How to Remove Smell from Shoes?

Are you tired of the stinky shoes after you wear them on a long day at work? Yeah, it is definitely a sign that you need to remove the smell from your shoes ASAP! Footwear, by all means is the most essential thing for all our entire day hustle. However, when you come back home after really tiring day, you feel the same bad smell from your shoes again and again. If we’re being really honest, the smell doesn’t really leave a good impression on anyone, especially the people around you. Now, you must be thinking how exactly can you remove that smell? There are some proven methods that you can work on to finally get rid of that odor. So, let’s not waste any further time and get right into the solutions to keep your shoes smelling as lovely as ever!

Eliminating Odor from Footwear

Shoes really do define our personality. Therefore, whenever we go out, to highlight the aspects of our persona, we need to don the right footwear. But the most important thing here is to make sure you look after your shoes. Whether you put them in washing machine and properly wash them white sneakers out simply finding ways to remove the gum out of your shoes. Often brought on by bacteria creating organic acids, smelly shoes can be a continual annoyance. Luckily, various easy techniques exist to keep your shoes fresh and eliminate the shoe smell.

Popular house treatments for absorbing and neutralizing smells are baking soda, white vinegar, and aromatic oils.
To remove smell from shoes, wearing socks and proper drying can help stop the formation of germs, thus lowering the possibility of unpleasant aromas.
These techniques can help you eliminate unpleasant odors from your shoes and give you a cleaner, more comfortable wearing experience.

First things first, let us look at the root of this smelly problem!

A view of a person spraying inside shoes to remove smell

A Glimpse at Causes of Foot Odor

Before working on how to get rid of foot odor, one must first know its underlying reasons. Your feet, which abound in sweat glands, start the issue.

Foot Sweat Glands in Feet

For remove smell from shoes, one hundred twenty-five thousand sweat glands abound in every foot.
More sweat glands per square inch than anywhere else are found in your foot soles.
Every day, the feet release almost half a pint of sweat.

Odor and Sweat

While sweat smells nothing, the accumulation within your shoes provides a haven for microorganisms.
Perfect surroundings for bacteria
Sweaty feet darken and wet the inside of shoes.
Perfect circumstances for bacterial development are these.

Bacterial Degradation

Bacteria break down components in your sweat.
Strong, bad-smelling thioalcohols are produced by this procedure.
Targeting the bacteria or absorbing the thioalcohol they generate can help eliminate foot odor since you cannot stop your feet from sweating. Knowing these factors starts with finding workable answers for foot odor.

A view of shoes and baking soda

Some Home Remedies to Remove Odor

Let’s look at some home remedies to keep that bad smell away form your shoes.

Using Baking Soda

Natural deodorizer baking soda efficiently absorbs shoe scents and bacteria. Two techniques of application for this are;

Combine ½ cups of cornstarch, ¼ cups of baking powder, and ¼ cups of baking soda. Either sprinkle the mixture right into your shoes or put it in cotton socks. For the finest results, put it on shoes and leave it overnight. To further enhance the aroma, add a few drops of essential oil.
For a less complicated method, toss plain baking soda into the shoes and let it sit for at least 24 hours.

Spritz of Vinegar

Vinegar kills germs and neutralizes smells. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
After use, spray the solution inside your shoes and let them dry completely. Before applying the solution, carefully clean your shoes for the best efficiency.

Dish Soap

To remove smell from shoes, put a bar of soap inside every shoe and let it sit overnight.
Porous and odor-absorbing soap replaces smells with a fresh, soapy scent. Ensure the soap bars are dry before using them to stop moisture build-up.

Daylight

One simple and quick approach to eliminating smells is letting your shoes dry under direct sunlight for a few hours.
The sun helps dry out excess moisture, lowering bacterial count and odor generation to remove smell from shoes.

Get Socks

Socks stop smells by absorbing sweat and moisture.
To keep your shoes fresh, consider wearing sweat-absorbing, breathable socks like cotton ones.

