Shoes and feet that stink can cause discomfort, embarrassment, and can draw people away from you. Think of a plan of attack to freshen up smelly shoes, so as to avoid having to change shoes (and friends) too often. Here are three different ways to solve the problem.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Natural Methods
Step 1. Look for the cause
Take a moment to examine the shoes before attempting any intervention. If the insoles are damp or damaged, allow them to dry or replace them with a pair of insoles specially formulated to prevent bacterial growth.
Step 2. Dry your shoes by placing them near a heat source or in the sun
Remove the laces and lift the tab, to speed up the process. By keeping them dry, you will help prevent the bacteria that cause odor from forming.
Step 3. Purchase cedar wood insoles
This wood is antifungal and can help you prevent bad odor. Additionally, cedar wood smells good, fresh and light, making it a great choice for both eliminating odor and preventing bacteria build-up.
Step 4. Freeze your shoes
Place the offending shoes in a plastic bag, then leave them in the freezer overnight. Let them thaw in the sun the next day for best results.
While it hasn't been proven, this strategy works. The idea is that freezing the shoe would kill the bacteria responsible for the stench, although some argue that this is only a temporary remedy. You just have to try it out for yourself
Step 5. Use fabric softener or fabric softener wipes
Wrap a couple of softening wipes (the kind you put in the dryer or sheets to keep them soft) and slip them into your shoe. The wipes are supposed to scent your shoes and absorb moisture at the same time.
Step 6. Use a steam cleaner, or your washer / dryer steam program
Steam can help eradicate fungi and bacteria, thus eliminating bad odors. If you don't mind getting the shoe wet, you can try this method.
Step 7. Put orange, grapefruit, lemon or lime peels inside the shoes
The citrus peel has a very pleasant smell, thanks to the essential oils it contains. Leave them in your shoes at night and take them off before putting them on. The smell should be much better.
Step 8. Put a few drops of lavender oil in your shoes
A couple of drops will be enough inside each shoe, on the insole. This will add antibacterial properties and eliminate the odor, replacing it with a fresh fragrance.
Part 2 of 2: Chemical Methods
Step 1. Use antifungal talc or an antibacterial spray
Both are easily found in supermarkets.
- Antifungal talc is often associated with athlete's foot. Although this form of mycosis causes bad odors, a foul-smelling shoe is not necessarily a symptom of athlete's foot.
- However, if you suffer from athlete's foot, consider using a tea tree cream, lotion, or blend to fight the fungus. Tea tree oil is natural, fragrant and naturally antifungal. Apply it on the feet to treat athlete's foot.
Step 2. Take the insoles and laces out of the shoes and place them in a pillow
Machine wash cold. Repeat the wash, then let them air dry.
Step 3. Put baking soda in the offending shoes
If the freezer trick doesn't work, spread out a generous helping of baking soda and leave it in your shoes overnight to allow them to soak up bad odors. Baking soda can be used in a variety of ways, including as an antifungal.
- Alternatively, you can mix baking soda with powdered zinc oxide to create a powerful antifungal deodorant. Mix the baking soda and zinc in equal parts and let them sit in your shoes overnight. Zinc oxide also has deodorant and antibacterial properties.
- The next day, before putting on your shoes, remove all the dust, to avoid leaving white traces around all day.
Step 4. Try buying shoe deodorants
They often contain special bacteria / enzymes that eliminate those responsible for bad odors.
Step 5. Use denatured alcohol
Blot unclean shoes with cotton wool soaked in denatured alcohol. This will help dry the shoes and eliminate what is causing the stink so you can use them again. Alcohol evaporates quickly and is also an antiseptic. Even mixed with other liquids, it evaporates quickly.
Step 6. Use clean cat litter
It may seem strange to you, but there is a reason why the cat litter works: it has excellent deodorizing properties. Fill a sock with clean litter, tie a knot to keep it closed, then leave it in your shoes overnight.
Step 7. Use water and white vinegar
Spray your shoes with a half water and half white vinegar solution. Let the shoes air dry for 30 minutes. If you are in a hurry you can also dry them with a hairdryer. At night you can use the baking soda method instead.
