Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

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Odor in New Balance Shoes

I have had New Balance Shoes for more than 15 years (1 pair per year minimum, some years my wife buys multiple pairs on sale.). In that time, I needed to toss at least 2 pairs because they began to stink and I could not get the smell out. Finally when another pair began to stink (992's) I resolved to beat this problem.

But first, yes, I have a cat, and yes, I thought the cat might have sprayed my shoes. Now you may be wondering how bad the stink was. I could smell the shoes when I walked in my front door. Nobody could stay in the same room with the shoes. It was an utterly rank foul urine stink.

This last time I took my shoes and soaked them for a week in a strong solution of Simple Green cleaner. That did not get rid of the stink. Then I heard if you have cat pee on an article of clothing, use vinegar to remove the stink. I soaked the shoes for 10 days in vinegar. The stink remained.

Finally, I soaked the shoes for 3 days in a bleach solution. Then I washed them 3 times in a stronger bleach wash and let them dry. Afterwards, there was almost no stink. So, I thought I had won! I wore them for one day. By the end of the day they smelled so bad I had to put them in the basement. The shoes won.

I was ready to throw the pair into the garbage, which I did not want to do because they were not that old and I had paid about 90 bucks for them.

Then I saw all the comments on this site about stinky NB shoes. Hurray! My cat was not the culprit! Now the question is will the national retailer where I purchased the shoes exchange them for me? And the bigger question is, will I be reimbursed for the other pairs I tossed out?

Post by aprose

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I thought it was my son who had the problem and could NOT understand why I couldn't get the cat pee smell out of his New Balance football cleats. Seriously, they smell so bad we can't have them in the house. They are out on the deck full of baking soda hoping to clear out the smell. They have been washed, dried, sprayed to high heavens with Febreze, all to no avail. I'm going to contact NB and request a replacement ASAP.

Post by vandies

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I have a similar problem with my new (4 months old) New Balance shoes. They smell horrible. I don't have a good sense of smell so it took me awhile to identify the source, worse than any smelly shoe/feet smell I've smelled before. When I realized it was the shoes, I tried filling them with rubbing alcohol and letting them dry outside, but now that I see it is a New Balance problem, I will try to return them. I have older New Balance shoes, same model number, 811s, don't smell like that and they're five years old. New Balance 811s are the only shoes that fit my wide feet.

I'm going to try now to get a refund. I read the post about bleach not working, so I doubt the rubbing alcohol will work either. When I looked inside the shoe, for the first time, today, there's black stuff growing in the insole and in the seams of the lining. I couldn't get that out with the alcohol, so I'm afraid the shoes I paid around $90 for are going to be unwearable. I've also been having a reaction lately, itchy, from wearing them, which doesn't happen at all with my older New Balance shoes, and is clearing immediately upon suspending use of the new ones. Ick--what a problem.

Post by kiskadee

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

See Mike D's explanation about odor in New Balance tennis shoes from his 6/08 post. My podiatrist recommended them and my 587s were perfect - almost. The cat pee odor sent me back to the store, where they replaced them, saying if it happened again, I'd need to work with the manufacturer. Yes, same thing again, and the manufacturer replaced them but did not deal at all with the problem or even admit there was anything wrong with the shoes.

Sadly, I had to switch to another brand. Months later when my neighbor was explaining that she wouldn't let her husband in the house with his smelly tennis shoes. I asked if they were New Balance, and told her it wasn't his feet, it was some sort of chemical decomposition in the center of the sole. I don't understand why New Balance never owned up to the problem - they didn't with me - because other than that, it was one of the most comfortable tennis shoes I've ever worn.

