Are your shoes the talk of the town because of their annoying smell? Bad smell in shoes can be a very embarrassing thing. Fortunately, there is a way to work around this. In fact, there are dozens of ways to get rid of bad smells from shoes. Depending on the conditions, the best choice for you might even be just a few homemade ingredients.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Quick and Easy Way
Step 1. Sprinkle baking soda into the shoe
This option is renowned for its success. Sprinkling about 1 tablespoon of baking soda on smelly shoes can help absorb odors and moisture that promotes bacterial growth. For best results, sprinkle baking soda after taking off your shoes at night, then toss them before putting them on again in the morning.
You may want to avoid this option for leather shoes, as baking soda can dry them out
Step 2. Insert the newspaper into the shoe
Instead of throwing yesterday's newspaper in the trash, reuse it to get rid of the smell of shoes. Put a roll of newspaper in the smelly shoe, then let it sit for a few days in a dry place. The newspaper will gradually absorb odors and moisture from the inside of the shoe, leaving it feeling as fresh as new.
You can also spray your favorite perfume or scented oil into your shoes. A few drops of vanilla extract are very effective at removing odors
Step 3. Try using cat litter
While it may not be something you'd ever imagine getting into a shoe, cat litter is specifically designed to neutralize odors, so it's actually a great option. Sprinkling 1 or 2 tablespoons of clean cat litter into your shoes before bed will do a great job of removing odors. However, don't forget to take the cat litter out of your shoes the next day!
Step 4. Try using ground coffee
If you're a coffee fan, use your leftover ground coffee every day to get rid of shoe odors. Sprinkling some dry ground coffee into the inside of your shoe and letting it sit for a few hours is a great way to get rid of odors. Pay attention to using dry ground coffee, as wet ground coffee will dampen your shoes (and make their smell worse once they dry) and can even stain brightly colored shoes.
Ground coffee is also useful as a general deodorizer. Try putting ground coffee in an open bowl in the fridge. The result should be similar to if you used baking soda
Step 5. Wipe the shoes with white vinegar
Wiping the inside of your shoes with a cloth that has been moistened with white vinegar is a great way to get rid of smelly feet. Allow the shoes to dry completely before putting them on again, or else you'll just replace the smell of your feet with the smell of vinegar. Put old newspapers inside your shoes to help absorb moisture if you apply too much vinegar.
- Alternatively, try using vinegar with baking soda as described above to create a foam that will fill the inside of the shoe and remove the odor.
- Only use white vinegar in this step. Other vinegars, such as apple cider vinegar, and balsamic vinegar, can stain your shoes.
Step 6. Wipe with rubbing alcohol
Alcohol is a strong disinfectant, and is capable of killing a wide variety of bacteria and microorganisms. This makes alcohol very useful for killing odor-causing bacteria from inside shoes. Wet a cotton ball or cotton swab with rubbing alcohol (or isopropyl alcohol) and rub it into the inside of the shoe. Be sure to wipe the entire inside of the shoe, all the way to the corners, and re-wet your cotton pad if necessary.
Step 7. Use a dryer sheet
Disposable tools that are usually used when washing clothes are a cheap and easy option to deal with smelly feet. Put a dryer sheet in your shoes at night to get rid of the smell. For best results, be sure to use a scented dryer sheet. Even if they absorb odors, an unscented dryer sheet won't leave your shoes feeling fresh.
Step 8. Freeze the shoes
According to some sources, this whimsical way will make your shoes smell fresh once the temperature returns to normal. Putting shoes in the freezer overnight is believed to kill bacteria that cause bad odors.
However, you should note that some sources deny the usefulness of this method. You may want to try this method along with one of the others above to confirm the results if you really have to wear fresh shoes
Method 2 of 2: Overcome Strong Smells
Step 1. Machine wash shoes
When your clothes smell bad, you wash them, so why not use the same method for your shoes? For best results, remove the insole and laces, then put them all in a pillowcase or washing bag so they don't separate. Wash in warm or hot water using your usual laundry detergent. Repeat the wash cycle especially on shoes that smell very bad.
- If you can, dry the shoes in the sun to dry. This allows the shoes to be exposed to fresh air so they can "breathe". In addition, sunlight is also useful as a natural disinfectant that will repel odor-causing bacteria.
- Note that this option is not appropriate for shoes that are easily damaged by water (such as leather shoes).
Step 2. Use a disinfectant
Bacteria and fungi can grow on the inside of shoes that are exposed to sweat, damp air, and smelly feet for years. To kill these organisms a strong disinfectant solution may be required. This method uses bleach, so it is not suitable for dark colored shoes. You should also not use this option on shoes that are easily affected by moisture, such as leather shoes. Follow these steps:
- Soak shoes in alcohol. Allow the alcohol to soak through the inside and outside of the shoe for about 5 minutes.
- Dry the shoes in the sun to dry. If the weather conditions are not favorable, dry with a low temperature machine.
- Mix water and bleach 1:1. Pour this solution into a spray bottle and gently spray the inside and outside of the shoe. Take the insole out, and remove the laces to make sure the solution covers the entire shoe.
- Use an antifungal spray, such as a bleach solution, if you have one. Or, dry the shoes in the sun before putting them back on.
Step 3. Purchase a new insole
If the smell of your shoes is really bothering you, you can try replacing the parts to remove the source of the odor. A new pair of insoles is probably the most effective part of dealing with it. The insole of the shoe is sold as an accessory in shoe stores and is quite inexpensive. Your shoes will also be more comfortable to wear, because these soles are made to support the feet of people who often walk or stand.
Step 4. Carefully heat the shoes in the microwave to kill the bacteria
Heat is a powerful option for killing bacteria, and this is one of the reasons why meat must be cooked before eating. You can heat your shoes in the microwave to kill the bacteria, as long as you're careful. Heating your shoes for too long can damage your shoes and your microwave. This method is also not suitable for leather shoes or shoes made of water-resistant materials. This method also should not be used on shoes decorated with metal objects. To heat shoes in the microwave, follow these steps:
- Wet the cloth with water. Wipe the inside and outside of the shoe so that it is completely damp, but not soggy.
- Put the shoes in the microwave. Remove the rotating dish in the microwave, if applicable.
- Heat the shoes on high for 30 seconds. Stop and check the temperature of the shoes with the back of your hand. If the shoe doesn't feel hot, reheat it for 30 seconds.
- Continue heating the shoes for 30 seconds until they are hot enough. Use tongs to remove the shoe and let it dry on its own.
Step 5. Take care of your feet
Another powerful way to deal with shoe odor is to remove odors from their source, the soles of your feet. Clean, dry and odor-free feet will keep odors away from your shoes.
- One way to maintain the freshness of the soles of the feet is to use talcum powder. Sprinkle some powder on the soles of your feet and socks if they start to sweat. This powder will absorb moisture and prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
- For more information, read our article on foot odor.
Tips
- One method that can be used over and over again is to add baking soda to an old stocking, then tie it tightly. Put these baking soda-filled stockings in your shoes when you're not wearing them to absorb the smell before it builds up.
- If you have extra money, buy a new pair of shoes to help with this problem. Changing shoes daily allows them to "breathe" between uses, greatly reducing any unpleasant odors that may build up.
