Shoe Racks Blog

Shoes:  Front and Center!  Give your shoes a prominent location in the closet to avoid clutter and damage. 

A custom closet allows you to design a closet organizer that fits your needs exactly.  Custom closets, though, can be pricey.  But now you can buy closet organizer kits to give you the “custom” closet of your dreams, at a fraction of the price.  If you have a lot of shoes, pick one that has a tower capability, so that you know that your shoes will be front and center, ready for putting on, taking off, organizing and keeping neat and tidy in general.  This shoe tower kit is made of laminated MDF which is a great choice for shoes, as it is a very easy to clean material, so you don’t have to worry about scuffing, dirt and mud.  Another good choice would be wire, although of course then the dirt can fall through to the floor, but hey, that’s why vacuums were invented, right?  Some of these closet kits have adjustable shelves, if you choose one that does have adjustable tower shelves, you might want to take a careful look at what types and sizes of shoes you have before you build it.  For example, high heels can lie flat on the shelves, so that’s not a problem, but high top shoes (your husband’s) will take up a lot of room vertically, so you’ll want to plan accordingly when setting up your closet.  The nice thing about a shoe tower is that it is perfectly suited to this important piece of apparel, because it is narrow and tall, making the best use of what is usually wasted vertical space in the closet.  Some closet organizers allow you place the tower anywhere you want.  If you would rather look at your shirts and dresses hanging than stacks of shoes, you might put the tower in the corner or back of the closet.  If you are like me, then you will love to put your shoes away every night and pick out the next day’s, meaning the shoe rack should go front and center!

Traditional Shoe Boxes get a makeover with updated materials and style.  Read On.

There’s no question about it, shoe boxes are one of the best ways to protect your footwear from dust, insects and moisture.  I remember that my grandmother always kept her cardboard shoe boxes from the shoe store and piled them high on her upper closet shelf, mostly for dress shoes that she didn’t wear everyday.  There were probably about 20 boxes.  This was great for protecting more expensive shoes. 

The cardboard could certainly keep dust off of the shoes, and she would even stuff the tissue paper back into the front of the shoes to maintain their shape (this problem can now be solved with shoe pops or shoe trees, both affordable and readily available at StacksAndStacks.com).  The problem with this system of shoe preservation and shoe organization was that you had to dig through dozens of boxes to find the right pair of shoes to match your outfit.  So while the cardboard boxes are protective (for a while, at least, until they start collapsing), they are also very secretive, each protecting the identity of its contents from our eyes. 

This problem can be solved with some great new inventions in shoe boxes.  These are permanent solutions that will last for years.  They are not free, like the cardboard variety, but they are a wise and cost effective purchase, because they will protect shoes (not cheap either) from the usual damage.  Clear plastic shoe boxes is the choice of many people, because they really let you see what’s inside, and allow you to almost create a display of your favorite shoes, perfect for shoe lovers like me!  A more discreet choice are fabric shoe boxes.  Now you may think that you can’t see through the fabric, and you are correct.  But, the manufacturers thought ahead and made these shoe boxes with a little window, so you can still see what’s inside – a great, neat look for any closet!

Product of the Week:  A Shoe Rack Specially Designed for the Mud Room

You’ve probably heard me go on and on about mud, muddy shoes, mud on the carpet, etc.  And, yes, you guessed it – I’m a neat freak!  In fact, I am hereby declaring this to be MUD WEEK!  It has been raining buckets where I live on the beautiful Northern Coast of California, and since we live out in the country, buckets of rain eventually just means buckets of mud.  We have mud flowing down the driveway, into the front yard, then around the house and down the backyard and into a creek, where, no doubt, it meets up with its muddy friends! 

If it were up to me, I probably wouldn’t venture outside, but you know kids and mud.  Since they’ve been cooped up for about a month now, there are no more excuses, it’s time to visit the world that exists outside our cozy home.  The question then becomes:  How do we keep the mud outside?  I can’t possibly allow mud on the carpets, especially since we are renters, so I have to think of a way to trap it at the door. 

That’s where this week’s product of the week comes in:  It’s a great new shoe rack designed specifically for mud rooms.  Even if you don’t technically have a mud room, this is still a must have mud control shoe rack that can be kept at the entryway to your front or backdoors.  At the front, it begs visitors to take their shoes off before entering your home, and, at the back, it begs your kids to take off their muddy boots!  A win-win, either way!  There is nothing really that different about this shoe rack except that whoever invented it had the great idea of putting a metal tray on top for muddy shoes.  It’s a nice looking shoe rack, made of solid beech wood and stained an elegant walnut.  When the weather turns better, simply remove the tray and use it as a regular old shoe rack in your closet! 

