Why Do My Feet Smell So Bad
If you, your kids, or anyone else in your household has smelly feet, the stench can cause the whole family to raise a stink. But, why do some feet smell so much worse than others?
It turns out that foot odor doesnt really come from the feet. The smell comes from the bacteria that live on those feet and in the dirty socks and shoes that cover them. Those bacteria get rid of waste just like people do. And its the waste that smells so rotten. When feet sweat a lot, they can play host to some extra-stinky bacteria.
It may not be any consolation, but foot odor is rarely a sign of a health problem. Its still unpleasant and embarrassing. Thankfully, there are ways to get rid of the germs and that awful smell. In fact, anything that stops your feet and shoes from becoming breeding grounds for bacteria will help.
Use Cedar Wood On Smelly Shoes
With cedars distinguished, woody smell on your side, smelly shoes will be yesterdays problem. Many products like insoles and stretchers utilize cedar wood for its fragrance and durability.
For instance, the FootFitter Sir James Cedar Shoe Tree with Split Toe helps shoes maintain their shape while fighting the smells of frequent use. The shoe trees texture also works well for absorption purposes.
How To Solve One Of The Stinkiest Summertime Problems
Don’t just cover up the smell of stinky shoeseliminate the odor at its source!
Summertime is all fun and games until someones smelly shoes are stinking up the house! It happens in a predictable cycle: hot temperatures lead to sweaty feet, and sweaty feet leave behind moisture in shoes causing unpleasant odors.
But dont give up on those smelly shoes just yet, because today Im sharing the best and most effective methods for eliminating odors in shoes. If youve been wondering how to get the stink out of shoes, youve come to just the right place!
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The secret to removing odor from shoes is to deal with the moisture issue. Many people simply try to tackle the odor itself by using a deodorizing spray, but that only covers up the smell. By drying out the moisture, you can cut the smell off at the source by killing the odor-causing bacteria.
There are a few different ways to do this, so Ive included a few different options for you in this post. Use whichever method you like best, or whichever method you can do using stuff you already have at home.
Heres to a stink-free summer! 🙂
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How To Get Smell And Bacteria Out Of Shoes
Deodorizing shoes is not just important for the social factor of not being the person with smelly shoes, but it is also a practice in foot health. Remember, smell comes from the combination of bacteria and sweat. According to this article in the Journal of Athletic Training, athletes are more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections on their feet. And while bacteria-rich shoes are not the only cause of infections like athletes foot, giving them some TLC is just one more way to keep feet healthy.
How To Get Smell Out Of Shoes
Smelly shoes can be unpleasant. You take off your shoes, and suddenly the room is filled with a nasty stench. If there are several people in the room, it becomes easily embarrassing. So you are very curious about How to Get Smell Out of Shoes.
Thankfully, there are several effective ways to avoid bad odors in the shoe and get rid of the smell if it has already occurred. We have gathered here our best tricks to keep the shoes fresh on the inside.
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Antiperspirant On Your Feet
This is a tactic used by marathon walkers to help prevent blisters. Most of the moisture in your shoes come from the sweat from your feet. If you prevent foot sweat, you keep your shoes dry and don’t provide a damp place for the bacteria and fungus to grow. This should be done with caution to ensure you don’t have a bad reaction to the spray. Test it on one toe or a small patch on one foot to see if there is any redness or rash after a day.
Ways To Solve Your Seriously Distracting Smelly Shoes Situation
Lets face it, the last thing you want to be is the guy or girl known for having smelly shoes. In fact, when you take off your shoes, its better if people dont notice. Unless of course, they are complimenting your shoes awesome color or shine. But face it, that horrified look your friends or significant other is shooting you lately should be enough of a red flag that maybe its time to deal with your stinky situation.
Luckily, smelly shoes arent a death sentence. In fact, there are many tools and at-home remedies using household products to help you get rid of the foul odor. Here at FootFitter, we compiled a list of our top five shoe deodorizer methods.
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Air Purifying Bags Made From Bamboo Charcoal For Eliminating Odors And Absorbing Excess Moisture
Promising Review: These are a little wonder. I have waterproof, steel-toe boots that get worn about six hours a day and make my feet sweat like no other shoe I have worn. The shoes smell and can’t be kept in my closet. But once I started putting these bags in after each use, there was no more smell! M Hill
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $9.95.
What Causes Smelly Feet
Your feet produce a lot of sweat. They have more sweat glands than any other part of the body. These glands release sweat all throughout the day to help cool your body and keep your skin moist.
Everyones feet sweat, but teenagers and pregnant women are most prone to very sweaty feet because their bodies produce hormones that make them sweat more. People who are on their feet all day at work, are under a lot of stress, or have a medical condition that makes them sweat more than others tend to have sweatier feet.
