How To Keep Shoes From Dry Rotting

My fondness for shoes is something that even my neighbors know very well!

I’ve more than a dozen of them at home, which is why I’ve had to dedicate a tiny room for them! And each time my friends or neighbors pay a visit, they excitedly ask me whether I’ve bought any other pair lately. 

But until a few months back, I was having a tough time maintaining my shoes as quite a few of them had started to dry rot. I discussed with many of my friends about what could be done, but no one could suggest something truly effective. 

That’s when I decided to dive into some research, and it was indeed quite fruitful. I came across some simple yet efficient ways to prevent shoes from dry rotting and preserve them for the long term. And they worked wonders in curing most of the shoes that were inflicted with signs of dry rotting. 

Hi! I’m Stacy, and today I’m here to help you out on how to keep shoes from dry rotting. So, without further ado, let’s get going... 

The Reason Behind Dry Rotting

In the context of shoes, the term dry rotting doesn’t actually imply rotting, as is the popular belief. Rather, it implies damage caused by mold inhabiting the shoes due to excessive moisture.  

The primary reason why shoes break down and dry rot is that they’re often stored in a very humid environment. This, in turn, favors the growth of mold, which then attacks the materials that the shoes are made of, such as leather or canvas. 

How To Prevent Dry Rotting Of Shoes?

In case you don’t plan to wear one or more pairs of shoes anytime soon, you need to follow the below-mentioned steps to prevent dry rotting in compact storage spaces.  

1. Don’t Use Shoe Boxes For Storage

Honestly speaking, any shoebox, no matter whether it’s made of cardboard or plastic, is not an ideal choice for storing your shoes in the long term. 

But many users tend to utilize them for the purpose without knowing the consequences, just as I did initially, and suffer the result. Two of my shoes ended up being unfit for wearing, so naturally, I had to discard them.

Using shoeboxes for storage would prevent air from circulating naturally in the space and give rise to a moisture build-up, eventually allowing mold formation. And the surface of your shoes might look worn out within a couple of weeks. 

As such, it’s best to use open shelves or shoe racks instead. 

2. Store Shoes In A Dry And Controlled Environment

It’s important to ensure that your shoes are kept away from extremely cold or hot environments and not directly exposed to sun rays. 

So, the only way out is to keep them in good shape is to store them in a dry environment with minimal humidity and which has an average temperature. A closet with strong doors will be an ideal place to store shoes safely. 

3. Absorb All Traces Of Moisture

In case you find moisture on any part of the shoe, you should remove it as soon as possible to prevent any damage. 

A cedar shoe tree is an object stored inside a shoe that helps preserve its shape and prevents drying out of its lining or cracking of the leather. As such, it is among the best options you can use to store your shoes for the long term. 

After having learned about this alternative, I bought quite a few cedar shoe trees for the exclusive leather shoes that are one of my most prized possessions. And over the years, I’ve realized that they’re truly worth all the praise that users shower on them, as the shoes are in perfect shape since then. 

The cedar wood material of these shoe trees does the trick, as it contains anti-bacterial properties and absorbs all the moisture effectively. However, if you can’t access shoe trees for any reason, you can place desiccants such as silica gels in the closet along with the shoes. That would also be of great help in absorbing the moisture. 

Lastly, you can even try stuffing the shoes with paper to absorb the surrounding moisture while retaining their shape. 

4. Condition Your Shoes Every Year

I also found treating the shoes with shoe conditioners to be very helpful for their maintenance. This reinvigorates the shoes and removes any destructive mold from the surface. Following this practice once or twice every year would be sufficient for preventing any dry rotting.

The Importance Of Choosing The Right Shoe

Before you even consider how to store them, you should first make the right choice of shoes. Though this might sound very basic, it's indeed crucial in ensuring that the shoes serve their purpose and last for the years to come. 

First of all, the metal hardware on the shoes should be durable enough to withstand exposure to air and water in the long term. These include buckles, studs, rivets, zippers, hooks, and eyelets. Likewise, the rest of the shoes should be made from sturdy and long-lasting material that would help offer an extended service life. 

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