One of the most comforting sensations after a long day of work and intense activities is to take off your shoes. But this pleasure is short-lived when you realize that the smell of the shoes you have been wearing all day is unbearable and unpleasant. Bad smell from shoes can be quite a bothersome problem and I'm sure many of us have faced this situation at least once. It is essential to understand the causes of unpleasant odors and act accordingly with the right remedies.

This article is entirely dedicated to eliminating unpleasant odors from shoes and comes in the form of a guide with useful tips and recommended products to solve this problem. Thus, if you also frequently face this unpleasant situation, we invite you to discover what are the main determining factors of unpleasant odors in shoes, how you can prevent these odors and what are the best solutions for eliminating bad odors from shoes.

What are the causes of unpleasant smell in shoes?

A large percentage of the population is dealing with this embarrassing problem, so if you are going through the same situation, know that you are not alone. Before we discuss how we can prevent or eliminate unpleasant odors from shoes, we will briefly list the reasons why you face this embarrassing situation. Here are the main causes of bad smell in shoes!

Sweat is the main cause of unpleasant smell in shoes

The biggest cause of unpleasant odors in shoes is bacteria that appear when our feet sweat, because sweat creates a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria and fungi. Foot odor is a common condition because the feet sweat more than other areas of the body, having many more sweat glands. Sweat and bacteria go hand in hand and thus produce an unpleasant odor that persists both on the feet and in the shoes.

Poor personal hygiene

Poor personal hygiene can be another cause of smelly feet or unpleasant odors from shoes. Therefore, it is important to ensure basic foot hygiene and wash them daily with soap and water, especially the areas between the toes. Also, use a pumice stone to remove dead skin cells from the heels, which promote the spread of bacteria and the appearance of unpleasant odors.

hyperhidrosis

Another factor that causes unpleasant odors in shoes is hyperhidrosis, the so-called excessive sweating. This condition is characterized by an exaggerated response of the sweat glands, due to increased sweat production beyond the normal limit. If you are dealing with hyperhidrosis, it is ideal to seek the advice of a doctor to treat this condition, thus preventing the bad smell of your feet.

Stress-induced excessive sweating of the feet

Feet can also acquire unpleasant odors due to excessive sweating caused by stress. When there are stressful periods, the human body releases stress hormones in excess, which can cause the appearance of unpleasant odors from shoes, through perspiration.

How to prevent unpleasant odors in shoes?

Preventing unpleasant odors from shoes is easier than treating them. In this sense, we offer some recommendations to prevent unpleasant odors on feet and shoes:

    Alternate your shoes

We recommend that you change your shoes regularly and not wear the same pair of shoes for several days in a row. This way, your shoes will have time to dry and air well after each wear. For example, for office wear, one day you can choose a pair of oxford shoes, the next day a pair of stiletto shoes for a business meeting, and so on.

    Purchase antibacterial shoe insoles

Another recommendation is to purchase antibacterial shoe insoles made of bamboo fibers or activated carbon to absorb moisture and prevent unpleasant odors. They need to be replaced every few months, depending on how often you wear a particular pair of shoes.

    Always wear cotton socks

To prevent unpleasant foot odors, we recommend that you always wear socks made of natural materials, such as cotton, which allow the skin to breathe and keep the foot dry. If your feet continue to sweat, you can change several pairs of cotton socks throughout the day to avoid the build-up of bacteria that thrive in a moist environment.

    Wear shoes made of breathable materials

When buying shoes, opt for natural materials, such as natural leather, which allow the foot to breathe and prevent sweat and the growth of bacteria and fungi.

Here are some useful tips for removing unpleasant odor from shoes:

If you are faced with the unpleasant smell from your shoes, even if you have taken all the precautions to prevent it from appearing, there are some useful tips that can help you get rid of it easily. Below, we have collected some of the most effective methods to get rid of the unpleasant smell in shoes:

    Keep shoes clean and disinfected

After each wear, clean and disinfect the inside of the shoes with a soft cloth to absorb moisture. If there are also layers of dirt, you can wash the shoes taking into account the material. Disinfecting shoes is essential to eliminate unpleasant odors, so you can use professional or household solutions such as water, vinegar or lemon juice.

    Keep shoes in dry places

The shoes must be stored in dry places, preferably in the original boxes, together with silicone bags. They absorb moisture, implicitly eliminating odors that could occur inside the shoes due to moisture.

    Change the laces of the pairs of shoes frequently

The role of shoe insoles is to absorb sweat, so in order to eliminate unpleasant odor from your shoes, you will need to replace these shoe accessories regularly.

    Maintain foot hygiene

One of the main ways to get rid of foot and shoe odor is to maintain regular foot hygiene. Make sure you always apply soap between your toes and on the soles of your feet. It is also important to always dry your feet before putting on your shoes.

    Put the shoes in the freezer

Although it may seem strange, putting pairs of shoes in the freezer will kill the bacteria that cause unpleasant odors in the shoes. Put your favorite shoes in a plastic bag and place them in the freezer for a few hours and the odors will be eliminated.

    Try different odor-eliminating sprays or solutions

Another great idea for removing unpleasant odors from shoes is to use professional shoe sprays. Before putting on your favorite pair of high heeled boots, you can spray shoe spray inside them and unpleasant odors will definitely disappear. There is also a smelly foot spray, which is applied to the soles and once dry, you can put on your favorite shoes.

We hope that this guide has been helpful in discovering the most effective solutions for removing unpleasant odor from your shoes, and that you will consider our suggestions and recommendations if you are faced with this problem in the future. As long as you eliminate the causes and apply one of the solutions presented, smelly shoes will become history.

In addition, choosing the right shoes is also important to prevent these unpleasant odors. We invite you to visit our online store to purchase women's, men's and children's leather shoes that allow the foot to breathe and feel comfortable.