Though you shower every day, your shoes might seem to tell a different story every time you take them off and the pungent odor that lingers in them becomes a noticeable problem. Overactive sweat glands that produce more sweat than necessary mingles with bacteria in your shoes and lingers in the confined space making smelly feet a problem for not only you, but your shoes as well. If you’re tired of dealing with the unpleasant aroma that emanates from your shoes every time you take them off, there are several things you can do to eliminate this problem.
Step 1
Wash your shoes to help eliminate lingering bacteria. Some shoes may be machine washable while others aren’t. Read and follow the manufacturers’ instructions carefully so as not to damage your shoes. If your shoes can withstand moisture, dip a clean cloth in warm, soapy water and wash the shoes inside and out. Place them in the sun to dry.
Step 2
Fill a clean dry sock with baking soda or clean kitty litter and tie up the opening so as not to make a mess. Place the socks in the shoes and leave them there overnight to draw out lingering moisture from sweat that may be contributing to the odor.
Step 3
Place fabric softener sheets or socks filled with baking soda or fresh coffee grounds in them to help absorb odors. Leave them there overnight.
Step 4
Place your shoes outside in the sunshine to allow the sun and fresh air to eliminate the odors naturally. Leave the shoes outside for as long as possible, but for at least 2 hours. Do this as often as needed to help air your shoes out.
Tips and Warnings
- Make sure that your feet are clean and you wear clean soft socks each time you put on your shoes to help absorb sweat and keep your shoes from smelling. Rotate your shoes by wearing a different pair each day so that you don’t wear the same pair 2 days in a row. This gives your shoes a chance to air out and keep from smelling.
Things You'll Need
- Antibacterial soap
- Clean cloth
- Clean sock
- Baking soda
- Coffee grounds
- Kitty litter
- Fabric softener sheets
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