What To Do For Stinky Shoes

Coffee Grounds Hack For Stinky Shoes

Coffee grounds can freshen everything from shoes to garbage disposals! If your household doesnt drink coffee or you would rather not dig out the small number of grounds from each of your coffee pods, you can stop in at your local coffee shop. Most coffee shops will have bags of coffee and espresso grounds that they will happily let you take for free. I love the smell of coffeeso when I grab the bags of grounds I also use my mate-less socks to make bags of odor absorbers. These are good anywhere there is a stinky smell: under the seats of the car to absorb musty odors the area that houses the kittys litter box under the sink of the bathroom.

The coffee grounds that you pick up at the coffee shop may be damp, if thats the case pour some out into a shallow plastic storage container and allow them to dry before you used them to freshen up your shoes or making your odor absorbers. Put the coffee grounds in aluminum foil first before adding them to your shoes or You dont want a wet, mushy mess on your hands .

Make An Essential Oil Foot Spray

There are a ton of ways you can make a simple foot spray out of essential oils, so I wanted to give you just a simple base recipe that you can modify depending on what smells you like the best .

In a small glass bottle , combine the following:

• 10 drops of Purification
• 5 drops of lemongrass
• 5 drops of oregano
• fill the bottle with water

Shake the bottle before each use. You can use it to spray directly on your feet or into your shoes. It is gentle enough for daily use.

Feel free to substitute different essential oils and see which you like best!

Homemade Foot And Shoe Deodorizers

Once you make these shoe odor removers, you can store them indefinitely. Stash a bottle of the spray or powder in your closet, and maybe another in your gym bag. Then use it immediately after you slip off your shoes. If foot odor is a severe problem, you might also want to go soak your feet as soon as youre done.

White vinegar is a natural disinfectant. Tea tree oil kills bacteria. This effective shoe spray uses both to get rid of odors and the bacteria that cause them.

Shoe Deodorizing Spray

Combine 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar, and 5 drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle. Shake well. Mist the inside of your shoes, or apply the spray to a cloth and wipe the shoe interior. Avoid getting the spray on the outside, visible part of your shoes. Once youve sprayed them, let your shoes air dry before wearing them.

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer, and tea tree oil kills bacteria. Using cornstarch helps keep this shoe powder from clumping. Store it in an air-tight container so it remains effective.

Deodorizing Shoe Powder

Combine 3 tablespoons baking soda, 1 tablespoon corn starch, and 5 drops of tea tree oil in a small container. Lightly sprinkle this deodorizing powder inside your shoes after you take them off. Let it sit overnight to absorb sweat and kill odors, then shake the excess out of your shoes before wearing them.

Deodorizing Foot Soak

Recommended Reading: Where Can I Sell My Shoes Online

Use Rubbing Alcohol And Essential Oils

If you arent satisfied with the remedies using baking soda alone, try this combination instead. Its a little riskier than using just plain baking soda, but it also provides a stronger solution for getting rid of shoe odor fast!

The ingredients that youll need are rubbing alcohol, water, glycerin and your favorite essential oil. Heres how to put them all together to get rid of odor in shoes!

• Step 1 : Mix one part rubbing alcohol with two parts water in a spray bottle. Feel free to add a little glycerin if youd like. This will help to thicken the solution and it wont ruin the smell of your shoes!
• Step 2 : Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to provide an extra boost that will leave your shoes smelling lovely. You can use more or less depending on how strong you want the smell to be.
• Step 3 : Next, spray your shoe evenly with the alcohol and water mixture and leave it like that all night long. By morning, they should be smelling wonderful! If not, simply repeat steps two and three until they do.

Steam Clean Shoes To Kill Bacteria And Odor

Steam can help eradicate bacteria and foot odor in your shoes. If you have a dryer with a steam feature, give that a try. Be sure that you try this method on shoes that can tolerate moisture.

Another method using steam requires a steam cleaning appliance. These are used for cleaning and disinfecting things around the house. Just stick the steam machines nozzle into each shoe for about 30 seconds. Let them completely dry before wearing again.

Also Check: What Does 4e Mean In Shoe Size

How Do You Clean The Inside Of Climbing Shoes

Climbing shoes are often full of dust, dirt, and debris that can cause odor and even fungal infections. A good thorough cleaning will help you keep your climbing shoes smelling and feeling great! Heres how to clean the inside of a pair of climbing shoes:

Step 1 Remove the Insole

To remove the insole, simply pull it out by hand. If you have trouble removing it, try using scissors or an Exacto knife to trim off any excess fabric.

