Best Ways to Store Old Shoes Without Smells

Who wants to open up a closet or a trunk and immediately be met with that awful smell of old shoes? No matter if you are the kind of person who keeps their worn-out sneakers because they hold some sentimental value, you keep them as a collection and donate them eventually, or you simply plan to get rid of a few dozens of shoes at once but don't know how, getting rid of smell is not only about being polite you are probably the only one who notices the smell anyway, but also about being health conscious because the smell is caused by bacteria that are trapped due to moist and that shortens your shoes' life.

You only need a combination of good air, some tricks on how to keep airflow going, and using good storage materials. Here you can find several tested methods that are quite easy and effective to keep your shoes smelling good while they are stored, plus some tips that can help you out with pairs that you don't plan to wear anymore.

Why Old Shoes Start to Smell in Storage

Odor forms as your body's sweat, moisture, and bacteria are trapped and get sealed inside fabric, foam, and rubber without any escape. Shoes that go straight from your feet into a sealed bin or plastic bag have never the possibility to air out and to properly dry. With time the moisture inside will start to break shoe cushioning and lining and the smell gets worse.

By the way, this is another reason why material quality in terms of footwear is so important. Cushioning that is made from recycled foam with proper sorting and processing has proven to have better durability and less risk of bacterial growth when compared with inconsistent, low-grade fillers.

1. Allow Your Feet to Air After You Remove Your Shoes Before Storing Them

This step is by far the most important one, and it is also the one the majority of people end up forgetting most of the time. You should never ever put the shoes you had on into storage immediately after wearing them. Keep the shoes at room temperature for at least 24 hours after removing the insoles. In fact, the only reason you will smell something moldy after a while is because you have left the trapped moisture inside the midsole.

2. Storage That Doesn't Prevent Breathing Versus Plastics That Are Tightly Closed

Although plastic bins and airtight bags might look like a really good idea, it's not actually good because humidity gets stuck and odor production is faster. You should instead go for:

• Bags that are made from cotton or net (they will help with the breathing of the shoes )

• Shoe boxes of paper that have small holes (this is again to allow some airflow) 

• Shelves that are accessible and not too far from the wall which will make a good circulation of air

  
  

In case you are making arrangements for a large shoe collection and you're keeping these shoes for several years, don't forget to turn the boxes now and then. Also, don't place them tightly against a floor that's wet or a garage corner for example, because these places will just increase the moisture.

3. Use Natural Odor Absorbers

Natural odor absorbers are equally effective without harming your shoes:

• Small bags of baking powder that you can put away within the shoes

• Cedar shoe trees which have the added function of holding the shoes' shapes

• Charcoal sachet bags which one just needs to clean and they can last a long time

Place these items inside your storage shoe before closing the zip. To get the maximum effect, change them once every three months or so.

4. Wash Before Storing

Taking some minutes to gently wash the shoes will definitely be beneficial in the long run. Before leaving your trainers for storage, thoroughly wash off the grime, moisture remnants, and dust particles from the soles. For fabric shoes, a gentle soap-and-water combination and complete air-drying should be the only way to clean them so that microorganisms don't flourish while the shoes are in storage.

On the other hand, shoes made of leather need light conditioning treatments before leaving them for a long time to avoid the formation of cracks.

5. Manage Your Storage Environment

Conditions outside the box are just as important as what is in the box. You are to find a cool and dry space because attics and damp basements are amongst the worst places for storing shoes since heat and moisture are major contributors in the processes of odor development and degradation of materials. A closet, spare room or climate-controlled storage area, however, would be perfect.

6. When Is It Time to Discard?

All shoes in storage don't have to stay there. If they're not wearable nor can they be donated or resold then recycling is a better choice than allowing them to be sources of bad smells or dust accumulation. It is here that those companies focused on materials of the circular economy play their role effectively. With thousands of recycling bins available, Sneaker Impact, Inc. facilitates the collection and recycling of old shoes giving them an alternate purpose as opposed to a landfill. They break down the old shoes that can't be used anymore and make a raw material out of them which includes recycled foam that enters the market as a component for new products such as flooring, cushioning and industrial padding.

In giving away your unworn shoes to Sneaker Impact, Inc. you do more than clearing your storage space and getting rid of a future odor issue you are supporting a circular product cycle starting from footwear wastes to recycled high-grade foam incorporated in new products.

Final Thoughts

Getting rid of a shoe with foul odors is really something that boils down to just three main things: having the shoes completely dry before storing them, making sure the fabric is breathable to keep the air circulating (rather than using completely sealed plastic bags), and, regularly checking the stored shoes so that no bad smells can settle or grow. Be it your antique collection of shoes that you'd like to keep in perfect condition, or maybe you just have space issues in your closet, these little actions will protect not only your shoes but also the rooms that you keep them in.

And if the shoes can no longer serve any purpose other than being part of the garbage, don't just simply throw them in the trash can. Old recycling programs can be turned into recycled foam and other materials which is a good way to minimize landfill and at the same time, encourage a more eco-friendly footwear industry.

Read more about - How to Choose the Right EVA Foam Granule Grade

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long can shoes stay in storage before they start to smell?

It depends on where and how you store your shoes but generally, shoes kept in completely sealed, non-breathable containers may start giving out odor within a few weeks whereas, shoes in bags or boxes that allow passage of air and have odor getters attached can remain in odorless state for months or even for many years.

2. Is it okay to store shoes in their original boxes?

Yes but the box will need to have some sort of air flow. If it's a fully sealed one then make a few tiny holes on the side by punching or cutting. Whatever you do, shoes must be really dry before they get packed.

3. What household items work best for absorbing shoe odor?

Common household items are also very effective in fighting off shoe smell and dampness. These include, but are not limited to baking soda, unused coffee grounds and silica gel packets. Another nice idea is to use cedar shoe trees as they will not only freshen up your shoes but also keep them looking good and in shape while being stored away.

4. Can old, unwearable shoes still be recycled instead of thrown away? 

Absolutely. Even shoes that are too worn to donate can often be recycled. Materials like rubber, fabric, and foam are broken down and reused , recycled foam in particular is increasingly used in new cushioning and flooring products.

5. What's the best way to store a large old shoe collection long-term? 

Use uniform, breathable storage bins or shelving, label each pair for easy access, keep the space cool and dry, and rotate odor absorbers every few months. For pairs you no longer plan to keep, consider donating them to a shoe recycling program rather than letting them sit indefinitely.