Post by waterway

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I have had 2 pair of new balance 854. The first pair I thought my cat had done his duty on, but when i got a 2nd pair and within 2 months the same smell came back I thought it was my feet. I researched and found this site and realized along with the rest of us we weren't crazy. I contacted new balance customer service and had numerous e-mails , but eventually sent my shoes back (sealed in a plastic bag so the smell was nice and strong). They replaced my shoes and asked me what style I wanted. I've had 1 pair of 855 that didn't have the cat pee smell, so they replaced them . A bit of a hassle but a new pair of shoes and hopefully no cat pee smell. So contact new balance and see if you can get some satisfaction

Post by sunmoon28

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one experiencing these issues. I at first thought I had a foot odor problem, but after switching to another brand I easily determined that wasn't the case. I'm a little upset that I've purchased 3 pairs of 587's, 2 pairs of 992 in grey, and 1 pair of 992 in blue...all which smell like cat urine. I did find leaving 2 of the pairs in the garage for almost a year the smell went away, but after wearing a few times it immediately returned. It amazes me though I have a cheap pair of New Balance shoes from Kohls for the past 5 years with no issues what so ever. Hopefully they correct this soon, or I won't continue to buy their shoes.

Post by chouse626

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I am a nurse and love new balance walkers (811). I am also experiencing the cat litter box aroma of this pair of shoes only. We do not own a cat or are around a cat. Help, this is the only shoe I can do a 12 hour shift in. The odor is so bad at the end of the day I can smell a whiff when I walk. I tried another shoe but my legs and feet killed me. I hate to invest in a shoe that will smell again in a short time. My casual shoes do not have this odor. I have tried bleach and hot water without any help.

Post By Enter your name.Debra S (Guest Post)

Odor in New Balance 587

Okay, so it's not really ME! I'm glad I found all of your feedback, thanks! I just wrote NB Customer Service, so we'll see. I, too, have been purchasing and wearing the NB sneakers for years. I'm now on my 2nd pair of smellies (I keep 2-4 pairs in use at the same time).

I previously thought it was because I used the first smelly pair to walk the dog in the morning wet grass and beach/ocean, so I stopped using them and started using an old cheap brand of sneaker for dog walks..and they NEVER smelled like the NB pair. One advantage is that I never mix up one smelly for one good sneaker of another pair. I just smell them to match them up!

Post By Debster (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I'm so glad to have found this site! For weeks I have searched all around my lazyboy chair thinking that somewhere the cat did a no-no. I have a very keen sense of smell, and I just could not pin point it until one day I narrowed it down to my New Balance 587's - specifically, to a small area on the sole wear the outer rubber had worn away and exposed the foam.

I sprayed them with bleach, I sprayed them with febreeze, and I even thought about trying to seal it with super glue. I could not figure how my shoes could smell like cat pee.

I think I'll write a letter to New Balance and see what they say. I suppose its time for a new pair, but with this economy, I'm trying to make everything last as long as I can!

Post By Robert (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

It's the decomposition of the polyurethane in the shoes that causes the odor. I believe the smell is the urea that is present in the foam and when this happens, there is nothing that can be done because the plastic has destabilized. Urea is present in urine, hence the cat pee smell. I have the same thing going on with some polyurethane orthopedic inserts that got wet. I really thought that the cat got them, until I washed them, soaked them in dish washing detergent, left them to dry in the sun and dryer.

I sprayed them with febreeze, even used baking soda. They stink worse as what I did made them decompose more. I'm assuming that there is a problem with this type of foam or maybe there is a problem with a supplier. Maybe they even have male cats in the factory in China making the shoes.

To all those that posted normal foot odor remedies: This is not foot odor!

Post By Henry (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

This is the second pair of New Balance that smell like cat pee. The guys in the office wanted to be nice and not tell me about my odor until today when the could not take it anymore. I showed them this website to prove it is not me. It is the shoes. They then had a big laugh and told me to throw them away. The shoes are New Balance #854. I only have worn them for about a month. Its a shame I have to throw them away because they still look and feel new. I wish there was some way I could get a refund or get a new pair from New Balance since it is their problem. Thank you.

Post by mltoth2000

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I have a pair of 587's and cannot believe the stench. I also thought I was going nuts and was so glad to find a website where people where actually having the same problem. I also tried everything to get the smell out of the heal. Nothing works! I have never had a problem with any other tennis shoes in my life. I love the way NB fits, but will have to start looking for something else I guess.