Step 2 Clean Sole with Soap and Water

Use a brush to scrub any large particles off of the sole. After scrubbing, clean with warm soapy water. Dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Step 3 Use Hydrogen Peroxide Spray

After cleaning with soap and water, spray your climbing shoe with hydrogen peroxide spray. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes then scrub again with a brush to remove any remaining particles from the sole of your shoe. Dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Step 4 Apply Anti-Fungal Spray Inside Shoes

If you want your climbing shoes to last longer, spray anti-fungal sprays on the inside of your shoe after drying.

Why Do Your Climbing Shoes Stink

The main reason why your climbing shoe smells is because of the material used in the construction of the shoes upper. Leather, canvas, nylon, and suede are all materials that can lead to smelly climbing shoes. These materials allow bacteria and odors to soak into the shoe and persist over time.

The smell also comes from sweat and moisture trapped inside the shoe. The best way to combat this is by drying your climbing shoes after each use. If you are not able to let them dry out, try airing them out by leaving them overnight so they get some fresh air.

Heres how it works:

Your feet have more than 250,000 sweat glands theyre one of the most effective ways your body has of releasing excess heat . When trapped in thick socks and shoes on a long, active climb, your feet release a significant amount of sweat that has nowhere to go.

That sweat then becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, which feed off of it and produce acidic byproducts that we perceive as bad foot odor.

You May Like: How Much Do Diabetic Shoes Cost

Natural Foot Spray For Foot Odor

This amazing recipe is all-natural foot spray which capable of killing the bacteria and de-stink the shoes effectively. Why? The grapefruit seed extract, rosemary essential oil and tea tree oil contains antibacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic agents. The lavender oil and geranium oil soothes the skin. Apart from making you feet smell better, this recipe also heals them.

• To a small bottle, add 1 ounce witch hazel, 20 drops each of tea tree oil and lavender oil, 35 drops of grapefruit seed extract, 15 drops of geranium oil, 10 drops of peppermint oil, 5 drops of rosemary oil and 1/2 ounce of rubbing alcohol.
• Close the lid of the bottle and shake well to incorporate all the ingredients.
• Spray the mixture as many times as you want on your feet. Especially after a shower and before putting on your shoes.
• The mixture is quickly absorbed by the skin and leaves an amazing herbal scent.
• Note: Make sure to shake the mixture well before each use.

Wear Open Shoes As Often As Possible

Wear open shoes as often as you can because they let air in. The air helps evaporate sweat and impedes the growth of odor-causing bacteria. If it is too cold to wear sandals, choose shoes made of natural materials like canvas or leather. These materials let the skin breathe and the feet dry out naturally.

You May Like: How Much Does It Cost To Ship Shoes Usps

Epsom Salt A Remedy With Immediate And Lasting Effect

This is a great home remedy that you may have heard of. It offers a lasting and fast effect. Why does salt water work against foot odor? It neutralizes the acid produced by the bacteria in your shoe.

Required Ingredients:

• A cup of warm water

• 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom salt

Process:

• Dissolve the salt in the water and dab on the inside of the shoe until the glass is empty.
• You can do this as many times as necessary until the odor is gone.

Try Coffee Grounds With Vinegar/baking Soda

Coffee grounds are a great deodorizing agent, and a fantastic source of caffeine! All you need to do is follow the steps outlined above , but use coffee grounds instead! Also use coffee filter before taking coffee grounds.

• Step 1: Mix baking soda with water until you have a thick paste.
• Step 2: Apply the paste to shoes and allow it to sit overnight.
• Step 3: Brush off any excess powder in the morning.
• Step 4: Spray coffee grounds onto shoes and allow them to air dry.
• Step 5: Follow the same procedure as outlined above for vinegar or ammonia, but use coffee grounds instead.
• Step 6: Then allow them to air-dry overnight. Repeat until they are odor-free!

Don’t Miss: What Are The Best Dress Shoes For Wide Feet

Freshen Your Shoes With Tea Bags

This home remedy for shoe odor works the same way as the cat litter and wood chips methods. All you need are some stinky shoes and unused tea bags.

Place two or three tea bags inside each shoe. Let stand for several hours or overnight. The dried tea in the bags will absorb that bad odor emanating from your shoes. Simple. Easy. Effective.

Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Stinky Smell From The Shoes

• 86 views

Experiencing stinky smells coming from your shoes? It is quite disgusting and a major social hurdle as well. Sweaty feet, bacteria and foot infections are some of the reasons why shoes emit stinky smell.

