Home Remedies to Get Rid of Shoe Odor

Do you know what makes your shoes smell bad? Shoe odor can be really embarrassing.

What Causes Shoe Odor

Sweaty feet, foot infections and bacteria present on your foot are responsible for that. Some other reasons are using same socks for several days, careless about feet hygiene, athletes’ foot, and hormonal imbalance.

Don’t worry as there are natural ways that can de-stink your shoes easily. Have a glance at them.

1. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer. It is alkaline in nature and thus, prevent the growth of bacteria that causes the smell. Baking soda is an easy and natural way to eliminate the bad smell of your shoes.

How to use: Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of baking powder into your shoes at night and leave it overnight. In the morning, remove the baking soda and wear the shoes. Repeat this every day. You can also use boric powder for the same reason.

2. Essential Oils

Essential oils are a powerful antibacterial agent. Also, they have a strong smell that eliminates the foul smell.

How to use: Put a few drops of essential oil (Eucalyptus oil, Tea tree oil, clove oil or lavender oil) into your shoes. Put a tissue paper in your shoes and leave overnight. Repeat to every day to get rid of stinky shoes.

3. Black Tea Bag

Black tea bags contain tannins that effectively kills the fungi and bacteria that are responsible for stinky shoes.

What to do: Take 2 tea bags and steep it in boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove the black tea bags and strain the solution. When the tea bags cools down, place them in both the shoes. After sometimes, remove them. Repeat this every day.

4. Vinegar

Again, vinegar has the property to remove bad odor. It is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Thus, it can be used to get rid of shoe odor.

What to do: Take vinegar and water in equal quantities. Pour the solution in the spray bottle. Spray it in the shoes and leave it for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, sprinkle baking soda and leave overnight. In the morning, remove the baking soda and wear your shoes. Repeat this daily.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide

This is a popular home remedy, to get rid of stinky shoes. Hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria and also controls the foul odor.

What to do: Soak a clean cloth in hydrogen peroxide and wipe the inside of your shoes with it. Leave the shoes to dry and then you can use it. Repeat this regularly.

6. Dryer Sheet

Dryer sheet absorbs the moisture present in the shoes. This keeps them dry and prevents the foul smell.

What to do: Take a dryer sheet and cut two pieces according to your shoes. Place them in your shoes. Wear the shoes and your feet will be dry and free from smell. Dryer sheets are light in weight and thus, they are very comfortable to wear.

7. Alcohol

Alcohol can remove the smell from your shoes forever. It is a disinfectant and has the property to destroy smell causing bacterias.

What to do: Put a little amount of alcohol in both the shoes and put the shoes in sunlight until it dries. Repeat this every few days.

Besides the above home remedies to get rid of shoes, smell there are also few preventive measures to avoid this.

1. Wash your feet regularly and dry it properly before wearing shoes.
2. Put some talcum powder in your shoes before wearing it.
3. If you are suffering from athlete’s foot to get it treated.
4. Keep your shoes in sunlight at least once in a week.
At last, you have acknowledged so many effective home remedies to get rid of foul shoe odor. Every ingredient is cost effective and easily available. So what are you waiting for?? Grab the ingredients and try them out.