A Cure For Stinky Shoes
Most people try to get the smell out of their stinky shoes by covering it up with a deodorizing spray or powder. And while this is a quick cover for stinky shoes, this actually doesnt help solve what is causing the problem to begin with. The deodorizer might mask the smell for a short period of time, but as soon as the fragrance wears off, the stench is back in full force!
Odor-causing bacteria live and breed in moist, dark places. If we cant eliminate the fertile breeding ground for bacteria, there will be no way get rid of the smell permanently. Therefore, the first step to removing the smell from your shoes is to dry them out and keep them dry.
What Is The Best Product For Sweaty Feet
Having extremely sweaty feet is called plantar hyperhidrosis, and it can be very inconvenient. The feet may get soggy causing slippers to slip off. Other times, it may ruin the persons shoes.
People with sweaty feet may always experience cold feet because their feet are always wet. They also leave damp footprints while walking barefoot.
If these are some of the problems you experience, then try some of these below products to counter sweaty feet:
- Antiperspirant products such as Certain Dri feet moisture control pads, Carpe antiperspirant lotion, and SweatBlock wipes and lotions
- Foot and sneaker powders for absorbing sweat and odor
- Peel-and-stick absorbent shoe liners or insoles such as Summer soles
- Sweat-proof socks that are made from a wicking interior to pull sweat away from the body
- Shoe dryers to dry your shoes quickly and thoroughly
- Sneakers with breathable mesh top
- Antibacterial soap for your feet
- Antifungal foot spray or powder to be used at night
- Shoe dryers that are available online may help you dry the shoes quickly
How To Clean Smelly Shoes With Denture Tablets
Denture tablets are rapidly gaining popularity as a fantastic all-purpose cleaner, and they are perfect for removing bad odors from shoes.
Fill a tub or sink with hot water and soak your smelly shoes overnight with a few tablets in each one. Once they have soaked, run them through the washing machine, and the odor should be gone.
Denture tablets contain powerful antibacterial ingredients that destroy odors and the tablets effervescing action penetrates deeply into the material to kill germs beneath the surface.
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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.
Seconds Shoe Disinfectant And Deodorizer
- Neutralizes odor without an overpowering smell
- Helps absorb moisture from wet shoes
Cons
- Odor-fighting prowess diminishes after 3 months
These amazing little bean bags received top marks from every one of our testers. Since the beads are activated by heat, we suggest tossing them in your shoes while theyre still toasty from a run for the best results. Even at room temperature, Gear Halos pouches wicked moisture, eliminated nearly all stink, and smelled clean and fresh. This actually smells really nice! one tester said. Its a pleasant, lightly floral scent with no trace of the cheese.
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How To Fix Smelly Shoes With Shoe Insoles
There are plenty of shoe insoles available for purchase that are designed to fight foot odor. These often contain chemicals like baking soda to fight the odor, and they work reasonably well. Insoles are very easy to use and only require trimming to the right size and inserting into the shoe.
The downside to insoles is that they can be expensive and will only be useful for a short time. You will need to replace them often depending on how much your feet sweat.
Prevent Smelly Shoes Be Keeping Them Dry
The best way to learn how to remove smells from shoes is to not get them smelly in the first place! Prevent bad odours by eliminating common causes, such as sweat and moisture.
Properly dry your shoes before storing them.
Air dry them naturally in the sun where possible.
Place dehumidifier packets in shoes that will be in storage for a long time.
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Why Do My Feet Stink
Foot odor is a universal problem unless you happen to live someplace where shoes are not worn. Most of us spend many hours a day in our shoes, so lets talk about what causes foot odor.
Our feet smell because they sweat inside our shoes. When the sweat reaches the skins surface the foot sweat encounters bacteria that break it down. The decomposing sweat releases an offensive odor. The medical term for smelly feet is Bromodosis. The common term is stinky feet.
Heres a fun physiological fact: There are more sweat glands in human feet than anywhere else on the human body.
Youre more likely to have smelly feet if youre in your shoes most of the day. Stress can cause sweaty, stinky feet, as can a medical disorder called hyperhidrosis. Athletes foot and other fungal infections can also lead to bad foot odor. Hormonal changes that are prevalent in teenagers and pregnant women can cause abnormal sweating which leads to heightened foot odor.
Stinky feet = stinky shoes.
Lets first talk about how to prevent stinky feet and then well talk about how to get the smell out of shoes and other helpful odor-fighting remedies.
Deodorize Shoes With Rubbing Alcohol
Using rubbing alcohol is another way to deodorize shoes, as it is a surprisingly effective shoe deodorizer and disinfectant. Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spray the inside of the shoes to kill bacteria. Let the shoes dry and the foul odor should be gone. Spritz shoes often to keep any bad odor from returning.
