How can I remove shoe odors when cleaning my house? Disenfectant or baking soda will kill the germs that cause smelly shoes. Shoes stored away in the closet or piled up at the doorway can allow strong odors...
Shoes stored away in the closet or piled up at the doorway can allow strong odors to invade your home. It's easy enough to get rid of these odors if you are willing to discard the offending footwear. However, if you wish to keep the shoes, there are steps you can take to cover up and even remove the odors.
First, if possible, wash the shoes. Cloth-type sneakers can be machine washed. Rugged footwear, such as work boots or hiking boots, can be washed by hand. Simply rinse the inside of the boots quickly with soapy water followed by clean water. Do not soak. Drain well and air dry or dry with a blow dryer. This helps remove the sweat that promotes bacterial growth and odor. Do not use the footwear until it is completely dry. Wearing shoes that are even the slightest bit damp promotes the growth of bacteria and fungus which can cause odor. Plus, fungus can lead to infections such as athlete's foot.
If the offending shoes are of the sort that would be ruined by washing, they should be placed in a well-ventilated area until the odor dissipates. Avoid storing sneakers in gym bags or lockers for very long. Allow shoes to breathe. Ideally, they should be set outdoors if there is no risk of weather damage or theft. Sprays such as Febreze can also be used to neutralize odors.
Next, after the shoes have been washed and/or aired out, shoe inserts, with odor neutralizers such as charcoal and/or odor absorbents such as baking soda, should be placed in each shoe. Odor-Eaters is one popular brand of insert.
To prevent odors from developing in your shoes in the first place, there are several things you can do: thoroughly wash your feet each day, apply foot powder or antiperspirant to your feet, and wear absorbent socks to prevent sweat from getting to your shoes.
After washing your feet, make sure they are completely dry. Towel dry thoroughly or use a blow dryer (on the cool setting) on your feet, even between the toes. Once your feet are dry, you can apply powders, antiperspirants, or peppermint-scented foot lotion before putting on your socks.
According to Melissa Briones, owner of Melissa's House Cleaning in Lawton, Oklahoma, "A good idea is to put a little foot powder or baking soda in your shoes every day." To prevent a powdery mess from accumulating in your shoes or on the bottom of your socks, you might consider making a sachet of baking soda that you can keep in your shoes at night. You can then remove the sachet before putting your shoes on the next day.
The important thing is to give your shoes some time off. Do not wear the same pair of shoes all day. After walking, exercising, or simply a full afternoon of wearing a pair of shoes, you should wash the sweat from your feet and put on a fresh pair of shoes or go barefooted. If you've worn a pair of shoes all day at work, change shoes before you go out for the evening. If you must wear a pair of shoes that are still damp or sweaty from a previous use, air them out quickly with a blow dryer.
By following these tips you will not only be controlling the odor in your shoes, you will also be improving the hygiene of your feet.
