If you’ve got teens, you need to know how to deodorize smelly shoes. Even if you don’t have teens, you may still want to know how to get rid of that odor because, let’s face it, stinky feet are only funny to kids. Here are four ways to get the funk out.
Why Shoes Smell Bad
That horrible odor is the result of bacteria multiplying in the damp environment of a sweaty shoe. To get rid of the smell, you need to destroy the bacteria. To keep the smell away, you need to deprive the bacteria of a place to live by wearing socks that will absorb your sweat, not wearing the same shoes day after day, and giving your shoes a chance to air out as often as possible.
How To Deodorize Smelly Shoes
- Wash them. Shoes made of fabric can be tossed in the washer with a couple of towels and run through a warm/warm cycle using your normal laundry detergent. (Or make your own.) Skip the fabric softener and use white vinegar which will kill the odor-causing bacteria. Tumble tennis shoes in a dryer with towels or, if you can’t stand that banging sound, slip them into a bag that fits over your dryer’s door. Allow other shoes to air-dry fully.
- Sprinkle with a homemade deodorizing powder. Combine 3 tablespoons baking soda, 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 5 drops of tea tree oil until thoroughly mixed. Sprinkle this liberally into your shoes after wearing and allow it sit overnight. (You might want to keep a shaker can of this mixture in the laundry room for regular use.) The powders are both powerful damp- and odor-absorbers, and the tea tree oil’s antiseptic properties will kill odor-causing bacteria. Just be sure to dump the powder out before wearing.
- Stuff them with newspaper overnight. The newspaper does an excellent job of soaking up the sweat, and the less sweat in your shoes the less they’ll smell. Keep a stack of papers in your closet to stuff into your shoes after wearing and leave it there until the next time you’re ready to slip them on.
- Freeze them. As crazy as it sounds, sticking your shoes in the freezer is a great way to deodorize them since the smell-causing bacteria can’t survive the chill. Of course, it’s best to slip your shoes into a shoe bag first so you don’t get dirt all over your freezer and food. Then, leave the shoes to freeze overnight. Defrost before wearing!
To deodorize super smelly shoes, combine all four steps: wash them then let air-dry. Sprinkle the powder in, then stuff with newspaper and freeze. After defrosting, your shoes will smell as fresh as the day you bought them!
I like the idea of sprinkling the shoes with a deodorizer, but why use baking powder instead of baking soda?
Typo. Sorry.
Uhh… Great post, but freezing doesn’t kill most bacteria or fungi.
I’ll definitely try the homemade powder idea though!
Or just use Napthalene balls (Air/room freshners). Kills all the smell in no time. Powdering n sprinkling in shoe will help while traveling as well.
Thank goodness I live in Canada! I’ll just leave my shoes outside overnight tonight!
Charcoal works too 😉
Thanks a lot! This really helped my shoes that literally could not be worn because they smelled so bad… It was embarrassing…
you totally saved me with this article!! tried everything under the sun – how did I not think of white vinegar!!
I’m glad to have helped, Zizi!
Can’t wait to try this, I have several pairs of shoes that need help, as I hate to wear socks!
I hate socks, too, Jodi. These steps let me go sockless without worrying everyone I meet will smell my shoes. LOL
Leave them out in the sun to dry
That works to dry them, but doesn’t necessarily kill the bacteria that lead to foot odor. As soon as you put the shoe back on your nice, warm foot the stink returns.
Sneakers are the worst, so try this.
Rubbing alcohol, soak them for a couple of hours. Put them flat in a baking pan and pour the alcohol into them.
Or mix up a dilute clorox solution and do the same.
Then let them sit out in the hot sun for a couple of days. Wear other shoes while these dry. Rotate your sneakers too. Its the bacteria which you have to kill.
Kitchen sponges will stink too, so squeeze them full of dish detergent, and let them sit in sun to completely dry, rotate sponges too. Have 2 or 3 on hand.
Interesting ideas, Jane!
I tried alcohol on a pair of Keds…it did rid them of “foot odor” but now they smell strong of rubber/chemical as if the alcohol broke down the inner sole. I’ll try some of these suggestions.
The rubbing alcohol probably did break down some of the inner sole. That’s why I don’t recommend it. The shoe powder I mentioned works very well, and hasn’t harmed my Keds or any other shoes I love.
Nearly 40 years ago I got rid of my husband’s odor in his cowboy boots and his feet! I just kept an solution of baking soda (about 1/2 cup) and water (about a quart) on top of the dryer. When I was throwing his socks into the dryer I put them into the solution, wrung them out, and then tossed into the dryer with the rest of the clothes. I did this for about a month, and he still does not have stinky feet! (His socks were black, and they came out with a salt and pepper look, but it worked).
Thank you for a great suggestion!
I just *have* to try this baking soda & water trick! Especially for my dear, stinky J who leaves work with wet feet every day.