How to get rid of unpleasant sweat odor from shoes

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

An unpleasant smell coming from shoes can easily spoil the mood of others, and with it your reputation. After all, few people will like the caustic "bouquet" exuded by even the most trendy sneakers or shoes. In the summer, this problem is most relevant, especially for those who prefer to wear closed shoes. But a repulsive smell is not only a test for the sense of smell, but also a sign of multiplying bacteria, which can easily cause a fungal disease! It's time to figure out what to do to eliminate unwanted odors and keep your shoes clean at all times.

Why does the smell appear?

As a rule, the reason for the unpleasant smell of shoes is the increased sweating of its owner. Legs sweat intensely when walking for a long time or in hot weather - this is how our body cools overworked muscles. Sweat is 98% water and 2% salts, acids, trace elements, hormones, cholesterol. By themselves, these components do not have an odor, but in a humid environment they become prey to bacteria, decompose and exude a stench that spreads to socks and shoes.

It is easy to guess that there are two ways to deal with unwanted odor: carefully monitor the hygiene of your feet and clean your shoes in time.

Keep your feet clean

No matter how trite it may sound, you should wash your feet with soap and a washcloth at least once a day.

No matter how trite it may sound, you should wash your feet with soap and a washcloth at least once a day, and then wipe them dry with a towel, especially between the toes. If your feet are too sweaty, then after bathing, it is best to treat them with salicylic powder, talcum powder or deodorant to help kill any remaining bacteria. To prevent sweating, it is useful to make foot baths with tea, oak bark, citric acid or soda.

Not only physical activity, but also a stressful environment can affect the sweating of the legs - our feet sweat just like our armpits, only we notice it less. After sweating, we rush to shower and change clothes. You need to do the same with your feet: wash them as soon as possible and change shoes. And in general, it is worth changing shoes and socks more often, keeping a replaceable pair of shoes and tights at work, not walking indoors in boots all day.

If no home remedies help to get rid of sweaty feet, then you should see your doctor for a prescription. In addition, an unpleasant foot odor can be a sign of an already acquired fungal disease.

How to get rid of the smell of sweat from shoes?

When the shoes are already saturated with stench, then hygienic procedures alone cannot cope with the problem - you need to clean and eliminate the existing smell. The first step is to replace the old insoles - they are most susceptible to bacteria. Some types of shoes, for example, sneakers and sneakers, can be safely washed in a typewriter or basin. Wipe more capricious specimens thoroughly outside and inside with a damp cloth.

If the smell is too strong and simple washing does not help, leave cotton wool soaked in vinegar in the shoes for a while. Try rubbing the inside of your shoes gently with hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, or formidron. In the case of a particularly persistent odor, directly pour the peroxide inside the shoe, and when the solution stops bubbling, pour it out and dry the shoes. Green tea has homeopathic properties, so it gets rid of microorganisms from the shoes. Place a few tea bags inside or pour over the tea leaves for a while. After all these "wet" procedures, do not forget to thoroughly dry your shoes.

Some types of shoes, for example, sneakers and sneakers, can be safely washed in a typewriter or basin.

Those who are not afraid of difficulties can spray their shoes with ammonia. It is advisable to do this outside the house (for example, on the balcony) or at least near an open window. The ammonia will fade in a few hours and carry away the unpleasant odor. Another sophisticated way is to put on old socks soaked in alcohol or vodka, put on a fetid pair and walk like that until they are completely dry.

If you do not like to breed dampness, then you can try dry ways to get rid of unwanted odors. Pour flour, baby powder, sea salt or crushed activated carbon into the inside of the shoe, leave it for a couple of hours, and then vacuum it thoroughly. Instead of these products, you can pour baking soda inside the shoes and leave them until morning, but keep in mind that this recipe does not work for black leather shoes.

The bacteria that cause the stench can be killed by freezing. Place a pair of shoes in a plastic bag overnight in the freezer, and take them out onto the balcony during winter. True, for some types of shoes, for example, lacquered, this procedure can be disastrous. In addition, do not immediately put on a pair taken out of the refrigerator, you need to let it warm up to room temperature.

To eliminate the offensive odor, you can buy special disinfectants and aerosol deodorants in the store. In the evening, splash them a couple of times inside the shoes, trying not to get on the outer surface, by the morning everything will dry out, and you can put on your shoes.

Proper shoe care

Once the annoying odor has been removed, it is important to keep your shoes clean so that they don't reappear. Leave the removed boots or shoes open so that they have time to freshen up and dry before the next wear. Don't wear the same pair every day - give it some time to air out. Avoid tucking socks into sneakers or storing shoes in a box immediately after wearing them.

Don't wear the same pair every day - give it some time to air out.

Cover demi-season and winter shoes with protective and water-repellent agents to protect them from getting wet. If your feet are sweating a lot or you are exposed to rain, use an Electric Ionizer Dryer. In the absence of a special device, shoes can be dried using a newspaper. Stuff your shoes tighter and change the paper every hour until it dries completely.

Wash your shoes regularly, or at least wipe the inside with a damp cloth. Lubricate the outer surface with shoe care products. Replace old insoles with new ones from time to time. Try to wear socks made from natural materials. Synthetics (including nylon tights) only enhances the smell of sweat.

Use removable insoles made from natural materials, remove them regularly, ventilate and wash them to prevent bacteria from taking root and growing in your shoes. Special deodorant insoles deal with this problem well. They are made of cardboard treated with antibacterial substances and also require daily drying and ventilation.

It is important not only to properly and regularly care for your shoes, boots or sandals, but also to keep the shoe cabinet clean. Do not forget to put dry odoriferous means inside, which will completely eliminate the remains of an unpleasant odor.