How to Pack Shoes for Moving Internationally

When you’re moving overseas, there are a lot of things to think about. Learning how to pack shoes for moving surely is one of them. However, with a lot of details to take care of, this task could easily be forgotten. That’s why boxing up your footwear and the rest of your belongings is one of the most important – and challenging – aspects of the entire process.

You surely want to make sure that everything arrives at your destination in one piece and without any damage. When it comes to your shoes, the first thing you should do is to go over your shoe rack and get rid of all pairs you certainly won’t use. The ones that have left should be divided into categories for better organization. Before you start an actual wrapping, ensure you have the right supplies. Then ensure all the shoes are stuffed and pack the fancy shoes separately. Put out-of-season footwear in a separate box or suitcase and ensure the heaviest ones go first.

First Things First – Do Some Decluttering Before the Wrapping Process 

It’s time to organize boxing up of relocation necessities – your footwear. After learning how to package garments and exploring some of the relocation hacks related to, for example, packing cosmetics and keeping it whole, pass on checking some of the best ways to pack shoes for moving. 

This process is pretty much the same as every other wrapping process – you start with deciding what to keep and what to toss. Despite the fact that it may appear like a challenging task, when you organize it carefully, you can avoid frequent relocation problems such as inappropriate space usage.

You probably have a ton of footwear in the closet that you haven’t worn in a long time. Why bother packaging them? Use this move as an occasion to get rid of shoes that will just be tossed out in your new place rather than packing them.

You can drop off your gently worn shoes at your neighborhood Goodwill or other non-profit organizations that might be interested in them. Additionally, if they’re not in excellent shape, make sure to properly recycle them rather than tossing them away in the trash.

Divide the Shoes Into Several Categories

It is crucial to sort your shoes into categories after deciding which ones you will take with you and to wrap them accordingly. If you’re relocating with kids, you may even create a distinct category for children’s footwear. You can categorize it according to the season you wear it or the types of footwear you use, such as sneakers, boots, sandals, or high heels. 

This will make packing up simpler to arrange, and if the boxes are properly labeled, unpacking after relocation will go smoothly and quickly, especially if relocating for the first time. So, after you consider all the reasons to move and figure out how to live on your own, sorting through all of your possessions will undoubtedly make the process of moving much simpler and less stressful for you.

Additionally, it will be very helpful in determining the worth of home items and choosing the best international moving services. Also, keep in mind that organizing all of your possessions is a key step if you’re moving to a tiny apartment and don’t want to clutter it before you move in.

Don’t forget to separate the necessary shoes you’ll wear on the moving day and the period after when you’re going through the collection. Only pack comfortable shoes because you’ll be wearing them all day and traveling in them. Make sure to select either flat sandals or suitable sneakers based on the season, and be prepared to walk a lot that day.

Get the Needed Supplies

Making an overseas move requires plenty of supplies in order to make the transition smoother. Start with a list of everything you’ll need to make an efficient relocation and surely avoid last-minute relocating, even if you have help from an experienced international moving company and their packing services. So, here are some key items you should consider purchasing for your international move:

Use Only Clean Packing Paper

Newspaper may work well as a substitute for packing material for moving other objects around your house, but it cannot be used to pack shoes or some dishes. The stains left behind by printed newspapers, old packing paper, or any other colored paper may be challenging or probably impossible to remove later. Use only fresh packing paper to protect your shoes for peace of mind. A clean roll of paper towels will also do.

Bubble Wrap Instead of Plastic Bags

Avoid wrapping your shoes in plastic bags since they can easily rip. Use plastic wrap instead, which is much more durable and provides a great deal more protection. In addition to protecting other pairs of shoes from getting dirty, you should apply them with all sharp heels and buckles. To avoid mold growth, ensure the shoes are completely dry before wrapping them in plastic.

Find Original Packaging

Probably the best thing you can have when packing shoes for moving is the original boxes. If you still can find the original shoe boxes, just place each pair in the appropriate box. However, you do have a few options if you don’t, because let’s face it, not many people do.

