Feet care is one of the most important aspects of personal grooming and care. While most people are focused on the exterior aspects of their outfit, the internal aspects matter equally. You can wear a good shirt, high-quality jeans, and some top-class sneakers but if you have a problem with shoe odor, the entire impression created by your perfect outfit would be ruined. Here are a few ways to fight shoe odors.
What is a Shoe Odor?
As the name suggests, a shoe odor is an unpleasant smell that resides within the shoe a person is wearing. There can be several reasons why shoe odors occur. Firstly, when a person does not care as much for his feet as for the other body parts, the feet start to get dirty and have a lot of bacterial growth among them as well.
As a result, when you wear a shoe, it gets sweaty and the inner part of the shoe absorbs this sweat. Once this sweat absorbs in the shoe, the shoe starts to give a bad smell which can stay there for quite long. The bad thing about this is that shoe odor usually stays for a long time and the smell can be quite displeasing to people around you.
In certain cases, shoes without socks cause excessive sweat while in other cases, shoes with socks cause extra sweat. Other than that, there can be dead skin cells at the end of your feet. The bacteria break down at this part which also leads to a foul odor coming from your feet.
How to Fight Shoe Odor?
Leaving them Overnight
One basic way to fight shoe odor is to leave the shoe overnight as it is. Not wearing a shoe and keeping it at some open place such as your terrace, would help in eliminating the foul odor naturally. Additionally, you can peel a lime or lemon and put that peel inside the shoes. Moreover, keep them out in the open during the daytime as well. Leaving the shoes in the sun will help in killing bacteria as well as prevent their further growth as well. However, if you don’t have a good quality shoe, and you have exposed it to the sun too much, there are chances that the shoe expands and slightly deforms.
White Vinegar Solution
One of the most recommended solutions to treat foul smells from the shoes is to use a solution of white vinegar and water. White vinegar has a strong chemical proposition that can help in removing the bacteria found in the shoes. It also helps in eliminating the foul smell of sweat. To make a solution of white vinegar and water, you should use water and vinegar in an equal ratio. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and then spray it inside the shoes. Keep in mind that this is a temporary solution that could keep the foul odor away from your shoe for a few hours. You need to use this spray on your shoes over the next few days to completely eliminate the smell.
The Freezer Technique
Bacteria and various other kinds of germs cannot survive in the extreme cold. Therefore, keeping your smelly shoes in the freezer appears to be a good idea. However, don’t just do it right away. First, put the shoes inside a plastic bag and then place them in a corner of the freezer. For the night, try to remove the food items from the freezer and put them in the refrigerator. After keeping the shoes in the freezer overnight, take the shoes out and let them stay in the open for a while. Once they are naturally dry, there will be no foul odor coming from them.
The Tea Solution
There are two solutions associated with tea that can help you in fighting the various types of shoe odors. Firstly, steep some tea bags in boiling water and let them steep. Once they are ready, take them out and let them cool down for about 5 to 10 minutes. Place these tea bags inside the shoes for one hour. The shoe might be a bit wet after you remove these tea bags so make sure you dry it with a microfiber cloth. Keep in mind that black tea is what’s most useful for killing bacteria so buy black tea bags only.
Another important tea-based solution is the use of tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a vital essential oil that comes with many anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. This oil will help in eliminating the bacteria as well as provide a fresh fragrance from the shoes. Using tea tree oil is a great way to fight bad odor from shoes.
Use Deodorizer Items
There are various types of deodorizer products that can be used to overcome the bad odor. These are verified and tested products that work not only for shoes but for many other products as well. With specific antibacterial chemical properties, these deodorizers can eliminate the bacteria while not letting it grow. Besides, they instantly disinfect the shoe causing the smell to end right away. There are many deodorizer products that have been mentioned below.
1. FunkAway Big Jobs Spray | The Extreme Odor Eliminator

- Works well on all bad odors
- Helpful for treating bad smell coming from shoes and other items
- Best Seller on Amazon.com
- Requires usage with care
2. Marsheepy 12 Pack Charcoal Shoe Deodorizer Bags

- Natural Product
- Has a long-lasting effect
- Good value for money
- Works slow
- Sunlight exposure for at least 3 hours is recommended (prior to usage)
Get Anti-Sweat Socks
Some people can try all of the solutions mentioned above and still not be able to overcome the problem of shoe odor. This could be because they naturally sweat excessively. Such people should always wear socks and not wear shoes without one. While wearing shoes without socks may seem like a fashion trend, it is still not worth having shoe odor. Besides, there are specialist anti-sweat socks as well which keep the sweat from your feet inside and not let anything come to your shoe. As a result, your shoe will no longer smell, and neither will there be any kind of bacteria absorption in them. Here is a good option that we recommend3. Copper Infused Athletic Crew Socks for Men's and Women's

- 99% sweat and smell elimination
- Perfect for all seasons
- All sizes available
- Over 1500 satisfied customers
- Expensive than regular socks
Products to Fight Shoe Odor | |||
Application | Packaging | Amazon Rank | |
Deodorizer Spray | All-purpose beneficial Apply on any stinky surface | One bottle of 13.5 oz. Multiple packaging options are available | Best Seller |
Charcoal Bags | Use in small areas as well as large Fits a shoe perfectly Can be used in other places such as cars, tents, storerooms, etc. | 12 Charcoal Bags | Amazon’s Choice |
Copper Infused Socks | Prevents sweat and smell from the feet | 4 / 5 Pairs Multiple Sizes available | Highly Satisfied Customer Response |
Based on our analysis, we recommend that one should use copper-infused socks as a must in case they are highly active in sports. If you aren’t into a lot of physical exertion, leave these as they are most likely not going to solve the problem. The other problem is bacteria inside the shoes which also come from human feet or dirt.
If you are very keen on chemical products and have no problem using them, the deodorizer spray is perfect because it gives an instant and quick action against the foul smell. In case you are willing to wait to gain a more long-lasting effect against the smell, the charcoal bags are very useful for you.
Conclusion
Fighting shoe odor has become a major problem for many but if you follow the tips mentioned above, there is no chance that the shoe odor still stays and causes problems for you. Keep in mind that the products we suggested are some of the best ones and have been working for almost all the customers. Try them out in case your issue pertains to the basic tips.