Oils of Essential Nature

Essential oils like cedarwood, tea tree, and clove are natural deodorizers with antifungal action.
To remove smell from shoes, mix them with other home cures like vinegar or baking soda, or drop a few straight into your shoes.

A view of a hand cleaning shoe insoles

Products to Try on That Keep the Shoes Smell Away

Shoe scent-free helps one to maintain comfort and hygiene. Many commercial products offer ease and efficiency, helping to solve this issue. These are some well-known options.

To remove smell from shoes, activated charcoal bags are small, odor-absorbing sacks that collect and neutralize scents. You might cram them inside your shoes overnight.
Shoe deodorant sprays eliminate odor-causing microorganisms and leave a fresh scent in many scents. They are easy to use and produce quick effects.
Inside these inserts, baking soda is a naturally occurring deodorizer. They draw moisture and neutralize offensive smells. Please put them in your shoes while not in use.
Using UV light, Ultraviolet Shoe Sanitizers remove bacteria and fungi, eliminating odors. Though more expensive, they offer total cleaning.
Odor-Eating Insoles: These abound in active charcoal baking soda or other odor-absorbing agents. They replace your standard insoles and provide ongoing odor control.
To remove smell from shoes, these sachets contain natural antibacterial essential oils, such as lavender or tea tree oil. They smell great and help prevent germs from spreading.

Every product satisfies different demands and tastes and presents unique benefits. Either a high-tech option, UV sanitizers, or your favored natural solution, baking soda, there is a product to keep your shoes smelling fresh.

An overhead view of a person using teabags for shoe insoles

Preventing Stinky Shoes from the Start!

Although dealing with shoe odor can be difficult, correct techniques can help you avoid it from the beginning. Use these ideas to keep your shoes smelling fresh and new.

Use Socks

One of the fastest ways to invite your shoes to smell is to go sock-less.
Wear breathable socks that wick away moisture and keep the insides of your shoes as dry as possible whenever possible.
Make sure you change your socks and shoes immediately following a workout or lengthy walk and wear a fresh pair of shoes daily.

Exchange the Insoles

If you want to replace the insoles of shoes you have always had or cannot part with, it is a cheap fix.

Many shoe smells come from the insoles, so replacing the old ones with a new pair would greatly assist them in remaining smelling fresh.
For good odor absorption, search for insoles that include activated charcoal or baking soda.
For instance, Dr. Scholl’s Odor-X Insoles absorb moisture and neutralize scents, possessing built-in odor-fighting characteristics.

Switch Shoes Often

Try not to treat every day exactly as another.
This allows your shoes to dry out or be cleaned between wears.
Alternating shoes helps avoid the accumulation of sweat-loving germs.

Apply Foot Powder

Those who suffer from sweaty feet could find relief by applying a moisture-absorbing powder before donning shoes. This, in addition to appropriate hygienic practices, offers an extra degree of protection. If you have sensitive skin, search for products with natural and potent components free of irritability.

Maintaining Clean and Dry Feet

Maintaining dry and clean feet helps to avoid shoe odor.

Before donning socks or shoes, thoroughly wash them in the shower or bath, reach between your toes, and let them completely dry off.
Before donning your socks for the day, give your feet a spray or liquid antiperspirant.

These techniques will help you efficiently avoid odor and enjoy fresh-smelling shoes.

An overhead view of a person using home remedy to remove shoe smell

Final Word

As we come to the end, fighting stinky shoes need not be a scary task. Understanding the causes of foot odor helps one to focus on the treatment.

In conclusion, remember to wear socks to cut excess moisture; consider hand washing or spray bottle use for a total clean. Use natural home remedy to absorb scents; leave your shoes dry. These concepts will help you stop the shoe smell and enjoy new shoes daily.

SAY GOODBYE TO SMELLY SHOES!

How to Remove Smell from Shoes? – A GUIDE