A quick fix to get rid of that stench!
Every day we wear our shoes. They take us everywhere we want to go. And sometimes, when you take your shoes off, you can smell that you’ve been walking. A lot. Your stinky shoes are sentenced to the hallway, just so you won’t have to smell them anymore. But a better solution would be to get rid of the smell altogether.
The cause
There are all kinds of dander, dirt, bacteria and fungal growth on the inside of your shoes. Especially the last two are contributors to the smell in your shoes. When you walk around, your feet get warm. That’s when bacteria and fungi thrive. You can not prevent bacteria and fungi from having a field day in your shoes, you can however, get rid of the smell in your shoes. Find out more by reading on.
Washing them
If you wear canvas shoes, or shoes made from cotton or synthetic fabrics, there is a very easy solution at hand. You can throw your shoes in the washing machine! Just make sure you first clean them a little with a brush and a rag to make sure all of the dirt comes off. Just so it won’t end up in your washing machine. Put your shoes in a special washing bag or pillow case and use a mild program. If you let them dry at room temperature, they’ll smell fresh again.
Vinegar and baking soda
If you put a little bit of baking soda in your shoes, it will absorb all the smells coming from the inside of your sneakers. Leave it in there for 24 hours and then vacuum the inside of your shoes to get the baking soda out. Your shoes will smell good as new after that. Another solution is vinegar. Mix a little bit of vinegar and dish soap in a bowl and soak a rag in it. Afterwards, put the damp rag in your shoe and leave it there for the night. The next day, the smell will be completely gone.
Change your shoes and air them out
The most important measure to keep your shoes from smelling, is to let them air out. If the weather permits it, leave your shoes outside in the sun. Sunlight will kill all of the bacteria and mold that lives in your shoe. Another tip would be to not wear the same pair of shoes every day. Give your boots a break and use another pair from time to time. Your favorite shoes will smell better because of it.
Surprising tip
The last one is a surprising one! If you have coffee pads, try and put one in your shoe some time. Just leave a coffee pad in your shoe for the night and the smell will have disappeared. Other things that work are vanilla sugar and twigs of lavender.
Also read: This is why you should take your shoes off while inside the house
Source: Max Vandaag | Image: Unsplash, Dickens Sikazwe