You can use a door-hanging rack for shoes as an alternative to shoeboxes. Typically, you can fold this in half, lay it flat, or place it in a sizable box to keep your shoes tidy and in pairs. In the absence of that, you might have to utilize a large box.

Take Good Care of Your Footwear Before the Wrapping Process

While understanding how to pack your favorite pair of shoes can ensure its safety when traveling abroad, it’s also crucial to frequently wax or cream-shine your shoes. Otherwise, you’ll just lose your precious time protecting the footwear that is already ruined, when you could do other tasks, such as notifying everyone about the move. 

The video that follows may assist you to choose which of these things to utilize if you’re unsure what to do.

Ensure You Stuff Each Shoe

Figuring out how to move to another country requires a lot of things – creating a relocation binder and ensuring you ask your international movers the right questions. After all, knowing how to move out for the first time is more than just challenging – it can be quite stressful too. So, be sure to know how to prepare your footwear for the move properly.   

Take a rolled-up set of socks and put them where the toe of your shoes goes to keep them from losing their form while you move. You might wish to put an additional pair and protect the heel as well, depending on the form and design of the shoe. This will not only prevent your shoes from being damaged during transit, but this trick also packs your socks. 

Have you already prepared your socks for the move and are reading this too late? You can also fill up your shoes with fresh packing paper or plastic wrap. After that, you can wrap them up. In addition to putting your shoes into bags, you’ll also want to wrap them in some sort of soft material. 

This will help further protect them from bumps and scrapes during the move. You can use old shirts, towels, socks, or anything that’s soft and not too bulky. Just wrap each shoe individually and tie it off with string or an elastic band so it stays in place.

Use Tea Bags 

To allow shoes to shed any leftover scents, let them air out the night before packing. You can try putting shoes in the freezer to eliminate any bacteria that may be hiding there if they have an overtly foul odor. Place unused tea bags inside your shoes to keep them fresh during the actual relocation. Simply tuck them in between the socks you’re using to stuff them. This can be an amazing hack if you’re strictly following the relocation budget and don’t want to spend any additional money on expensive air fresheners.  

Fancy Shoes Should Be Packed Individually

You probably don’t worry too much about your worn-out footwear becoming scratched or broken during the transfer, but your pricey heels and finely-shined loafers are another story. Protect the favorites by placing them in individual boxes and wrapping them in crumpled packing paper. No need to make relocation even more traumatic, especially if you’re relocating alone, right?

Tie Sneakers Together

Keep pairs together by tying the laces of footwear like sneakers, which will most likely just be tossed in a box or other container. This way, if you need a pair of shoes before you’ve finished unpacking, you won’t have to sift through the stack to find them.

Out-Of-Season Shoes Should Go Separately

After you’ve gone through all the benefits of the move, you should concentrate on the wrapping process. When it comes to preparing footwear, we all know there are seasonal categories, so what to do with them? Sort out winter boots or comfortable slippers if you’re relocating in the summer. Consider saving one separate box for your flip-flops and sandals if you’re relocating during the winter. Just make sure the box is properly marked.

Heavy Shoes on the Bottom

Put the largest and heaviest shoes on the bottom of any plastic containers, boxes, or even laundry baskets that you use to transport your shoes. This will equalize the weight and enable carrying it safer and simpler. Additionally, you run the danger of damaging the more sensitive pairs if you stack heavier pairs on the more lightweight ones.

This means that snow, rain, and hiking boots should always go at the bottom. Sneakers should come next, and many professional movers will give you a relocation tip to put sandals always at the top. If you have numerous pairs of heels, it is better to put them in a suitcase while playing Tetris with each pair of shoes on its side. To protect your heels from scratching one another, layer in blankets or hoodies.

Now That You Know How to Pack Shoes for Moving, You Can Move Like a Pro

Packing your shoes for an international move doesn’t have to be difficult – just follow these simple tips and they’ll arrive at your destination safely and sound, especially when you have a professional international mover by your side. So, don’t waste your time and start organizing the big move like a real pro.