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How To Use Borax To Deodorize Smelly Shoes
- 1. Mix SolutionPour about a liter of water and two tablespoons of Borax into the spray bottle. Use a dedicated spoon and spray bottle. Put the spray top back on and shake the bottle to mix up the solution. Properly label the mix solution to avoid confusion with other products.
- 2. Apply Solution to ShoesUse spray bottle to coat the inside of your shoes in the Borax spray. Be sure to not coat them too heavily so it does not stain and you can easily wash out of the shoes.
- 3. Place Out Of ReachOnce the shoes are covered be sure to close the spray nozzle and place the shoes and spray solution out of reach of children and pets. Let the mixture sit for 15-20 minutes.
- 4. CleanScrub the inside of your shoes and be sure to remove any excess Borax.
- 5. Repeat As NeededContinue this process for 2-4 days or until smell subsides. Usually only one wash is necessary, but it may require multiple depending on the intensity of the smell.
Thats Why Shoes Smell Bad
Have you noticed that some shoes start to smell bad faster than others? What causes bad odors in your shoes is a combination of sweat and bacteria. We all have a certain amount of bacteria on us, naturally. These bacteria help keep harmful bacteria and other invaders at a distance.
During the day, you always sweat a little, even on your feet. Your feet have around 250,000 sweat glands. If the shoes are tightly closed, the sweat stays in the pump until you remove them. Therefore, some shoes tend to smell worse than others.
When sweat and bacteria come into contact, the bacteria begin to break down the sweat. The effect is that various forms of smelly acid are formed in the shoes. Disgusting!
But how to get rid of the odor in shoes? Here are six valuable and straightforward ways to get rid of the disgusting smell for good.
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How To Get The Smell Out Of Shoes: Get Rid Of Shoe Odors With Odoban Odor Eliminator
Looking for the best shoe deodorizer spray? In this post, well cover how to use OdoBan® Disinfectant and Odor Eliminator on your shoes to eliminate smelly shoe odors and keep your shoes smelling fresh. OdoBan® is a multipurpose cleaning product and odor eliminator that eliminates shoe odors at the source.
OdoBan® is available in a Ready-to-Use spray and an economical concentrated formula. When using OdoBan® concentrate to eliminate shoe odors, create a use-solution by mixing 22 ounces of OdoBan® concentrate per gallon of water.
For a standard 32-ounce spray bottle, add 5.5 ounces of OdoBan® concentrate before filling the rest of the bottle with water. Learn more about mixing OdoBan® concentrate here.
OdoBan® concentrate comes in a variety of fresh scents. Our most popular OdoBan® scent for eliminating strong odors is Original Eucalyptus. This unique fragrance is based on a diverse blend of wildflowers and botanicals that can be traced back through thousands of years of use against bad smells.
Why do my shoes smell?
While wearing shoes, your feet are sealed in a moist, warm environment that is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. These bacteria feed on dead skin cells and skin oils and excrete bad-smelling organic acids.
Typically, the more your feet sweat, the more bacteria can grow and the stronger the resulting shoe odor.
OdoBan® eliminates shoe odors at the source and is the best shoe deodorizer.
Heres how to get smells out of shoes with OdoBan®:
Denture Tablet Shoe Soak
Youll only want to use this method on shoes that can be submerged completely in water without damage.
Take a bucket or medium size bin. Fill it with hot water. Drop in 3 to 4 denture tablets and allow them to dissolve. Toss in your sneakers and let them soak for 2 to 3 hours. Not only will they smell better but theyll be germ-free, at least for a while.
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What Do You Do If You Get Gasoline In Your Shoes
If you get gasoline in your shoes, the best thing to do is to brush with water and soap. To remove the gasoline stains and odors, youll want to soak your clothes and shoes in hot water and soap for at least an hour and then repeat. Water and soap are often enough to remove gasoline if the odors or stains arent exceptionally heavy.
Along with, If you have gasoline stains or smells on your clothes or shoes, the best way to remove them is to soak them in hot water and soap for at least an hour, and then repeat. Water and soap usually work well to remove gasoline if the smells or stains arent too strong.
How Do You Get Gasoline Out Of Clothing And Shoes
If youve accidentally gotten gasoline on your clothing or shoes, dont worry its not the end of the world. With a little bit of vinegar and some hot water, you can easily get rid of the gasoline and be on your way. Heres what you need to do:
In a sink or in a washtub, mix up a soak that is equal parts vinegar and hot water. The water should be as hot as you can make it. Let the clothing soak in the vinegar and hot water for at least half an hour.
