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! 🙂
Sweat X Sport Extreme Odor Eliminator Spray
Tester Smell Score: 4 out of 5
- Eco-friendly formula
- Smell was hit or miss among testers
While our testers were split on whether they actually liked the smell of Sweat X, they agreed that it did a stellar job of eliminating the scent of the Limburger. That said, the smell wasnt nearly as overwhelming as some of the other sprays. Plus, Sweat X also helps remove blood, dirt, and grass stains.
How To Clean Your Shoes And Insoles
Cleaning Tips for Shoes and Insoles
Odor in shoes and feet is common. With more than 250,000 sweat glands in our feet, sweat seems to be the main cause of odor. Keeping our feet, socks and shoes clean and dry is the first step to avoiding unwanted odors, but if this doesnt work, listed below are other options to try. Keep in mind that everyone’s body chemistry is different, so what works for one person may not work for another.
- Use warm water and mild soap or detergent and wipe down or gently scrub with an old toothbrush or nylon brush do not saturate with water. Air-dry overnight. It is a good idea to remove your insoles from your shoes each night so that air can dry each side. This is especially important if you perspire heavily.
- Spray your shoes and insoles with a combination of 50 percent water and 50 percent white, distilled vinegar. Spritz the mixture into your shoe lining and sole, and let it air dry for 30 minutes. You can use a hair dryer after that if you are in a hurry to dry the shoe. Follow that up with baking soda in the shoe overnight.
- Using a mixture of 2 parts vinegar and 1 part hot water, soak the insoles for a few hours. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and will work to kill the bacteria hiding in the shoes.
- SofSole Fresh Fogger spray:
- Some people use a pet odor remover found at pet stores or hardware stores. One brand was called “Out! Stain & Odor Remover.”
Partial references
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Put Dryer Sheets Inside The Shoes Overnight
Not only do fabric softener sheets smell pleasant, but they neutralize odors as well. That little sheet is literally a stink-stopping chemical-laden bomb. They can work wonders in a stinky shoe, even if theyre not actually good for your clothes or dryers. The chemicals in the sheet melt and scatter around the clothes in a dryer you dont have to think about it in a shoe. Ball up one or two of them and place them overnight in each shoe.
Regularly Sprinkle Baking Soda
This household powder has been used for decades as an odor absorbent. Regularly sprinkling baking soda within your shoes will do much to absorb the foot odor and maintain freshness within tennis shoes. As a helpful habit, keep a box of baking soda by your bed and pour a small amount of powder within each shoe before going to bed.
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Wash + Exfoliate Feet To Prevent Stinky Shoes
Since stinky shoes start with stinky feet, seems like thats a good place to begin. Practicing good foot hygiene can help keep the foot odor down.
Wash your feet every day. Even if you dont shower or bathe every day, take the time to wash your feet with warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and then dry with a clean, dry towel. Make sure you clean between your toes where bacteria love to grow.
Exfoliate. Removing dead skin can reduce foot odor. Wash your feet with an exfoliating pad, pumice stone, or exfoliating shower wipe.
Keep your feet dry. The bacteria that reacts with sweat thrives in moist areas. If your socks or shoes are wet, youve set up a feast for odor-causing bacteria. Wear breathable socks made of fabric that will wick away foot perspiration. Wearing shoes without socks may be fashionably cool, but its never a good idea. If you like stinky tennis shoes, dont wear socks.
How To Maintain Good Hygiene In Your Shoes
Finally, we teach you how you must maintain proper hygiene to avoid bad odor from your shoes:
- Try not to wear closed shoes every day. It is terrible for the health of our feet and promotes awful smell.
- When you get home, change shoes and let those shoes air out.
- It doesn’t matter if the shoe is of good quality. They all absorb the terrible smell. Hence, we must maintain good cleaning of them. You can use a damp cloth with detergent and brush them every day.
- Apply talcum powder if the sole sweat excessively. It is a simple remedy that helps us a lot daily.
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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.
Arm & Hammer Odor Busterz
Tester Smell Score: 4 out of 5
Searching for a foot cream worthy of Oprahs feet? Check out Footnanny, the brand that earned a spot on her 2020 List of Favorite Things. Made from tea tree oil , this cream helps absorb moisture and keep sweaty at bay, while also providing natural anti-fungal and bacteria-fighting properties. And, theres no additional harsh chemical additives. Simple ingredients like shea butter, cocoa seed, and aloe leaf provide vitamins A, C, E, and F chamomile helps soothe redness and irritation and essential oils deliver a refreshing scent. If Oprah runs another marathon, we expect shell be treating her feet to this cream at the finish line.
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Take Benefit Of The Sun
The UV rays of the sun destroy bacteria naturally. Thats why water can be filtered by sunlight. For long periods of time, you dont want to leave shoes in direct, warm sunlight, but they can handle it for a short span of time. Keep in mind though, it may not completely remove odor, but it will certainly eliminate some of it, and its totally natural and free, obviously.
