Eight tricks to eliminate bad shoe and sneaker odors
These are home remedies that will help us eliminate the bacteria that cause bad odor.
The unpleasant odor that shoes or sneakers sometimes give off can be very unpleasant, and when we have to take them off in front of others, very uncomfortable. Sweat and heat are usually the main causes of the growth of bacteria that generate unpleasant odors. To prevent this, there are many home remedies that will eliminate any trace of the smell from use or sweat on our shoes.
1 Baking soda
This natural chemical element has antibacterial and disinfectant properties, making it a foolproof aid for eliminating bad shoe odor. The trick is as simple as adding a spoonful of baking soda to each shoe (above the insoles), spreading it evenly, and letting it sit overnight. By the next morning, the bad odor problem will be gone.
2 Talcum powders
Talcum powder has a similar effect to baking soda and absorbs moisture. In this case, we can choose the same procedure as with baking soda or apply the powder directly to the sole of the foot. This will reduce the sweating that ultimately causes shoe odor.
3 Aromatic medicinal plants
For this home remedy, we need some sage and lavender leaves, which we will place in each shoe and leave outside for a few hours so that fresh air helps eliminate bacteria.
And if you don’t have these aromatic plants, you can use lemon, orange, or tangerine peels instead to make your shoes smell good again. As in the previous tips, place these citrus peels in your shoes and let them sit overnight in the open air.
4 Tea tree essential oil
This essential oil has disinfectant properties that will be very useful for eliminating bad odors. We can apply three to five drops of tea tree essential oil to the insoles of our shoes twice a week. This will eliminate bad odors and bacteria, thus preventing the stench from recurring.
5 tea bags
Another way to get rid of bad odor is to place an unused sachet of chamomile tea with cinnamon in each shoe every night. If we do this for a few days, our problem will be solved.
6 Pharmaceutical alcohol
We continue with more remedies to remove bad odor from shoes, in this case using rubbing alcohol. Simply soak a cotton ball with alcohol and wipe it inside the shoes . This will help evaporate the bad odor and eliminate any traces of moisture.
7 Cat litter
If you have a cat at home, you can use its litter to get rid of bad shoe odors. To do this, put cat litter in a sock and place it inside. This type of litter is especially good for eliminating unpleasant odors, so you’ll be able to see the results after a few hours.
8 To the freezer
The last trick is a bit peculiar, but it works. It involves placing the shoes in the freezer overnight (in separate plastic bags) and then leaving them in the sun the next day. This will kill the bacteria and, therefore, eliminate the unpleasant odor.
