How to Get Rid of Shoe Odor (We Tried 10 Popular Methods)

We’ve all been at the receiving end of the rotten odor emanating from someone’s smelly shoes. The nausea-inducing potent stench is a sour experience indeed. But, if you yourself are the culprit, it’s impossible to avoid. It ends up becoming a life hazard.

Unpleasant odors are a natural deterrent. The stink of your smelly shoes clears a room faster than you’d imagine. It affects your social life and hampers your relationships with friends, family, colleagues and other acquaintances. It becomes a cause of embarrassment, even more so if you end up becoming the laughing stock in your social circle.

Bacteria and fungi are the root cause of the bad smell in your shoes. Your feet stay cocooned inside your shoes for long periods of time. This results in a lot of sweat in an enclosed space, which is basically the happiest place for bacteria and fungi. Underlying conditions like athlete’s foot could also be a cause.

Chances are you never tried to solve this problem or, if you tried, you lost the battle to the stink. This time, with proper guidance and determination, you should be able to eradicate this problem.

Ten popular methods to get rid of shoe odor fast are explained below. Some of the methods work by absorbing the bad smell, some solve the problem at the root by attacking the odor-inducing bacteria and fungi, and some even impart a pleasant smell in the shoes.

• Method 1: Using Cedar Wood Shavings
• Method 2: Using Essential Oil
• Method 3: Using Vinegar
• Method 4: Using Black Tea Bags
• Method 5: Using Baking Soda
• Method 6: Using Coffee Grounds
• Method 7: Using Orange Peel
• Method 8: Using Mouthwash
• Method 9: Using Antifungal Foot Powder
• Method 10: Using Dried Sage Leaves

Initial step for all methods

Before using any of the following methods, remove the laces from your shoes. This will allow you to open up your shoes and work on them easily.

This is a good time to clean your shoelaces, too. Put them in the wash or air them out as needed.

Method 1: Using Cedar Wood Shavings

Things you’ll need:

• Paper towels
• Cedar wood shavings

Step 1. Pack cedar wood shavings in a paper towel

Place some cedar wood shavings on a paper towel. Fold it to make a small flat package. Make one for each shoe.

Cedar wood is aromatic as well as a great deodorizer. Cedar wood chips and shavings are used to remedy a variety of smelly situations, including as bedding for pets to absorb the sharp unpleasant smells of their excrement. They will surely be successful in eliminating the stink in your shoes.

Step 2. Place the packages inside the shoes

Insert the packages fully into the shoes.

Step 3. Leave it overnight or longer

Keep the wood shavings inside the shoes overnight or for about 12 hours, and examine the results the next day. If the unpleasant smell lingers a bit, leave the shavings inside the shoes for a few more hours.

Method 2: Using Essential Oil

Things you’ll need:

• Essential oil

Step 1. Put a few drops of any essential oil in your shoes

Sprinkle drops of essential oil all over the insides of your shoes. We used peppermint essential oil in this example, but you may use whatever is readily available to you.

Essential oils are antimicrobial. They attack the source of the smell – the bacteria and fungi – as well as freshen up the shoes with a pleasant aroma.

Method 3: Using Vinegar

Things you’ll need:

• White vinegar
• Water
• Small spray bottle

Step 1. Make a 50% white vinegar solution

White vinegar is also a great way to eradicate unpleasant odors from your shoes. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a small spray bottle.

Step 2. Spray the solution on the shoes and let them air dry

Spray the white vinegar solution all over your shoes – inside as well as outside. Let the shoes air dry. If you are repelled by the smell of white vinegar, don’t worry. The vinegar smell dissipates after the airing out.

Method 4: Using Black Tea Bags

Things you’ll need:

• Black tea bags – 4

Step 1. Place teabags inside each shoe overnight

Place 2 tea bags inside each shoe. Push them toward the toe area of the shoes, as that’s where the major trouble is. Leave the teabags in the shoes overnight or for about 12 hours to absorb the smells.

Tea readily absorbs moisture in the air, which is the reason tea is stored in airtight containers. However, you can use it to your advantage in this case. We used fresh tea bags in this example, but you can also employ used tea bags. Just run fresh water through them and let them dry thoroughly before using.

