Proven ways to quickly and permanently remove odor from shoes at home (8 photos + 1 video)

November 18, 2022 10:10

Community: Idea Factory

Tags: Unpleasant smell from shoes smell from shoes smells shoes tips photos tricks  

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An unpleasant odor from shoes can be felt not only after prolonged use, but even from a new pair that has not yet been worn.

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In most cases this is a solvable problem. You can use not only special products, but also simple home recipes. We'll tell you more about how to remove the smell of sweat, dampness and other unpleasant odors from shoes at home in this article.

Causes of unpleasant amber

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There can be several reasons for the unpleasant odor from shoes. The most common include: improper care of the pair, which is why fungi and bacteria grow in the shoes; some dermatological diseases of the skin of the legs; sewing shoes from low-quality materials; pet urine; improper use of a specific pair (for example, wearing rubber boots for a long time in the heat, etc.) and some other circumstances. Most causes can be eliminated. But there are also those that are almost impossible to cope with. This statement can be applied to shoes that are made of materials that emit an unpleasant odor. For the most part, these are very cheap materials that unscrupulous manufacturers use. It is unlikely that it will be possible to completely remove the specific aroma from such a pair.

Change insoles

To rid your shoes of odor, change the insoles. If you spend a long time in shoes, your feet will begin to choke and sweat. Shoe insoles become saturated with sweat, so it's worth replacing them.

Insoles need to be changed at least once every 2 months if worn frequently. Photo: fast.ulmart.ru

I looked through the sovets.net forum and the otzovik.com website. Here are the insoles you can buy:

1. Gel . Soft gel provides foot comfort and lasts longer than regular insoles. For example, the well-known company Scholl produces many types of insoles for any occasion.

Insoles for women for active work Scholl GelActiv: average price - 1000 rubles
What the manufacturer promises:

• long wearing period - 6 months;
• shock-absorbing base - reduces stress on the feet;
• prevention of slipping - the leg is in a stable position;
• decreased sweating.

Review:

Irina, 23:

I love open shoes, I’m ready to wear sandals all summer! One thing is inconvenient: when the leg sweats, the foot slips, the toes stick out unsightly. Sholl gel half-insoles simply saved me. Comfortable, fingers do not slip, calluses do not appear on the feet. It’s not a pity to pay 1.5 thousand for comfort and beauty. Girls, I recommend it from the bottom of my heart.

Source sovets.net

1. With activated carbon. The insoles absorb unpleasant odors due to the antibacterial effect of charcoal. For example, Silver anti-odor insoles eliminate bad odors.

The main advantage of charcoal insoles is their affordable price.
For example, Silver “Anti-odor” insoles cost about 90 rubles. Here’s what they write about them:

Tiger:

As I already said, complete absence of odors for almost two months. I don’t use any additional products like any foot gels or rubbing the skin with formaldehyde.

When worn, the insoles are very comfortable - soft, elastic, it is even easier to walk in them, although they are not orthopedic. The leg does not rub. They absorb moisture well - again, the comfort of the skin of the feet.

Source irecommend.ru

Alcohol

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To treat the inside of the shoe, vodka or alcohol diluted with water can be used. The method of applying the selected drug depends on the shoe model. If possible, wipe the inner surface of the pair with a sponge soaked in vodka. When this is difficult to do, it is better to pour the alcohol-containing liquid into a spray bottle. After the inside of the pair has been processed, it must be given time to simply stand for 3-4 hours. Areas treated with vodka are wiped with paper towels, after which the shoes are left to dry completely.

Other chemical agents to combat shoe odor

To get rid of odor in shoes, you can also turn to other drugs:

Using soda

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Treating with soda is a good option for those shoes whose insides cannot be wet. This method can be used, for example, to care for winter boots. Application: pour a tablespoon of soda into each shoe; the powder needs to be well distributed over the insole - do this conveniently with shaking movements; put the pair in a plastic bag; leave for 5 hours; shake out the soda. Instead of soda, you can use kitchen salt in the same way.

How to get rid of odor in shoes using formidron?

Formidron is a medication that is recommended for use for excessive sweating of the feet. It contains formaldehyde, which has antiseptic and deodorizing activity. The product comes in liquid form, so you need to be extremely careful when using it.

To eliminate unpleasant odor in shoes, you can treat their inner surface with Formidron. To do this, the product is first applied to a cotton pad, and then used to wipe the desired areas of the shoe. After this treatment, the pair is wrapped in a plastic bag for up to 12 hours. This will help destroy pathological microorganisms and reduce foot sweating. In addition, Formidron is an excellent means of preventing foot fungus.

