How to effectively eliminate sneaker odor

Everyone wants their new shoes to stay smart as long as possible. But sometimes, literally after a few days of wearing, an undesirable and disgusting smell may appear. In this article, we will consider everyone's question of interest - how to remove the smell from sneakers.

Where does the smell in sneakers come from?

An unpleasant scent from a shoe can put a person in an awkward situation. The first step is to find out and then eliminate the cause of its appearance. It is believed that sneakers can start to "panic" in the presence of a fungal disease that provokes a fungus of the foot or nail.

Indeed, in about 70% of cases, this is exactly what happens: the fungus causes unpleasant amber and increased sweating of the legs. If you start the disease, do not take any measures, then no methods and washing will help eliminate this aroma.

Also, sweating of the feet can be caused by several more reasons:

• increased consumption of fatty or salty foods;
• problems in the cardiovascular or endocrine system;
• low quality shoes;
• socks made from synthetic fabrics;
• oppressive and uncomfortable shoes;
• wearing closed, non-breathable boots during the hot season.

Whatever the reason, it will lead to increased sweating and an unpleasant odor. If the sneakers are made of artificial or natural material, then they will quickly absorb the aroma, which will be difficult to get rid of in the future.

How can you eliminate the smell

There are many methods to permanently remove unwanted odor from your sneakers. These include both modern methods with the help of "chemistry" sold in stores, and homemade ones, tested by our grandmothers.

Before you start cleaning your shoes, you should root out the cause of the problem. For example, if it lies in a fungal infection, it is necessary to perform special treatment, if the reason is in socks, then it is enough just to replace them with products made of natural material. It is also worth remembering about constant foot hygiene.

Professional remedies

Many people wonder what to do to prevent sneakers from stinking. Deodorant sprays are a great option. This product acts on the cause of the aroma and is quite effective.

A 0.5% chlorhexidine solution is also suitable.They should do a complete treatment of the shoes, including the insoles, then leave them in a plastic bag for four hours, then dry the shoes for two days.

We recommend using stickers with antibacterial properties, or freshers. They are able to instantly rid the sneakers of the unpleasant odor.

In addition, a formaldehyde-based solution can be used, which has an antiseptic and disinfectant effect. It must be sprayed inside the shoe, but it is worth remembering the toxicity of the product.

Insoles are also of great importance. They can be disposable, antibacterial, or flaxseed. Moreover, without them, a person will definitely not be able to go anywhere.

Folk remedies

We offer various folk remedies that were used by our grandmothers. Most of them are so miraculous that they began to be used today:

1. In order to eliminate the undesirable odor, the shoes should be wiped inside with a cotton pad, previously soaked in vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. But if there is an excess of liquid, the shoes will have to be dried.
2. If there is no allergic reaction to oils, then a couple of drops of lavender oil can be dripped onto the insole. Lemon juice is also great. These two products kill harmful odor-causing mycobacteria.
3. Another option is to put a tea bag in your shoes at night, and just put it away in the morning. Tea has the characteristics of a sponge, that is, it is able to absorb any smell into itself.
4. Activated charcoal, baby powder, or baking soda will absorb excess liquid. To do this, you just need to pour them into sneakers (crush the coal into powder), pour them in the morning.
5. The sneakers can also be taken out onto the balcony. But this option is used only in frosty times. In the cold, bacteria do not survive. The only caveat - before "freezing", you should get the insoles.
6. Dry on a battery or with a hair dryer. But again, don't forget about the insoles.
7. Herbal leaves will also get rid of the amber. They are put in sneakers overnight. Both fresh and dry leaves are ideal. It is recommended to put them in a small bag.
8. If there is an unpleasant odor, the shoes should be thoroughly washed with a special solution (water + soap). Then take vodka with ammonia in equal proportions (if it is not there, then it is replaced with ordinary vinegar). With this mixture, wipe the sneakers from all sides (from the inside too), leave to dry in a room that is constantly ventilated.

Note! A washing machine is not quite a popular way, but it does not belong to a professional one either. Although thanks to it, it is possible to eliminate not only odors, but also to wash shoes, using a specific washing mode for this.

It is worth remembering that it is much easier to prevent the appearance of a scent than to get rid of it. Therefore, it is better to always observe the hygiene of the feet, to keep them clean.

How to remove the smell

You can get rid of unwanted amber using several methods mentioned above. But it is also necessary to be able to properly wash and handle shoes. Failure to do so will cause irreparable damage to the shoe. The only thing left is to just throw it away.

Processing sneakers

Shoes should be cleaned daily. They must be kept clean and dry at all times. If sneakers are made of artificial or natural leather, then getting them wet is undesirable.It is advised to make continuous treatment with a solution of soap. Then put paper towels or newspaper in them to dry completely.

Before proceeding with processing, the product should be rinsed from the outside and wiped from the inside with a wet cloth. Be sure to remove the insoles and laces beforehand. This manipulation should be performed at least a couple of times a month.

