10 ways to deodorise smelly shoes
<p>Do you, or someone in your household, remove a pair of shoes at the end of the day only to be almost knocked out by the dreadful smell? There’s nothing more embarrassing. Thankfully, you’ll never have to suffer through pungent odours from sneakers and sandals ever again – all you need to do is try these simple, cost-effective solutions.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Toothpaste</strong> – Yes, your humble toothpaste has uses outside the realm of oral hygiene. Simply grab an old toothbrush and use some toothpaste to clean small, dirty crevices.</li>
<li><strong>Freezer</strong> – You might think smelly shoes + freezer = cold, smelly shoes, but placing your shoes in a zip-lock bag in the freezer for 24 hours will drastically reduce any unpleasant smells.</li>
<li><strong>Newspaper</strong> – Done reading the paper? Stuff some sheets into your shoes as soon as you take them off and leave overnight. You’ll be surprised how much sweat they soak up.</li>
<li><strong>Used tea bags</strong> – Once you’ve made you and your partner a fresh brew, let the used tea bags dry, then place them inside each shoe towards the toes. Add a citrus peel to make them smell even better.</li>
<li><strong>Stink and stain remover</strong> – Perfect for white shoes, a cleaning mixture of 1 tbsp. baking soda, ½ tbsp. water and ½ tbsp. hydrogen peroxide will not only remove smells but also stains.</li>
<li>Baking soda – If stains aren’t an issue, simply sprinkle at least 1 tbsp. baking soda <strong>in each shoe</strong>, shaking so it distributes evenly, leave overnight then get rid of the baking soda. Voila!</li>
<li><strong>Rubbing alcohol</strong> – Mix some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle with some water then apply to the inside of your shoes. This will kill the stench-producing bacteria.</li>
<li><strong>Wash and dry</strong> – After using one of the methods above, throw your shoes into the washing machine then let them dry. They’ll end up smelling just like freshly-laundered clothes.</li>
<li><strong>New insoles</strong> – For an easily-replaceable solution, invest in some insoles. When they get dirty, you can simply swap them for a fresh set.</li>
<li><strong>Socks</strong> – As they say, prevention is better than cure. The same can be said when it comes to keeping your shoes fresh as a daisy. Socks won’t entirely stop bacteria production (therefore stench production), but they’ll reduce it massively.</li>
</ol>
<p>Have you tried any of these tricks? How did they work for you? Let us know in the comment section below.</p>
