How to Remove Odor from Shoes

Are you annoyed by the smell wafting from your shoes and feet? Foot odor is caused by a few things: using a shoe that is too long or not breathable, infected with bacteria or fungus, etc. If you want to get rid of a strong, unpleasant smell from your shoes, read on. Follow these guidelines to keep your shoes from “smelly”.

Table of Contents

Choose the right shoe size

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Wear a shoe that fits your foot well. When you wear shoes that don’t fit your feet, it makes your feet sweat more than usual (which is also extremely uncomfortable). It’s a good idea to try on shoes for a good fit before you buy them, and don’t be afraid to see a podiatrist if your feet hurt when you wear them.

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Choose shoes made of breathable materials. This is not a new innovation, but wearing shoes with breathable materials will reduce foot sweat and odor. Synthetic materials do not have good absorbency. ^{[1] X Research Source} Breathable fabrics typically include:

Cotton
Linen
Skin
Hemp fabric (woven from hemp)

Change shoes

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Please change to another pair of shoes. You should avoid wearing the same pair of shoes continuously for two days. This will give the shoe time to air out before wearing it again.

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Let the shoes breathe. Your feet need to “breathe” too, so do your shoes. Let your shoes “breathe air” outdoors and in the sun. That’s all – let the shoes “rest”!

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Refresh shoes. Put the smelly shoes in a really cold place. Leave the shoes like that for a few days. Then leave the shoes at room temperature until the cold is gone, then put them on your feet.

Personal hygiene

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Wash your feet every day or every other day with antibacterial soap. If fungi and bacteria are the cause of foot and shoe odor, it’s best to get rid of the odor at the root. Every day when you shower, rub your feet together with an antibacterial or antimicrobial soap.

Notice if washing your feet every day with an antibacterial soap dries out the skin of your feet. Because washing your feet like this every day can make the skin of your feet dry and cracked. If the skin on your feet is dry, apply lotion after washing your feet and every other day, wash your feet with antibacterial soap once.

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Spray deodorant on your feet. This may sound strange, but you should remember that your feet also sweat. Buy a foot spray (meaning it can’t be used on other areas of the body) and spray it on your feet every morning.

Use talcum powder

If your feet smell when they’re damp, then the best way to keep them dry (besides taking them out of your shoes once in a while) is to apply baby powder or talcum powder. This powder has a pleasant, light scent and can help keep feet from sweating.

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Apply baby powder or Baby Johnson powder to your feet before putting on socks.

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Apply a layer of talcum powder inside the shoe. Then put on shoes.

Use baking soda

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Deodorize with baking soda. Sprinkle a little on your shoes every night when you take them off. Before you put your shoes on in the morning, take them outside and knock the soles together to let the baking soda out.

Frozen shoes

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Freeze to deodorize. Place the shoes in a zip-lock plastic food freezer bag (one shoe per bag, if needed) and place the shoes in the freezer overnight. The cold temperature will kill the fungus or odor-causing bacteria.

Wear socks

Use shoe insoles or lining

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Use cedar-scented shoe insoles or use potatoes. Cedar has anti-fungal properties and is often used to deodorize clothes. Insoles can be left in your shoes, and potatoes should be removed in the evening and removed in the morning.

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Use odor control shoe insoles. The odor control insole can be trimmed to fit the sole of the shoe, and it also comes in a variety of colors to choose from. This type of insole is suitable for sandals, heels or open-toe shoes.

Secure the pad with a small piece of double-sided tape or rubber glue. This will help keep the pad firmly attached but also easy to remove.

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Use silver lining. Silver lining is anti-microbial and prevents odor generation and bacteria production.

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Use scented paper. Just put a few pieces of scented paper inside your shoes when you wear them. It will help deodorize quickly.

Clean shoes

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If your shoes are washable, wash them right away. You can put your shoes in the washing machine or soak them in soapy water for a gentle cleaning. Remember to clean the inside of the shoes (including the insoles) and let the entire shoe dry before putting it on.

Advice

When wearing shoes outside, avoid walking in puddles or mud, it will make shoes smell bad.
Always wash your feet and let them dry completely before putting on shoes, this also helps to make the shoes last longer.
Another way to get rid of bad odors is to sprinkle baby powder on your shoes. In addition, putting scented paper on shoes is also very effective.
The calloused layers of skin often retain the smell of foot sweat even after bathing, you should use a pumice stone to gently rub on your feet to remove those layers of skin.
Washing white socks with bleach can help prevent bacteria and fungi.
Try orange peels. At the end of the day, put fresh orange peels in your shoes until morning, this will help get rid of foot odor.
Currently, there are several types of spray solutions specifically for shoes. Please follow the instructions on the bottle to better understand the product.
Most shoes can be washed in the washing machine or by hand. Just make sure your shoes are completely dry before putting them on.
Bathing also improves the mood! Remember to shower every day and wash your feet. Sometimes the smell isn’t caused by the shoes!
Do not put your shoes in the dryer as this will damage the shoes.
Use a UV sterilizer to kill bacteria in your shoes every day. This is very important if you wear shoes without socks.
Freezing shoes will not kill bacteria and fungi. Most bacteria and fungi can be frozen easily and regenerated quickly without dying.

Steps