Remedies for Stinky Shoes

Picture of a man holding up stinky shoes.

The smell of stinky shoes can be overwhelming and make you want to throw them away. There are a number of good ways to remove and prevent the odors. This is a guide about removing odors from stinky shoes.

Solutions: Remedies for Stinky Shoes

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Newspaper for Stinky Shoes

Sure, there are many things you can do to try and remedy the long-time battle of the "stinky shoe". You can mix various concoctions, sprinkle dust, make magic potions or whatever, but why not invest that valuable time somewhere else? Want to get rid of the stink? Stuff the shoes with newspaper. That's right. Newspaper. Shoes should be "stink-free" come morning!

Source: I'm the grandmother of the boy with the world's stinkiest shoes!

By FranFran from Zebulon, Georgia

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Removing Smell from Shoes

To get the smell out of shoes, I put a mixture of baking soda, baking powder, and cornstarch in a pair of cotton socks and stick in the shoes overnight. It works like a charm.

By Sherry from Onset, MA

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Fragrant Dryer Sheets for Shoes

To freshen boots, bowling shoes, ski boots, etc., place a dryer sheet in each one when not in use.

By Monique

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Removing Odors From Shoes

If you have someone who has sweaty feet all the time, here is a solution to get rid of the smell in their shoes. Throw shoes in the washer. Once dry, double bag them and put in the freezer overnight. This will kill the bacteria that causes the odour. Once thawed and dry, spray with vinegar, rubbing alcohol or Pinesol. Cover entire inside of shoe. Once dry, dust with powder. Works well.

By coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

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Dryer Sheets for Shoes

To freshen boots, bowling shoes, ski boots, etc., place a dryer sheet in each one when not in use.

By duckie-do from Cortez, CO

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Cedar Insoles for Foot Odor

To get rid of smelly feet and stinky shoes you can use insoles made from cedar material. For example special Cedarsoles made from antifungal and fresh smelling cedar wood. It tackles the cause of the problem, foot bacteria!

By Casey from Chicago, IL

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Questions

Here are questions related to Remedies for Stinky Shoes.

Removing Odor from Shoes

How do you get a dead mouse smell out of leather sneakers?

By Barbara from San Antonio, TX

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Most Recent Answer

By Lindaspy 01/31/2011

Baking Soda. Just pour a little of it in the shoe and let it sit.

Getting Rid of Smell in Tennis Shoes

What can you put in shoes to make them smell less? My grandson stays in his tennis shoes. I would like something that he could slip into his shoes at night, that would help get rid of the odor. Thanks.

By Cookie 17 from Roanoke, VA

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Most Recent Answer

By murphthejo 01/19/2013

A Dr Oz guest says to put them in the freezer.

Remedy for Moist, Stinky Shoes

Does anyone know if it safe and effective to use the disposable silica gel bags (found in new shoes) to absorb sweat and odour in running shoes in between uses?

By JOFA508 from Toronto

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Most Recent Answer

By JOFA508 12/30/2009

I thought it would be safe. But after doing some research, it looks like some silica is harmful if it is inhaled or injested.

The throw away on some packages scares me as well.

Odor in New Balance Suede Tennis 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!

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Stacie

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Most Recent Answer

By sneakercleaner 11/26/2011

Read my profile.

Smelly New Athletic Shoes

I bought my son a pair of leather Jordon's at the Finish Line 2 months ago. They smell like cat urine and we have no cats! I have washed them, let them dry, and stuffed them with newspaper. I also bought a new shoe deodorizer and the shoes still smell like cat urine, to the point the shoes make my house smell like cat urine. What do you suggest for me to resolve this problem? Thank you.

By Rhonda M.

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By carrieschuelkeyoung 04/19/2013

I have the exact same problem with the Air Jordans that I bought my son. The shoes are about 3 months old and smell like cat pee! I'm washing them with baking soda and then putting baking soda in them for 24 hours. I hope something helps, they are in good shape yet just really stinky!

Removing Odors from Sneakers

How do I remove odors from sneakers?

By Nativeluv from Sacramento, CA

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By Ninny123 09/19/2011

I've heard that you can stuff them with newpaper and set outside over night and that helps. It's not a permanent fix though you may have to do it once a week or so.

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Removing Odor From Shoes

Is there any way to remove odor from shoes. The shoes are still like new but they smell terrible from sweating feet, etc.

Removing Odor From Shoes

How do I get rid of shoe odor? The commercialized sprays aren't cutting it at all. We're talking room-clearing nuclear clouds emanating from around my ankles every time I take a step. it's humiliating.