There are many ways to de-stink the shoe odor. Though if you think your shoes are dirtier and beyond recovery then it is better to toss them away. As the bacteria present in them can cause foot infections.

If you want your shoes to stay odor less then here are some of the remedies you can try at the comfort your home.

You May Like: How To Get Dirt Out Of White Shoes

How Do I Prevent Shoes From Smelling

Prevention is key when youre deep in the hole of the stinky shoe problem. You need to practice proper foot hygiene and proper shoe care. Make a mental note of these steps before putting your running shoes on and walking out the door.

Dos

• Thoroughly wash your feet use mild soap and wash between the toes. Remember to dry your feet thoroughly. This step prevents smelly feet.
• Apply foot powder if your feet always sweat, apply foot powder to keep them dry throughout the day.
• Use Moisture-wicking socks these socks suck all the moisture from your feet to keep them dry and to avoid blisters and athletes foot.
• Dry your shoes dry your shoes between each wear. Storing them in your gym bag makes them stay damp and houses smelly microbes.
• Put deodorant on your feet this seems like a weird thing to do but using a non-fragrance deodorant inhibits odor-producing bacteria and fungi. Many marathon walkers put antiperspirants on their feet to prevent blisters. Do a patch test on one foot or a toe and see if it gets irritated after 24 hours.
• Use washable insoles replace your shoes insoles with a washable insole that grips well enough to stay put. These insoles should absorb moisture and cushion feet properly. Wash them after three to six uses.

Donts

How To Prevent Smelly Shoes In The First Place

• Help avoid shoe odor by wearing athletic socks made from a blend of synthetic fabrics , which will help keep feet dry, says Kathy Gates, owner of the Running Well Stores in the Kansas City, Missouri area.
• Dont wear the same shoes day after day. If you can, alternate between shoes so each pair has a chance to air out.
• If youre storing sneakers away for the season, clean them first. Then stuff them with newspaper to absorb moisture or sprinkle the inside of the shoe with a deodorizing powder, such as baking soda. Vacuum up any excess powder before wearing.

Dont Miss: How To Start Selling Shoes

You May Like: How To Whiten Mesh Shoes

What To Do With Stinky Shoes

This post may contain affiliate links which wont change your price but will share some commission.

You know what really stinks?

Shoes. After theyve had feet in them.

And after theyve gotten wet. Or sweaty. Or dirty. Or wet, sweaty and dirty. You may think something large and furry crawled into your closet and died. Oh no. Its just the shoes.

Thankfully there is hope. You do not have to dread being in the same vehicle with the wearer of said 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.

Don’t Miss: How To Clean Mold Off Shoes

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.

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.

Don’t Miss: How To Clean Dudes

How To Get The Smell Out Of Shoes

Smelly shoes are not only annoying, they can be embarrassing too! But dont throw out those stinky shoes just yet! Well show you 6 of the best methods on how to get the smell out of shoes.

The helpful tips are one of my favorite tips for keeping my house clean and odor free. Some of my other favorite cleaning hacks are these tips for Cleaning Your Vents, keeping your Washing Machine Clean and getting that baked on food off of your Oven Glass.

What Is The Treatment For Smelly Shoes And Stinky Feet

• Topical 20% aluminium chloride hexahydrate in anhydrous ethyl alcohol may help to reduce the hyperhidrosis. The solution is applied at night and allowed to dry. It should be used daily until the condition is brought under control.
• Formaldehyde as 4% solution might reduce hyperhidrosis in addition to antiseptic action. Soak for 10 15 mins.
• Iontophoresis is used for palmoplantar hidrosis if formaldehyde fails.
• Topical 5% buffered glutaraldehyde used three times weekly till symptomatic and the 2 or 2.5% maintenance treatment as required.
• Topical clotrimazole 1% cream twice daily. Topical clindamycin 2% solution twice daily and topical aluminium chloride hexahydrate each evening for eight weeks works wonders.

Recommended Reading: What Are The Best Dress Shoes For Wide Feet

Homemade Shoe Deodorizer Powder

This process can be a little messy but the result makes it quite worthy of trying. This process can be used when you really need to dislodge some serious stench.

• Combine some baking soda, arrowroot powder and essential oil.
• Sprinkle the mixture generously inside the shoes.
• Leave it on for 2 3 days.
• Dump out the mixture and your shoes will smell amazing.