Dear Organizer:

We replaced our carpeting several years ago and I feel my family does a good job in taking their shoes off before entering the house.  Our main family entrance is the garage. The problem is that the shoes collect on our garage floor and we trip over them. I have tried mud tray mats, and plastic tubs to keep them contained against the wall. The shoes still spill over onto the floor. When we throw them in the tubs, they sometimes get the other shoes dirty and it is harder to find the mate. This area is frustrating me!  Any suggestions?  Thanks!  Lisa B.

Dear Lisa:

It is good to learn that the routine you’re developed to loose the shoes before entering is working. Your carpet is being saved!!   Kudos to your family for successfully maintaining and respecting what is important to you.  Let’s build on that positive by finding a system to house the shoes that keeps them off the floor and easy to retrieve.

I agree that the bins that you are currently using help to contain the shoes for the most part, but they also cause you and your family  time searching for mates…. And seriously, who has extra time when they are on their way out the door?!

I am guessing that coming home and throwing the shoes in the bin is easier and that the frustration you speak of comes from being rushed to get to where you’re going.

And then there’s the money factor. It’s a fact:  Shoes that are piled get soiled and worn sooner.  Shoes are expensive enough and this is added stress to see them jumbled in a pile. My biggest concern, however, is the safety factor. I agree, a solution is needed to eliminate the risk of  tripping and falling.

So… you have the routine down,  now we need to tweak your system of housing the shoes,.  It has to remain simple.

Step One:  Take a good look at  the area in question, especially the walls/ the vertical space. My guess is that you can use more of that. I highly recommend a shoe organizer/ cubbie  system.   Closetmaid® Stackable Shoe Organizer  is a good one.  Retail price at around $49.  It is free-standing, sturdy and…that’s right,  stackable! Each organizer holds up to 25 pairs of  children’s shoes per cubicle or  12 pairs of adult size ( one shoe per cubbie). Depending on your needs ,budget and space, more than one organizer should do the trick in your garage. Place the shoe organizers side by side instead of stacking if wall space is, in fact,  limited.  Perhaps each family member could claim a section of the organizer to call their own. For young children and visual learners, take a picture of the shoes and tape inside the cubicle.  The shoe organizers provide a lot of bang for the buck …and, ok, they are just nice to look at while they are in action. FUNCTION  is the priority  and  shelving works just as well.   Remember to keep the shelf depth at 12”. For walkby clearance.

Step Two: I recommend keeping the mud mats for rain or snow covered shoes only. Label it Drying Mat for all to see.   Reuse those  tubs you mentioned  in another storage area of your home or  recycle them if they have seen better days. Finally, if there is room in this space, place a sturdy bench or chair along the wall to add the option of sitting  while putting on  shoes or assisting children.

Overflow? It can still happen and shoes do naturally accumulate over the months in these areas .  Maintain as you go  and make an effort  to spend one  hour each season to  sort through the shoes .

Remember:

If the shoe still fits, wear it.

Shoes that hurt your feet-delete!