Method 5: Using Baking Soda

Things you’ll need:

• Paper towels
• Baking soda

Step 1. Loosely pack baking soda in a paper towel

Baking soda is an effective and cheap deodorant. Make 2 small packages of baking soda wrapped in a paper towel.

Step 2. Stuff the packages inside the shoes and leave overnight or longer

Stuff a package inside each shoe. Let it sit overnight or for about 12 hours, and the baking soda should absorb the offending smells. If the smell lingers, leave it in your shoes for some more time.

Method 6: Using Coffee Grounds

Things you’ll need:

• Coffee grounds

Step 1. Sprinkle coffee grounds inside the shoes

Just sprinkle some coffee grounds over the inner soles of your shoes.

Coffee grounds have been used successfully to remove strong smells like garlic or fish as well as deodorizing acrid spoiled food smells from closed spaces like refrigerators, freezers or cupboards. They can certainly do a little magic to make the stink in your shoes disappear.

Step 2. Let it sit overnight

Let the coffee grounds sit inside your shoes overnight or for about 12 hours for positive results. Do not forget to remove the coffee grounds before wearing them. You can dust them off with a tissue or a brush.

Method 7: Using Orange Peel

Things you’ll need:

• Orange peels

Step 1. Put orange peels inside the shoes and leave it overnight

Place fresh orange peels inside each shoe and let them work overnight or for about 12 hours to eradicate unpleasant odors.

Orange peels not only dissipate unpleasant smells, they replace them with their fresh citrusy smell as well. That’s quite like accomplishing two things with one effort. You can use any citrus peel – lemon, lime, grapefruit, etc. – for similar results.

Method 8: Using Mouthwash

Things you’ll need:

• Mouthwash
• Small spray bottle

Step 1. Spray mouthwash in the shoes and let it dry out

Simply spray mouthwash from a spray bottle all over the insides of your shoes and let it dry out.

Being alcohol-based, mouthwash is antibacterial, antifungal and deodorizing. You can find a score of uses for mouthwash around the house, including removing stink from your shoes. Mouthwash effectively destroys the bacteria and fungi thriving inside your shoes, attacking the source of the smell. You can use any rubbing alcohol-based liquid to this end.

Method 9: Using Antifungal Foot Powder

Things you’ll need:

• Antifungal foot powder

Step 1. Sprinkle the foot powder inside the shoes and leave it overnight

Sprinkle antifungal foot powder inside your shoes and leave it overnight. It works in the same manner as on your feet. It kills the microbes that are responsible for the repelling odor.

Let it sit overnight or for about 12 hours. If the smell lingers, leave it for a longer time.

Method 10: Using Dried Sage Leaves

Things you’ll need:

• Dried sage leaves

Step 1. Place dried sage leaves inside the shoes and leave it overnight

Putting dried sage leaves inside your shoes eliminates the odor-inducing bacteria and fungi, as sage has antimicrobial properties. The herb also leaves its signature fragrance behind.

Let it sit overnight or for about 12 hours. Do not forget to remove the sage before wearing your shoes. You can dust them off with a tissue or a brush.

Additional Tips

• Maintain foot hygiene. This may seem obvious, but wearing clean socks and maintaining good foot hygiene can make a lot of difference. Washing your feet after sweaty workouts is also helpful.
• Fresh kitty litter and charcoal work wonders at absorbing the smells. Dyer sheets can also be stuffed inside the shoes to replace the unbearable stink with a light fragrance.
• Plastic innersoles inhibit air circulation, making the feet sweat a lot which results in stinky shoes. Wear shoes with natural innersoles as they are breathable.
• Avoid overstuffing your shoes with deodorizers like cat litter, baking soda pouches, newspapers and dryer sheets as it can distort the shape and lining of your shoes.
• When using rubbing alcohol-based liquids to treat smelly leather shoes, wipe the insides with a cotton ball soaked in the liquid. If the leather exterior comes in contact with the rubbing alcohol, you’ll risk ruining the look of your shoes.