Treat Your Athletes Feet Fungus
Sometimes Athletes foot fungal infection can be the cause of that horrible smell coming out of your tennis shoes. It is a fungal infection that starts on peoples toenails and spreads. Antibacterial creams, lotion, medicines etc. will not work to prevent athletes foot fungus, stop its growth or prevent that horrible mildew smell. This fungal infection may sometimes be similar to that of a bacterial infection, but the intensity would be greater.
You will feel a damp odor coming out of your tennis shoes. If you suspect such a fungal infection, it is better to go to the doctor and get checked. You cannot deal with a fungal infection on your feet with regular over the counter medicines.
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Dry Your Smelly Shoes Out
Wet shoes are definitely a common culprit of bad smells. As if the sweat your feet naturally produces wasnt bad enough, sloshing through rain or snow will not help your shoes in the scent department.
If you realize your smelly shoes problem is caused by added moisture from the elements, start by drying them out. Finding a sunny spot or other heated area will be beneficial for drying your shoes and reducing the spread of bacteria and therefore the smell.
Alternate Your Shoes Give Them Time To Air Out
The smell of your shoes can be greatly reduced by not wearing the same pair on consecutive days. Of course, this means youll need more than one pair of shoes. Assuming that you have at least two pairs, alternate the days you wear them. Give em a well-deserved rest. On their days off, pull out the tongue, loosen the laces and put them in a ventilated spot where they can air out.
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Customer Deodorizer Pouches For Stinky Shoes
Make your own deodorizer pouches for your shoes. Not only can you customize the size for your shoes, but you can also reuse the pouches again and again. Youll always have sweet-smelling shoes. Winner! To make the all natural basic deodorizer, you will need the following supplies:
- baking soda
- essential oils lavender, peppermint or whatever your favorite essential oil might be
Mr. Krabs: I smell the smelly smell of something that smells smelly.
Spongebob
How To Get Smell Out Of Tennis Shoes
This type of footwear is widely used and can develop foot odor during a range of activities. Once an unpleasant odor gets within the shoes, simply airing the footwear out will not always be enough to relieve the odor.
In such cases, there exist a wide range of household remedies geared specifically to remove difficult odors from shoes to return them to normal. By practicing some of the below step, you can be sure that the stench within your tennis shoes will be a thing of the past.
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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.
A Cure For Stinky Shoes
It doesnt matter who you are, weve all had a pair of tennis shoes that smelled really bad. Most people try to get the smell out of their 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.
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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 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.
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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.
What Is Mildew And How It Produces Foul Odor From Your Tennis Shoes
Mildew is not a bacterium, rather it is a fungus. It is a special fungus that infects and proliferates in a warm but dark environment. The environment has to be most enough for it to thrive. Since we wear tennis shoes for a long period of time, our feet get sweaty, which produces a healthy condition for the fungus to grow?
The insoles of our tennis shoes are a big thriving ground for mildew fungus, as due to perspiration of our feet the insoles get damp and wet from sweat. Besides, if our tennis shoes get wet, muddy due to water, rain, snow or any other factors this provides the fungus to proliferate more.
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Spray Essential Oils Into Your Shoes
Essential oils are a big thing for millions around the world. If youre a fan of essential oils and their natural super powers, this essential-oils-for-stinky-shoes treatment will surely appeal to you. Be sure youre using high-quality essential oils.
- 1. Grab a small spray bottle. The 2.7-ounce size is ideal.
- 2. Fill halfway with unscented witch hazel.
- 3. Add distilled water leaving just a little space at the top of the bottle for these essential oils: 6 drops peppermint essential oil, 4 drops tea tree oil , 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil, 1 drop thyme essential oil
- 4. Screw the spray top onto the bottle.
- 5. Shake well.
- 6. Spray lightly the entire interior of the shoe. Dont forget the toe box.
- 7. Place the treated shoes in a sealable plastic bag to heighten effectiveness.
- 8. Let dry.
Each time you detect offending shoe odor, spray again. Not only will this essential concoction deodorize your shoes, but it also has the power to kill odor-causing bacteria. It might just be the best deodorizing spray youve ever tried.
What Causes The Stench In My Shoes
The short answer is sweat. Your feet sweat naturally. Moisture promotes bacteria growth and that is the main cause of stinky shoes. Your feet can still produce an unpleasant odor no matter how clean your feet are. Did you know that there are up to 250,000 sweat glands on your feet that produce up to half a pint of sweat a day? Thats crazy.
The sweat on your feet is different from the sweat on the rest of your body. This is because your feet are enclosed in shoes or socks all the time. As mentioned before, moisture trapped in your socks or shoes creates a breeding ground for bacteria and it reeks! This harbors the funk that gets stuck in your shoes. When your shoes continue to carry such bacteria, it can lead to blisters and athletes foot.
Before you freak out about how gross feet and bacteria can be, remember that sweat is natural. Now youre wondering how to get smell out of shoes and here are some simple steps. Its fairly simple and youll surely defeat any harboring bacteria in your shoes before throwing them away.
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