Say Goodbye To Smelly Shoes

Are smelly shoes a problem in your household? It’s a lot harder for us to notice our bodily scents than it is for others to notice. What even causes our shoes to reek? We have one word: Moisture. This could be from sweat, walking in the rain, or anything that might get your shoes wet.

When they’re not properly aerated after exposure to moisture, this leaves the moisture (sweat, water, etc.) to sit and grow the bacteria necessary to cause odors. This bacteria can even contribute to infections when exposed to broken skin or lead to the development of the fungi responsible for athlete’s foot. If you’re lucky enough to catch it early, there are quick and easy ways to reduce the stink your shoes might be causing.

Step One:

Unlace your shoes and take the insoles out. Put these into the wash with other clothing items on a gentle, low cycle – often labeled as a ‘delicate’ cycle. If possible, use regular, unscented detergent and air dry them after washing. While there's no doubt that our insoles can hold a lot of stink, you would be surprised by the odor shoelaces have!

Step Two:

Tap the soles of your shoes together outside to loosen up any debris. Add some dye-free, unscented detergent to a basin of lukewarm water. Mix it thoroughly. Get a soft-bristled scrubbing brush and dip its bristles into the water. Using the scrubbing brush, gently scrub away any remaining debris.

Step Three:

Dampen a cloth into the mixture using the same cleaning solution in step two. After wringing out your cloth, use it to dab and rub away stains and smudges. This can take some elbow grease! Once all the spots are gone, wring out the cloth and soak up excess moisture. Leave them to dry in a ventilated area overnight (or longer).

And voila! Your shoes will be rid of a considerable amount of dirt, debris, and bacteria that can cause odors to form. Still finding your feet and shoes smell? There may be more to the story. Give us a call to discuss!

Here at PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center, we specialize in custom orthotics, along with various other foot and ankle ailments. Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and the rest of our team are dedicated to helping our Hartford County patients. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.