How to eliminate bad shoe odor

Bad shoe smell

The unpleasant foot odor that emanates while wearing shoes is one of the common problems that many suffer from, despite their self-care and attention to personal hygiene, and the main reason for that smell is the increase in sweating in the foot area, which contains approximately 250000 sweat glands, which makes it a fertile area. For the growth of bacteria, which in turn produces foul-smelling gases, which may cause shame to its owners, and the solution to this problem lies in getting rid of the moisture present in that area, and working to combat these bacteria that cause that smell in the ways that will be mentioned later.

Ways to eliminate bad shoe odor

There are many methods that can be used to get rid of the problem of bad shoe odor, including the following:

Home ways to eliminate the smell of shoes

Some home recipes can be used to treat the problem of unpleasant shoe odors, including the following:

Citrus peels: Citrus peels, including: oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, contain essential oils that eliminate the bad smell of shoes, and replace them with their beautiful scent, and they are used by placing them inside the shoes at night and leaving them until the morning.
Fabric scented paper: Where these leaves are distinguished by their fragrant scent that spreads inside the shoes, and they are used by bending 1-2 sheets of them, placing them inside the shoes, and then leaving them; To absorb excess moisture that causes bad shoe odor.
Baking soda and vinegar: This is done by sprinkling a cup of baking soda inside the individual shoe, then adding a cup of vinegar to it, and leaving the shoe inside a basin of a suitable size for 15 minutes; So that the two elements interact well together; To get rid of its bad smell.
Lavender oil: Fungal bacteria that cause unpleasant shoe odor can be eliminated by using lavender tree oil, which is known for its properties that eliminate fungal bacteria and replace them with a pleasant scent. It is used by placing 1-2 drops of oil inside the shoe and leaving it for a period of time. to get rid of its smell.
Water and distilled white vinegar: This method is used with the following steps:
- Mix two equal proportions of a solution of water and distilled white vinegar at a rate of 50% each.
- The solution is placed on the inner lining of the shoe.
- Leave the shoe in the open air for 30 minutes to dry, or it can be dried using a hair dryer when a person is in a hurry.
- Baking soda can be placed on the shoes and left overnight to increase the effectiveness of this method.
Medical alcohol: Medical alcohol is one of the effective ways to eliminate bacteria and remove unpleasant odor from the shoes, in addition to disinfecting and cleaning the feet, but it must be taken into account not to use it on the outside of the shoes; Because it may cause damage, in addition to the need to ventilate the shoes well after using medical alcohol, and to keep cleaning the shoes with it; To eliminate the smell permanently.
Epsom salt: It is also known as Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, as it helps to clean the feet and get rid of their unpleasant odor, and it can be used by combining it with a scrub when exfoliating the feet, or using it alone with the following steps:
- Soak the feet in a bowl containing ½ cup of a solution of Epsom salt and warm water.
- Leave the feet for 10-20 minutes in the bowl.
- Dry the feet well.
pumice stone: This stone is used to exfoliate the feet; To get rid of the remnants of dead skin that feed on the bacteria that cause the unpleasant smell of shoes, and it is found in various stores, and it is preferable to exfoliate using it 2-3 times a week; To avoid the accumulation of dead skin residues, thus the growth of bacteria, and the emission of bad foot odors.
Freezing method: This is done by placing the shoe inside a plastic bag, then freezing it in the refrigerator at night and leaving it overnight; To freeze and kill the odor-causing bacteria, with the need to dry the shoes well in the sun the next morning.

Preparations designed to treat the bad smell of shoes

Some lotions can be used to treat the problem of bad foot odor, including the following:

Causes of bad shoe smell

The unpleasant and disturbing smell of shoes results from many reasons, the most important of which are the following:

Doing various exercises continuously and for a long time, which in turn increases sweating in the feet area, which results in the emission of unpleasant odors to the shoes.
Inappropriate or tight socks and shoes that may cause an increase in the moisture of the feet, and the growth of bacteria that cause the smell of shoes and feet, including: plastic and industrial shoes that limit air entry to the feet and prevent their breathing.
Wearing wet, or wet, slippers that lead to the same result.
The dirtiness of the feet is what makes them a place for bacteria that cause the emission of unpleasant odors.

Tips for eliminating bad shoe odor

There are some tips that in turn reduce the bad smell of the shoes, and may be a reason to eliminate them, including the following:

Examine the shoe well, and make sure that the soles inside it are dry, ventilated, and exposed to sunlight, by opening its laces, lifting its tongue up, and allowing the rays and air to enter it better.
Use some types of medical slippers designed to prevent the growth of bacteria that cause bad smell, such as those made from cedar trees.
Use well-ventilated shoes, which help prevent the spread of bad foot odor, reduce sweating, and moisture formation, by allowing air to enter the feet.
Do not wear shoes for long periods, and try to change socks frequently several times a day, or change shoes if you are able to.
Avoid sharing shoes with others, as this causes the transmission of bacteria from one person to another, which causes an unpleasant odor to be emitted from the shoes.
Refer to the doctor when noticing any wounds or ulcers on the feet, which may be associated with the emission of an unpleasant odor from the shoes and feet, to examine and verify them.