How to deal with smelly shoes?
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free skin care · Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:57 pm

As titled. All thru summer, I've been wearing those slipped on flats without socks. I've been sweating quite a lot with the hot sunny weather. Now I noticed my shoes are stinky as well as my feet! Are there any ways to prevent that from happening again in the future with my new shoes? What do u usually do? Embarassed

free skin care · Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:55 am

Stardustdy wrote:

As titled. All thru summer, I've been wearing those slipped on flats without socks. I've been sweating quite a lot with the hot sunny weather. Now I noticed my shoes are stinky as well as my feet! Are there any ways to prevent that from happening again in the future with my new shoes? What do u usually do? Embarassed

I actually buy new shoes....and wear those.. and keep spraying dr mist inside the shoes daily and on feet daily. Your feet must be put in other shoes other then the stinky ones for awhile. After awhile your other shoes will stop smelling. Then you can return to them lol. It's annoying..but when it happens..it sticks around for awhile! But at least you can combat your own smell with dr mist pretty quick.

free skin care · Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:56 am

cortigirl wrote:

Stardustdy wrote:

As titled. All thru summer, I've been wearing those slipped on flats without socks. I've been sweating quite a lot with the hot sunny weather. Now I noticed my shoes are stinky as well as my feet! Are there any ways to prevent that from happening again in the future with my new shoes? What do u usually do? Embarassed

I actually buy new shoes....and wear those.. and keep spraying dr mist inside the shoes daily and on feet daily. Your feet must be put in other shoes other then the stinky ones for awhile. After awhile your other shoes will stop smelling. Then you can return to them lol. It's annoying..but when it happens..it sticks around for awhile! But at least you can combat your own smell with dr mist pretty quick.

This works magic too! http://www.essentialdayspa.com/gehwol-medicated-foot-deo-p_1454.htm

free skin care · Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:31 pm

Make a pouch out of muslin and fill with bicarbonate of Soda and add a few drops of Tee Tree Essential oil.

The Bicarbonate should absorb any odors and the Tea Tree any bacteria. Very Happy

Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:26 pm

I immediately think... BUY NEW SHOES... do you need an excuse??/ LOL!!!

You can get tiny little socks/hose that barely cover the foot... to absorb... Such an unfair situation...
Good luck!

Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:10 am

KIWI sell a product called Fresh FOrce in Australian supermarkets - it;s fantastic. A dry spray it will sort it out.

free skin care · Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:33 am

Have you tried Dr Mist? I know it works for similar issues...

free skin care · Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:17 pm

Yes! Dr Mist restored peace in our house re: stinky feet!!!
Rotating shoes and letting them air out in the sun will also help!

free skin care · Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:10 pm

A few ideas:

1. A sprinkle of bicarbonate soda, as rosebud said

2. Put some tea bags in your shoes. I don't know why this works, but it does. You can also drop essential oils to the tea bags to give it an extra boost.

3. Leave them in the sun. The sun famously gets rid of bad smells.

4. Put them in a bag and stuff them in the freezer! Laughing

This is the strangest method I have but the cold temperature in your freezer will kill any bacteria that's on your shoes. This will make them smell fresh again. I did this with my brother's flip flops a few summers ago and it worked a treat.

5. Treat your feet to a soak so you don't add bacteria back in your shoes. Everyone has bacteria on their feet, but if your shoes are starting to smell it means you either have more bacteria than you usually have or that you have new bacteria that you didn't have before.
Soaking you feet in anything tannin rich will take care of this. (A plain tea bag put in boiling water and then left to cool will do.)

6. Wikihow recommends you go to "a pet store and purchase an odor remover such as Nature's Miracle that contains enzymes or bacteria. The enzymes and bacteria in these products literally eat away the source of the bad odors. Follow the instructions carefully as you apply the product to your shoes."

free skin care · Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:22 am

Since I can't stand using the powder types or sprays that removes odor, I buy activated charcoal, split them up into small pieces, put them into bags together with some cotton balls drizzled in lavender/eucalyptus oil and just stuff/put them into my shoes haha. The charcoal will absorb the odor and the oils add some fragrance Smile

Works best if I place them into the shoes once I get home!

I also use activated charcoal soap to wash my feet once in a while to get rid of any odors. But can't do that often as I find it quite drying Confused

free skin care · Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:08 pm

Mix some baking soda and cornstarch with several % salicylic acid (from skin actives, personal formulator etc.). This works.

free skin care · Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:23 pm

I finally threw out 2 pairs of great sandals. No matter what I did they would smell and make my feet sweat. It was the material, apparently it didn't breathe. Never had this problem ever with any other shoes. You may have to throw them away. I tried everything to save them.

free skin care · Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:47 pm

doohicus wrote:

I finally threw out 2 pairs of great sandals. No matter what I did they would smell and make my feet sweat. It was the material, apparently it didn't breathe. Never had this problem ever with any other shoes. You may have to throw them away. I tried everything to save them.

