place. The worst thing about shoes is that you can pile them on top of each other so you end up cramming them in every nook and cranny. How many times have you opened a closet door only to find a pile of shoes on the floor? Have you ever had to shove your shoes back into the closet so you could shut the door?! Not only is it damaging to your shoes to continue shoving them here and there in a disorganized fashion, it is beyond frustrating when you can’t find the pair you want, or worse still, can only find one shoe! When is the last time you did a shoe purge? Some of you just shivered at the mere thought of getting rid of shoes, but stay strong. I have some information you need to know about your shoes.
According to a study conducted by the University of Houston, 39% of shoes contained bacteria C. diff, a public health threat resistant to a number of antibiotics that can cause many health issues. Even more disgusting than that, scientists detected coliforms (which are universally present in faeces) on the bottoms of 96% of shoes! In total, nine different species of bacteria were found on shoes and scientists determined that these bacteria live longer on our shoes than in other places. More than 90% of the time the bacteria is transferred to the tile floors in a house – carpets fare even worse. Jonathan Sexton a research assistant at the University of Arizona’s College of Public Health, concluded that shoes are “dirtier than a toilet seat”. Ewww! So, are you ready now to think about purging those old shoes, sneakers, etc. that you haven’t worn in a while? Whenever we start to declutter, we set up three piles. One pile for Keep, one for Donate, and one for Garbage. If you haven’t worn ‘that’ pair of shoes in over a year, odds are you don’t need them. If they hurt your feet or give you blisters, and you’re hanging onto them because they’re so cute, get rid of them. Not worth the price of sore, aching feet. Remember the pair of shoes you bought to go with that dress that doesn’t fit anymore? What about the shoes you didn’t really like but bought because they were on sale? Get rid of them! See those ones in the corner? The ones that need to have new heel tips on them…..for the past three years? You know what to do with them. Be realistic when you are deciding what shoes you can live without. Donate them to a non-profit store, sell them online or extra cash, or give to a friend. In reference to the bacteria statistics, we suggest you wipe the bottom and sides of your shoes with an antibacterial wipe before giving them away! For those shoes you don’t dispose of, get them organized! There are unlimited options when it comes to organizing and storing shoes. You can be creative and make your own shoe organizer, order online, or cruise your favourite shopping spots to find the solution that works best for you. Look at this super easy yet effective way to store flats. Super easy!
Talk about a dual-purpose, everyday item. Generally, we store blankets, books, and odds and sods in our ottomans. Love this idea!
For a super-easy and inexpensive way to store shoes you can always visit your local wine store and ask for empty boxes…..or you could always buy a box of wine and then use the box when it’s empty. Totally up to you!
Look what a few extra curtain rods can do in a closet! Isn’t it ingenious?
So many great ideas! For hundreds of other creative and cool ways to store and organize your shoes check out our Stylin’ Shoe Storage Board on Pinterest! Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need a little help getting started, or want us to do the job for you. We’re professional organizers and it’s what we love to do! Don’t forget to occasionally wipe the bottom and sides of your shoes with antibacterial wipes!! Need more tips on getting your shoes and closet organized? Follow our Pinterest Board for regular inspiration and updates. Want a full overhaul as we head into fall? Please contact us and we will be happy to get you started! We can always meet you for a FREE 30 minute consultation in the comfort of your home. And don't forget, our blog always contains tips and tricks for your organization journey - and we have lists and other downloads available to download for free! We look forward to organizing your chaos!