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The best ways to get funky smells out of shoes, both by hand and in the washer
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You sit down to put on your favorite pair of sneakers, when you notice a certain… funk. It’s no wonder why our shoes tend to get a little smelly: when our feet sweat, that moisture gets trapped inside our shoes, leading to a stench that can be a little, well… unpleasant. Fortunately, since stinky shoes are such a common problem, there are tons of ways you can tackle the odor and get back to your daily routine fast. Keep reading to learn how you can clean your smelly sneakers and prevent new odors for fresh shoes to wear every day.
Things You Should Know
- Absorb smells quickly by putting baking soda inside your shoes.
- Kill germs with white vinegar or a disinfectant spray .
- Put your shoes in the freezer overnight to kill germs and bacteria.
- Wash your insoles or your sneakers in the washer to tackle tough smells.
Steps
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Absorb smells with baking soda. Fill up 2 socks or 2 coffee filters with a couple spoonfuls of baking soda. Place one in each shoe, then set your shoes out overnight. In the morning, take the baking soda out and throw it away. [1] X Research source- Baking soda naturally absorbs odors, which makes it great for cleaning out smelly shoes.
- Want to replace that stench with a new scent? Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the baking soda before putting it in your shoes.
- Don’t have baking soda? Use kitty litter instead.
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Spray your shoes down with diluted white vinegar. In a spray bottle, mix equal parts water and white vinegar. Spray the inside of each shoe with the solution, then let it dry overnight. [2] X Research source- Vinegar is another natural odor fighter. Try using your vinegar solution every time you take your shoes off to combat odor over time.
- Check out more shoe cleaning tips from wikiHow users on wikiHow’s “My shoes smell BAD. How do I get rid of the stink?” forum .
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Kill germs and bacteria with a disinfectant spray . Disinfectant sprays neutralize the germs that create the stench inside of your shoes. Spray the inside of your shoes with a disinfectant, then leave them out overnight to dry. [3] X Research source- Always let your shoes dry before putting them back on. Wearing wet shoes will only make the stench worse.
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Place your shoes in your freezer overnight. First, put both of your shoes in a resealable plastic bag, then squeeze out all the air. Leave the shoes in the freezer overnight, then let them thaw before wearing again. The cold temperatures will kill some (or all) of the bacteria that causes the stink, leaving you with better-smelling shoes. [4] X Research source
- Freezing your shoes is a great short-term hack, but experts warn that it can cause shoes to degrade faster over time.
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Leave your shoes out in the sun. The natural UV rays will kill bacteria inside of your shoes and freshen them up. Take off your shoes, then set them outside in a sunny spot for as long as possible. Just be sure to take them in if it starts to rain! [5] X Research source- UV rays can cause the color on your shoes to fade, so put them in a shady spot if you want to keep them bright and new-looking.
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Tuck dryer sheets inside your sneakers overnight. Dryer sheets are meant to freshen the smell of clothing, so they can be used in shoes as well. Simply place a dryer sheet in each shoe, then leave them overnight. You’ll notice a marked improvement when you take out the dryer sheets the next day. [6] X Research source
- Always throw away used dryer sheets, and insert a fresh one daily to keep your shoes smelling great.
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Remove your insoles and wash them to get rid of the smell. In most shoes, and especially sneakers, it’s the insoles (or what you’re stepping on) that smell bad. If you can remove your insoles, take them out and then throw them in the washer like you’d normally wash clothes. Set them out to dry before sticking them back inside your shoes. [7] X Research source- If your insoles are still stinky after a wash, consider buying new ones. Fresh insoles will vastly improve the smell of your sneakers, even if you don’t do anything else to clean them.
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Scrub your shoes with a baking soda and vinegar paste for tough odors. In a small bowl, combine 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of water, 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of white vinegar, and 1 tbsp (14 g) of baking soda. Use a toothbrush to gently apply the paste to your shoes, inside and out, then set your shoes in the sun to dry. Gently tap your shoes to remove the paste, and use a paper towel to scrape out any on the inside. [8] X Research source- Baking soda and vinegar work well separately, but together, they’re even more powerful. Don’t worry if you see some fizzing when you combine your ingredients—that just means they’re working!
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Wash your shoes in a washing machine as a last resort. Before putting them in the washer, remove the insoles and tie the laces together (so they don’t get tangled). Add detergent and wash your shoes in cold water, then set them out to air dry. [9] X Research source- Try to use cold water, not hot. Hot water is hard on your sneakers, and can strip the color from them.
