Keep Your Shoes Off the Floor to Avoid Unwanted Guests
Do you have a habit of leaving your shoes on the floor near the entryway when you get home? While it may seem convenient, it could be inviting unwanted guests into your home, particularly spiders. Australian conservationist Robert Irwin recently shared a video on TikTok showing a large spider he discovered in his shoe. In a more alarming incident reported by The Independent, a Peruvian wolf spider bit a man and laid eggs in his toe after sneaking into his shoe.
Shoes serve as a popular hiding spot for spiders, scorpions, and other insects due to their preference for quiet, dark, and damp environments - characteristics that shoes often provide. Shoes that are rarely worn are especially prone to hosting these critters. To prevent spiders and bugs from making themselves at home in your shoes, consider storing them on a rack elevated off the ground to make them less appealing to creepy crawlies.
To keep unwanted bugs out of your shoes, consider using a shoe rack or cabinet instead of leaving them on the floor. Storing your shoes off the ground not only helps declutter your doorway but also deters bugs and spiders from making a home in them. Since pests often enter through doors, it's best to avoid keeping your shoes near outside entrances.
While you might think storing outdoor work shoes in the garage is convenient, it can attract pests due to the garage's vulnerability. Similarly, keeping shoes in the basement can invite spiders, considering the damp and dark environment typically found there.
Use a shoe rack or cabinet
Consider IKEA's HEMNES cabinet if you need more shoe storage options. This cabinet keeps your shoes off the floor and away from pests. Another budget-friendly choice is the BISSA shoe cabinet by IKEA. Placing these cabinets near an entryway allows for easy access to your shoes while maintaining a pest-free environment. Additionally, these cabinets contribute to a tidy and organized entryway space.
For those looking to organize their shoe collection, consider investing in a shoe rack like the Yamazaki Double Bar Shoe Rack available at Pottery Barn. To maximize space, avoid storing shoes directly on the ground beneath the rack; utilize the two tiers provided. This rack offers flexibility with stackable shelves, allowing for customizable storage options. Additionally, if you enjoy DIY projects, you can even create your own closet shoe rack using a clever TikTok hack.