Post By Linda (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance 1122 shoes

Thank goodness for this website. After getting whiffs of cat pee all over the house, I sniffed every article of clothing in closets, all the furniture, till finally smelling my NB1122's. Whoa! I washed them twice with detergent and vinegar. Then pored straight vinegar onto the soles. When dried, the same cat pee smell only stronger!! I have already put in a call to the local shoe store (long time reputable dealer). They were going to contact the company and get back to me. I loved the shoes but I won't put up that with smell ever again. Thanks for this site. You saved my sanity!

Post By Jim from KY (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

Just a note on the "cat pee" smell. If you notice the comments, they virtually all involve shoes using polyurethane in the midsoles. The 850 series of cross trainers from New Balance (853, 854 mostly), and their 587, 991, 992 and 1122 models. Also a problem with the Saucony Grid Stabils and Shadows, among other brands.

The reason is this - most athletic footwear is made with EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) foam in their mid soles. Light and very cushioned, they can lack stability. Many athletic footwear makers will use polyurethane in the mid sole of models designed for increased stability. It works very well for the purpose it is intended, however the downfall is that if these shoes become repeatedly saturated with water, it will begin to affect the polyurethane, causing it to have what most people describe as a "cat pee" smell.

Rarely will it be a problem for a runner out on a wet day, as the amount of water usually won't saturate the shoe. However those who wear them in very wet environments (not what they're intended for), wash them (never, ever machine wash a shoe, unless as a last resort), will often have a problem with smell.

If your polyurethane mid sole shoe does happen to get soaked, your best bet is to remove the insole and let them air dry, to avoid having the water leech into the mid sole.

BTW, Michael from Baltimore makes a great point about caring for you shoes.

Post By Mike D. (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I had the same problem with the 587 and the 991's. I was upset since I have spent a small fortune on NB sneaks over the past 12 years. I wrote them an email explaining the problem. They sent me a via email a form for each pair of sneakers, I sent my sneakers back and got a new pair of 587's and since they no longer make the 991's I got a pair of 992's. Awesome customer service. I was just gonna throw in the towel. I decided to give it a shot and it paid off. I may end up with the cat piss smell again, but at least they recognized the problem and were willing to replace them.

Post By clayton (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

Wow! I thought I was nuts but I am on my second pair of stinkers 854. Cat pee was the suspect but we don't have one. I am just now starting to smell the second pair and that is why I started this research. I am taking both pairs back. This is more chinese quality making it's way onto our bodies and into our noses!

Post By PAUL PROCH KNOXVILLE TN (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

My wife thought I was crazy. I do not have a cat but kept smelling one. People at my wifes job then kept saying something smells like cat pee. She then realized it was her when she smelled her shoes. I smell it in and all over my home. Both of us wear New Balance. Right now her pair of running shoes 816 New Balance smell so bad I leave them outside. I tried to wash them with soap and bleach in the washing machine. About a week later the odor returned. My pairs of shoes do not stink yet. If there is a way to fix the problem please let me know. Thank you.

Post by mltoth2000

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

(submitted via email)
All shoes I buy smell horrible when I take them off but my feet don't! What can I do?

willem

Post by jess

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I have the same problem with my New Balance 587 running shoes. The fit is perfect. I'm flat footed and could not jog/run/jump rope due to shin splints until I bought these. HOWEVER, the cat pee-like smell is horrible. I have tried everything. I can't keep them in the house unless I put them in a their own sealed container. I take them out to wear outside but can hardly tolerate it even then.
I am so glad to have found this website before blaming some wayward cat and purchasing another pair of New Balance. I am going to contact the company, but judging from other people's experiences I suspect I will be looking for another brand.

Post By melanie (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

my husband emailed me this site because i just could not believe this is happening to others as well. he has worn new balance shoes ever since he heard they were good for hard to fit feet. the last pair of new balance shoes he had he figured must have gotten wet in rain or snow (since thats what seems to be happening here) and he also blamed it on his mom's cat because the smell is just like when a male cat sprays! so he washed them and let them air out a day or two and that only seemed to make the smell worse.

so he ended up buying another pair of new balance shoes and left them by the bed the other day when all of a sudden i started smelling something terrible. i picked up his shoes and it was them again! so THATS when we finally put two and two together and found this site. its great to know at least that we arent nuts!

