How to remove bad smell from shoes

The bad smell that shoes give off can be embarrassing for many and can make you want to throw them away, luckily there are remedies against it.

It is not necessary to throw away your shoes every time they have an unbearable smell and it does not come off even if you put them in the washing machine, there are many remedies to try. eliminate these odors, some unconventional and others very homemade and available to everyone.

How can I eliminate bad smell?

Before doing anything, we must search the main cause of odor, take a good look at the shoes and discover if what is happening, for example, comes from the insoles that are a little damaged. If that were the case, we simply must change the insoles for a couple new ones.

Another thing we can do is always dry your shoes, placing them near a Heater or in a window facing directly into the sun. Keeping them dry helps prevent odor-producing bacteria.

If said bacteria are already in the shoes and they don't leave, freeze shoes. Put them in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer overnight. With that you will kill the bacteria.

Bacteria tend to live long, but suffer at below-normal temperatures.

Some home remedies against bad odor.

As with most problems, there are also home remedies against bad shoe odor. These are also very cheap or simple and they usually are effective in a 90% of cases. These remedies are:

  • baking soda. If the freezer trick doesn't work, add a small dose of baking soda and let the powder absorb the odor overnight.
  • Fresh orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit. The peel of fresh citrus fruits is usually a great remedy because of the essential oils they have. Leave the fresh citrus peel on your shoes overnight and remove them before wearing them. 
  • black tea bags. Black tea bags contain tannins that are often natural remedies against shoe bacteria. Simply place a tea bag in boiling water for a few minutes, remove the bag and let it cool for about 5 minutes before placing it in the shoe. Leave it for a few hours and remove.
  • Bar soap. Rubbing a bar of soap inside the shoe with a bad smell can be a solution, as it is porous it will absorb all the odors and keep the soap fresh.
  • Isopropyl alcohol. Spray a little of said alcohol on the inside of the shoes, this will help dry out the sources of odor and eliminate them forever. 
  • Essential oils. Simply place a few drops of essential oils on a couple of cotton balls. Leave it overnight and the shoes will absorb the smell.

Other cleaning tricks.