How to clean smelly shoes
Last Updated: january 14, 2025 ⊜References
I apologize for the complicated nature of this article. To be honest, if you are wondering how to clean smelly shoes, you need to know the causes of bad odor.
The main causes of bad odor in shoes are a combination of sweat, bacteria, and the materials used in the shoes.
Sweat creates a humid environment inside the shoes that helps bacteria grow. When bacteria break down the organic matter in sweat, they release odor-causing compounds, which makes your shoes smell bad.
Leather shoes or shoes that don’t breathe well are especially prone to bad odor. Lack of proper ventilation traps moisture inside the shoes and creates a breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria, which can be a major cause of bad odor in your shoes.
Another major cause of bad odor in shoes is not cleaning your feet properly and wearing shoes without socks.
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How to clean smelly shoes by hand
- First, remove the insoles and laces from your shoes.
- Use the best shoe-cleaning brush to brush off any loose dirt stuck to the shoes.
- Make a mixture by adding detergent or equal parts white vinegar, baking soda, and water in a bowl.
- Then apply the mixture to a toothbrush and scrub the entire inside and outside of the shoe thoroughly.
- When you feel it is clean enough, rinse the shoes with clean water.
- Rinse the removable insoles and laces well.
- Let them dry in a well-ventilated place away from direct sunlight.
How to clean smelly shoes in a washing machine
- Remove the loose dirt stuck to the shoes with a brush.
- Remove the removable insoles of the shoes.
- Add lukewarm water and detergent or disinfectant to the machine to keep the shoes bacteria-free.
- Place the shoes in a laundry bag and put them in the machine, filling the machine with other clothes.
- Use a simple circular motion.
- Once clean, remove the shoes from the laundry bag.
- Let them air dry away from sunlight.
Tips:
If the shoes are white, you can add chlorine bleach to brighten them. For colored canvas, choose an oxygen-based bleach.
How to clean smelly shoes with vinegar
- First, combine equal amounts of white vinegar and water.
- Fill the mixture in a spray bottle, and shake the bottle.
- Brush off any loose dirt from your shoes with a brush.
- Spray the mixture inside and out thoroughly.
- Leave the shoes for 24 hours. If the shoes are wet, let them dry in the sun.
How to Clean Smelly Shoes with Baking Soda
- Mix 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of cornstarch to make a paste.
- Then put the paste inside your shoes with cotton socks.
- If you want to add a nice scent, add a few drops of essential oil (such as tea tree oil, lavender, or eucalyptus).
- Leave them overnight, then remove the socks.
- To easily deodorize shoes, sprinkle baking soda directly inside the shoes.
- Leave it for 24 hours, then rinse it off.
How to Clean Smelly Shoes with Home Remedies
Use Tea Bags
- First, soak 2 tea bags in hot water for 2 minutes. You can use more tea bags for stronger odors.
- Use a slotted spoon to safely remove the tea bags from the hot water.
- Let the tea bags cool for 2-3 minutes before putting them in your shoes.
- Then, place one tea bag in each shoe.
Use Cat Litter
- First, fill a clean sock with cat litter using a spoon.
- Instead of socks, you can also use pantyhose. These thin fabrics will create less of a barrier between the cat litter’s antibacterial properties and the smelly parts of your shoes.
- To make the cat litter even more effective, add a spoonful of baking soda to the sock.
- Tie the ends of the socks so that the cat litter doesn’t spill onto your shoes.
Leave the tea bags in your shoes for 1 hour for a mild odor and 2 hours for a strong odor, then remove them.
Use a hair dryer to dry out the moisture in the shoes. The warm air from the dryer is great for drying out moisture.
To prevent your shoes from getting deformed, you can throw the cat litter from your socks into the trash.
Leave the socks inside your shoes overnight. I have found that sometimes when the smell of shoes is strong, cat litter doesn’t deodorize the shoes overnight. You can briefly remove the socks and check the smell of the shoes. If the smell is still there, leave the socks in the shoes for a bit longer.
- Once the smell is gone from the shoes, you can throw away the cat litter. If the cat litter is still good, you can reuse it and put it in the cat box.
- Wash the socks as usual, and shake the shoes well. Cat litter sometimes remains between the shoes and socks, which can cause discomfort later.
Freezing Your Shoes
Like many other bacteria, odor-causing bacteria are very weak in cold weather. So, leave your shoes in the freezer for 12 to 24 hours. If the smell is strong, you can leave them longer.
- If you live in a place where it is very cold, you can leave your shoes outside. Cover them with a cloth so that the snow doesn’t get them wet.
use soap
- Put 2 bars of soap in each shoe according to the scent you prefer.
- If the insoles of your shoes are wet with sweat, take them out, wash them with soapy water, and let them dry in direct sunlight. If you do this at night, you can leave the insoles under the shower.
The soap will bring a pleasant smell to your shoes, but to remove the slippery feeling on the insoles caused by sweat, it is better to wash them.
Leave the soap in the shoes for 2 to 3 hours. You can leave it overnight if you want. Be sure to use dry soap—wet soap can create moisture in the shoes.
- Remove the soap and make sure your feet are completely dry before putting the shoes back on.
Use Disinfectant Sprays
- Spray your shoes liberally, one at a time. Make sure the spray reaches from the heel to the toe of the shoe.
- If you spray the shoes during the day, allow them to dry in the sun. If you spray them at night, they will dry well by morning.
- If the smell is not removed from the shoes, repeat the process.
Additional tips for removing smell from shoes
Bacteria that cause bad odor originate from your feet, so try to keep your feet clean at all times.
Clean your feet with soap, paying special attention to the areas between your toes.
Make sure your feet are dry after cleaning and before putting on shoes. Bacteria thrive in damp and wet conditions.
Avoid wearing the same shoes two days in a row. Wearing the same shoes every day doesn’t give them enough time to dry, so the odor-causing bacteria can spread happily. Rotate at least three pairs of shoes a week.
If you only have one pair of shoes, try to let them dry for at least 24 hours before wearing them again.
Make a habit of wearing socks with your shoes. I have found that socks made of cotton and wool are better at absorbing moisture. However, if your feet sweat excessively and your socks are wet all day, wash your socks every night. Otherwise, change them.
Never wear dirty socks, as this will make your shoes smell worse.
If the smell from your shoes is due to sweat, you can use foot powder. Foot powder absorbs moisture and helps prevent odor. Sprinkle a small amount of powder on your feet and inside your shoes every day before putting them on.
The sweat from our feet accumulates in the insoles of the shoes, creating a breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria. So always try to keep your removable insoles clean.
If you like, you can wash the insoles every night. They will dry in front of a fan.
Never put wet insoles into your shoes, as this will cause them to smell after wearing them for a while.
Also, if you prefer, you can buy high-quality sweat-absorbing insoles and add them to your shoes.
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About This Article
Co-authored by:
Rio Jongsae Kim
Designer Shoe & Bag Care Specialist
Co-authors: 2
Updated: january 14, 2025