There are naturally some bacteria on the feet. These bacteria help break down sweat on the feet as its released. If bacteria and sweat build up, a foul odor can form. Extra bacteria tend to form when a person sweats in their shoes, takes them off, and then puts them back on without allowing them to fully dry.
Poor hygiene can also play a role in causing bromodosis. Infrequent foot washing or not changing your socks at least once a day can allow extra bacteria to begin to grow on your feet. This can cause foot odor to worsen.
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Is It Healthy To Have Smelly Feet
Foot odor is rarely a sign of a health problem, but sometimes an infection can cause it. See a doctor if you see any signs of infection or if the smell just doesnt get better.
If your feet are also unusually sweaty, it may be plantar hyperhidrosis. This excessive foot sweating may interfere with daily activities.
There are tests to determine how severe the problem is. If you or a family member has hyperhidrosis, a doctor may prescribe a prescription antiperspirant, prescription cream, or nerve-blocking medication to reduce sweating. If that doesnt work, Botox injections may help.
Even if you have a condition that leaves you prone to foot odor, taking steps to keep your feet clean and dry will help with the smell.
Canadian Journal of MicrobiologyPlanta MedicaJournal of EthnopharmacologyElytropappus rhinocerotis
Sprinkle Baking Soda In Those Stinky Shoes
Baking soda is another good home remedy for stinky shoes. Sprinkle generous amounts of baking soda in the offending shoe. Let the power of baking soda do its thing overnight. Dump it out in the morning and, boom, your shoes are as fresh as new. Well, maybe not quite that fresh, but theyre ready for the upcoming day.
One caution: Be careful about using baking soda too often with leather shoes, as it can extract the moisture from the leather and cause it to dry out and crack.
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The Trick Of Talcum Powder
Talcum powder works in the same way as baking soda. They have the virtue of absorbing humidity and thereby silencing the bad smell. In this case, you have two options:
- Apply a little talcum powder to each shoe and allow them to spend the night like this. In the morning, we can remove the rest of the powders.
- Apply talcum powder to the sole. In this way, we limit the sweating caused by the bad smell of the shoes.
How To Prevent Smelly Feet In The First Place
So, youve conquered your smelly shoes congratulations! Heres how to prevent smelly shoes in the future:
- Dont forget your feet in the shower: lather up the soap between your toes and under your feet, and then, make sure to actually dry them properly. Never put on shoes when your feet are damp.
- Purchase some charcoal inner soles or inserts. You can wear inner soles during the day the inserts are used to stuff your shoe overnight. Both will absorb moisture and odors.
- Try to always wear socks with your shoes. One-hundred percent cotton socks are the best for absorbing sweat, oils, and moisture. This will help prevent bacterial overgrowth.
- Never wear a pair of socks twice always give them a good washing after one wear.
- If youve been sweating a lot in one particular pair of shoes, give them a day off and wear others. Then leave your sweaty shoes in a nice sunny spot to dry.
- Try to buy shoes and socks made from breathable fibers, including cotton , but also hemp or wool.
- If youre prone to sweaty feet, consider taking a spare pair of socks and changing halfway through the day. This will help to keep your feet drier.
- Buy a powder that you can sprinkle on your feet each day before you pull on your socks. This should help keep your feet dry, therefore preventing bacteria and odors.
- Tea tree oil is a renowned natural antibacterial and antifungal.5 Apply a few drops to your feet every few days, as well as to the insides of your shoes.
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Lock Laces Odor Drops
Tester Smell Score: 4 out of 5
- Easy-to-use with very powerful fresh scent
- Wasnt as effective at getting rid of odors
These long-lasting deodorizer balls from Lock Laces keep your shoes, bags, or locker fresh with minimal effort from you. Simply twist open the vents and drop one or two in. One tester found the Drops extremely effective, but others thought the super strong laundry detergent scent did more to mask odors than truly eliminate them.
Why Do Your Shoes Smell Bad
The reason your shoes stink is that your feet contain 250,000 sweat glands. When those glands get confined in a shoe, the sweat and warmth create a breeding ground for bacteria. To get rid of the smell in your shoes, you need to destroy the bacteria causing the stink. You can do this by cleaning them properly. Using homemade shoe deodorizing sprays or powders also helps. Then follow good shoe and foot care to help keep feet from stinking.
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Try Baking Soda Or Vinegar
Both baking soda and distilled white vinegar can be used to reduce odors. To start off, the powdery consistency of baking soda will harden over dampened areas when left in your shoes overnight. In addition, the ingredients in the product are also good at warding off fungus.
On the other hand, distilled white vinegar, when reduced with 50 percent water, is effective at rubbing out or spraying away bad smells. Applying the mix with a cotton ball or spray bottle will combat smelly shoes. Just allow the mixture to set and dry for 30 minutes.
Well There Is No Need To Spend Money On Buying New Shoes As There Are Many Simple And Easy Ways To Get Rid Of The Unpleasant Odor
- Look for the cause. Examine your shoes before you try to treat the odor. If you have damaged insoles, either take them out or dry them.