In order for an unpleasant amber not to appear again after the treatment has been carried out, certain rules must be observed:

• As mentioned above, it is recommended to wash shoes with soapy water, then dry them with paper or newspaper.
• You can only process the insoles - wash, then dry on the battery.
• In the warmer months, it is recommended to put your boots on the balcony so that they dry well. In autumn and winter, special devices are used for this.
• You can also put your sneakers in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer for at least three hours.
• Another processing option is cat litter, which perfectly absorbs various odors.

For processing, it is also advised to use agents such as formidron, chlorhexidine, miramistin, laina, bicin, desavid and mycostop. They all have antifungal, antibacterial and disinfectant effects.

Washing

Most sports shoe manufacturers claim that they can only be hand washed. In fact, this is not the case. How to wash sneakers in a washing machine so that there is no smell? It's very simple, if you follow certain instructions:

1. The first step is to carefully examine the shoes, if there are glued parts, then it is better to refuse machine washing. If leather items are available, it is also worth washing the product by hand.
2. Insoles and laces can be removed and washed by hand, not in a typewriter.
3. In order not to harm the drum, the sole should be well cleaned, there should be no dirt or stones on it. To do this, it is recommended to use toothpicks or Chinese sticks. Then rinse under running water.
4. Place the shoes in a special bag designed for washing; it is advisable to fill the rest of the space with at least an old towel. It will also soften the sound of impacts.
5. Turn off the machine wash, select a delicate wash, set the minimum temperature.
6. At the end of the process, the sneakers should be dried. For this, use paper towels. First, the shoes are soaked to remove excess moisture. After that, it is enough to shove a piece of paper inside to keep the shape.

Important! It is best to use a liquid detergent. The powder is difficult to wash out and can leave streaks that will be difficult to get rid of in the future.

Drying your sneakers

Shoes are often deformed in the dryer. At high temperatures, there is a risk that the adhesive will dissolve. Using a heater or battery is also not recommended. In order to quickly dry the sneakers, you can use a fan, air conditioner, vacuum cleaner, hairdryer, newspaper or silica gel.

For fan drying, the shoes are hung on two hooks. The process takes about two hours, the applied speed should be medium or low. If you put it on, and not hang it, then the time will increase significantly.

With the help of an air conditioner, just put your shoes under it so that air gets on them.

The vacuum cleaner does not dry, but draws moisture from the inside: the shoes fit into any container, then insert the pipe without a nozzle inside, turn on the unit. Each shoe takes about 20 minutes.

Choose a cold setting on the hair dryer, shoes should be on the floor. Under no circumstances should the device be inserted inside.
The newspaper drying method is the longest, it can take about a night. To do this, stuff the shoes with paper, from time to time it should be changed.

Silica gel is capable of absorbing moisture. Balls are placed inside the shoe and left for about two hours. The balls can be dried on the battery and reused.

How to properly disinfect shoes

In order to disinfect sneakers during washing, it is recommended to add some oils directly to the water, literally a couple of drops. For example, thyme, sage, eucalyptus, tea tree, pine and fir have antibacterial effects.

It can also be disinfected with a product such as mycostop spray. It leaves no residue and is comfortable to use. It is enough just to spray the product with it.

Desavid can be in the form of a regular liquid or spray. In the first case, it is applied to a cotton pad, which is used to wipe the shoes. In the second, he simply "pisses" at her.

Bicin eliminates unpleasant odors, its effect lasts about 40 days. Formidron not only eliminates odor, but also gets rid of harmful bacteria. Chlorhexidine is applied internally, then the sneakers are dried.

How to mask a smell

• To mask an undesirable smell, it is advised to put a tea bag under the insole, preferably with fruit additives. There are also certain deodorants designed specifically for the feet that can be easily sprayed into the product.
• An excellent option would be essential oil - just drop a couple of drops under the insole.
• You can pour vodka inside and walk like that for two or three hours, then dry it thoroughly, pre-rinse it under water using a soap solution.
• Ground coffee is used as a disguise - pour a little of it into the boot.
• Adding baby powder or boric acid to the sock will neutralize sweat and eliminate harmful bacteria.

Problem prevention

The main prevention against the appearance of an unpleasant odor is daily washing of the feet, preferably with the use of antibacterial soap. After that, they should be treated with baby powder or deodorant. Hosiery also needs to be changed regularly.

After going outdoors, sneakers should always be dried (insoles should be removed and dried separately).

Replacing the insole is recommended about once a month, despite the fact that the smell has not even arisen.

Additional Information! Treating with antibacterial balls, special deodorants and various disinfectants should become a habit. Otherwise, getting rid of amber will be extremely difficult. It is also imperative to treat the fungal diseases that have appeared, otherwise no method of odor elimination will help for a long time.

After all of the above, it becomes clear how simple and easy it is to get rid of the unpleasant odor in sneakers.

It is also worth considering that it may arise due to improper storage of shoes between seasons. Therefore, you should not only constantly process the products with certain means, but also add substances such as tea bags or bags with plant leaves to them in the box.

Video: how to get rid of shoe odor