Alternative Boot Shapers
If you own a pair of tall boots like I do (you've seen mine in this photo and also on my About Me page), then you know that left to themselves, they tend to do this in your closet.
(this is not my closet. It's my deck. That's because my closet is dark and not at all suitable for picture-taking. And you may remember that I am a big fan of moving objects for photography purposes).
This tendency to flop isn't that great for the boots and it makes my closet kind of messy. Boot shapers would take care of the problem, but my boots cost a whole $10 on clearance a number of years ago, and that makes me loathe to pay another $10-$20 to make them stand up.
So, I take a pair of clean flip-flops (really, these ARE clean. I scrubbed them with Fantastic and a toothbrush. It's just impossible to get white flip-flops completely clean.)...
and put them down inside my boots (this might be a good use for flip-flops that are completely past their useful life as footwear. )
While this doesn't fill them out as nicely as real boot shapers would, it does keep my boots standing tall.
And, it saves a bit of shoe space in my closet, which is always a happy thing.
If you are desperate to have your boots firmly filled out but don't want to buy boot shapers, you can always go the route of stuffing old t-shirts down inside your boots. I cut up my old t-shirts to use as rags, though, so I don't know if I have enough to give that trick a try. And besides, I'm not worried enough about boot wrinkles to deal with stuffing and unstuffing my boots every time I want to wear them. Sticking a flip-flop down inside of them is much easier.
Rolled up newspaper secured with rubber bands also work very well and keep the round shape of the top of the boot.
wine bottles will also do the job! I had never thought of using flip flops though
Oooh, wine bottles are a GREAT idea! I'm so going to have to try that out next we have one (or two, rather!) lying around. We drink more sparkling juice than wine but the bottles are pretty much the same shape, so I think they'll work.
Rolls of Christmas paper work great too!
I like the idea of using the flip flops--since you can store two pairs of shoes in one place.
Great idea! I use rolled up magazines and they work like a charm.
Me too! Magazines work great.
I have used those pesky plastic bags. Wad up a few inside of a single bag and wa-la.
I have a pair right now that need some help and I also have a pile of my husband's old t-shirts. They are printed with his old business logo so I don't want to Goodwill them but I just thought I could sew two different pockets and stuff them with other scraps. They won't have to look neat since they are going in boots but would give the old t-shirts a new purpose.
wow. what a great idea! I love it!
Like the flip flop idea! Do you ever fill the toe/foot portion with rolled up wrapping paper tissue to help hold the toe/foot shape???
I second the wine bottle idea! I especially like it because it gives my boots some weight, which seems to help them stay upright even more, which is especially helpful since they are on the second tier of my shoe organizer shelf...thingy.
As funny as it sounds....bras! I have used my old bras you know not the soft comfy cotton kind but the formed ones with the wires. Cut it in half and stuff a holster in each boot!!
Oh my, what we can do with a bit of creativity! 🙂
I found that rolling a sheet that is well past it's use, works perfectly.
Cut up an old cereal box, shape, then tape. You can spiral it so it's narrower at the ankles and thicker at the calves. Just a quick twist of the hand.
I use toilet paper wrappers in my shoes and purses. It's usually a heavy-weight tissue, which makes it very absorbent and stiff enough to hold the shape of the toe of a shoe, a boot, or bag. A little lavender oil (anti-microbial or something) is a nice touch, too.
I do the same thing, but with halves of egg cartons!
Just recently I needed to dry my daughter's suede boots so I filled a couple of old one liter bottles with water and stuck the boots over the top of them and put them near the heater vent. Worked like a charm. I am sure some empty one liter bottles would work for storing them in a closet too.
I hang mine from a skirt hangar. I just use an old piece of felt to cushion the hangers.
Then I hang mine from the closet rod.
I use empty and clean egg cartons. It's a great solution for those that cannot be recycled.
I have card board in mine it last forever i used and old coke flat or your old boot box cut it to shape your boot ..
That's insane! I would have never thought of that.
I agree with the posts about wine bottles, they really do work amazingly well at this job!
I used a pool noodle that I cut into smaller pieces to fit.
Thia is what i use get them on sale at yhe end of summer!
Ooooh. Flip flops! Genius!
Ive used the fruity, carbonated plastic water bottles I buy at Aldi! They're not the full liter size...much smaller. They're like 59 cents at Aldi and I love the flavor of them (mix them with half water, half fruity carbonated goodness, throw in a piece of fruit and you've got yourself a refreshing drink on the cheap!).
But the bottles fit well into my boots to hold them up too! And when I want the bottles gone, I recycle! 🙂
My thought is that if you want to fill your boots with paper, an old shirt etc. just put the fill items in a pair of old nylons and then insirt into the boot. I think that this would a make the fill slide in and out easier and fill the boot so it doesn't wrinkel. Never tried it though. I completely gave up heals of any kind after my second kid. Now with my third I am not even goign to try and go back.
Look at all of these creative solutions for the one problem!
I have 3 pair of boots- I'm not sure which idea to try first!
I have been cutting up old t-shirts and making lots of wonderful rags....funny how I never thought about doing this before. Now they are ready to go and easy to use - versus my old pile of rags that just did not seem inviting. Thanks for the tip!
I've use old magazines. I never know where to store my old magazines so hiding them in my boots are a perfect excuse to keep them. The thick, fatty editions are the best because they expand to fit the boot. Then when thanksgiving rolls around again I don't have to go digging for an old recipe clipping, I go straight to my left boot for my old Real Simple November edition. When it gets cold and I pull out the boots from storage I have all my winter editions to flip through again. Perfect timing!
I use empty water bottles 1/2 liter bottles for short boots and liter bottles for tall boots.
omg thanks so much! I just spent like 20 bucks on boot shapers and now I'm going to cancel my order!~ u saved be 20 dollars! lol tyty
Don't have any flip flops but think the bottle idea is brilliant ! Thanks
Try cutting pool noodles and using them
16.9OZ plastic coke bottles! Can fill with sand if you need a bit of weight.
All the ideas are so creative and great. I will wait until I guy 2 more bottles of wine and then use them in one pair. Don't wear flip flops, so don't have a pair of those. But I'm a magazine hound so will try the magazine idea too. Thanks to everyone and to Frugal Girl for posting.
I shove a couple loaves of bread in mine. Works like a charm.
Great ideas, here! I bought some thin, plastic/flexible chopping mats (about the size of a place mat) at the Dollar Store (2 for $1) in the kitchen section, and they work great! Roll them up a little tighter than needed, place them in the boot, and they expand to the shape of the boot. It's pretty similar to the pricey flexible boot forms. They don't fill the entire length of the boot, but enough to keep them upright and formed. Plus, if you end up not needing them, at some point, the cutting boards can be used for lots of other things, as well - chopping mat, counter protectors, place-mat for my dog's bowls, surface protector under plants, gardening mat, etc.
Coffee creamer bottles work well too.