How do you take the stink out of the shoes?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
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I have a pair of shoes that is particularly prone to strong odours after a full day's walking.

How can I get rid of the stink fast on removing the shoes?
 
I'd suggest using a spray made for athletic shoes (sneakers) along with maybe some cedar shoe trees. If excessive perspiration is part of the problem you should be able to find a spray anti-persrirant/deodorant at your druggist, too.

Larry S.
 
If you use things like Lysol the shoes will then smell like Lysol ! I put the shoes in the laundry sink with hot water and baking soda and borax . Soak for a few hours and rinse and dry. Kills the mold and bacteria and removes all the smell .
 
Okay, ancillary question to this one: I have a pair of Teva sandles, and after wearing them, my feet smell like a combination of ammonia and wet dog. I've tried scrubbing them with a bleach solution, but it doesn't seem to help. Other shoes don't do this and my feet normally don't stink all that much. Any recommendations?
 
FoxholeAtheist said:
Okay, ancillary question to this one: I have a pair of Teva sandles, and after wearing them, my feet smell like a combination of ammonia and wet dog. I've tried scrubbing them with a bleach solution, but it doesn't seem to help. Other shoes don't do this and my feet normally don't stink all that much. Any recommendations?
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It's normally the saltwater that causes this. Are you using this at the beach? Anyway, search google (after they recover from the attack) and you'll see that this is a big problem with Teva's. It's almost like their claim to fame. HAHA.
 
FoxholeAtheist said:
Okay, ancillary question to this one: I have a pair of Teva sandles, and after wearing them, my feet smell like a combination of ammonia and wet dog. I've tried scrubbing them with a bleach solution, but it doesn't seem to help. Other shoes don't do this and my feet normally don't stink all that much. Any recommendations?
Click to expand...

How about a combination of baking soda and your favorite detergent, a little water and a heavy duty plastic bristle brush? Oxi Clean might work, too, but i have yet to try it.
 
I've heard that stuffing your shoes with some crumpled up newspaper will remove the stink.
 
I used to use crumbled newspaper in shoes to soak up sweat or water from walking in the rain or mud. It's a good way to dry them out faster. I also sprinkled in baking soda if they started to smell, without going through washing them or using sprays.
 
Try wearing a pair of wool socks, helps to absorb the sweat.

I've been wearing both wool and cotton socks in my footwear since march 96, helps a lot.
 
Hi All-

The first step in keeping footwear fresh is to always, always, always wear socks. The impact of perspiration, oils, and salt directly on your shoes and sneakers will shorten their useful life and make them very unpleasant in the meantime. My enthusiastic suggestion is SmartWools, but any high-quality sock is a solid investment. I typically wear dark athletic ankle socks beneath my dress socks for comfy extra padding and to further benefit my shoes.

A little tepid water and cleaning solution (whether it be detergent or saddle soap, depending on material) won't cause any harm and the removal of harmful residues will likely increase the service life of the shoes. Don't "rush" the drying process and let it takes as long as it takes away from the sun or heaters. Crumpled newspaper is an important part of the drying stage...

You should have as many cedar shoe trees as you have shoes! If they're not on your feet, your shoes should be stuffed with these fragrant wooden trees. They speed drying and absolutely reduce creasing across the instep of dress shoes. Use this opportunity to brush away any dust...as this is what enables the abrasive action that "cuts" the leather and leaves the telltale cracks.

p.s. Now if anyone has a technique for stinky leather watchbands...

Regards,

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Get a nice pair of odor eaters insoles. They'll help them not smell bad to begin with. I've used them for a few months with my new shoes and the shoes have no significant smell. Ialso switched to odor eaters socks since they are anti microbal.
Also helps with the athletes foot.
 
Wow, they're going to know Bladeforums members all over the world -- we'll have the sweetest-smelling feet anywhere! :D
 
If the shoes can stand it...wash them in tomato juice. Seemed to help kill the odor of skunk on a dog. While your at it, try washing your feet with tomato juice! ;)
 
Throw those stinky shoes away. Geno had a pair that smelled so bad I would have to throw them outside on the front porch and the ants would eat the "cheese" :barf: Lysol, Pinesol, Bleach,and Fabreeze douches would not work. Dynamite did. ;) Cavelady
 
Some shoes are beyond any help and just need to be tossed.

Another tip that staves off smell is to alternate shoes, never wearing the same pair 2 days in a row (or until they have throughly dried out).

As far as never wearing shoes without socks, well, since I've been living here in SoCal let's just say my socks rarely see my feet anymore, unless they're in dress shoes :cool: :D
 
Set them in the sun all day to bake. It dries them out, killing the bacteria and other skank that make the odor.

best regards
 
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