Stop worrying about your smelly shoes and feet. No more embarrassing odor. Show off those beautiful feet instead!
We’ve all experienced foot odor at one time or another.
Those favorite pair of shoes may look good on. But watch out when you take them off!! You’ll clear the room with the odor.
Not the impression you want to give. Right??
Or maybe it’s a pair of sandals that make your feet smell – no hiding the odor. In hot summer months, that smell is worse. How embarrassing!
Sneakers and sports shoes are especially prone to odor. If you or your kids play sports – you know what I’m talking about. You’ve got to stop the stink!
Don’t stop wearing those shoes or worse yet throw your shoes away! You can eliminate the odor.
It’s easier then you think to banish stinky shoes and feet. No heavy perfumes to cover up the smell. Just stink free!
I’ll guide you through the process, it’s easy!
Stinky feet will be a distant memory. Better yet, choose a stinky shoe remedy and have your kids help. They are that simple!
We even created a video below where my 10 year old daughter walks you through the steps.
Just think – no more embarrassing odor or hiding your feet. Take off your shoes with confidence again!
Why Your Feet Stink
It’s important to understand where the stink comes from. It will make it easier to get rid of the smell. And will make more sense why each stinky shoes remedy works.
So why do feet stink anyway??
You’re feet and shoes stink because of smelly bacteria that thrive off the sweat. Since your feet are bundled up in your shoes all day – working hard for you! They do break a sweat.
That’s why sports shoes and equipment get so stinky.
First, make sure to wear cotton socks to help feet breathe. While cotton socks are helpful, they won’t cure your stinky feet problem. And no – it’s not not a stinky shoes remedy. Just a tip. You’re going to need more then cotton socks.
Or maybe your battling stinky feet because you go without socks. Like the cute little shoes everyone is sporting lately.
Or maybe it’s another battle with your kids. My 5 year old daughter refuses to wear socks with her boots. I think she likes how silky the faux fur feels against her feet.
But let me tell you – going without socks has made those boots a little stinky. Even for a 5 year old!
So what do you do when you have stinky feet and stinky shoes??
You find an all natural stinky shoes remedy – that’s what you do!
Let’s dive in! We’ve got this problem solved with 3 stinky shoes remedies to choose from!
Stinky Shoes Remedy #1 – Wash Your Shoes
Did you know you can wash most shoes?? Rewind about 10 years ago, I had no idea either.
I’d spot clean the outside of my shoes or just get a new pair when they looked dingy.
But once I had kids, that all changed. Kids can get dirty fast!
I bet your kids can get their brand new shoes looking filthy in just a few playground trips. I know my kids can.
Giving your shoes a tumble in the washing machine will do them a world of wonder.
It will clean them up inside and out.
Washing away the bacteria on the inside and out of your shoes.
When you wash your shoes, you’ll help kill those pesky bacteria that make your feet smell.
We also wash our shoes regularly because of the stuff that accumulates on the outside of your shoes. Think of that puddle of antifreeze in the parking lot or that mystery stain in the street.
In addition to washing our shoes on the regular, we also remove our shoes in the house. If you have little kids – you need to check this out! It effects the health of your family. I will even give you a free printable sign to hang up!
But let’s get back to stinky shoes….
When I wash shoes, I’ve had great success with washing most boots, sneakers and sandals.
I wait until it’s a warm day, and set them out to dry outside. I have put sneakers in the dryer before, but tend to just air dry them. I’m always a little leery about what could happen in the dryer.
If you’ve got a pleather shoe, proceed with caution.
While I wash shoes on a regular basis, some of those pleather ones don’t come out well in the wash.
What if you can’t wash your shoes? Or you need some extra deodorizing power?
Stinky Shoes Remedy #2 – Baking Soda & Essential Oils
Baking soda is your best friend when it comes to deodorizing. This inexpensive ingredient is a cleaning powerhouse.
Baking soda will work wonders on your stinky shoes!! It’s my favorite stinky shoes remedy.
My husband had a pair of expensive boots he wore everyday to work. They got hot and sweaty – and seriously stinky.
He was ready to throw them out.
My husband is probably my biggest critic. He is skeptical that my natural solutions really work. So when the stinky problem started, he dismissed my help. Although he’s really coming around lately – guess I’m proving him wrong!
When he announced he wanted to throw out his boots, my husband finally agreed to let me experiment.
