Solutions for Stinky Shoes

I’m starting this year by literally airing some dirty laundry. In recent months, my family has had quite the problem with stinky shoes. My kids’ shoes, my husband’s shoes, and my shoes—all are victims of bromodosis (the scientific term for smelly feet).

I’ve tried several approaches for removing the odor. After numerous attempts, I almost gave up on one particular pair of sneakers. I was confident they were a lost cause (they were truly awful). Thankfully, I found a surprisingly simple solution for this super stinky pair. I’ll describe what finally worked in a minute. First, though, here is a brief explanation of why shoes stink and a rundown of strategies for deodorizing them.

Why do shoes stink?

Human feet contain 250,000 sweat glands, so it’s no surprise that they sweat a lot! When sweaty feet are encased in shoes, it’s the perfect environment (warm, dark, and moist) for bacterial and fungal growth. Many bacteria feed on sweat. As they do this, they produce organic waste that stinks. Fungi can also produce odors.

How to get the stink out of shoes

Because your feet are causing the shoes to stink, the first step in addressing stinky shoes is to reduce foot odor.

How to clean your feet

Wash and thoroughly dry feet once a day. Give your feet a good scrubbing once a day using mild soap and a brush. Make sure to clean around the nails and between the toes. Once washed, thoroughly dry your feet (this is important because any moisture left can promote microbial growth).
Keep toenails trimmed. Pathogens can hide under the nails, so be sure to keep your toenails trimmed short.
File off dead skin. The hard, dead skin on your feet gets soggy when wet, creating little crevices and folds where pathogens love to live. Gently filing this dead skin off using a foot file eliminates hiding places for the bacteria and fungi.
Change socks at least once a day. Socks absorb sweat as you wear them, so be sure to change them at least once a day. If the weather is hot or you are being physically active, consider changing them an additional time. Choose socks that are good at absorbing moisture, such as those made of natural fibers or sport socks.
Use a foot soak. If the strategies mentioned above aren’t working, then consider soaking your feet in a basin or foot spa filled with warm water and ½ cup of Epson salt. This is beneficial because Epsom salt helps remove moisture from the skin, making it less likely microbes will grow on the feet. If you don’t have Epsom salt on hand, then you can use vinegar (two parts warm water to one part white or apple cider vinegar).

How to prevent and reduce odors in shoes

Even if you wash your feet regularly, shoes will eventually take on a bit of an odor. Here’s how to minimize it.

Choose the right shoes

Shoes made of natural fibers (leather, cotton, hemp, etc.) will not cause your feet to sweat as much as shoes made from synthetic materials, so choosing the former can help reduce odor. Whichever shoes you choose, make sure they are not too tight and try to sometimes wear open-toed shoes during the summer when the heat may cause excess sweating.

I’ve seen many sources recommend that you alternate which shoes you wear each day. This allows shoes to fully dry and air out between uses. While this makes sense, it also requires you to have multiple pairs of shoes (which is not something all of us can afford). If your finances and footwear needs allow you to alternate shoes every day, then this is a useful approach.

Wash the shoes

Some shoes are machine washable. Running these shoes through the washer is a great way to deodorize them. Shoes that can’t be machine washed can be gently hand-washed with warm water and detergent. Thoroughly wash the inside and outside of the shoes, then let them air dry completely before wearing.

Use odor-fighting insoles and powders

Medicated insoles that fight odor (such as Odor-Eaters Insoles) are an affordable way to reduce the odor in shoes. Insoles fight odors with ingredients such as baking soda, zinc oxide, and activated charcoal. Shoe powders (such as Odor-X Sweat Absorbing Powder) are another affordable option. Powders fight odors using ingredients such as zinc oxide, eucalyptus oil, and lemon oil.

Use a deodorizing spray

If the stench is deeply embedded in the shoe, then odor-fighting insoles and powders will mask it, but not destroy it. If you are experiencing this, then consider using a shoe spray that will actually penetrate the materials that comprise the shoe. One such spray is Arm and Hammer Shoe Refresher Spray.

This spray has made a huge difference for us! Remember that pair of sneakers I described earlier? The pair I thought was a lost cause? This spray saved them. I washed the shoes with warm water and detergent. Once they were completely dry, I sprayed them heavily with this product. Much to my surprise, this product worked!

Final thoughts

To prevent shoes from getting so stinky that I’m tempted to toss them out, I’ve become proactive about addressing odor. I use a light dusting of Odor-X Sweat Absorbing Powder in shoes at the end of each day I’ve worn them, and I use the Arm and Hammer Shoe Refresher Spray regularly (once a week for my everyday sneakers). This approach has successfully kept the odor away!

For additional information on how to get rid of stinky shoes, please visit my sources:

What works for your shoes? What solutions have you found for deodorizing them?

Solutions for Stinky Shoes

Why do shoes stink?