Post By Lisa (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

Same problem with my husband's shoes. I'm so glad that I found this website, as we were really upset at the cat! LOL. I can smell these shoes from yards away and they get to have their home in the garage - but we are taking them back to the store today!

Post By Not a NB lover anymore (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

Thank goodness...I have not lost my marbles. Anyway, after reading all of the previous posts concerning the cat urine odor, I sent New Balance the following e-mail.
To New Balance shoes:
First I want to say that I love New Balance sneakers as far as their fit. I wear women's size 8 EEEE SL-2, so it is very difficult to find comfortable shoes. I was ecstatic to find your site.
HOWEVER... my first pair (853s) started smelling bad after stepping into lake water. I assumed this smell was due to the water, could not get rid of it, so designated them as swimming shoes. A few months ago, I bought a pair of 1122s. My boyfriend now gags every time I wear them, and I definitely get embarrassed in public. I tried washing them, powdering, febreeze, odor inserts, etc. The cat urine smell cannot be disguised. I just bought yet another pair (1123s), and I am actually afraid to wear them as they are to expensive to have that smell occur in them. My boyfriend and I actually argued over what was causing the odor. He thought it was a foot odor problem...which I have never had in my life. None of my other shoes or boots have any smelly foot odor. We have never had a cat, so that is not an excuse. You can actually track the shoes, or me wearing them, in the house by smell. That is ridiculous! So embarrassing!
Anyway...I found the following website http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf823645.tip.html with many, many exact same complaints. What a relief to know that we are not losing our sanity. I immediately called my boyfriend and copied the pages of complaints just so I can tell him "I told you so!" There are other web sites out there also complaining about the cat urine odor in your shoes. I really think you should do something about this. A product recall may be expensive, but I believe that losing all of the customers who paid a good price for your shoes only to throw them out will be a bigger loss. I recommended these shoes to more than one person with hard-to-fit feet. Should I warn them not to buy your shoes after all? What can I do about the New Balance shoes that I presently have this problem with? Do you have any successful solutions to this problem?

Post By Kathy Button (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I have been using a pair of new balance 852 running shoes that I bought a number of months ago and have had a problem with cat urine odor getting stronger as time goes by. I asked about the strong "new" smell as soon as I bought them. I was assured that this would diminish as time went on. It hasn't.

I have now noticed that the smell gets worse if the shoes got wet. They have a stronger odor in the back heal and I noticed that the plastic covering has come off. My shoe store in Huntsville assures me that my cat has urinated in them (although they offered to send back my shoes - NO OFFER TO REPLACE THEM THOUGH).

After reading the above comments, apparently New Balance either has a problem that they are not admitting to and or asking the retailers to keep 'hush hush'. Looking for a consumer complaint website to warn others. Suggestions can be made to ytms (at) surenet.net

Post By Jeff (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

When my podiatrist recommended New Balance 587s in Dec. 2005, I purchased a pair, loved them, but I was very distressed to find in April, 2005, that there was a disintegration problem on the OUTSIDE of both soles, near the groove where the heel and sole meet. The material had turned gray, was breaking up, and they had a peculiar odor (like cat urine) coming from that point of disintegration.

The store where I had purchased them replaced them for me, but said if there was another problem I'd have to discuss it with the manufacturer. Within a month, while checking them closely, the same thing started again. When I called Customer Service they said to mail them in, they'd study the shoes, and might replace them. In the meantime, I had to purchase a different brand of shoe for a planned trip.

New Balance replaced the shoes, but I sure would have appreciated hearing they recognized a problem and would work on it. My third pair did exactly the same thing. Recently, when purchasing a new pair of shoes, I again tried on a pair of New Balance, loved them, but can't take a chance that they've actually corrected the problem since as far as I know they've never taken responsibility for it to begin with.

Don't try washing techniques - it's not the inside that smells so awful (my neighbor had her husband keep his shoes outdoors!), it's a breakdown of the actual material on the sole. You can see AND smell the disintegration that's taking place. I wound up buying the brand I substituted for New Balance. New Balance would do well to own up to a problem, so some former customers could possibly return.

