{"id":105754,"date":"2019-08-01T12:36:56","date_gmt":"2019-08-01T17:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=105754"},"modified":"2026-01-11T12:34:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T18:34:50","slug":"getting-the-stink-out-of-your-shoes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/style\/shoes\/getting-the-stink-out-of-your-shoes\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting the Stink Out of Your Shoes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/p>\n

There are more sweat glands in your two feet than anywhere else on your body. And when bacteria breaks down that sweat, it can <\/span>stink<\/span><\/i>. (That\u2019s right \u2014 it\u2019s not the bacteria itself that stinks.) <\/span><\/p>\n

Because of all the sweat from your feet, which inevitably soaks into your shoes, stinky footwear is a rather common occurrence. While in some cases it\u2019s a minor annoyance that really only impacts yourself, in others it\u2019s a truly embarrassing matter — people can smell it if they\u2019re simply sitting next to you on the subway, and if you take your shoes off around folks, the stink can bowl them over!<\/span><\/p>\n

The amount you sweat and the pungency of your body odor is partially genetic, and if you\u2019re on the more stinky end of things, you\u2019ll just unfortunately have to do more to fight it (and prevent it). <\/span><\/p>\n

Below you\u2019ll find how to do just that. We start with a handful of tips focused on prevention, and then move into a number of mostly natural options you can try before you\u2019re forced to throw your permanently putrid footwear in an incinerator.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prevention (Foot + Shoe Care) <\/h3>\n

The first part of eliminating stinky shoes is preventing the problem before it can ever take root in the first place. Utilize the below tips to keep your feet and shoes stink-free. <\/span><\/p>\n

1. Maintain a foot care routine. <\/b>Stinky shoes<\/span> start with stinky feet.<\/span> Wash your feet every day, and no, letting the suds from washing your torso drip down to your feet doesn\u2019t count; actually wash your dogs deliberately with a washcloth and soap. If your feet are really a problem, wash them even on days you might not shower. Also exfoliate with a pumice stone; the bottoms of your feet, especially at the heels, are obviously epicenters of the kind of calloused crevasses in which bacteria like to hide. Give your feet some antibacterial lotion after showering too.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Simply washing your feet each day can in many cases eliminate foot smell, and the stinky shoes that follow, altogether. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Treat athlete\u2019s foot\/fungus.<\/b> Your feet stank may be caused not by bacteria, but by fungus. Athlete\u2019s foot (a fungal infection) and toenail fungus are two manifestations of such, and while they\u2019re not the same thing, they often appear together. While it\u2019s not in the purview of this particular piece to go into treatments for these infections, there are a number of things you can do to curb these foot troubles, from over-the-counter powders\/creams, to prescription treatments, and DIY remedies. Treating these toe and toenail problems will go a long way towards decreasing foot and shoe odor. <\/span><\/p>\n

3. Rotate the shoes you wear. <\/b>This is a tip you\u2019ll often see when it comes to taking care of shoes and extending their lifespan, and it\u2019s equally applicable for the sake of eliminating odor. Again, your feet sweat. A lot. When you wear the same shoes 8+ hours per day, for multiple days in a row, that footwear never has a chance to completely dry or air out. So you just keep adding moisture, and adding moisture, and adding moisture. Instead, give shoes a full day or two to air out and breathe a little. Didn\u2019t know you needed an excuse to buy new shoes, did you?  <\/span><\/p>\n

4. Maintain a shoe care routine.<\/b> In addition to rotating your shoes, be sure to clean them properly when you do wear them. After a long day, give them a quick sweep with an antibacterial wipe (or use the homemade spray mentioned below) as soon as you kick \u2018em off, thereby beating bacteria before it takes hold. Wash the insoles on the regular (more on that below too). Give dirty shoes a wipe with a damp paper towel; dirt and grime can stink when broken down, just as sweat can. Using cedar shoe trees ensures effective air circulation, and absorbs some moisture as well. The bottom line: taking care of your shoes is a great way to keep them from stinking. <\/span><\/p>\n

5. Wear sweat-sucking socks.<\/b> There are a lot of socks out there these days that have sweat-wicking properties. Invest in them. No need to stick with the lame cotton whities that you get in bulk at Walmart. Whether it\u2019s a low-cut performance sock or a heavy duty wool option, the socks you wear can make a big difference. <\/span><\/p>\n

It should go without saying that going sockless in shoes is a recipe for stank. Sometimes though, <\/span>like with boat shoes<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019re going to wear them sans socks. In those cases, just be especially sure that you\u2019re washing your feet each day, that you\u2019re giving your shoes an antibacterial wipe down at the end of the day (though not with leather, as the alcohol can dry out the material; instead use the homemade spray below), and that your shoes get ample airing between wears. <\/span><\/p>\n

Extermination <\/b><\/h3>\n

Okay, now that we know some things about prevention, let\u2019s look at some tips for getting rid of the smell once it\u2019s already infiltrated your shoes. Depending on the level of stink, it\u2019s possible that a single option will do the trick, or you may need to utilize many of them. <\/span><\/p>\n

1. Throw (some of) your shoes in the washer.<\/b> Fabric and canvas shoes can usually be cleaned in a clothes washer. Either look at the tag or Google your particular brand\/shoe. A gentle cycle with cool water is often what\u2019s recommended. Drying in the dryer creates an annoying racket, and can damage the shoes, or the drum, so stuff them with balled up wads of newspaper (which you replace as they become saturated) and\/or just leave them in the sun to dry, which also eliminates bacteria . . . <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Take advantage of UV power! <\/b>The sun\u2019s UV rays naturally kill bacteria. (<\/span>That\u2019s why sunlight can purify water<\/span><\/a>.) You don\u2019t want to leave leather\/suede shoes in direct, hot sunlight for extended periods of time, but they can handle it for an afternoon. And other materials are fine for whatever you want to do. Unlace, lift up the tongue as much as you can, and leave them be. It may not exterminate stink fully, but it\u2019ll definitely eliminate some of it, and it\u2019s obviously totally natural and free.   <\/span><\/p>\n

3. Use baking soda (or kitty litter). <\/b>While you can buy a specially formulated powder (see below), there are a couple things you might already have in your home that could do the trick just as well. The classic is baking soda, which is universally known to absorb and neutralize odors. You can just toss powder directly into your shoe, but then you have to clean it out (if you don\u2019t, it will clump into gritty sludge the next time you sweat in your shoes). The better option is to put some in a sock; the porousness allows the soda to still work and doesn\u2019t make nearly as much of a mess. Kitty litter does the same thing if you happen to have some in the house. Just be careful employing these methods with leather\/suede, as it can dry out those materials if used too much. <\/span><\/p>\n

4. Use homemade spray.<\/b> As with powder, there are dozens of foot and shoe sprays you can buy, but this homemade version is wayyy cheaper and far more natural. It\u2019s especially useful for leather\/suede shoes that can\u2019t be thrown in the washer. <\/span><\/p>\n

The recipe: <\/span><\/p>\n