Admit it or not!
No one likes smelly shoes.
It is embarrassing when you open your bag in dance class and bring out your smelly shoes. Everyone around you looks at you and frowns. Even you feel disgusted with the smell.
The first question that hits your mind at that moment is, ‘How to clean smelly dance shoes?’
Well, tons of options are available to get rid of smelly dance shoes. You can use baking soda, essential oil, baby powder, scented dryer sheet, and others. Teabags, alcohol, enzyme cleaners, or lemon skin might also work.
You can also change the insole, use an air dryer, and freeze the shoes. These will help you stay out of the smell and get a fresh dancing class.
Why Do Your Dance Shoes Smell?
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Why do your dance shoes smell?
Is it your shoes that are causing the problem? Or is it your feet or something else?
Well, the main culprit is your feet, not the shoes.
We have more than 200,000 sweat glands in each foot. Yes, you have heard it right. These glands emit sweat when dancing. The sweat causes the smell in your dance shoes.
You may ask that our other body parts also sweat but do not cause the smell. The feet inside the shoes cannot breathe properly. Your shoes absorb the sweat. It makes the environment confined and perfect for growing bacteria.
These bacteria emit foul-smelling toxins that ultimately lead to a bad smell. Your shoes feature suede or sponge-like material inside that absorb those toxins and smell really bad.
Some people sweat more than others. That is why some people have bad smells in their shoes compared to others.
There is nothing to be ashamed of about sweating. It is a completely natural process. But if you do not clean smelly dance shoes, that might be a matter to be ashamed of.
12 Ways to Keep Dance Shoes from Smelling
You know the reasons why your shoes smell. Now let’s see how to get rid of the smell in dance shoes.
Look For the Cause
The first step to solving the problem is to identify the problem. You need to find the underlying problem of smelly dance shoes. When you know the problem, it becomes easier to solve it. Check whether your feet sweat more or not. Consider looking at the insoles and socks.
Try Baking Soda
Baking soda is known as a Ph neutralizer. It can effectively neutralize the toxins released from bacteria and thus remove odor from your dance shoes.
Take two tablespoons of baking soda and sprinkle it into the shoes. Wait for a night and see the magic. You can also use your socks. Put 2 tablespoons of baking soda in each sock and tie knots in the socks. Place the socks in the shoes and wait for a night. You will see the smell gone in the morning.
Baby Powder Is a Simple Solution
Baby powder can absorb the sweat and help you get rid of the smell temporarily. This cannot be a permanent solution since it cannot kill the bacteria. If you need an immediate solution, use baby powder or talcum powder.
All you need to do is to sprinkle the powder throughout the shoes. Make sure it does not create a white residue outside the shoes.
Essential Oil Might Work Well
Some essential oils such as lemongrass, tea tree, cloverleaf, and others come with antifungal and antibacterial properties. They can effectively destroy bacteria and create a pleasant fragrance.
Add a few drops of essential oil to a cotton ball and rub it throughout the inside of your shoes. You can use tissue paper instead of cotton balls to get the job done.
Freeze Your Shoes
Freeze your shoes.
Sounds crazy, right?
But this is true. Many dancers put their shoes in the freezer to get rid of smells. Simply put your dance shoes in an air-sealed bag and place the bag in the refrigerator for a night. The odor will be gone soon.
What is the science behind this strange solution?
Well, we all know that bacteria hardly survive extreme temperatures. So, you should give it a try since it is effortless. Wonder how do dancers keep from smelling? This is away.
Try Alcohol and Water Mixture
How do I clean my smelly dance shoes?
Alcohol works even better against bacteria than extreme temperatures. You can use it to get rid of the smell in dance shoes caused by bacteria. Simply take half a glass of water and half a glass of alcohol. Mix them and put them in a spray bottle.
Now spray the mixture throughout the shoes. It should not take more than a night to remove the smell. Do not overdo it since that may make your shoes wet. It takes time to dry your shoes.
Use Tea Bags
Another great way to kill those bacteria-causing smells in your shoes is to use teabags. Green and black teas consist of tannins. It can effectively kill those bacteria and help you stay out of smelly shoes.
Boil the tea bags for at least three minutes and let them be cool and dry. Now place the bags inside your shoes for at least an hour. It will work as a natural deodorizer and remove smells from the shoes. Use a towel or cloth to soak the moisture that comes out from the tea bags.
Insert Soften Sheet
You can use Fabric Softener Sheets to remove odor from your shoes. It will absorb the bad smells from the shoes. Simply toss the sheets inside the shoes and leave them for a night. You will enjoy fresh shoes in the morning.
Remember that it will remove the odor but not kill the bacteria. If your main concern is to ensure hygiene and destroy the bacteria, follow the abovementioned methods.
Try Additional Insoles
Sometimes the problem occurs due to the old insoles. Most of your sweat and toxins are absorbed by the insole. The sponge-like insole captures sweat and makes the environment perfect for bacteria.
