Shoes are an essential part of our daily lives, protecting our feet and helping us get from point A to point B.
But as much as we love our shoes, they can sometimes become a bit of a nightmare when they start to stink. Whether it’s a favorite pair of sneakers, work boots, or even dress shoes, dealing with unpleasant odors can be frustrating and embarrassing. The odor from shoes is not only uncomfortable for you, but also easily affects others. Sometimes, even cleaning it every day has no effect.
But fear not! In this blog post, We’re going to share some tips on how to properly deodorize your shoes, so you can quickly resolve the problem no matter how smelly your shoes are.
Why Do Shoes Smell?
Before diving into the cleaning process, it’s essential to understand why shoes develop unpleasant odors in the first place. The primary culprit behind stinky shoes is bacteria. When your feet sweat, the moisture creates an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. These bacteria break down the sweat and dead skin cells, producing foul-smelling byproducts.
Other factors contributing to shoe odor include:
Sweaty feet
The feet sweat a lot, which provides favorable conditions for the growth of bacteria because sweat not only contains a lot of water but also contains some solid substances such as salts, fats, and proteins, which are good sources of nutrition for bacteria. The proliferation of bacteria leads to foot odor, and the odor in the shoes is naturally very strong.
Wearing shoes without socks
Many people don't like to wear socks when wearing sports shoes or canvas shoes, which makes the shoes smell worse. When you wear shoes barefoot, there is nothing to absorb sweat, so the sweat will penetrate every part of the sole, causing bacteria to grow on the sole and causing the shoes to smell.
Foot conditions
Certain foot conditions like athlete’s foot or hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) can exacerbate shoe odor.
Poor breathability of shoes
In spring and summer, sweating on the feet is inevitable. If the shoes you wear are tightly closed and not breathable, the sweat cannot be dissipated well. In a good temperature and humidity environment, bacteria will multiply and cause odor. Sneakers, leather shoes, canvas shoes, high boots, etc. are not suitable for breathable shoes.
How do i clean stinky shoes?
Sunlight deodorization method
Put your shoes in the sun, strong sunlight can kill some bacteria, and high temperature can remove some shoe odors. Of course, this depends on the material of your shoes. Some shoes cannot be placed in the sun, otherwise, they will be damaged.
Ventilation deodorization method
Placing your smelly shoes in a ventilated place can effectively reduce some of the odor. Never seal them in a shoe cabinet where the air is not circulating, as they will become more and more smelly.
Wash stinky shoes by hand or in a washing machine
Today, Most shoes can be washed. When your shoes have an odor, most people's solution is to wash the shoes, which can effectively remove the odor of the shoes.
Wash shoes by hand. mix warm water with a small amount of mild detergent, pour a small amount of white vinegar to make a mixed solution, soak the shoes for 20 minutes, and gently scrub the surface and inside with a soft brush. Then rinse with clean water, and finally dry with a towel, fill with paper towels, and place in a cool and ventilated place to dry.
Washing Shoes in a Washing Machine. Put your stinky shoes in this shoe bag to avoid damage and clean them thoroughly. Use a mild detergent, select a mild cleaning cycle with cold water, and after washing, place the shoes in a ventilated place to dry. Clean your stinky shoes quickly and easily.
Washing shoes can indeed remove odors, but it is troublesome and difficult to dry, and frequent shoe washing can easily shorten the life of the shoes.
What should you do if your shoes are too smelly?
Here are some simple tips to quickly remove the odor from your shoes without washing them. It is convenient and effective.
Baking Soda
Generously sprinkle baking soda inside the shoes and let it sit overnight. The baking soda will absorb moisture and neutralize odors.
The next day, shake out the excess baking soda from the shoes.
Vinegar
Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle.
Lightly spray the solution inside the shoes. The vinegar will help kill bacteria and neutralize odors.
Allow the shoes to air dry completely before wearing them.
Essential Oils
Select an essential oil with antibacterial properties, such as tea tree oil, eucalyptus, or lavender.
Add a few drops of the essential oil to a cotton ball or tissue and place it inside the shoes overnight.
Discard the cotton ball or tissue in the morning. Your shoes will be left smelling fresh.
Soap
Wrap the soap with a paper towel and put it directly into the shoes.
Leave it overnight and take it out the next day.
You will find that the odor has disappeared, and a light soap fragrance will be emitted.
75% Disinfectant alcohol
Spray alcohol into the shoes to clean the odor and bad smell inside the shoes.
Before wearing shoes, you can spray some 75% alcohol inside the shoes.
Shoe odor is also the smell of organic substances, which is easily soluble in alcohol ethanol. After being dissolved by alcohol, it will evaporate with the alcohol, thereby quickly removing the odor inside the shoes.
Lemon peel /Orange peel
Put fresh lemon peels or orange peels directly into your shoes and leave them there overnight.
The next morning, take out the lemon peels or orange peels and the odor will be gone.
Dried tea leaves
Prepare a disposable mask, cut it open from the side, open the opening, and pour the dry tea leaves in. Then use the cut ear ropes to tie up the mask to make a deodorizing "tea bag".
If you feel it troublesome, you can also just wrap the tea leaves with a paper towel.
Then put the "tea bag" into your shoes and wait for one night. The next day you will find that the odor in your shoes has been eliminated.
Desiccant
Many snack packages contain a small pack of desiccant, which has the dual functions of absorbing moisture and removing odors.
Put two small packets of desiccant directly into the shoes, one packet for each of the two parts that are prone to moisture, the toe and heel, and then put the shoes in a ventilated place.
After leaving it overnight, you will be surprised to find that the shoes not only become dry, but also the unpleasant odor disappears, and they are very comfortable to wear.
Preventing Shoe Odor
Cleaning and deodorizing your shoes is only part of the battle. To keep your shoes smelling fresh, it’s important to take steps to prevent odors from forming in the first place.
Proper Foot Hygiene
- Wash Your Feet Daily
Make sure to wash your feet thoroughly every day, paying special attention to the areas between the toes.
- Dry Your Feet Completely
After washing, dry your feet completely before putting on socks and shoes.
- Use Antibacterial Foot Powder
Consider using an antibacterial foot powder to keep your feet dry and reduce the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
Choosing the Right Socks
- Opt for Breathable Fabrics
Choose socks made from breathable fabrics like cotton or moisture-wicking materials that help keep your feet dry.
- Change Socks Daily
Always wear clean socks and change them daily to prevent moisture buildup.
Rotating Shoes
- Alternate Pairs
Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes every day. Rotating your shoes allows them to dry out completely between wears, reducing the risk of odor.
- Air Out Shoes
After wearing, leave your shoes in a well-ventilated area to air out.
Using Insoles and Odor Absorbers
- Odor-Absorbing Insoles
Consider using odor-absorbing insoles that contain activated charcoal or other deodorizing materials.
- Shoe Deodorizers
Use commercial shoe deodorizers or homemade sachets filled with baking soda and essential oils to keep shoes fresh.
In daily life, we need to wash and dry our shoes frequently. The socks we wear also need to be changed and washed every day. At the same time, we should develop the habit of washing our feet every day and changing shoes frequently to improve foot odor and reduce the odor produced by shoes.