This Is How You Pack Your Shoes Before The Big Move

 Moving home isn't a process that most people have to go through more than a few times, which is why the vast majority overlook important steps. Whether you hire cheap movers in Dubai or go the DIY route, packing shoes properly is one of the most commonly ignored problems. It's pretty understandable when you consider that your mind is mostly focused on larger pieces of furniture, but that doesn't make the mistake any less significant.

The fact is that the average family's collection of shoes, boots, and sneakers will be worth several thousand dollars. If you want to avoid being forced to replace them when you arrive at your new home (which would be an undesirable hassle right after you move), you need to master the art of shoe packing as soon as possible. Follow these steps and you won't go far wrong.

Step 1: clean and organize the shoes

Before you start packing your shoes, make an inventory of every pair of shoes that every member of your household owns. After choosing which shoes you will wear on moving day, organize the couples together and make sure they are clean. Not only does this protect the shoes themselves, but it can also prevent bacteria from spreading to other items during transit. Plus, you can tick off each pair of shoes as you unpack it to make sure nothing is lost.

Useful tip: throw away unnecessary shoes

By the time you complete this process, you may come across multiple pairs that are no longer worn. If you no longer wear them, your best bet is to lose them before you move. This is good news for your NYC moving company that can mean a small financial saving for you. Better still, you won't be tasked with finding new homes for excess shoes. If shoes are in good condition, they can be sold. If not, donate it to a charity that helps the developing world.

Step 2: fill in the shoes

Whether it's the brand new luxury heels you save for a special event or the soccer cleats that have adapted to your feet over the months, protecting the natural shape of all shoes is a priority throughout the shoe packaging process. Otherwise, you could arrive at your new home with shoes that look ugly or feel uncomfortable. Fill the shoes with crumpled wrapping paper, similar to how you would have taken it out of the box after purchase to protect the shape during shipping. The key is to strike a balance between preventing possible bruising and preventing the material from stretching.

Step 3: wrap up the shoes

When packing shoes, the fear of cosmetic damage is great. Small scratches and marks that get stuck in the materials can seriously spoil the look of the shoe forever. Therefore, you need to be extra careful when wrapping shoes. While newspapers may be tempting to use, the ink can rub onto the uppers of your shoes. Using paper towels or plain wrapping paper is a far smarter idea. Bubble wrap is the perfect choice of material for heels, as it protects them from tearing and at the same time prevents the risk of dirt being transferred.

Step 4: packing up shoes

If each shoe is individually packaged, the next step is to ensure that it is properly packaged. The ideal solution is to pack each pair in their original shoe boxes, using elastic bands to prevent the lids from shifting during shipping. If the original boxes have been discarded, you can use other boxes. Larger boxes make shoes rattle around, so bubble wrap is recommended to unpack the empty space. Another option is to use plastic boxes or baskets as containers. You can probably pack casual shoes together.

Useful tip: fight bad smells

If you transport your shoes over long distances, they will be in their boxes with no air to circulate. This can cause bad smells to come to the surface. If you have silica gel packets available, use them to prevent this from becoming a problem.

Step 5: stack and fix the shoes

NYC moving companies will tell you that packing individual pairs of shoes is only half the battle. You also need to make sure they stay on the truck without falling over. If a box falls over and the lid falls, the shoes can roll out. This in turn can lead to material cracks if they get caught on sharp edges. Or they could be spoiled by liquids or dirt inside the truck. Cardboard boxes can be stacked and fixed. For an even better solution, stack them in plastic containers to make stacking easier. It also provides another protective barrier.

Useful tip: stack heavier shoes first

If you hire a moving company, they'll move the shoes to the moving truck (and then to the new home), but when doing home improvement it's important to stack the heaviest shoes first. This prevents lighter shoes from being crushed by their heavier counterparts. It also protects the boxes, which is a bonus for anyone who would like to pick them up or sell shoes at a later date.

Step 6: consider a hanging unit above the door

Over-the-door units are a very popular choice for indoor shoe storage because they make good use of the dead space behind a door. But they can also work wonders during transport. You can individually wrap the shoes and place them on the racks before covering the entire unit with a large dust blanket. The moving company can subsequently hang these up in the transporter or lay them flat on other boxes. Either way, it's an alternative solution that eliminates the need for cardboard boxes and stacks, while it works great when you already have the hanging unit.

Conclusion

Protecting your shoes during transport is an important task, even if it isn't the first item on your agenda. As long as you take the right precautions to avoid misshapen shoes and cracked materials, you won't go wrong. To find out more before you move, you can call professional movers and packers in Dubai today.