There is nothing worse than smelly shoes, especially if the smell is coming from your favorite pair of sneakers. You clean your feet, check your shoes, and they do not seem to smell too bad. However, after about ten minutes, you start to get this awful odor wafting up. If you are out with other people, it can be embarrassing, particularly if someone asks what the awful smell is. All you can do is hope that they think it is coming from a clogged drain or a nearby trash can. To that end, is there anything you can do other than trashing your shoes or, better yet, incinerating them? The good news is that you can get rid of bad smells from your shoes, and in the below paragraphs we outline how.
Shoe Deodorizers
The makers of ShoeFresh shoe deodorizer say that bacteria are the culprit when it comes to smelly shoes. Sweaty feet are a breeding ground for bacteria, and when the bacteria build up it leads to a release of organic acids, which can result in a nasty smell. By spraying your shoes with a good-quality shoe deodorizer before this happens, you can eliminate bad odors. Shoe deodorizing sprays can prevent odor for up to three months, making them a cost-effective way to keep your shoes smelling clean and fresh.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another method for removing bad smells from shoes. You can sprinkle some baking soda into your smelly shoes and leave it there for a minimum of twenty-four hours before shaking it into the trash. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer. It will help to get rid of bacteria and the unpleasant smell in your shoes. Once you have removed the excess baking soda, try a few drops of an essential oil in the shoes, such as lavender or tea tree, and allow it to dry before wearing the shoes again.
Washing Your Shoes
If your shoes smell bad, try washing them. If you are going to wash them in the machine, make sure you choose a low temperature and place the shoes in a pillowcase or shoe bag that is closed at the top. After the wash, allow the shoes to air dry, preferably in the sunshine, as UV light can help to kill bacteria.
Freeze Them
Something you might find strange but that works very well is to place your shoes in a tied plastic bag and then popping them into the freezer overnight. The cold temperature of the freezer will kill the bacteria.
How to Make Your Shoes Smell Good
Learning how to remove bacteria and bad smells in your shoes is great, but you can go that step further and make them smell fresh and clean. After using a deodorizing spray to eliminate bad smells and prevent bacteria buildup, you can try some popular methods to add a perfumed scent.
Some people like to place a bar of their favorite soap inside each shoe overnight. The soap not only smells good, but it also kills any bacteria in the shoes. It is important however to make sure that the soap is dry before you put it in the shoe and once you use it for your shoes, keep it for this purpose only. Do not take it back to the bathroom for your hands or body!
Washing machine scent boosters are a terrific way to add a lovely smell to your sneakers. These tiny beads can be placed in a mesh bag and then left inside the sneakers overnight for a lovely fresh smell every time you wear your shoes.