Now get outside and make some Mud Pies!

Find More Shoe Storage Space in the Closet!

If you can find just five inches of hanging space (that’s right, just 5 inches), then you have great potential for getting a little extra shoe storage in your closet!  An over the rod shoe rack is, in some ways, even easier to use than a freestanding shoe rack.  This is because many of the shoes are at eye level or just below, making it a cinch to find the pair that you are looking for. 

Another benefit of these shoe organizers is that, as long as you don’t completely overload them, you won’t have shoes falling on the floor – a common problem with bar style shoe racks.  They come in all different sizes, the smallest ones being 5 inches wide, and the larger ones at 12 inches. 

The 5 and 6 inch Hanging Shoe Racks have a great space efficient design, because they make use of vertical space, which is often wasted in most closets.  When you hang your clothes on a closet rod six feet off the ground and don’t put anything underneath it; that is a no-no in the organizing world.  An over the closet rod shoe bag solves this problem by really only taking a few inches of space that you were likely to be wasting anyway. 

If you choose one of the wider racks that are up to 12 inches wide, you can greatly increase your storage potential for shoes and other things too.  These wider over the rod shelves can hold accessories, including scarves, belts, and small purses, making them an all in one closet organizer.  Stacks & Stacks has a great selection, with everything from basic canvas organizers to cedar lined models.  If you want something with a little more pizzazz, the striped shoe organizers are very cute, and come in blue or pink tones.

 Shoe Bags for Athletes, Travelers and Shoe Fanatics 

Shoe Bags are like a shoe rack on the go!  It is nice to keep a shoe bag on hand for a lot of reasons.  Here are a few different shoe bags, and a few different ideas for how (and when) to use them. 

1. Travel – Here is a nice travel shoe bag, it is made of a thinner material than traditional, hefty shoe bags, so you can squish it into your luggage more easily, without taking up any extra space, (which means you can bring more clothes, right?)  Throw a few of them in your suitcase, just in case you bring home more shoes than you left with J. 
2. Car – Keep a shoe bag in the trunk of your car in case you make an unexpected trip to the beach or have to change a flat in the mud.  Better yet, put a spare pair of shoes in the shoe bag so that you can swap them for the ones you just got muddy.  This is especially a great tip if you have kids (you moms know what I’m talking about).   
3. Athletes – Golf shoe bags are great for serious golfers, and also for every other athlete.  If you have little soccer players at home, get them a bag for their cleats – they will think it is a gift for them but you know that it’s more about you and your car.  Leather is a great option for athletic shoes, especially the sharp, pokey kind.  Young athletes will love something from Adidas, Nike or another trendy athletic gear company. 
4. Shoe Fanatics – What can I say, a nice shoe bag can get your nice pumps to and from a party without damaging them, and you can wear something more comfortable (think Slippers) in the car, no one has to know! 

Need a New Year’s Resolution?  Nike Offers Another Type of Shoe Recycling

Almost everybody is getting on board with the environmental movement, including big name athletic shoe maker Nike!  A great way to start the new year off right is to clean out your closets.  Donating what you don’t need anymore is great for your family and it’s also great for thrift store shoppers. 

So, if you are starting spring cleaning early this year, as I am, you may run into a few pairs of running shoes in your shoe rack.  Some shoes can be donated for reuse around the world (see my Holiday post about shoe donating charities) or even sent to the goodwill.  But, some gym shoes are just too warn (a good sign that you are getting your exercise, right?) for use by anyone else.  In this case, resist throwing them in the garbage, where they will pile up with others in landfills for decades to come. 

Nike Grind has been collecting shoes (22 million and counting) for almost twenty years, and the results are amazing.  And no, they don’t have to be Nike brand to be recycled – any brand of athletic shoe is accepted!  Basically the shoe is sliced into three pieces and each piece is used for a different product.  Track surfaces, gym tiles, basketball court cushioning and consumer products like zipper pulls are just some of the many things that your shoes can become in their next life.  It couldn’t be easier to do – there are many dropoff locations around the country and they will handle the shipping for you.  Read up on more of the benefits and details about donating at http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/. 

There are some great products available at StacksAndStacks.com that use recycled products:  Recycled Aluminum Doormats, Recycled Office Organizers, Recycled Plastic Luggage.  Do your closet and the world a favor by having your shoes recycled. 

Discover the Benefits of Cedar in and Around the Closet

Have you ever smelled cedar wood?  It has a beautiful aroma that smells woodsy and almost a little bit like cologne, but in a very natural way.  Cedar is available in the form of hangers, shoe racks and some people even line their entire closet with it. 

