How To Prevent Shoe Odor

Summer means going to the beach, cracking open cold ones, and throwing barbecues -- but the rising temperatures also mean that sweating through your socks is inevitable. This sweat is the main source of bacteria growing in your beloved shoes, and in turn -- your feet. So, whether it’s boots, sneakers, or flats, here are some tips to keep your shoes smelling clean and fresh.

Alternate usage
If you’re the type to wear your favorite pair of shoes two days in a row, then you’re probably prone to stinky feet. Back-to-back wearing may not be able to give your shoes time to dry out from previous days’ wear. Be sure to rotate so you won’t have to repeat wearing the same pair of shoes day after day.

Wash thoroughly
Bacteria is the cause of stinky feet, so naturally, you’ll need to thoroughly wash your feet to combat the embarrassing stench of foot odor. Make sure to lather up the soap and wash your soles and in between the toes. Rinse and make sure to completely dry before slipping on your shoes. Blasting your feet with a hairdryer may also help.

Apply foot powder
If your feet get sweaty no matter what the weather’s like, prevention may be the best solution for you. Apply a foot powder before you put on your shoes so your feet and shoes can stay dry while you go about your day.

Freeze your shoes
Placing your shoes in the freezer is one of the most surprising ways to remove odor from shoes, but don’t just stick them in there! Place them in a sealed freezer bag and leave them overnight. The freezing temperature in your freezer will kill the odor-causing bacteria.

Baking soda
A powerhouse all around agent, Baking soda can be used as an odor eliminator for shoes! Fill an unused coffee filter with baking soda and secure the ends before placing it in your shoes at the end of the day. It works overnight, but you’ll need to replace it after use.

Activated charcoal insoles
Using charcoal shoe deodorizers is one of the best ways to prevent unpleasant odors from shoes. Activated charcoal makes an excellent shoes odor eliminator because it naturally absorbs stink and moisture without powders. You don’t have to resort to weird gimmicks that might not even work. One great product that uses activated charcoal is the Shoe Ninja. The Shoe Ninja is made from micro-porous activated bamboo charcoal that can be reused for up to a year -- just leave them in the sun to re-activate for a few hours.

Compared to using baking soda that leaves a powdery mess behind, you can just leave the shoe deodorizer inserts in any pair of shoes, forget about them, and use your fresh-smelling shoes the next day.

The Shoe Ninja can also be used in gym bags, boxing gloves, luggage, and more. This saves you time and money that you can use to go shopping for new shoes instead.