Happy Feet, Happy You! Check out these Tips On How to Get Rid of Smelly Shoes

Yesterday my nose almost went out of business. I went to an event in the evening with my sisters and got seated beside this chocolate looking young man. I was originally happy at the thought that he would have to speak to me since I was sitting next to him.  I was in for a rude shock.

Apparently, he had taken off his shoes to dry his socks which had been brutally assaulted by rain and old age. The stench was so severe it had everyone looking for the source of the smell, but not me. I already knew where it was coming from.

I was staring right at it!

Smelly shoes are , in my opinion, the worst smell ever!  The fact that so many people have shoes that smell is a real problem. Smelly shoes are a result of sweaty feet, and basically everyone has that problem. The typical foot contains about 250,000 sweat glands and produces more than a pint of sweat daily. Now, this sweat that is produced is pressed against your feet for the duration of time you have had your shoes on; but it isn’t what causes the odor. There is a bacteria that resides in the foot’s skin and when this mixes with the sweat  produces isovaleric acid which causes the odor.

Other causes of smelly feet include certain medications as a side effect, some diseases, poor hygiene, harsh environments, wearing poor quality shoes and over wearing shoes.

So how do we get rid of this problem and save our sense of smell from extinction? with these simple steps.

Baking Soda
Baking soda can be used to absorb the moisture our feet leave in the shoes. All you have to do is pour an even layer of the powder in your shoes and leave there overnight. In the morning, shake out the powder and clean off excess with a fabric cleanser or hand wipe and spray with a fabric refresher spray.

Air Them Out
Moisture is the main cause of smelly shoes. The key to making sure your shoes stay fresh and smell free is to make sure they are very dry. You can do this by using moisture absorbing paper or towels such as tissue paper, newspapers, small towels etc and placing them in the shoes. After you have done this, place the shoes in an airy place such as on top a cupboard or outside to let air pass through the shoes.

Be careful not to place the shoes in very harsh places like in front of direct air conditioning or a heater as this could damage the material of the shoes.

Alternate Your Shoes
Now, we are not asking you to have an army of shoes to fight your smelly shoe battle, but just have a couple that you can shuffle to keep your shoes smelling fresh and clean. After wearing a pair of shoes, do not just dump them back in your wardrobe. Take them outside or to a designated are and air dry them.

Refresh Your Insoles and Foot padding

Sometimes for extra comfort or support we use foot padding in our shoes, however, this could be adding to the problem of smelly shoes. The insoles and or paddings are in direct contact with your feet and so are absorbing all the moisture released from them. To refresh these you can do a number of things. You can clean them with water or tea tree oil or take them out and air them till they are dry.

Also have extra paddings so repeated wearing would not cause them to smell or get damaged.

Always Wear socks With Your shoes
Wearing socks before your shoes is another great way to keep your shoes from smelling awful. The socks, since you wash them more often than your shoes, takes all the moisture and gets washed afterwards leaving your shoes free from moisture.

Also remember that sometimes when it comes to caring for your shoes, you have to start from your feet. Try applying some powder to your feet to act as an absorbent for the moisture. This way you are taking extra measures to keep your shoes from feeling the effects of the moisture.

Have you ever had any terrible experiences with smelly shoes? Have you helped anyone overcome it? Don’t forget to share your experiences and tips with us.

Photo Credit: WikiHow.com