For a new beginning.
Ok, so your shoe smells. After all, you are only human. It’s not like you wanted to smell the elevator on your way to the 17th floor or create one of the most awkward carpool experiences ever.
Please give us some advice as this is not our first situation Dear HMS. We’ve been helping people solve their smelliest shoe problem for a while now and we’ve found that there are 7 – yes, count them – 7 unexpected things you can do right now to rid your feet of their rule oppressive. about your friends, family and colleagues.
It was her
Not all shoes are machine washable, but canvas and canvas shoes (like tennis shoes) are fine, and rubber or plastic shoes (like flip-flops) are fine, too. If you are unsure, be sure to read the care and cleaning instructions. If your shoes have insoles, take them out and wash them separately to keep them as clean as possible. It is advisable to wash both the shoes and the insoles together with a normal load of clothes and also use a normal detergent. Just don’t use hot water and don’t put your shoes in the dryer. Extreme heat can shrink the shoes or damage the glue. Instead, use a long, hot wash and rinse cycle, and dry them with newspaper to absorb excess moisture.
Fill them
Bacteria love a dark, moist environment, so if your feet sweat all day in your shoes, bacteria thrive (props if you read that sentence without choking). A solution for all humidity? Fill your shoes with cat litter. Absorbs moisture and, depending on the type of litter, neutralises odours. Just make sure you empty them after a few hours or your feline friend might try to free himself with your beloved sneakers, which is exactly the opposite effect we’re after. Shout out to the cat people – you may show up to any event with cat hair on your clothes, but at least your shoes don’t stink!
Air them out
Have you ever rolled down the window to get some fresh air? Give your shoes the same compliment by placing them next to an open window for a day or two. It can work wonders for the odors they carry, and the UV rays from the sun help kill bacteria. Plus, it might give you a breath of fresh air. For those of you who wear the same shoes every day, consider buying a different pair so you can dry yourself a few times a week.
Take care of them
If your shoes can’t be washed in the washing machine, it’s easy to make your own deodorant spray. Just mix ½ cup water and ½ cup white vinegar in a spray bottle and shake well. Apply a few sprays to the inside of your shoes and wipe the inside with a cloth. Let them air dry before using them again. Or, if you don’t feel like luxe in the kitchen, head to the dry cleaners where a simple spray of Febreze Fabric eliminates odors very quickly. Pro tip: less is more! A quick spray is all you need to get the full fresh effect.
Replace them (some).
If your shoes still smell funny even after a Febreze shower, the core of your odor problem can probably be traced to the soles of your shoes. It makes sense that your feet sweat a lot all day long and all that sweat sinks to the bottom. Mains: Shoe soles (or insoles, if any) should be replaced at least once a year. Insoles are fairly easy (and cheap) to replace, but you’ll need to find a cobbler to replace the soles of your shoes. If you change the soles, the planet will thank you (less landfill waste than throwing your shoes away) AND you can say you have a shoemaker. This is what we call growing up.
Dry them
Next time you get caught in a spontaneous rainstorm, remember that humidity is the enemy. Sure, it might be quicker to seek shelter or ask for a wet shirt, but you’ll want to contact your wet shoes as soon as possible. It’s only a matter of time before the damp turns into smelly mold. Try this: Take off your shoes and stuff them with dry towels or crumpled up newspaper to speed drying. It’s so much better than forgetting your shoes in the closet when their scent greets you two days later.