It has been known for years that cedar wood has some natural qualities that can benefit your clothes and shoes.  Here are some of the many benefits of cedar that you may not know about, and some suggestions of how to use it in your closet. 

1. Smell and Deodorize: Cedar is a scented wood.  As said before, the aroma that the natural cedar oil gives off is very fresh and natural.  If you keep your shoes in the closet, you can combat the stale old shoe smell with many different cedar products.  Here are some inexpensive cedar aroma blocks that you can literally toss anywhere, in your closet organizer or boxes of out-of-season clothes, and you can even toss them right into your shoes to freshen.  I also like cedar rings which slip onto the top of your clothes hangers – great for deodorizing the closet. 
2. Insect Repellent:  Cedar wood oil is a natural insect repellent.  That is why many people line their entire closet with cedar planks – it keeps moths and even fleas away, saving your clothes from insect damage. 
3. Durability:  Cedar wood is also decay resistant, so you can be sure that it will last for many years.  It is also very sturdy yet lightweight, that is why a lot of patio furniture is made of cedar.  Here is a beautiful cedar shoe rack that I really like from StacksAndStacks.com – it’s a great one for anywhere in the house: the closet, in the entry or hallway, and even right outside the door. 

Aroma Tip:  To renew the beautiful aroma of cedar, simply sand the wood lightly with a fine sandpaper.

From O-T-D Shoe Rack to Toy Storage Rack

You are now looking at my absolute favorite shoe rack ever.  These over the door shoe racks are easy to find and can be used for pretty much everything.  I have two of them in my house right now, and have had them for years.  The first one I use in downstairs in the coat closet for shoes. 

The second one pays its way as the best toy organizer I have ever found.  It hangs on the back of the kids’ door!  Here is how to get the most out of your organizer:

As an Over the Door Toy Organizer:

In the kids room, an over the door shoe rack is great for toys.  Kids need a toy storage solution that is simple enough for them to use.  This organizer is almost as easy as throwing their toys into a bin, but since they are hidden behind the door you don’t have to worry about looking at them spilling out of a basket.  The pockets aren’t big enough for large toys, obviously, but they are great for small items (think My Little Pony and all her little accessories). 

If you are overrun with stuffed animals, you can easily put the smaller ones in here.  As you can see in the picture, the OTD shoe rack that I have has 24 sections.  If you look more closely, though, you will see that each large pocket actually has another small pocket attached to the front of it, making it a 48 pocket organizer.  Here is another similar one with 24 larger pockets. 

Another benefit to these over the door racks is that you can use them for years – you will never NOT have a use for them.  Once kids get older, they can organize their own shoes, socks, hair clips and more in here.  And, when they move out of the house, they can either take it with them to the dorms, or leave it for you. 

Some other uses for these multi-purpose racks:

Bathroom:  For toiletries, hair accessories, shaving tools

Garage:  For Lightweight tools, hardware and cleaners

Closet:  Shoes, Scarves, Belts, Socks and Accessories

My #2 Cool Shoe Tool Pick: Electric Shoe Polisher

For a totally polished, perfect look, consider purchasing a shoe polishing system. If you have nice shoes, especially expensive ones, then you should polish them often to keep them looking their best at all times.

A newly polished shoe serves two functions:

• It looks like a new shoe and you look classy
• It also keeps leather shoes in tip-top shape, maybe even extending their lifespan.

There are many levels of shoe polishing methods, and each has its pros and cons. Check out my guide below to selecting a home shoe polishing system – It is broken into three categories - choose the one that matches your needs and make sure to keep it right by your shoe rack so that you’ll actually use it!

1. Shoe Polish and Sponge Method – This is by far the most affordable method, great for young adults and college students. It also takes up the least amount of space, but, it requires the most amount of elbow-grease, so, you have to really want polished shoes if you are going this route. Polishing shoes is surprisingly easy and very gratifying. You just buy shoe polish at any shoe store or even drug store, rub it on the shoes, wait a minute and shine it off and… voila! An instant facelift for your favorite shoes! Make sure to cover the floor with a towel or newspaper to avoid stains.

2. Shoe Valets and Boxes – This is one step up from method 1. You still have to use your very own muscles to polish, but the nice thing here is that the shoe sits up on the box (less mess) and more comfortable. Also, there is usually storage in a box underneath the shoe for polishes and rags. This cedar shoe valet comes with everything you need to get started.

3. Electric Shoe Polisher – I have to admit I don’t have one of these and I’m not sure I’d necessarily spend the money on it this year, but I have tried an electric polisher at a friend’s house and it is really nice. They fit right into the closet and do all the buffing for you, you don’t even have to use cleaners or chemicals – great if you have kids and pets.

Now, Get Polishing!!!