If you're one to take great care of your shoes by brushing and polishing them regularly, don't let your guard down when you're not wearing them by throwing your shoes into the closet.

There's a three-step approach to storing your shoes properly. We will go over all three here.

1. Put Shoe Trees in Each Shoe

A shoe tree, which is now available through Red Moose, is one of the best ways to add longevity to your shoes' life. Not only do they allow the shoe to retain their shape, but the materials they are made of allow moisture that the shoe absorbs from your foot to be transferred into the shoe tree. This prevents the shoe leather from getting creases in them that end up cracking over time.

2. Bag the Shoe

A flannel bag is the best for your shoe after you've placed the shoe tree inside. These provide protection from other shoes so that they do not get bumped, scratched, or scuffed against each other. You also want to use these while traveling in order to protect the rest of your clothes in your suitcase.

3. Place Them in the Box

Don't discard that shoe box—save it for storage! This is the best way to store a shoe, but if you're limited on space, you can always go with an over-the-door shoe rack or buy or make racks to go along the wall. If you do this, be sure to follow the first two steps here so the shoes aren’t susceptible to damage.

Before you put your shoes away, be sure to shop Red Moose's full line of polishes, waxes, brushes, conditioners, shoehorns, and more!