Post By Judy (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I concur with the Post By ccrunner (Guest Post) (09/04/2005)
New Balance shoes develop a pungent aroma in the actual sole of the shoe. NOTHING removes that odour. Cleaning and washing just makes it worse.
This seems to be something that happened in the last few years. I have been wearing New Balance since early 1980's and NEVER had this problem until the last couple of years, when my 999's finally wore out.
I bought a new pair of 9xx's in September 2006. However, the smell started in the winter. I spent a couple of months cleaning and washing the shoes, trying to remove the smell. But the smell is in the actual sole. And nothing helped.
The store replaced my pair purchased in May 2007, but in November the smell started again.
My advice. Unless you plan on replacing your New Balance every 6mths, and always keep them dry, buy something else.

Post By Leo Smith (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

Thank you thank you. I am on my second pair of 1122s. I love the shoe but I have the cat pee smell. I also thought it was the cat. But it is only on the heel.
I am calling new balance tomorrow. I bought them at a new balance outlet store.

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Model 992 Odor in New Balance sneekers

These are the second pair of new balance sneekers that I have owned that have a terrible odor. I have worn them for about a year, they are still like new. The rubber soles smell like cat urine.

Post By J G (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

Odour in New Balance 1122. Well here's the feed back from New Balance. (see original post of 13Apr07). I explained the odour issue to New Balance. They told me to talk to the store I bought them from. I explained the issue to the store. Before I was done, the lady finished my story for me. They have had many, many returns of the same complaint. Seems the store, ( a very large retailer ) refuses to carry the 1122 and has told New Balance that they will not carry it until such time that the odour issue is fixed. To date is has not. The manager went on to have me seal the shoes in a plastic bag, box them and return them to the store. I live out of town so I had to send them in the mail. They promptly gave me a full credit, apologized for the inconvenience and have provided a new pair of shoes in a different brand. Completely satisfied and won't buy this model again. Don't even waste your time trying to get rid of the odour yourself, it's in the product they use in the manufacturing of the motion control heal support. If you don't believe me, just go to the back of the shoe, give that horseshoe shaped piece of plastic betweent the sole and the upper a good sniff. When you regain conciousness, get rid of the shoes.

Post By Rob M (Guest Post)

New Balance 1122s

I am now on my third pair of 1122s. They were recommended to me by my podiatrist, as well. Same thing. After several months the OUTSIDE Rubber Heals started to smell EXACTLY LIKE CAT URINE. I have called New Balance each time, and each time I was directed to take them back to the store I purchased them from (Lucky Shoes). Today New Balance called the shoe store for me and asked if they would replace yet another pair due to "Product Control Issue". When I walked in, the lady behind the counter said "Oh, I remember you". Sure she does, my shoes smell like CAT PEE! Do you think New Balance told her that THAT was the "issue"? Nope, I was made to be embarrassed yet again, but I DID get another pair of new sneakers. When I asked New Balance "what happens when this replacement pair starts to stink" the lady there said "send them back and we will replace them again". LOL At this rate I will have new shoes for free for a very, very long time.

Post By Peggy (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I too have experienced the beast within my New Balance shoes. Two years ago, on the advice of my podiatrist, I bought two pair of new New Balance shoes. I swap shoes every day to prevent fungus and oder. After about a year, both pairs developed an incredible cat urine stench. Washing, fabrize, soaking in that pet store enzyme pet stain remover, nothing worked. I put the shoes outside and bought another two pair. I like these shoes. Another year passes and the two new pair develop the same acrid stink. Hmm. This time I soak them in bleach for 24 hours. That seemed to stop the smell. Until they dried - shoes are now no longer black due to the bleach, and still stink. I found this web site and discovered I was not alone. A call to New Balance Customer Service and a reference to this web site elicited the news that "they USED to have an odar problem with a couple of models, but that it had been taken care of". But I was sent 3 shoe return forms. BTW. the shoes that sat outside on my porch roof for 1 year STILL stank. I recommend calling NB Customer Service and explaining the problem and referencing this web site.

