Clean My Shoes
Clean My Shoes
Protection · 5 min read
Mould, cracked leather and warped soles are storage problems. Here's how to store shoes properly here.
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Dubai's summer humidity spikes near the coast, and closed cupboards trap it. That moisture breeds mould on leather and lining. Heat, meanwhile, dries and cracks leather and can soften adhesives. Good storage manages both.
Always clean and fully dry shoes before storing — dirt holds moisture and feeds mould. Condition leather so it doesn't dry out in storage.
Use breathable cotton dust bags, not plastic, which traps humidity. Insert cedar shoe trees or acid-free paper to hold shape and absorb moisture. Add silica gel packets in the cupboard. Keep shoes out of direct sun and away from exterior walls that heat up.
For shoes you won't wear for months, check them every few weeks for mould. Rotate stored leather shoes out occasionally to air. For a valuable collection, professional cleaning and conditioning before long storage pays off.
Coastal areas (Marina, JBR, Palm Jumeirah, Creek Harbour) regularly hit 80 to 95 percent relative humidity from June through September. Inland areas (Dubai Hills, Arabian Ranches) are drier but still reach 60 to 70 percent in summer mornings.
This humidity is invisible but devastating to stored shoes. Leather grows mould within days in unventilated spaces above 70 percent humidity. Suede develops white bloom. Adhesives soften and separate. Rubber oxidises faster in humid air.
Aim for 40 to 55 percent relative humidity and 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. A dehumidifier in your walk-in closet or shoe storage area is the single most effective investment for a large collection in Dubai.
For smaller collections, silica gel sachets inside each shoe box absorb excess moisture. Replace or regenerate them monthly. A hygrometer placed in your storage area tells you exactly when conditions are unsafe.
Avoid external wall cupboards. They transfer heat from the building exterior, creating temperature differentials that cause condensation inside closed spaces.
Before storing any shoe: clean it, dry it completely for 24 hours minimum, and apply conditioner or protector spray. Never store shoes with residual moisture.
Insert cedar shoe trees to maintain shape and absorb residual moisture. For sneakers without trees, stuff firmly with acid-free tissue paper, not newspaper which transfers ink.
Breathable cotton dust bags are correct. Plastic bags and sealed plastic boxes trap humidity and create microclimates where mould thrives.
Keep an active rotation of five to seven pairs for daily wear. Store seasonal or occasional shoes using the protocol above. Check stored shoes monthly.
When retrieving shoes from storage, let them acclimatise at room temperature for an hour before wearing. The temperature differential between a cool storage area and Dubai outdoor heat can cause moisture condensation on cold leather.
No — plastic traps humidity and breeds mould. Use breathable cotton dust bags with silica gel nearby.
Clean and fully dry before storing, condition the leather, use silica gel, and check every few weeks.
Yes — cedar shoe trees hold shape and absorb moisture, which matters a lot in humid coastal areas.
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