How to Store Boots for Winter | Keep Them Ready For Next Season

Boots shoved in a closet while still damp and salty come out cracked, misshapen, and smelling like mildew. The fix for how to store boots for winter comes down to a simple sequence: clean them, dry them completely, give them support, and put them somewhere with airflow.

Step 1: Clean And Dry Your Boots First

Never store boots with snow, road salt, dirt, or moisture on them. Salt and residue eat into leather and fabric over months of sitting, and trapped dampness is what starts mold and that sour smell. Start by removing the liners and footbeds if your boots have them, and set them aside to dry separately.

For leather boots, condition them if the material feels dry after cleaning — but let any conditioner absorb fully before storage. Washable winter footwear can go on a gentle cycle, then air dry.

Drying matters more than most people think. Let boots dry completely at room temperature, away from radiators, fireplaces, and hair dryers. REI explicitly warns against placing boots in front of a hot fireplace or heater because plastic components can melt. Direct heat also makes leather brittle and can crack it.

Step 2: Preserve The Shape While They Rest

Tall boots collapse and crease if they sit empty for months, and those creases become permanent cracks in the leather. Boot trees or shapers are the best option for holding the form. The budget route works just as well: Paul Green, the European footwear brand, recommends stuffing boots with crumpled newspaper or rolled magazines before storage.

Whichever filler you use, it pulls double duty — it holds the boot’s shape and absorbs any lingering moisture. Store tall boots upright whenever possible. Inverted boot stands or hangers made for upside-down storage work too, but only if that is what the rack is designed for.

Material-specific touches matter here.

Where To Store Boots: The Right Spot And The Wrong Ones

The ideal location is cool, dry, dark, and ventilated. A temperature-controlled closet works well. Avoid damp cupboards, wet cellars, garages, lofts, and attics — humidity in those spaces undoes all your cleaning work. Keep boots away from sunlight for months at a time, since UV light fades materials and speeds up degradation.

Use breathable storage like shoe bags, ventilated boxes, or bins with airflow. Sealed plastic bags are the common mistake here: they trap any residual moisture and breed mildew over a long winter. If you box your boots, Paul Green suggests using boxes with ventilation slits in a dry, dark place.

For long-term storage, check on your boots every 6–8 weeks. You are looking for moisture, musty odors, or pests — the three problems that develop silently. If you notice anything, pull the boots out, let them air, and address the source before returning them.

If your boots are heavily salted or already damaged, treat the spots or handle the repair before storage. Winter stains and small cracks only worsen over months of sitting, so pre-storage care saves you a bigger job in the fall. When you are ready for a fresh pair that handles the season better, our roundup of the best boots for winter covers which models hold up longest.

FAQs

Can I store boots in plastic bags?

You should avoid sealed plastic bags for long-term storage. They trap any residual moisture inside, creating the damp environment that leads to mildew and odors. A breathable cotton shoe bag or a ventilated box lets air circulate while still protecting the boots from dust and pests.

Should I store my boots upside down or upright?

Store tall boots upright whenever possible. Letting them hang upside down on a hook can stress the shaft and distort the shape over time, unless the hanger or rack is specifically designed for inverted storage. Upright storage with boot trees or newspaper stuffing preserves the boot’s form best.

How often should I check on stored boots?

Catching any of these early lets you air the boots out and fix the storage conditions before permanent damage sets in.