Post by Autojohn

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I called a friend of mine and told him about the problem with my New Balance shoes. I told him they got wet and when they dried that stink like cat urine. He told me to tie the shoe laces together carefully. Then take a plastic garbage bag and insert them heal first. Take 3 rubber bands and secure the top very tight. Then....Take them to the trash can in the alley of our house and put them in with a forcefull downward stroke making sure that they crash forcefully in the bottom of the trash can. Then go to Academy and buy another pair.

Post By D. Morehead (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

OMG I thought I was the only one with swamp foot! LOL! I was just looking online to see if I could actually submerge these 680's in the washing machine because they smelled really bad. I have washed my other shoes before but I have NEVER experienced the smell from my foot like this in any other shoe and I have sweaty feet. I washed the insoles with bleach to find that didn't work either. Thank God I'm not alone. I'm going to contact New Balance as well... It's worth a shot.

Post By Tamara Harris (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I bought a pair of New Balance 1122's July 2006. The best pair of shoes I have ever owned for my feet as I am a pronator. They came very highly recommended. Now the smell, exactly the same as male cat urine...disgusting. The shoes now stay in the garage and will only be used for yard work. What a shame, what a waste. A little research revealed that New Balance have been looking into the matter. That complainant recommended that if anyone else experiences this issue, they should contact NB Customer Service from the company's website. I've sent email to them, now I'll see what happens.

Post By Rob M (Guest Post)

Odor in New Balance 587

I believe the odor is by design. I have purchased 3 successive pairs of New Balance 587s. They are great shoes. But, after about 500 miles they start stinking on the outside of the heal. Happened three times. I am very suspicious that this odor is designed into the shoes to encourage new purchases. Either the stink is in the interior rubber or the rubber encourages a mold to grow. No other shoes that I have ever had did this.

Post By Gravaman (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

Amazing! Just for laughs I wondered if I could find any info on the Internet about the horrific smell from my New Balance 587s. Bingo!
Afeter the first pair developed this smell (cat urine)
I blamed the cat and bought an identical pair. After 1 year...The exact same thing. Left shoe only, both times. NOTHING fixes this problem (except maybe fire.) Goodbye New Balance!

Post by jseaman15131

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I too have the same problem with my New Balance. I have been wearing New Balance for fifteen years or more and I have had many pairs of them. This is the first time they have had this horrible smell, which, when it first appeared made me think the same as another person just mentioned here, that my male cat had come in and peed on them. The smell is identical to that. I gather the problem occurs when they get wet, either from the weather or from sweat. I have tried all the usual methods of getting rid of the smell; washing, drying in the sun, new shoe liners, "Febreze", you name it, but it is impossible. When you wash them the water smells as bad as the shoes. New Balance were recommended to me years ago by a foot specialist as being the best shoes for anyone with foot problems, but until the company can fix this problem, which obviously has something to do with the composition of the shoe, I will not be buying any more. It's too bad, because I really believe they are the "best". You can smell the odor accross a room - that's how bad it is, and in a car with the heater on in the winter time - well - it doesn't bear mentioning. Mine are going in the garbage today - I will have to look for a different brand and try my luck with those.

Post By Catherine (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance 1122's

I made the mistake of buying a second pair of these after the first ones began smelling like urine. I thought my cats had 'peed' on them. It is disguisting, and I cannot wash the smell away.

Post By N. (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

This is not just a "New Balance" problem. For me they're the best tennis shoe around. I wouldn't bail on them just because "I" got them wet. I've seen the wet/stink issues with Nike and other good brands. Soak them using a combination of small amounts of Rubbing Alcohol, Lysol with Lemon, and a good amount of Baking Soda. Then DRY them COMPLETELY in the Sun for several days and don't wear for a week. Then before and after every wear, sprinkle insides with Baking Soda and take some old socks, fill with Cat Litter (the kind for mulitple cat households) and place those inside the shoes. Also, vary the shoes you wear and try not to wear the same pair all day every day. Wear good socks that absorb moisture. After sweating from sports, remove socks & shoes quickly, dry feet, change socks and change to alternate shoes.

Post By Michael from Baltimore (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

How do you get the odor out of NIKE tennis shoes after they have been wet?

