Smelly shoes can be an embarrassing problem if your feet sweat due to excessive perspiration or participation in sports or other activities. When feet sweat, odor and perspiration can eventually penetrate your shoes and become trapped. If this occurs, it can be difficult to avoid foot odor, even if you start the day with clean, dry feet and socks. Getting rid of smelly shoes involves taking steps to keep both your shoes and your feet free from sweat and odor.
Step 1
Buy shoes made with leather, canvas or other breathable materials. Shoes made of plastic or imitation leather prevent sweat from evaporating and can worsen shoe odor.
Step 2
Put odor neutralizing insoles in shoes. These insoles help absorb sweat and odor and prevent sweat from penetrating the insoles of your shoes.
Step 3
Keep your feet clean. If your feet are clean, odor will not penetrate your shoes. Wash your feet several times throughout the day and change your socks if they become soaked with sweat.
Step 4
Wear a different pair of shoes every day. It can take time for shoes to dry out if they are soaked with sweat. If you put on a pair of shoes that hasn't trapped completely, odor may be trapped in the insoles and will spread to your clean feet. EPodiatry.com suggests removing shoe insoles to speed drying time.
Step 5
Apply antiperspirant to your feet before putting on your shoes. Antiperspirant can help control foot odor and perspiration that causes smelly shoes.
Step 6
Wash your shoes if they are washable. Sneakers and other non-leather or non-plastic shoes may be washable. Johnaugust.com recommends using half the normal amount of laundry detergent and one scoop of oxygen bleach when washing shoes in a washing machine. Air dry shoes after you wash them.
Step 7
Fill your shoes with cloves overnight. Fabsugar.com recommends wrapping a handful of cloves in a handkerchief and placing a handkerchief in each shoe for several hours or longer.
Tips and Warnings
- If excessive sweating is a problem despite home care measures, visit your doctor. You may be a candidate for iontophoresis, a treatment that passes a mild electrical current through water to reduce sweating in the feet and hands. Repeat treatments are necessary to maintain results, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
- Don't wear nylon, rayon or polyester socks if sweaty feet and socks are a problem for you. Manmade fibers trap sweat, just as shoes constructed of manmade materials trap perspiration and odor. Wear cotton or other natural fiber socks instead.
Things You'll Need
- Leather or canvas shoes
- Odor neutralizing insoles
- Antiperspirant
- Cloves
- Cotton or natural fiber socks
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