Got stinky shoes? Don’t worry. Here’s how to stop your shoes from smelling without the use of harsh chemicals.
I’ve previously talked about how to remove bad smells from clothes without washing them. But what about shoes? After all, our feet have more sweat glands per square inch than anywhere else on our body, which explains why shoes can sometimes smell somewhat less than pleasant.
When that happens, it can feel like the odour is impossible to shift unless you reach for shop-bought deodorising sprays. The problem is, these sprays don’t actually tackle the smell – they just cover it up. Before long, the whiff creeps back again. And to make matters worse, many of these sprays contain questionable ingredients you probably don’t want anywhere near your skin.
Thankfully, I’ve got lots of all-natural and non-toxic tips up my sleeve to help keep your shoes smelling fresh.
7 Non-Toxic Ways To Naturally Stop Shoes From Smelling
Ready to beat that stench? Here are seven of my favourite non-toxic and all-natural ways to stop your shoes from smelling:
Air Your Shoes
I’ve found that one of the cheapest, easiest, and most sustainable ways to tackle bad smells is to simply let your shoes air out after each wear. Rather than immediately shoving them in a basket or cupboard after you’ve worn them, try putting them in a warm and dry spot to air out. On sunny days, you can also let them sit outside for a few hours.
The reason this works is that bacteria thrive and multiply in damp conditions. Drying your shoes out after each wear makes your shoes a much less hospitable place for those odour-causing bacteria.
Wash Your Shoes And/Or Insoles
Some shoes are washable – particularly trainers. So if your shoes are really stinky and can be washed, then this is the very best way to thoroughly remove the bad bacteria that cause those bad smells. Do see my guide on how to wash trainers for the full guide.
Even if your shoes aren’t washable, they may have removable insoles. If this is the case, remove the insoles and wash them gently in a little warm water and laundry detergent, before rinsing them clean. Let them air dry, and then place them back in your shoes when they are fully dry for naturally fresh feet.
Bicarbonate of Soda
When you sweat, bacteria can grow in large numbers on your feet and in your shoes. The bacteria produce harmless organic acids as waste products. These acids have fancy names such as methanethiol, isovaleric acid, and propanoic acid, but don’t worry about remembering these names. All you need to know is that these acids are the cause of any shoe-based stink.
If you need to stop your shoes from smelling, then before you turn to anything heavy-duty to banish the stench, turn to bicarbonate of soda (also known as baking soda). This is a natural and effective non-toxic solution that’s rooted in science.
If you can remember from high school science lessons, acids can be neutralised by bases. Luckily, you don’t need access to a science lab or tricky ingredients to sort out your stench – all you need is probably in your kitchen cupboard.
You see, bicarbonate of soda is actually a great non-toxic base. The bicarbonate of soda reacts with the stink-producing acids in your shoes to form odourless and harmless salts.
Ready to give it a go? Here’s my full guide to deodorising smelly shoes with bicarbonate of soda.
Vodka
A stiff drink may be preferable if your favourite pair of shoes has developed a horrible smell that just won’t budge. But in this case, the vodka isn’t for you, it’s for your shoes.
Vodka might sound like an unlikely choice of odour-buster, but for those in the know, it’s a wardrobe must-have. From big-budget West End theatre shows to local productions, vodka is how professional wardrobe assistants have kept costumes smelling fresh in between cleanings for a really long time.
Simply spritz the inside of your shoes with a little vodka, and then leave them to dry to remove any bad smells, the non-toxic way.
How it works is that vodka’s high alcohol content temporarily kills the odour-causing bacteria responsible for causing those bad smells.
As vodka doesn’t kill the odour-causing bacteria, it’s best to use vodka as part of a two-pronged approach. After you’ve washed your insoles or used bicarbonate of soda, try giving them a little spritz with vodka. Let it dry fully before popping your shoes on.
Don’t worry about smelling like a pub. Vodka dries odourless, taking with it the stink.
Witch Hazel
If you don’t have any vodka to hand or don’t want to buy a bottle, then Witch Hazel is a cheaper alternative. Simply mix equal parts cooled boiled water and witch hazel in a spray bottle, before giving the insides of your shoes a light misting. Leave it to dry before wearing.
Witch Hazel doesn’t quite have the same oomph as vodka. As such, I find this method best for shoes that smell a little bit bad, rather than full-on evil!
Vinegar
Vinegar is another non-toxic and natural option that helps neutralise bad odours and helps fight the bacteria in shoes. Like vodka, vinegar dries without an odour, so you don’t have to worry about your shoes smelling like a chip shop for very long!
All you need to do is mix white spirit vinegar with cooled boiled water in a 50:50 ratio (so for every 100 ml of vinegar you use, use 100 ml of cooled boiled water), and decant it into a spray bottle.
Give the bottle a good shake, and spray the solution inside the shoes when they start to smell a bit whiffy, and then leave them to dry out. Just don’t use the solution on leather, suede, or other similar types of material, as the vinegar can damage them.
The vinegar/water solution will last for up to 8 weeks. Make sure to test it out in an inconspicuous area to ensure it won’t damage your shoes, and that you use it only in the inside of your shoes.
Cedar Wood
Finally, if vodka or vinegar isn’t your thing, then try cedar wood. Cedar wood naturally absorbs moisture and eliminates unpleasant smells from your shoes. This makes it a great natural and non-toxic way to stop your shoes from smelling.
You can buy cedar wood shoe inserts at Muji. Pop them in your shoes, and the cedar will get to work overnight, leaving you with fresh-smelling footwear by the morning.
Other Top Tips To Stop Your Shoes From Smelling
I find that prevention is always better than cure, so here are a couple of bonus tips on how to prevent your shoes from getting smelly in the first place:
Wear Socks
Wearing socks or other types of hosiery is one of the easiest ways to beat those bad odours. So, if you’re prone to wearing your trainers without socks, then consider popping a pair on.
Socks act like a barrier, soaking up the sweat and moisture before it seeps into your shoes, where bacteria can thrive and cause the stink. Natural fibres, such as cotton or wool, are especially good, as they’re breathable and absorbent, helping to keep your feet drier for longer.
Try my big guide to sustainable socks – I’ve got heaps of options, including trainer socks and no-show socks.
Alternate Your Shoes
And if smelly feet are a big problem for you, then try alternating between two pairs of shoes, if possible. This is because each time you wear your shoes, sweat and moisture build up inside. And if they don’t get a chance to properly dry out, odours can set in quite quickly.
So, by wearing one pair of shoes one day, and a different pair the next day, you’re giving each set of shoes time to fully air out.
You might want to still deploy one of my non-toxic odour busters, but this will also give them time to work.
If alternating shoes is too cost-prohibitive, then another option would be to alternate the insoles every day, so at least the insole has a chance to fully air out.
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