Post By Rhonda White (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

I have the same problem with my new balance sneakers ... I have tried washing them and it only makes them worse !!! NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY NEW BALANCE SNEAKERS !!!

Post By Kevin (Guest Post)

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

Hi Stacie,

Have you tried going to a shoe store lately? Many of them offer these round 'thingies" that look like tennis balls & you place them in your sneakers when you are not wearing them. I do believe they guarantee that they work.

Might cost you a few buckos might I'm sure it will be worth it.

Good luck.

Post by kidena

RE: Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis Shoes

Have you tried contacting New Balance? Perhaps they have a solution for you since it's just those shoes you're having problems with .. it could be something in the materials or chemicals that trap the smell ...I can't imagine why nothing you've tried wouldn't help .. my husband has the smelliest sweat and works in construction all day and I have never had problems getting smells out of his stuff.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help! Good Luck!
Rebekah

Post by Madelynnsmama

Removing Odor from Shoes

I can NOT get the odor out of my son's New Balance suede tennis shoes. The bottom of the inside of the shoes have a flannel feeling fabric. I have:

1. Sprayed with Kiwi Fresh Force shoe freshener
2. Washed with baking soda, vinegar, detergent, spray and wash, etc.
3. Left outside for days to air out. Even the animals don't want to run off with them....lol

None of his other shoes smell like this. He marched in these at band camp and I suppose he sweat excessively in them. The just have a really rank odor that resembles the odor that happened one time when the towel underneath the dog's water bowl didn't get replaced when I was flat on my back from an injury. The guys let it go and it got full of mold or mildew underneath. Ew...gross. Anyway, the towel washed fine. But I sure can't get these shoes to stop stinking. They sure are clean though!...LOL...Any suggestions? Thanks, Stacie

Post by ThriftyFun

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

New Balance shoes get a "sour mop" smell after they get wet. With my shoes, this potent chemical smell occurs on the OUTSIDE of the shoes.

The shoes fit great and provide good support, but I question the choice of materials when a running shoe stinks after getting wet.

Post By ccrunner (Guest Post)

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

Take a couple of envelopes, put a tablespoonful of coffee grounds (right from the can) in each envelope and seal.Then place an envelope in each shoe and place shoes in a plastic bag & seal for a couple of days or longer if necessary.

Post By Anna from Maine (Guest Post)

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

stuff his shoes with wadded up newspaper. Stuff them well and then place in garbage bag and close overnight it should take out the smell. sometimes you have to repeat a few times;

Post By walker (Guest Post)

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

Try spraying rubbing alcohol in them

Post By Lynne Hacker (Guest Post)

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

You might try taking an old nylon stocking, fill with some kitty litter and put in shoes for a day. It soaks up the smell.

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

Use vanilla on cotton balls, in shoes, this will work !!

Post By ROSA (Guest Post)

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

Place them in a large plastic bag and then in the Freezer for 24 hours. It will kill off the lovely little invisable critters that are the cause of this odor-:)

Post By Tina (Guest Post)

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

I know you said you washed the shoes in vinegar, but that was not enough exposure. I've had more than one pair of shoes belonging to different family members have this problem thru the yrs. The only thing I've found to impact this earthy smell is to actually soak the shoes in vinegar for 24hrs. I just pour it into the shoes and let them sit. I've heard of some folks using alum - small amts of powdered alum sprinkled in the shoes - as well. Good luck!! bbb

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

We had the same problem with my son's shoes. We got rid of most of the odour by putting them in the dryer on high heat. The heat killed the bacteria and helped a lot with the smell.

Post By Trix (Guest Post)

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

You can place a "bounce" or any other dryer fabric sheet in them for a few days.....Hope it works..

Post By Sherri (Guest Post)

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

I had the same problem with my penny loafers that I just slipped on without socks. PEEEYEWWW!! An Amish gentleman who owned a harness shop made leather insoles for me and glued them in, (said his wife did the same thing with her shoes) and I never had the problem again. I imagine a shoe repair shop could do the same thing, or if you live near any Amish at all, you can get it done while you wait.

Post By Margie Minard (Guest Post)

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