The best solution to this problem is to use odor-removing insoles. Buy an Odor-Eaters Ultra Comfort Odor-Destroying Insoles and replace your existing insoles. Make sure the insole you are buying has activated charcoal. It might not work otherwise against a bad smell.
Use Enzyme Cleaners
Enzyme cleaners work excellent against killing bacteria. You can purchase it online or make it on your own. Try Zeiff Pro-Grade Multi-Purpose Enzyme Cleaner if you do not have enough time to make enzyme cleaners.
Simply apply it to the shoes and leave it overnight. Remember that it is dangerous to the skin when it comes to direct contact. Try to avoid direct contact. Freeze the shoes before using them to eliminate enzyme cleaner for skin safety.
Insert Some Orange or Lemon Skin
Fruit skin contains an amazing natural smell that can remove bad smells from your dance shoes. Orange, lemon, or any other citrus fruit skin works the best.
Simply peel off the skin from the lemon and cut it into the smallest pieces. Toss them into the shoes and leave them for a night. You will see the smell gone in the morning.
Air Dry May Work
The main reasons why bacteria and smell grow up in your shoes are sweat and confined areas. You can prevent this from happening by air drying your shoes.
If you keep the shoes sweated and wet after dancing, bacteria will get a perfect place for growing. You do not want it unless you want to keep people away from you.
Place the shoes in a ventilated area under natural light and air to solve the problem. Your shoes will dry naturally, and it will prevent bacteria from growing. Try to dry the shoes as soon as possible.
Prevention Is Always Better Than Cure
It is always better to prevent dance shoes from getting smelly. Follow the steps below to prevent smell in your dance shoes.
Wash Your Feet
You should properly clean your feet before wearing the shoes. It would be better if you wash your feet at a regular interval. It will help your feet fight against the bacteria. Use soap during the shower to clean the feet properly.
Rotate Shoes
Wearing the same dance shoes daily prevents the shoes from drying. You should have another pair of shoes to wear on alternate days. It will give your shoes enough time to dry and stay away from bad smells.
Try Newspaper
Stuff your old newspaper when you come back from dancing and leave it for a night. It will absorb all the moisture and sweat. You will get fresh and clean shoes in the morning.
Clean And Dry Your Shoes After Every Use
Your shoes get dirt and sweat when you dance. That is why it is important you clean and dry your shoes after everyday use. When you come back from dance class, clean the shoes with a brush and place them in a ventilated and dry place. It will prevent bacteria from growing up.
Store Dance Shoes in A Good Place
Storing a good place is mandatory. Lots of us just throw the shoes anywhere. If the shoes do not get enough air to dry, bacteria will grow up. Find a high place where air can come and go easily. It will remove the odor from shoes and prevent smells.
Keep The Feet Dry
The main reason for the smell is sweating. If you prevent sweating, you can prevent smells. That is why keep your feet dry all the time.
Try Feet Powder
You can use foot powder to prevent smell. Try Squeaky Cheeks Cooling Body and Foot Powder. It will effectively prevent any smell in your shoes. Simply apply it before wearing the shoes and going to your dance class or performance.
Use Dryer Sheet
Most of the sweat is absorbed by insoles. If you can prevent it, you will prevent smell. Placing a dryer sheet between your feet and insole can work effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have any questions in mind? Have a look at the section below.
Should you wear socks to prevent smell?
Some people suggest wearing socks to prevent smell. It works, but it looks really odd when dancing. So, you should not wear socks to prevent smell. Try other methods.
Can dance shoes be washed?
Check the material of your dance shoes. If they are made of rubber or leather, you should not wash them. Canvas dance shoes can be washed.
Can you put smelly shoes in the washing machine?
If the shoes are made of synthetic material or canvas, you can put them in the washing machine. Leather or rubber-made shoes are not suitable for washing in the machine.
Should I throw away smelly shoes?
No, you can clean your smelly shoes. Multiple ways are available to remove smells and kill the bacteria-causing smell. Try them. Throw them away only when the shoes are too old to wear.
Time To Wrap Up
Smelly dance shoes create a bad impression on our personalities. We do not want to bring out a pair of smelly shoes from the bag in the dance class. Everyone will stare at you, and you will feel embarrassed when it happens.
You can avoid this situation when you know how to clean smelly dance shoes. It is common to sweat during dancing and have a bad smell in your shoes. Almost everyone experiences this problem.
But cleaning them properly to remove that bad smell is mandatory. It will also help you kill the bacteria and make your dance shoes healthier and more hygienic.
Use any methods that work best for your shoes. Try to keep your shoes and feet clean to avoid the smell. You should also wear socks, rotate the shoe, and keep the feet trying to prevent the odor. Do whatever it takes and enjoy a fresh and energetic dance experience.
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