The smell in work shoes is common yet embarrassing.
You cannot stop it from happening due to the heavy load and working environment. But you cannot allow it either.
The only solution is to clean smelly work shoes regularly. Cleaning your shoes properly will help you stay away from the bad smell. It also makes you more comfortable in the workplace. You can even work without annoying others.
But do you know how to clean smelly work shoes?
Well, there are plenty of ways available for minor, medium, and severe smells. You can wash your shoes, spray neutralizer, or use sneaker balls for the severe smell.
Use baking soda, corn starch, lemon peel, alcohol, and others for a medium smell. You can even try sunlight drying, newspaper, dry sheets, and other easy methods for minor smells. Pick any methods depending on the severity of the smell and availability of the method.
Why Do My Work Shoes Smell So Bad?
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Knowing the reasons for your problem makes it easier to handle it.
You may blame your work shoes for the bad smell. But the real culprit is your feet, not the shoes. Your feet sweat when you work a day long in hot conditions. Around 250,000 sweat glands are there between your two feet.
You may have a lot of sweat glands around your body. But your feet stay inside the shoes for a long time. The ventilation becomes less, and your feet sweat more than other parts of the body.
But the sweat is not responsible for the smell. A type of bacteria called Kyetococcus sedentarius is the main player here. It produces stinky organic components and sulfur compounds. Both of them cause a bad odor in your shoes.
When your feet stay in your shoes, the bacteria get a warm and confined area to breed and spread. Your shoes absorb the odor and keep it for a long time.
The shoes also absorb the sweat and moisture from your feet that makes the environment like home for bacteria. You cannot prevent sweating since you have to work with work shoes.
Some people might have less smell compared to others. This is because they have fewer bacteria in their feet.
The Effective Way to Clean Smelly Work Shoes
Multiple ways are available to clean smelly work shoes. Depending on your smell type and severity, you should apply the right methods. Here are some methods for you.
When The Smell Is Too Severe
The smell is too severe sometimes, especially when you wear the same work shoes for a long time. Try these methods below for the best result.
Wash Your Shoes Properly
How to clean work shoes? The best way to clean smelly work shoes is to wash them properly. You can either use manual methods or a washing machine to wash. Remember that not all shoes are machine washable, and you should not clean them in the machine.
For manual hand washing—
- Take an old toothbrush.
- Remove the insole, lose the lace, and lose the tongue.
- Rinse your working shoes or boots with soapy water. You can use detergent or soap.
- Take the brush and clean the shoes thoroughly.
- Clean it with clean water to remove any residue.
- Dry it in natural light and see the odor gone.
For machine washing—
- Place your shoes in the washing machine.
- Set the speed to a medium level.
- Use soapy water to clean them.
- Dry them in natural lights.
Remember that washing the shoes regularly will reduce the lifespan of your shoes. So try to avoid making your shoes sweaty and dirty to prevent smell and improve lifespan.
Odor Neutralizer Spray Is The Best Solution
How to clean smelly work boots?
Well, odor neutralizer spray can be the best solution to your smell problem without damaging your shoes. It uses self-activating organic enzymes to smoothly break down the smell and sweat to ensure smell-free shoes.
Simply spray it lightly in every part of your shoes. Do not overdo it since it can damage your shoes badly. Add a light layer, and then let it dry in natural light. Apply another layer or more if the smell does not go.
You will find different odor neutralizer sprays in the market. Among the very best, here are a few suggestions for you.
FunkAway Big Jobs Spray: This spray features OM Complex to remove any kind of odors from your shoes. You can use it in any type of shoes such as work boots or others. It is even suitable for clothes and pets.
Zero Odor Multi-Purpose Household Odor Eliminator: Zero Odor does not add a layer of fragrance over the odor of your shoes. It permanently eliminates the shoes’ odor, and you can get a fresh experience every time. This one is also non-toxic, non-allergic, and safe for health.
