Q&A for How to Keep Your Shoes from Stinking

You can use suede gum or soft sandpaper to remove the stain and use suede cleaner with a suede cleaning brush or toothbrush to rub the surface. Remove the soap foam with wet towels. After drying, brush the nap with a suede brush. If the footbed is too old or too damaged, then it’s better to replace the lining of the footbed.

They might be if they are cloth, canvass, or have mesh parts. If you take them off or even take your heel out of the shoe while sitting, remember that your foot/socks are slightly damp from normal sweating -- that's what causes the smell to travel fast. If you're in a small room (doctor's office, cubicle, etc.), the smell will linger quite a while, especially if you've walked in there shoeless, and it's carpeted.

It may cover the smell a bit, but will not eliminate it. The shoe odor is usually due to bacteria or other microorganisms. The alcohol in the perfume may have a little effect, but do not count on that. It would be better to use a method that kills bacteria, as outlined in the article, then finish off with a spritz of perfume for that scented touch.

I attempted this but it did not work. I am unsure if my shoes were too smelly and/or the tea bags were too old, but I left them in overnight and removed them in the morning. The odor remained.

Use baby powder. Just put a thin layer on the inside sole and dust it out after a couple of minutes. If you use a fragrant powder as an alternative to baby powder this will make them smell nicer for longer.

It is better to store your shoes in an airy place if you're trying to get the smell out. A plastic container will trap the smell in the area around the shoe, not allowing it to come out.

Place wadded up newspaper in the boots overnight. This works for any boots or shoes.

Tea bags help shoes with odor. They might soak up a little sweat from the shoes, but they mainly are for the smell.

Yes, rubbing alcohol will kill off the bacteria causing odors, but the alcohol might damage or deteriorate certain shoe materials.

Over time, powder can build up in shoes. Though this won't make the powder less effective, it could cause discomfort. Take your shoes outside once a week, tip them upside-down, and smack them together and shake all the excess powder out.

The sole of the shoe is the inside inside of the shoe where your foot goes. Apply the powder by shaking it from the bottle onto the sole.

If you have an issue with excessive foot sweating, I would put baby powder on your feet before you put on your shoes. That should help absorb the sweat and make your feet less likely to smell.