C A M from Roy, UT

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

I have nuclear bomb smelling shoes too. I found if I alternated shoes a few times a week it helped. I use cheap stick deodorant on my feet when it is very hot out. I make an effort to scrub my feet everyday. I use peppermint foot odor spray on my feet (Dollar General - about $1.50) and sometimes peppermint cream (same price). The fabric softener sheets really work, also baking soda, baby powder, newspapers, and the like. Good luck. (06/19/2008)

By mulberry204

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

The best thing to do is remove the laces and soles from your shoes/trainers and put them all in a single pillow cushion. Put a small towel in there too and then put on a single 40 or 50 degree wash. Make sure you put more than the average dose of washing powder or tablets in the machine too. if the shoes/trainers are really smelly and previous washing has not worked then it is best to exactly repeat this procedure again immediately after the first time. After this the smell will be completely removed and the trainers will be like new. Just be careful you don't sweat in them too often again or you will have to repeat this whole procedure again. (06/21/2008)

By sh00ta

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

I put rubbing alcohol on a cotton square and wipe out the insides of the shoes that are not washable. (06/22/2008)

By Maryeileen

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

Mr Fix It, on WGN radio tells that he has not found an odor that FRESH WAVE will not remove. Google FRESH WAVE and read about it. Comes in spray or crystals (06/22/2008)

By WIsgal

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

Some shoes/boots hold more odors than others. Alternating shoes allows shoes to dry out. What worked for me was placing the shoes/boots on large rocks in the hot sun for the day when possible. This allowed the shoes/boots to dry out well. In the winter months, I would place them near a heat source to dry out. Also, if there are inserts in the shoes/boots, take them out to dry along with the shoes/boots. (07/02/2008)

By Georgeanne

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

I have found that if you fill the offending sneakers with boiling water and then add a little bleach (bathroom bleach is fine) you will kill 100% of the bacteria that cause the odour. Even the worst sneakers can be cleaned like this, and it doesn't seem to damage them.

I just took two things that kill bacteria (heat and chlorine) and applied them. I would imagine that zapping the shoes in a microwave for 30 seconds would have the same effect, but haven't tried that yet. (07/15/2008)

By Toby

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

It is true that some peoples' feet do smell, more than others, but it is also true that a lot of the new man-made materials in joggers, for instance, are the source of the problem. I only have one pair of shoes that smell, a pair of Diana Ferrari joggers. They don't have much ventilation and I think that that also, plus the sweat, causes the problem. (08/01/2008)

By Lee

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

Depending on the type of material I usually soak the sneakers in a bucket of hot water and diluted bleach, let it soak several hours, or overnight and then thoroughly rinse with cold water. Fresh smelling shoes! I hate dirty shoes so I always throw them in the washing machine when they get too dirty. For that I put in a scoop of Oxyclean and use Spray and Wash for the insides of the shoes. Gets them real clean! (10/02/2008)

By Kate

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

Rubbing alcohol! Douse tennis shoes in it, let soak for a couple of hours. Wash in machine! Presto, no trace of any odor! Kills all the bad stuff! (10/16/2008)

By Nikki

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

If you wear flats or tennis shoes without socks 24/7, you are bound to get bad foot odor. I would recommend choosing different shoes, or only wearing shoes like these once every two weeks. This helps them air out. (11/05/2008)

By Selena

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

I had this problem also. I found a product called BioWorld Odor Neutralizer that has helped a lot. I keep it around the house for other odors as well but when my shoes start to smell, I just spray it on and leave it overnight. By the morning, there is no more odor! I do have to do this offend, especially during the summer time, because it is a reoccurring odor and no odor remover will take care of the smell forever. But it has worked out great for me. I used to throw away several pairs of flip flops during the summer but not anymore! http://www.adbio.com/odor/odor-control.htm (01/09/2009)

By Lillian

RE: Removing Odor From Shoes

Hey Roy, if you want a natural treatment, just try special cedarsoles (for example Zederna insoles). For me they worked perfectly. The woodside absorbs any moisture and prevents my feet from getting other foot diseases. Maybe try this! (05/21/2009)

By MichelleJohn

Remedy for Stinky Shoes

How do you get rid of a smell in tennis shoes?

Remedy for Moist, Stinky Shoes

To get moisture or stink out of shoes, fill two old socks with baking soda and knot at the ends. Shove deep into the shoes and let them sit overnight. The shoes should be dry or very close to dry and any odor should be gone.

By Beth B. from Lee, FL

Removing Odor from Shoes

My husband has a problem with very smelly feet. I had tried all kinds of powders before I tried this. We were forced to throw his shoes away regularly. This tip works and he is able to keep tennis shoes and boots longer. Place each offending shoe into a plastic bag and place into the freezer overnight. The next day remove from the bag and freezer. Place the shoes outside in the sunlight to thaw, and dry.

By Notwrong

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

Really bad smelling shoes are from candida. It is the worst. The freezing probably kills the bacteria. My husbands feet and shoes were awful. Didn't get better till we got the candida under control. (07/24/2009)

By c t

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

Cool. I always try leaving them in the sun. Works well in the hot parts of summer, but your way works year round. (08/05/2009)

By mctc

RE: Removing Odor from Shoes

Put some cat litter into a pair of tights. I suggest you layer the tights twice to keep all the cat litter in. Tie securely and place in each shoe overnight. The shoes will be odorless the following morning. You will need to change the cat litter periodically. It works, cost is minimal and environmentally friendly. (08/10/2009)

By barbara p s

Remedy for Stinky Shoes

To get the odor out of stinky shoes and sneakers, wad up newspaper and stick in the shoes. Leave several hours or overnight. Odor gone and it is a green idea.

Removing Odor from Shoes

How do you get your shoes to stop smelling?

Removing Odor from Shoes

I wash my tenny shoes and even after I take them straight out of the washer they still stink so bad and make my feet stink as well. What can I do to take the stinky odor out of them?