Natural Shoe Deodorizer and Foot Spray: This deodorizer spray simply neutralizes the shoe odor. It is easy to use and simple to spray. You can use it comfortably, and it will deliver a long-lasting service for you.
Try Homemade Spray For Effective Solution
How to stop work shoes smelling with home remedies?
Well, you can use homemade smell neutralizer spray instead of investing in the market spray. It will help you remove the odor without damaging your shoes. You can even stay safe since the organic spray is free from any outside and unknown chemicals.
Simply take 1/2 cup of water and ½ cup of vinegar. Add 5 drops of tea tree oil and mix them properly. Wait for a while and put it into the spray bottle. Then use it as the market spray and see the magic.
Sneaker Balls Can Work Fine
A cheap yet easy solution to ‘how to get rid of smelly work shoes’ is to use sneaker balls. They are easily available in any general sports store. You can easily remove the smell from the shoes since they have a powerful smell.
Simply place the balls inside your shoes and wait for a night. It is better to place them in the evening to get enough time to remove odor. You will see the odor gone in the morning.
When The Smell Is Medium
How to make work shoes not smell bad when the small is medium?
Well, there are plenty of ways available for you. Here are a few ideas for you.
Baking Soda Is A Good Home Remedy
Baking soda is a natural odor neutralizer for your work boots. It is readily available in any household. It will absorb the moisture and sweat overnight and remove the odor. You can use this amazing item in many ways.
- Simply take a cup of baking soda.
- Make it half.
- Place each half into your socks.
- Make sure there is no leakage in your socks.
- Place the socks in your shoes and see the magic in the morning.
- Try a homemade neutralizer for better cleaning.
You can even use it with corn starch. Follow the steps below.
- Take half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of corn starch.
- Mix them properly.
- Simply sprinkle the mixture throughout your shoes.
- Wait for the night.
- Spill all soda out before wearing them in the morning.
- Use essential oil for a better smell.
Corn Starch Absorbs Moisture Well
Corn starch, also known as Arrowroot powder, is a great alternative to baking soda. You can easily find it and use it to remove your shoe odor. It works like baking soda and absorbs moisture and sweat.
Sprinkle some corn starch in the shoes and wait for a night. Try to place the shoes in a well-ventilated area so the odor can get out smoothly. A confined area is not suitable for this method.
Cat Litter Can Be A Good Solution
Cat litter is designed to absorb your cats’ potty smell and urine. You can use this cat litter to remove odor from your shoes. If you want to know how to clean stinky work shoes, this is a great way.
Simply take a sock and fill it with cat litter. Place the socks in your shoes and keep them overnight. The litter will absorb the moisture and sweat from the shoes and deliver a fresh smell.
Try to keep the shoes higher with the cat litter. Your cat might think it is its new toilet. Make sure the place has enough ventilation for better results.
You Can Use Essential Oil
Essential oil is a great way to remove a medium to heavy odor from your shoes. It removes any bad odors from the shoes and creates a fragrance. Follow the steps below to apply essential oil.
- Take a couple of cotton balls.
- Choose good essential oils for a better aroma.
- Drop a few drops of oil in the cotton balls.
- Place the balls in the shoes.
- Leave them overnight and see the magic in the morning.
When picking the essential oil, try to use lemon or any clean and fresh essential oil. Here are some suggestions for you:
Essential Oils by PURE AROMA
Lagunamoon Essential Oils
Essential Oils Set, Aromatherapy Essential Oil Kit
Baby Powder Is The Easy Solution
You can use baby powder to get rid of odor but not clean the shoes. If your ultimate target is to get rid of odor, baby powder can work effectively. It has some amazing deodorizing properties that can remove odor and deliver aroma.
Simply apply some baby powder on your feet before wearing socks. Then wear the socks and shoes and see the magic. You can use the powder whenever you experience the odor for the best result. It is not that long-lasting solution.
Lemon Peel Can Make Smell Better
Lemon is known for its antibacterial properties and ability to destroy bacteria. You know that bacteria are the main culprit for the odor in your shoes. Using lemon peel can destroy the bacteria and remove the odor from your shoes.