Even after spraying with Dr Mist, my DHs shoes have an odor like rotten kimchee.....I have pleaded with him to throw the suckers away...even bought new shoes for him exactly like the old stinkers, but NO! : too "thrifty" to throw away "perfectly good shoes"!!! I am going to bribe a dog to chew them up I believe.

free skin care · Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:22 am

Hi, try this Allpresan 10 - Shoe Spray

free skin care · Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:11 pm

Wow what a lot of great suggestions. I have a similar problem. I have to wear orthotics because of a pronated foot. It's the actual orthotics that smell and it is very difficult to get rid of when you have to wear them all the time, especially in summer. I have tried putting them in the sun, putting charcoal in the shoes, wiping with soapy water, disinfectant, sprays, etc but it only helps for a day or two. I have bought another pair of orthotics but it is an ongoing struggle. I will try the bicarb and some of the other suggestions and let you know how I went.

free skin care · Sat Dec 20, 2008 10:32 am

Tea Bag is cheap and work.

free skin care · Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:27 pm

Thanks Yobi, just a couple of questions. Do you use them wet or dry? Do you just put them in your shoes overnight or do you have to rub them in? Is one tea bag enough if there is a strong smell? Is any tea bag okay or are some better than others? TIA (I tried to add a smiley emoticon but don't know how!!

free skin care · Wed Dec 24, 2008 7:34 am

U'd better wear the socks.

free skin care · Thu Jan 01, 2009 2:57 pm

Well ladies, thanks so much for your advice in this post. I've tried a few different things on my smelly orthotics. I think the material tends to make my feet sweat more than normal shoes as sometimes it feels like I'm squelching when I walk. First I sprinkled bicarb and left them in the sun. The orthotics are black though so I had to work hard to get the powder off afterwards. It didn't help with the smell. Maybe I need to put bicarb on my feet.

I was a bit worried about putting them in the freezer as it might have damaged the material of the orthotics - not to mention scaring the rest of the family. Imagine if they thought that was dinner!!

Then I put some tea tree oil on cotton pads and wiped the orthotics carefully and thoroughly. Again I put them in the sun to dry. Voila! No more smelly orthotics. I have been putting the tea tree oil on for the last few days so I guess if I do this every couple of days the smell will stay away. Someone mentioned that it was anti-bacterial so I guess it kills the smelly bacteria already on the orthotics.

Anyway I'm going to keep on with the tea tree oil. I am considering buying the Gehwol powder and foot deodorants as well. The EDS site recommends the green cream, but I was going to buy the extra.

Does anyone have any comments on the various Gehwol products? Also the Allpressan. I've looked at the ingredients but there are so many products I'm not sure which ones to try first. The tea tree oil will manage the bacteria, I guess I'm looking for something to help with the perspiration now. TIA

free skin care · Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:00 am

hang them outside your window, and smell them again after 1 week

Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:52 am

stuff newspaper into the shoe when you not wearing it to absorb the moist. Put a new roll of toilet paper in the shoe cupboard to absorb the moist too.

Usually is the moist the reacts with air and give off a smell. Very Happy

Try it, no harm trying with cheap stuff ^^

Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:37 am

fawnie wrote:

doohicus wrote:

I finally threw out 2 pairs of great sandals. No matter what I did they would smell and make my feet sweat. It was the material, apparently it didn't breathe. Never had this problem ever with any other shoes. You may have to throw them away. I tried everything to save them.

Even after spraying with Dr Mist, my DHs shoes have an odor like rotten kimchee.....I have pleaded with him to throw the suckers away...even bought new shoes for him exactly like the old stinkers, but NO! : too "thrifty" to throw away "perfectly good shoes"!!! I am going to bribe a dog to chew them up I believe.

My hubby looks for his stinkies every weekend for the last month.
He doesn't know it but unless he goes to the dump, he's never gonna find 'em. hehehehe

free skin care · Tue Feb 17, 2009 1:34 am

I have the same problem due to my sweaty feet. If it is in summer, wash your sandals every day. If it's in other seasons, just wear cotton socks that can abosorb or prevent sweat. Be sure to replace your socks every day. It may work.

free skin care · Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:20 pm

Put a 1 cent coin inside your shoes and leave it there for a night!!

free skin care · Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:25 am

I find that Sol U Mel spray from Melaleuca works very well. Also, if they seem washable, washing in the machine will help a lot. Changing the insoles could help, also.

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