- Better is to exchange your old insoles for a fresh pair, everyone around you will be very happy. MISTER MINIT has a very large offer
- Dry out your shoes by putting them near a heater or in a sunny spot. By keeping them dry, you help prevent bacterial growth that causes odor.
- Freezeyour shoes. Put your smelly shoes in a plastic bag, and then put them in the freezer over the course of a night. The idea is that freezing the shoes kills the odor-producing bacteria.
- Put baking soda in the offending shoes. If the freezer trick does not work, put in a healthy dose of baking soda and let the powder absorb the odor overnight.
- Place fresh orange, grapefruit, lemon, or lime peel into the shoes. Fresh citrus peel has a great smell because of its essential oils. Leave fresh citrus peel in your shoes overnight and remove them before using. They should smell a lot better.
- Black teabags: Black teabags contain tannins which are very effective in killing bacteria that can be found inside the shoe. Place the tea bag on boiling water for a few minutes. Remove the tea bag and let it cool for about 5 minutes before placing it in the shoe. Leave it in the shoe for an hour or so.
- Odor removers, like MISTER MINITs fresh contain bacteria and/or enzymes that eat away what is causing the odor.
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Home Remedies For Stinky Shoes:
- 1. Wash + exfoliate feet
- 2. Stop sweaty feet to stop stinky shoes
- 3. Foot and shoe deodorant spray
- 4. Wear shoes that breathe
- 5. Alternate your shoes give them time to air out
- 6. Use shoe insoles to fight foot odor
- 7. Sprinkle baking sode in those stinky shoes
- 8. Keep shoes fresh smelling with dryer sheets
- 9. Deodorize shoes with cat litter or wood chips ¯\__/¯
- 10. Clean shoes with rubbing alcohol
- 11. Steam clean shoes
- 12. Denture tablet shoe soak
- 13. Freeze the stink out of your shoes
- 14. Spray essential oils into your shoes
- 15. Use tea bags to keep shoes smelling fresh
- 16.If all else fails: Spring for new shoes
Where do stinky shoes come from anyway? The answer is well obvious. First comes foot sweat, then comes bacteria, then comes stinky feet, socks and shoes.
Washing Inserts And Insoles
This step also works for non-washable shoes. Even shoes that cant go in the washing machine may have removable insoles that you can wash to get rid of shoe odors. If you have orthotic inserts, you should wash them, too. All you need to do is fill a sink with 2 cups water and 1 cup white vinegar then let your inserts soak for 5-10 minutes. Rinse them well then press the inserts between dry towels to blot excess moisture. Let your inserts fully air dry before putting them back in your shoes. Do this once a month to keep your inserts and insoles fresh.
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Why Do Shoes Smell And What Can You Do About It
Did you know that Madeline Albrecht from Cincinnati, Ohio holds the world record for the most feet sniffed? Madeline worked for 15 years at a testing center for Dr. Scholl’s and it was part of her job to sniff feet and armpits. Her record: 5,600 feet!
That may not sound like a dream job, but the fact that she was paid to do it for 15 years shows just how serious of a problem foot odor can be. How do feet and shoes get so smelly, anyway?
The short answer: sweat. Of course, you sweat all over your body, but the rest of you doesn’t smell as bad as your feet. There are two reasons for this:
Unlike faces and arms, most feet are covered in shoes all day. When that happens, feet are not ventilated and the contained sweat and warmth become a breeding ground for bacteriavery smelly bacteria. This bacteria lives on your feet, in your socks and all over your favorite shoes.
Have you ever noticed that some people’s feet have almost no odor while others could kill a canary? The reason is simply that some people sweat more and provide conditions that encourage for bacteria to breed . Whatever the case, foot odor is a common nuisance in most households.
Sole Socks Or Washable Insoles
If you find you get foot odor when wearing shoes without socks, you might try washable insoles such as Sole Socks. They have a cotton terry cloth top and a latex rubber sole. Replace your shoe’s insole or place them over it. They grip well enough to stay in place and provide moisture-absorption and cushioning. Wash them every three to six uses to keep them fresh.
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Deodorize The Offending Shoes
Deodorizing can only happen once youve removed the offending bacteria, otherwise, youre just disguising the smell but continuing to breed the problem.
- Use a dryer sheet to absorb excess odors by placing one into each shoe and leaving them in overnight.
- Kitty litter aint just for cats! It contains a myriad of deodorizers, and it famously absorbs liquids. If you dont feel like putting kitty litter in your smelly shoes, pop some in an old pair of tights, tie it off, and place in your shoes.
- Baking soda is great at absorbing smells. Many people use it in their fridge for this reason. Sprinkle the soda on the inside of your shoes and leave it in overnight. Then, shake out your shoes in the morning.
- Purchase some new inner soles to refresh the insides if its possible for that type of shoe.