Simply take a few lemon peels and crush them. Place the peels in the shoes overnight. You will find fresh and smell-free shoes in the morning.
Try Alcohol
How to clean the bottom of work shoes smell with alcohol when it itself has a bad odor?
Well, alcohol has some antifungal and antibacterial properties that can destroy bacteria from your shoes. It will remove the odor from your work shoes within a very short time.
Take half a cup of alcohol and half a cup of water. Mix them and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Simply spray it throughout the shoes and see the odor gone in one hour. You can also apply alcohol with a cotton ball.
Freeze Your Shoes To Remove Odor
If none of the methods work effectively, you can try this ultimate effective method. Yes, you have heard it correctly. It is scientifically proven that freezing the shoes removes the odor. Extreme temperature kills all the bacteria and delivers fresh shoes. To use this method,
- Take a tea bag and seal your shoes inside it. The bag will protect your shoes from extreme temperatures. It will also help you keep your refrigerator clean.
- Place the bag inside the freeze at the lowest temperature.
- Leave it overnight and see the odor gone.
- Thaw your shoes before wearing them.
When The Smell Is Minor
Sometimes the smell is minor. But you should avoid it since this little smell can lead to a severe smell. Lots of options are available to remove odor. Here are a few.
Newspaper Is The Easiest Solution
We all have old newspapers in our homes, right?
You can simply use them to clean your work shoes from smelling.
Simply take a piece of newspaper, scrunch it, and stuff it inside the shoes. Wait for the night, and the paper will absorb the moisture, smell, and sweat. You can use this method after cleaning the shoes for the best result.
Tea Bags Are Available Everywhere
We generally throw the tea bags away after using them. But you can use it to remove odor from your shoes. It is an easy yet highly effective method to remove small to medium odors. Follow the steps,
- Take a few tea bags and boil them for 5-10 minutes.
- Take them out and wait to let them cool and dry.
- Place them inside the shoes and wait for the night.
- The odor should be gone by the morning.
- Wipe off the residue.
Use Natural Sunlight
UV rays are bad for human health. The same goes for bacteria. Yes, you can kill the bacteria that cause smell with the help of natural sunlight. It is an easy yet effective solution for the slight smell.
Simply unlace your shoes, remove the insole, and place them under natural sunlight. Wait for a few hours to get warm, clean, and odor-free shoes.
Remember not to use this method daily under the hot sun. This may damage your shoe texture and reduce the lifespan of your shoes.
Dryer Sheets Can Work Too
If you work for a long time, this method will work fine. Take dryer sheets and place them in the insole before wearing the shoes. The sheets will absorb the sweat and moisture from your feet instead of transferring them into the insole.
Place the sheet before you go to work and throw it away when you come back. You can also use a fabric softener sheet at night and remove the left odor in the shoes.
How To Prevent Your Shoes from Smelling So Bad
Prevention is always better than cure. It is better to prevent the shoes from smelling instead of cleaning. Follow the steps below to stop your shoes from smelling.
- Always pick the right shoes. Steel toe shoes will make the inside hotter than composite toe shoes. Try breathable shoes to prevent sweating.
- The main culprit for smell is your feet. Keep your feet clean to reduce odor.
- Do not wear shoes without socks. Try to keep the socks clean. Change socks often for the best result.
- Try to wear several pairs of shoes and do not consecutively wear the same work boots.
- Place the shoes in a well-ventilated area after you put the shoes off.
Time To Conclude
Smelly work shoes make you uncomfortable while working. You always want comfortable, warm, and bacteria-free shoes. Smelly shoes give you a bad impression. The shoes have to stay clean and odor-free since it carries your personality a lot.
That is why it is important to know how to clean smelly work shoes. It will help you stay away from those problems. Cleaning the shoes is not that tough.
Clean your shoes regularly to avoid bad smells and enjoy your work. You can do it without spending too much money. It does not even need any professional skills.