When treating shoes with Formidron, it is important to use gloves and try not to get the product on bare skin on your hands. Unprotected contact between the dermis and Formidron for more than 20 minutes is undesirable, as it can cause local reactions and dry out the skin. The drug is made on the basis of formaldehyde.

SmellOff

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SmellOff TM odor eliminator can be used to treat sports equipment, shoes and other surfaces with the odor of sweat. The drug has a neutral composition and does not pose a health hazard. When used correctly, odors are completely neutralized. Application: Clean shoes from dirt. If the insoles are removed, they must be washed separately. Using a spray bottle, apply the product to the inside of the shoes. Leave to stand in a dry place for up to 24 hours. Price – about 670 rubles per 0.5 liter.

How to remove the smell of cat urine

One of the most complex and difficult to remove odors is the smell of animal urine, especially if the liquid gets inside. The sooner you notice the “mark”, the sooner you need to take action. If there is an absorbent removable insole inside, it should be thrown away immediately. The treatment must be carried out carefully, just leave a drop, and the aroma of urine will definitely return.

It is necessary to remove the smell of urine from shoes immediately after it appears.

How to treat shoes from cat urine:

1. Wipe off dust and dirt from shoes with a damp cloth. Textile and sports shoes can be washed in the washing machine.
2. Unlace your shoes for better access to the stains. Moisten the surface of the stain with the prepared solution. It can be made from vinegar, lemon juice or potassium permanganate diluted with water.
3. Dry your shoes.
4. After completion, it is recommended to wipe the inside of the shoe with vodka to repel the animal.

Any solution should first be tried on an inconspicuous area of ​​the shoe. This is especially true for shoes made from natural materials.

GalenoPharm Sachet

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The product can be used not only to treat the inside of boots, but also to care for sweaty feet. The drug allows you to cope with the unpleasant odor of closed shoes very effectively. The main component is talc. Release form: sachet. Application: pour one sachet into each shoe; stand for 5 hours. With regular use for 5 days in a row, the effect will last up to six months. The average price for a package with 10 sachets is 135 rubles.

Other ways to get rid of odor in shoes

Sometimes, in order to improve the quality of your life and get rid of the obsessive smell in your shoes, it is enough to use simple methods to eliminate it:

• It is worth knowing what any new shoes smell. The severity of the smell will depend on the material from which it is made. To ensure that the new thing does not leave any discomfort, it is enough to simply ventilate it. To do this, the couple is left outdoors for 24 hours or more. Most often, this allows you to get rid of the existing odor.
• If ventilation turns out to be ineffective, you can use baking soda or regular flour. The selected product is poured into the shoes and left there for several hours. After this, the shoes or boots are well cleaned of any remaining flour or soda.
• A well-known adsorbent, activated carbon, can remove odors and absorb excess moisture. However, before processing, you should take into account that it leaves dark spots on the surface of the product. Naturally, they will appear if you use black coal.
• You can get rid of shoe odor using potassium permanganate. It is necessary to dilute a not too concentrated solution of potassium permanganate and treat the inside of the shoes with it.
• To combat unpleasant odors, regular alcohol or vodka may be suitable. These products will not only remove odor from shoes, but will also additionally disinfect the inner surface of the pair.
• Vinegar can help deal with unpleasant odors. At the same time, you should not wipe your shoes with it; just place two cotton pads soaked in vinegar inside the pair. After the procedure, shoes need to be aired.

All these methods work even better if they are used in combination, for example, after soda treatment, you can wipe the shoes with alcohol and expose the pair to air in the open air. An excellent completion of the procedure would be to treat your shoes with a special deodorant, for example, Scholl Odor Controll NEUTRA-ACTIV or Shoe Deo. You can also apply Odorgon air purifier to a napkin and wipe your shoes with it inside and out. This method will help you get rid of the unpleasant odor for a long time.

These methods are excellent for removing odor from new or almost new shoes. However, it often occurs after a certain time after using the shoes. The possible cause of the odor in this case may not be ordinary sweat, but bacteria that have begun to multiply in the humid environment of the boot that is favorable for them.

