How to get the smell out of shoes, and stop it coming back

Step by step

1. 1

   Take out insoles and laces

   Pull out removable insoles and laces as soon as you take the shoes off, and leave the shoes open to the air.

   Why: Insoles and linings soak up sweat and keep the shoe damp and warm. Opening everything up lets moisture escape.

2. 2

   Wash the insoles

   Scrub washable insoles with a soft brush and a little gentle laundry detergent in warm water, rinse well and press out the water. Wash laces in a mesh bag with a laundry load.

   Why: This removes the sweat residue the odor bacteria feed on. Rinsing well stops leftover detergent from holding dirt.

3. 3

   Clean inside the shoe

   Brush the lining with the same detergent solution, using as little water as you can, then wipe it with a clean damp cloth. Only machine-wash shoes the maker marks as washable.

   Why: Bacteria live in the lining as well as the insole. Most shoe makers discourage machine washing because agitation and detergents can damage leather and adhesives.

4. 4

   Dry everything completely, without heat

   Stuff the shoes with white paper towels (not newspaper) and let shoes and insoles air-dry at room temperature, out of direct sun. Memory-foam insoles can take 10 to 12 hours. Don't put them back until they're fully dry.

   Why: Microbes need moisture, so dry shoes smell less. Heat from a dryer, radiator or hair dryer damages glues and cushioning.

5. 5

   Deodorize the dry shoe, if you like

   Sprinkle a little baking soda into the dry shoe, leave it for a while, then shake and brush it out before wearing.

   Why: Baking soda can be used on dry fabrics and shaken out, but it's a supplement to washing and drying, not a replacement.

Why shoes smell

Feet have more than 250,000 sweat glands, according to Cleveland Clinic, and a closed shoe is warm, dark and damp: ideal for bacteria and sometimes fungi. Sweat itself barely smells. The odor comes from skin bacteria breaking it down. Research published in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology traced foot odor to isovaleric acid, which the common skin bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis makes from the amino acid leucine in sweat. The vinegar-like note some feet have is an acid byproduct of the same process.

That explains what works. Sprays and powders cover the smell for a while, but as long as sweat residue and moisture stay in the insole and lining, bacteria keep producing it. Washing removes their food, drying removes their water, and rotating pairs gives each shoe time to dry right through. The same chemistry is behind sweat smell in clothes.

How to make shoes not smell

• Let shoes dry between wears. Alternating pairs is widely given advice; it gives insoles a full day to dry.
• Wear moisture-wicking socks: cotton, wool or wicking synthetics, and change them daily.
• Choose breathable shoes. Cleveland Clinic notes that synthetics like nylon and plastic trap moisture, while natural materials like leather and cotton let it evaporate.
• Wash insoles regularly, and replace ones that still smell after washing.
• Don't share shoes or socks, and wear sandals in locker rooms and pool areas to avoid athlete's foot, a fungus that causes foul odor.

By situation

Mildew smell in shoes

A musty smell means mold or mildew has grown, often after shoes were stored damp. For leather shoes, University of Florida Extension suggests wiping with diluted alcohol (1 cup denatured alcohol to 1 cup water) after testing for colorfastness, drying in moving air, and if mildew remains, washing quickly with thick suds of mild soap or saddle soap, wiping with a damp cloth, air-drying and polishing. Store shoes clean and dry, not in plastic.

Canvas and mesh sneakers

Hand-wash them with gentle detergent and a soft brush, insoles and laces out, and air-dry stuffed with paper towels. If the maker marks them washable, a gentle cold cycle in a mesh bag works too. See white shoes and sneakers.

Leather, suede and sheepskin

Don't wash these in water. Focus on removing and washing the insoles, airing the shoes fully between wears, and cleaning the outside by material: see suede shoes and boots. Sheepskin boot makers also sell interior fresheners made for fleece linings.

Shoes that smell of skunk

If they can't be washed, hang them outdoors and let fresh air carry the odor off over time, as University of Nebraska Extension suggests.

When the smell is coming from your feet

A persistent foul, cheesy or rotten-egg odor that survives clean, dry shoes can mean a fungal or bacterial skin infection or heavy sweating (hyperhidrosis). Cleveland Clinic advises seeing a healthcare provider.

What not to do

• Don't dry shoes on a radiator, in the dryer or with a hair dryer. Heat damages the glues and cushioning.
• Don't machine-wash shoes that aren't labeled washable. Agitation and detergent can damage leather and adhesives.
• Don't put damp shoes away in a closet or plastic bag. Trapped moisture lets bacteria and mildew keep growing.
• Don't rely on sprays alone. They mask the odor while the sweat residue causing it stays in the shoe.

Other methods that work

Baking soda

Sprinkled into a dry shoe and shaken out later, it can absorb some odor. More on baking soda.

Caution: Brush it out fully, and use it after washing and drying, not instead of them.

Replacing the insoles

Insoles hold most of the sweat. If washing doesn't clear the smell, new insoles often fix it.

Airing outdoors

For shoes that can't be washed, a day of fresh air in the shade helps dry them through and lets odors dissipate.

Caution: Keep them out of direct sun, which can damage leather and glue.

Stain still there?

The smell came back after a day of wear

The shoes or insoles weren't fully dry, or residue is still in the lining. Wash again, dry for a full day or more, and alternate pairs.

Washing made the shoes smell musty

They dried too slowly. Stuff with fresh paper towels, change them when damp, and dry in a ventilated room.

Clean, dry shoes still smell

Replace the insoles. If the odor follows you to every pair, it may be your feet rather than the shoes; see a healthcare provider.

Questions

More guides for this room

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• How to clean suede shoes and boots, and get stains out
• How to clean sheepskin boots and remove water and salt stains
• How to clean white shoes and sneakers