How To Remove Stink From Shoes? Every one of us has those favorite sneakers we wear even when they stink. Thankfully, there are ways to mask the odor emanating from your sneakers and let them smell fresh once again.
Table of Contents
Tools and materials needed to remove shoe stink
- Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Soap
- Essential Oils
- Spray bottle
Unfortunately, shoe odor is not a common problem. It can be annoying to have clean feet but your shoes smell bad. Sometimes, it can also be extremely uncomfortable, leading to the question, how to remove stink from shoes?
Best Ways to Remove Stink From Shoes
Are you wondering, “How to remove stink from shoes”? Here are tips that can help you easily remove odor from shoes.
1. Baking Soda
The first method is baking soda, which is the answer to “How to remove stink from shoes”. Are you looking for an easy remedy to get rid of unpleasant odors from shoes? Baking soda is the answer. This is because it is a safe and non-toxic means of neutralizing odors by absorbing unpleasant odors and bacteria. There are different ways to use baking soda to deodorize shoes:
- Take a bowl and mix ¼ cup baking soda, ¼ cup baking powder, and ½ cup cornstarch. Place the mixture in a pair of cotton socks or rub the mixture into both shoes and leave it overnight. And to enhance the scent – add a few drops of essential oil – whatever you like the most.
- Or, if you don’t want to bother with it, you can put some plain baking soda in the shoes and wait at least a day without wearing them.
2. Spritz of Vinegar
The second method is vinegar, which is the answer to How to remove the stink from shoes. Spritz and vinegar combination Not only does the shoe keep dirt out, but the smell is also a challenge because it helps eliminate bacteria inside the shoe. Take a clean spray bottle and fill it with half water and half white vinegar. After using the shoe, spray the solution inside and let it dry. If you do this with your running shoes after every workout, they will stay fresher for longer.
- Tip: For best results, wash the outside and inside of the shoe before using the spray.
3. Soap
The third method is soap, which is the answer to How to remove the stink from shoes. An alternative solution to shoe stink is to take a bar of soap place it in a dish and leave it overnight without using soap. Soap has a disinfectant effect and also kills bacteria. Moreover, the soap has small holes inside, so it will soak up the odor and cover it with the pleasant scent of soap.
- Tip: Before putting the soap bars inside the shoes, make sure that the soap bars are not wet as moisture will only promote the growth of bacteria.
4. Sunlight
The fourth method is Sun, which is the answer to How to remove stink from shoes. Sunlight may be easy to remove excess moisture from your shoes, but it is one of the best ways to eliminate odors from them. After running in your shoes, hang them out in the sun for a few hours. This will allow them to air out let the stench out, and dry them completely before wearing them again.
5. Wear socks
The fifth method is to wear socks, which is the answer to how to remove stink from shoes. Leaving your feet bare and wearing your shoes without socks will cause your shoes to smell. Socks trap moisture and sweat that comes from warm feet, which is very important for those who have sweaty feet.
- Tip: You might want to try using Nike socks made of cotton, which have a very comfortable sock-like sock inside that will help reduce the odor in your shoes.
6. Essential Oils
The sixth method is Oil, which is the answer to how to remove stink from shoes. Tea tree oil, clove oil, and cedarwood oil are all well-known natural deodorants with antifungal properties. For example, a study published in December 2007 in Microbiology found that clove essential oil effectively inhibits the growth of bacteria on feet to eliminate odor. The oils mentioned above are a triple hit, fighting bacteria and covering smelly feet and legs with a pleasant scent.
Add a few drops of essential oil to the inside of your shoe and let it air dry. You can also use less concentrated oils along with home remedies that contain baking soda or vinegar, for example.
7. Maintaining Proper Foot Hygiene
The seventh method is hygiene, which is the answer to How to remove the stink from shoes. Extra attention is required while scrubbing one’s feet. Ensure you lather soap or a cleanser between each finger and on the foot’s sole and wash off well. A few more shoe hygiene pointers to combat the bad smell in shoes are as follows:
- Wear socks only once and do not repeat until washed.
- Always change worn-out socks and shoes soon after engaging in physical activities such as exercises to prevent the buildup of foul smells.
- Remember to dry your feet after scrubbing and washing them. Any water left on your feet will promote the growth of germs.
- Whenever you can, don’t wear shoes or socks to allow your feet to be designed. It provides an air conditioning effect on the sweat without making the bacteria spread.
8. Check the Insoles
The Eighth method is Insoles, which is the answer to how to remove stink from shoes. If you have had the same shoe insoles for quite some years, it is about time you got a new one. In most cases, shoe insoles are usually the culprit behind those bad smells within the shoes. It might be possible that a couple of new insoles introduced have ‘kept’ that bad odor away.
Causes of Shoe Stink
Shoe smell is one of those problems that everyone is likely to experience at least once. Knowing the source of the odor and pain enables you to take appropriate steps to deal with the concern. Some of the causes of bad shoe smell are explained below.
1. Sweat and Moisture Buildup
Sweating feet are normal and moisture can easily get trapped in shoes, especially closed-toe ones. The moist environment becomes conducive to the growth of bacteria after some time, which causes odor. Similarly, moisture hinders the proper drying of shoes and contributes to odor. As you should know, How to remove stink from shoes can only be possible after removing the excess sweat and water content in the shoes.
2. Bacterial Proliferation
Warm and moist conditions are most conducive for the growth of bacteria which is the inside of a shoe. The situation worsens when sweat pools up in those regions as it encourages the bacteria to continue multiplying and producing odors. Such bacteria are not just malodorous but can cause possible infections in the feet if the condition is not treated quickly. Learning how to remove stink from shoes caused by bacteria-assistive methods like freezing or disinfecting is very important.
3. Poor Air Circulation
Some shoes are made of materials such as plastic that are too tight and do not provide enough air circulation. When there is no airflow, moisture and sweat can accumulate, creating a smell that is damp and musty. Synthetic shoes tend to have more odor than those made of mesh or leather materials that allow more air to pass through.
4. Wearing Shoes Without Socks or Rotation
Without socks keep the feet and the inside of the shoes directly against the shoes, thus increasing the amount of sweat deposits. That smelly sweat, in turn, helps to deteriorate the lining material in the shoes. Similarly, wearing a pair of shoes every day does not allow the shoes to dry properly, resulting in odor problems. So the question of how to get rid of odor in shoes is more complicated than one might easily think because wearing socks and changing shoes frequently is enough to solve the problem.
Also, Why Do People Put Shoes on Power Lines? Shoes thrown on lines, especially power lines, are a common sight in urban environments and can be attributed to activities like street art or, at worst, gang affiliations, but in most cases, it is just an urban legend. The curiosity and culture associated with hanging shoes on power lines are components of a broader trend that has been observed throughout history.