If the above methods are unable to eliminate the odor, you can use the following tips:

• Wash your shoes using a soapy solution. It is quite possible to carry out a similar treatment with sneakers, rubber slippers, flip-flops, sneakers, etc. After washing, the shoes must be thoroughly dried and the smell will be eliminated.
• If it is not possible to wash your shoes, then it makes sense to at least treat the insoles. They can either be washed with soapy water and dried, or simply replaced with new ones.
• Any closed shoes should be dried periodically, even if it seems that they are not getting wet. An effective method of drying is using ultraviolet shoe dryers. It will not only rid the couple of moisture, but also disinfect them. Ultraviolet radiation has a detrimental effect on many bacteria, including those that cause an unpleasant odor. An hour's treatment is enough to destroy up to 95% of all harmful microorganisms inside the shoes. Before drying, you can use any disinfectant solution for treating shoes (potassium permanganate, alcohol, vodka, etc.).
• Exposure to low temperatures also eliminates unpleasant odors. To do this, the shoes are first thoroughly dried and then placed outside for several hours. It is important that the temperature outside the window is minus.
• If weather conditions do not allow you to treat your shoes with cold, you can use the freezer. However, this method is not suitable for patent leather shoes. The pair must also be thoroughly dried, placed in a plastic bag and placed in the freezer for up to 8 hours. The effect will be similar to that produced by frosty air.
• An excellent way to prevent unpleasant odors are ordinary tea leaves. If you regularly put them in boots or shoes, the aromatic substances they emit can rid your shoes of an unpleasant odor. The leaves of eucalyptus, sage, oak bark, mint and lemon balm have a similar effect. However, this method is more auxiliary than primary and gives maximum effect in combination with other methods of getting rid of odor.
• Another effective way to neutralize even the strongest sweat odor is to use cat litter. The product must be distributed into fabric bags (for this you can use regular socks) and placed inside the shoes. It is enough to leave this product for one night and the smell will be eliminated.

It is important not to forget about the rules of personal hygiene; if you do not follow them, then any means of eliminating odor from shoes will be ineffective, and it will return again and again:

• Feet should be washed twice a day - in the morning and in the evening;
• After washing, they should be rinsed with cool water;
• You should periodically use foot scrubs and peels;
• The skin of the feet must be thoroughly dried, especially between the toes;
• It is best to give preference to shoes made from natural materials;
• Changing socks and tights should be regular.

Remember

1. Determine the cause of the odor. If it is sweating feet, wash them regularly, take baths and treat them.
2. Change insoles. Perhaps the reason lies precisely in them. Insoles need to be changed at least once every 2 months.
3. Dry regularly. Dry your shoes every day when you get home to prevent bacteria from multiplying.
4. Treat with drugs. Use folk remedies that you can find at home. Also use store-bought products that are designed to eliminate odor.

We look for and eliminate the cause of the smell

Excessive foot sweating

In the case where the cause of the foul smell of shoes is pathological sweating of the feet, use all kinds of home and pharmacy remedies to combat hyperhidrosis, for example:

• antiperspirant sprays;
• deodorizing and astringent pastes, ointments, powders and creams;
• baths with plant decoctions containing large amounts of tannins.

To prevent your shoes from becoming soaked in sweat, get several pairs of the same type of shoes and wear them alternately. In addition, keep a supply of clean cotton socks with you at all times and change them whenever possible.

Inadequate care

• To prevent newly purchased shoes from acquiring a musty smell, remove the insoles from them every evening and hang them on a clothesline, and place the shoes themselves for airing on the balcony or in another drafty place.
• If it rained during the day and your boots were damp, stuff them with old newspapers. Dry thin paper will draw moisture out of the skin, and bad odors will go away with it.
• Buy a special electric dryer for your shoes, equipped with an ionizer and a small ultraviolet lamp. Such a miniature device not only effectively dries shoes, but also destroys the bacteria present in them, which are the root cause of the unpleasant odor.

Poor quality shoes

Not only worn, but also completely new shoes have their own smell, and they do not always smell the same. If expensive branded boots, as a rule, exude the noble aroma of well-treated leather, then super-fashionable oilcloth boots from the market can emit a smell that even skunks will envy.

In the event that you are “lucky” to become the owner of such a bad-smelling pair of shoes, try to remove the specific smell of synthetics and cheap glue as follows:

1. Place the couple on the balcony or windowsill for the whole day.
2. If prolonged airing does not give the expected result, pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into each shoe, shake the shoes so that the sodium bicarbonate crystals are distributed over the entire inner surface of the shoes, and leave the shoes like that overnight. Being a strong absorbent, soda will absorb bad odors; you will only need to shake out your shoes and remove the remaining soda powder with a vacuum cleaner.
3. If treatment with soda does not help, use potassium permanganate. Wipe the lining and insoles with a swab dipped in a deep pink solution of potassium permanganate.

If, in spite of everything, the shoes stubbornly continue to stink, throw them away and buy others, albeit not so elegant, but of high quality and made of genuine leather.

Dry your shoes

Heat and humidity are a favorable environment for the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. It is because the shoes get wet that the smell appears. Therefore, after wearing boots for a long time, they need to be dried thoroughly.

"Timson Sport" ultraviolet shoe dryer: price - about 1200 rubles