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Yesterday, I came across a travel tip from Morning Brew that was so simple, it almost felt too basic—until I realized how many travelers still overlook it. Their advice? “Travel tip: Save yourself some laundry by keeping your shoes in a separate bag.” Their link goes to a two-pack of shoe bags on Amazon.
At first glance, this seems like a no-brainer. And yet, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen self-proclaimed travel pros post packing videos on Instagram or TikTok with their dirty shoes thrown straight into their suitcase next to clean clothes. No cover. No barrier. Just raw shoe soles rubbing up against shirts and socks. As a self-diagnosed germaphobe, it gives me the full-body ick.
Sure, a proper shoe bag is ideal. There are tons of affordable options on Amazon or at places like Target. They’re compact, reusable and often come with a zipper or drawstring to keep everything contained. But if you’re on a budget—or just prefer to pack light—you don’t have to get fancy. I reuse old plastic grocery bags, which are admittedly harder to come by in states like California, but they still work like a charm. An old dust bag from a handbag or a reusable shopping tote also does the trick.
The real takeaway here isn’t about what kind of bag you use. It’s that you use something. Shoes—especially ones that have been pounding the pavement—pick up all kinds of grime, bacteria and germs. You probably wouldn’t throw a dirty sneaker on your clean hotel bed, so why pack it next to your clothes?
So please, for the sake of your health and the sanity of anyone who sees inside your bag, give your shoes their own designated space. Whether it’s a plastic grocery bag or a sleek travel pouch, your clothes—and your traveling companions—will thank you. Check out other shoe bag options here.
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use the free shower cap in the hotels (if they offer them) to wrap shoes
I subscribe to the weekend editions of my local newspaper and the NY Times. I save the delivery bags for this purpose. And when there are special magazine inserts in the NYT, the bags are bigger, which work really well for my husband’s shoes. The bags are thin but strong and don’t have the extra bulk that grocery bags do. I had purchased shoe bags years ago, but I like using the newspaper ones since I can pack each shoe separately and they fit better in my luggage, going alonside the channels of the pull up handle. They are longer than the shoes themselves, so I suppose if you are really weight conscious, you could trim off some of the excess length, but I haven’t gotten quite that compulsive yet ;-)