How to De-Stink Smelly Sneakers (2024)

FAQs

How to De-Stink Smelly Sneakers? ›

Things You Should Know

If your shoes aren't machine washable, it's easy to make your own deodorizing spray. Just combine ½ cup water and ½ cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle and shake well. Apply a couple of sprays on the inside of your shoes and wipe the interiors with a cloth towel. Allow them to air dry before you wear them again.

Wait a few hours, preferably overnight. The baking soda will kill odor-causing bacteria and absorb odors. Extra-stinky shoes may require 24 hours. Over a trashcan or the sink, tap the shoe to remove the remaining baking soda from the inside.

Even after a thorough washing cycle, some bacteria may still remain, leading to continued odor. Another factor contributing to lingering shoe odor is residual dirt and sweat.

Try air drying them by leaving the shoes outside in a garden, if the weather permits, or a garage. Letting them air out for a day or two can help with getting rid of the rubber odor. This is especially good if you can leave them out in the sun as UV rays will help to neutralize the odor on the shoes.

Since baking soda has alkaline properties, it's best at killing acidic odors, but the powder can eliminate many other types of odor as well. In fact, there are few odors baking soda can't combat. "Baking soda also absorbs oils and a lot of grease, thus killing their odors," says Cohoon.

Both of these are natural, non-toxic products you can use to clean many surfaces around your home. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can actually be safely combined or used separately to whiten laundry, remove odors, disinfect surfaces, and much more.

Absorb smells with baking soda.

Place one in each shoe, then set your shoes out overnight. In the morning, take the baking soda out and throw it away. Baking soda naturally absorbs odors, which makes it great for cleaning out smelly shoes.

How Long Do You Leave Baking Soda on Carpet? When cleaning your carpet with baking soda, let it sit for at least 15 minutes. The longer the baking soda stays on the rug, the more odor, dirt, and oil it will absorb, for a more thorough clean. Try leaving baking soda on the carpet overnight and vacuuming in the morning.

Soak your feet for 15 minutes in a mix of warm water and baking soda and towel dry to reduce foot odor directly. Or, pour 2 tbsp (34 g) of baking soda into your shoes in the evening and let it sit overnight to absorb odor-causing moisture.

How do you clean the inside of your shoes so they don't stink? ›

Vinegar is a natural disinfectant as well as a deodorizer.

In a spray bottle, create a mixture of half water and half distilled white vinegar. Spray the interior of the shoes and let them air dry thoroughly for about 30 minutes. Repeat as needed. If you're in a hurry, speed up the drying time with a hair dryer.

Leave a fresh lemon or lime peel in your shoes overnight or squirt a few drops of any essential oil such as lavender into the soles of your shoes and allow the shoes to dry. Both remedies will help to eliminate odors. If your shoes are washable, bath them.

You can use baking soda, which can help absorb smells and bacteria. Kevin says to sprinkle a generous amount inside each shoe and let it sit for several hours, ideally overnight.

If the odour lingers, wiping down with a sponge and soapy water should neutralise any odour, and adding white vinegar, baking soda or anything with lemon (except harsh chemicals), will also speed up the process. Soaking them in a 'bath' containing the above for an hour or so will work better, if feasible.

Mix white vinegar and water equal parts, then dampen a cloth or sponge with the solution. Wring out excess moisture and gently wipe down the interior of your shoes. Allow the shoes to air dry, preferably in a well-ventilated area.

Take a small spray bottle, add 50% alcohol with 40% of water in it. Add a few drops of natural essential oil i.e. lavender or lime and mix it thoroughly. Whenever you take your shoes off, spray the mixture in both the shoe and keep them in an airy place.

You can use a shoe sanitizer spray or a disinfectant spray to kill bacteria and germs. Alternatively, you can make your own disinfectant spray by mixing rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle. For white shoes, you can use a bleach spray to remove any stains or discoloration.