- If your shoes are very smelly, one wash cycle might not be enough. Wash your shoes twice using cold water to make sure the stench is banished.
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Wash your feet in the shower every day. If you keep your feet clean, unpleasant odors are less likely to rub off on your shoes. Bacteria in feet can multiple fast, so always remember to wash your feet thoroughly in the shower. [10] X Research source- Lather your feet up with soap. Scrub them thoroughly, targeting dirty areas in particular, and then rinse with water.
- When you get out of the shower, make sure to completely dry your feet. Fungus, which causes a stinky smell, loves to linger on damp and wet feet.
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Avoid wearing the same shoes 2 days in a row. Your shoes need a chance to air out completely. If you wear sneakers every day, have a couple of pairs in rotation so you don’t have to wear them multiple days in a row. That way, each pair will have a chance to dry out. [11] X Research source- Try to let your shoes dry out for at least 24 hours before wearing them again.
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Wear moisture-wicking socks . Socks made of cotton and wool are perfect for wicking away sweat and moisture. Always wear socks when you wear your sneakers, and change your socks if they get wet or sweaty throughout the day. [12] X Research source- Never reuse your socks or put on a dirty pair, since that can intensify the smell inside your shoes.
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Use foot powder to reduce foot sweat. Foot powder absorbs moisture, which can help prevent odors. Sprinkle some foot powder on your feet and inside your shoes before putting them on each day. [13] X Research source- If you struggle with treating athlete’s foot , foot powder can also help with that.
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Join the Discussion...
No matter what I do, I just can NOT get rid of the awful foot smell in my shoes. I've sprinkled baking soda inside them and tried putting them in... Read More
A little vinegar can go a long way with killing odor-causing bacteria and getting rid of bad smells. Just mix equal parts warm water and vinegar... Read More
Your shoes probably stink because your feet are either wet or sweaty. If you just showered, dry off your feet REALLY well before putting on your... Read More
Community Q&A
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QuestionI've already tried the above methods to get the perfume smell out of my sneakers. Is there anything else I can try?Community AnswerDo the tea bag method every day for a week.
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QuestionCan you use more than one of these at a time?Community AnswerYes. Although be prepared for some bubbly fun if you combine the vinegar and baking soda methods!
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QuestionHow do I clean my all-white Nike Air Force 1s?Community AnswerUse the tea bag or dyer method. If you really want to clean them, try a very light bleaching.
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Tips
- Wear clean socks every time you put your shoes on. Wearing dirty socks or not wearing socks with your shoes can make the shoes smell worse over time.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- I always use white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the inside of your shoes liberally and let them dry. Its always worked great for me.
- Before you put your shoes on, put scented lotion on your feet. Take time to let the lotion soak into your feet. Then put your shoes on.
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References
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/ae/en/laundry/smelly-shoes-heres-how-to-remove-smell-from-shoes.html
- ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-shoes-not-smell-37108507
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/feet-stink.html
- ↑ https://www.womensrunning.com/gear/shoes/3-steps-remove-smell-running-shoes/
- ↑ https://www.womensrunning.com/gear/shoes/3-steps-remove-smell-running-shoes/
- ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/things-to-do-with-dryer-sheets-2015-6
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/feet-stink.html
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-canvas-shoes-22986343
- ↑ https://aaptiv.com/magazine/smelly-shoes-running
About This Article
Article Summary
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To clean smelly sneakers, start by tossing them in the washing machine or scrubbing them by hand with soap and warm water. Next, let them dry completely and sprinkle baking soda or tuck dryer sheets inside them to eliminate lingering odors. You can also mix 1 part rubbing alcohol with 1 part water in a spray bottle and douse the shoes with that to deodorize them. To prevent smelly sneakers, try to alternate so you don't wear the same pair every day! For more odor-eliminating tips, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I really liked the baking soda method. I understood how it works, as people actually use baking soda to reduce fridge odors." ..." more
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"I really liked the baking soda method. I understood how it works, as people actually use baking soda to reduce fridge odors."
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"The soap and water and tissue worked really well when I woke up fresh and smelling good. Thanks."
"My cousin's shoes made the entire house smell, and this helped so much."
"I found the teabag method to be the most innovative and useful!"
"Downy Mountain Fresh dryer sheets worked great."