So I made two fabric pouches filled with baking soda.
They look like a very small pillow.
I filled the pillows with a mixture of baking soda and essential oils. Just add the essential oils straight into the baking soda and mix.
Then I filled the fabric bags with the baking soda scented with essential oils. Then sewed the bag shut.
After a few days with the baking soda packs in his boots, and they were fresh and stink free!
My husband was impressed.
I was tickled pink. We just saved ourselves $150. Replacement boots are pricey!
But when I sat down to write this tutorial for you, I thought – what about the people who don’t sew?
Super Easy Baking Soda Deodorizer
I was determined to make the baking soda and essential oil deodorizer super easy. This solution worked so well – I had to be sure you could try it on your stinky shoes too. Even if you don’t sew.
That same day I also cleaned out our sock drawers.
That bag full of socks was my inspiration.
I bet you’re connecting the dots.
So instead of sewing a bag, just use an old mismatched sock instead.
These DIY stinky shoe deodorizers are so easy to make. My kids make them with me!!
Here is my 10 year old daughter giving you the tutorial for the baking soda stinky shoes remedy. If you prefer a step by step tutorial, I’ve included one below the video.
Just mix up a bowl of baking soda, add some essential oils. Or you can add the essential oils straight to the box and just give it a good shake.
I like Purify. Lavender, or Tea Tree by Edens Garden. Lavender is like jeans – it goes with everything.
Then we used a funnel and poured the mixture into a sock. Then just tied up the end of the sock in a knot. And DONE!
So simple my kids did it for me.
It doesn’t get better then that!!
This does work best with crew socks so that you have room to tie it. No ankle socks.
The finished product will look like this in your shoes.
And best of all – you don’t even need to raid your sock drawer!!
You know that pile of socks you have that is missing it’s partner? Those socks that a magic sock fairy captures them and carries them to a far away land never to be seen again.
That or your kid kicks the sock so far under your couch you won’t find it until sometime next century?
Anyway…. that pile of mismatched socks is perfect for making baking soda sock deodorizers.
Little socks go in little shoes, big socks go in big shoes.
Perfect!
I’ve even had success with baking soda and essential oils to remove the smoke smell from our new to use VW Jetta.
If you’re not into DIY – you can get pre-made activated charcoal deodorizers that work the same way. Perfect size for your shoes.
Stinky Shoe Remedy #3 – Alcohol Spray
Stinky shoes are caused by bacteria. We want to kill that bacteria.
Alcohol kills bacteria.
I use alcohol in granite counter cleaner recipe – get it here!
So an easy solution is to spray a mixture of 50/50 water and alcohol on the inside of your shoes. I like to buy a large container of cheap vodka and use that. But rubbing alcohol works too.
I find the spray works best for sandals. I give them a spray and sit them out in the sun to dry. Did you know the sunshine will help stop the odor too? And it also whitens and removes stains. Who knew?!
Alcohol works great to kill the bacteria and will evaporate quickly. You can also give your shoes a good spray at the end of the day, they’ll be all dry in an hour or so.
I’ve also used our bathroom air freshener spray instead of alcohol in a pinch. It really helps!
If you’re not into DIY – get a pre-made spray with loads of essential oils.
Take Care of Your Feet
Pay attention to your feet too. If your feet have an imbalance of bacteria or athlete’s foot. You’ll constantly be reinfecting your shoes.
We have used this tea tree wash called Funga Soap with great success to help re balance the natural flora on your skin.
How Will You Freshen Your Shoes?
Tell me what method you’ll use to freshen your shoes in the comments below.
Now you have 3 ways to keep your shoes and feet fresh. And that makes everyone happy!!
And make sure to stop on back and let me know which method you prefer!
Hi Shannon,
I am curious: Have you ever tried cinnamon insoles? Last Christmas I gifted multiple sets to my family members after a friend recommended them. They really make your feet and shoes smell like cinnamon. I think the essential oil of cinnamon (that the insoles are filled with) helps to kill foot odor bacteria. I had tried charcoal bags for the shoes before, but since I have the cinnamon insoles there is no need to put those bags anymore.
Let me know what you think!
Hi Terri!
Thanks so much for the recommendation!!!! I have not tried cinnamon sticks. I can completely see how cinnamon could work though. I’m sure others appreciate the suggestion, so thanks so much for taking the time to comment!! This is one I’ll have to try out too 🙂
Shannon