After half an hour, take the clothing out of the soak and put it in the washing machine. Wash it on the hottest setting possible. Once its done washing, Hang the clothing up to dry.
And thats it! With just a little bit of effort, youve gotten rid of the gasoline and your clothing is good as new.
An additional, To clean gasoline out of your clothes, mix up a soak that is equal parts vinegar and hot water. The water should be as hot as you can make it. Let the clothing soak in the vinegar and hot water for at least half an hour.
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Sprinkle Baking Soda To Remove Gas Smell From Shoes
Learn how to get gasoline smell out of shoes or a way to get cigarette smell out of leather shoes by sprinkling baking soda, renowned for its multipurpose cleaning properties. Sprinkle baking soda into your gasoline spilled shoes, evenly coating the insoles, and let it sit overnight.
Sift the powder into a plastic bag or onto newspaper in the morning, and your shoes are ready. Baking soda absorbs a strong gasoline smell, leaving shoes smelling fresh even use it to make handmade sneaker balls.
- 1 pair of old socks
Cut the toe area off a pair of old socks, fill them each with two tablespoons of baking soda and glue them shut. Instead of sprinkling baking soda, drop these easy-to-make baking soda sneaker balls into your stinky sneakers overnight to get bad smell out of shoes.
Can You Put Vinegar On Shoes
It depends on the type of shoe and the amount of vinegar that is used. Some people believe that vinegar can help remove odors and stains from shoes, while others believe that it is not effective at all. If you want to try vinegar on your shoes, it is suggested that you use a small amount and test it first before applying it to entire shoes.
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Tip: How To Wash Tennis Shoes And Sneakers To Get Rid Of Foot Odor
Todays tennis shoes and sneakers often cost north of $100. To keep them looking and smelling like new, you can use your washing machine. To protect your investment, there are a few steps to follow. This method works well for fabric and leather athletic shoes.
1. Remove the laces and any removable insoles or inserts.
2. Wipe away any loose dirt and debris.
3. Place shoes, minus laces and inserts, in a mesh bag or pillowcase. Secure the opening so the shoes cant come out.
4. If you have a washing machine with an agitator, include some towels along with the shoes to balance the load. If you have a newer machine without an agitator, you probably dont need the towels.
5. Wash in warm water with a heavy-duty detergent.
6. Air dry your newly cleaned shoes. NEVER put them in the dryer.
7. Use a solution of water and baking soda to hand clean the insoles/inserts.
How To Fix Smelly Shoes With Cedar Wood
Cedarwood is a very powerful shoe deodorizer. Cedar contains essential oils that have antibacterial properties to kill off odor-causing bacteria. Cedar essential oils also have antifungal properties that can prevent athletes foot and other fungus related conditions.
Fill your shoes with cedar wood chips to get moisture-absorbing properties like the other ideas mentioned. You can also use cedar wood insoles to get these properties in a more permanent form.
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Unexpected Ways To Get The Odor Out Of Your Shoes
For a totally fresh start.
Okay, so your shoes smell. Youâre only human, after all. Itâs not like you wanted to stink up the elevator on the way to the 17th floor or create one of the most awkward rideshare experiences in the history of all time.
Let us offer some advice because this isnât our first Dear HMS situation. Weâve been helping people solve their stinkiest shoe conundrums for a while now and weâve discovered that there are 7âyes, count âemâ7 unexpected things you can do right now to liberate your feet from the oppressive reign theyâve had over your friends, family, and coworkers.
Getting The Stink Out Of Your Shoes
There are more sweat glands in your two feet than anywhere else on your body. And when bacteria breaks down that sweat, it can stink.
Because of all the sweat from your feet, which inevitably soaks into your shoes, stinky footwear is a rather common occurrence. While in some cases its a minor annoyance that really only impacts yourself, in others its a truly embarrassing matter people can smell it if theyre simply sitting next to you on the subway, and if you take your shoes off around folks, the stink can bowl them over!
The amount you sweat and the pungency of your body odor is partially genetic, and if youre on the more stinky end of things, youll just unfortunately have to do more to fight it .
Below youll find how to do just that. We start with a handful of tips focused on prevention, and then move into a number of mostly natural options you can try before youre forced to throw your permanently putrid footwear in an incinerator.
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Stop Sweaty Feet To Stop Stinky Shoes
If youre often plagued by sweaty feet, youll want to focus on stopping some of that sweat. An antiperspirant lotion like SweatBlock is perfect for reducing excessive sweat on the feet. Your feet contain more sweat glands than any other part of your body. Bacteria love sweaty feet and and stink loves bacteria.
If you can reduce some of that foot sweating, you can reduce a lot of the stink that comes along with it.
