Shoe Odor- Get rid of it
Are you embarrassed to remove your shoes in front of others? Do you wish to throw away your favorite pair of shoes due to the foul smell it transmits? If the answer is yes, the good news is that you do not need to get embarrassed about the unpleasant smell that comes from your shoes. Almost everyone faces the problem of stinky shoes once or twice in a lifetime.
If you have noticed that your shoes smell bad, it’s likely that you want to get rid of the odor as quickly as possible. But before that you need to first understand that reason behind the stinky smell coming from your shoes.
Causes for smelly shoes
Feet often sweat when they are locked inside a shoe for hours at a time. Due to excessive sweating it becomes an ideal place for bacteria to reside that cause the shoes to emit an unpleasant odor. Another reason behind smelly shoes is the materials used for making shoes. Shoes are usually made from synthetic material and have rubber soles and plastic innersoles. These plastic innersoles are the main culprits behind unpleasant stinky shoes.
Here are some suggestions on how to get rid of Shoe odor
Cleaning Your Feet
Scrub your feet. It sounds obvious, but a quick rub with soapy water in the shower isn't enough. The objective here is to get rid of any bacteria and dead skin cells that bacteria like to feed on. So when you wash your feet, exfoliate the entire surface of your foot with a washcloth, brush, or any other abrasive mechanism and use anti-bacterial soap. Don't forget to scrub between your toes, either.
Dry your feet. When you dry your feet, dry them completely. Moisture, whether it's water or sweat, is what creates a fertile breeding ground for bacteria, Take the time to dry your feet thoroughly and don't neglect the space between your toes.
Wear sandals or open-toed shoes. Wearing open shoes lets the air flow around your feet, keeping them cool and keeping you from producing as much sweat. When you do sweat, it will evaporate quickly due to air circulation.
· During colder months, wear leather or canvas shoes which allow your feet to "breathe."
Change your socks daily. Socks absorb your sweat when you wear them, and it dries when you take them off. Putting on a dirty pair of socks for a second day in a row is essentially going to reheat that sweat, leading to a foul smell. Change your socks every day, especially if your feet tend to get sweaty.
· Unless you're wearing open shoes, you should always wear socks. Try two pair of socks to help with the wicking of moisture away from the foot.
· When you wash your socks, turn them inside out in the washer so the dead flakes of skin have a better chance of being washed away.
· Go for absorbent socks made of cotton or wool. Non-absorbent socks (like nylon) trap moisture around your foot, making a cozy little nook for bacteria.
Lightly powder shoes and socks daily with baking soda. Dust out yesterday's baking soda before adding in the fresh amount. Baking soda absorbs moisture and odors.
Rotate your shoes. Let your shoes dry out completely so that bacteria don't set up camp in there. It takes at least 24 hours for a shoe to dry out completely.
·Take out the insoles to help the drying process along. Otherwise, wearing the same pair day after day is a recipe for stinky feet. Crumpled newspaper inside wet shoes will dry them overnight.
· Wash your shoes regularly. Many shoes can be thrown in the washing machine. Just make sure they dry thoroughly before you put them on.
Remove your shoes often. Whenever you are able to take a break, remove your shoes. This helps the shoes and your feet stay drier.
Do a tea soak. Soak your feet in tea 30 minutes a day for one week. The tannic acid in the tea will dry out your skin.
Use salt water. Apply half a cup of salt for every quart of water. After soaking, don't rinse your feet and just dry thoroughly.
Make a baking soda mixture. Apply 1 tablespoon baking soda for every quart of water. This makes skin more alkaline, which inhibits bacterial growth.
Mix vinegar in water. This makes skin more acidic. Add a 1/2 cup vinegar for every 1 quart of water.
· Keep in mind that some people's foot odor can be described as "vinegary" so if this is you, this soak might make things worse.
Put baby powder in your shoes. Applying baby powder or baking soda in your shoes and socks will help dry out any future odors.
Place orange peels into the shoes and let them sit overnight. Discard the peels in the morning. This will get rid of odors and create new, fresh smells.
The Baking Soda Method
Every evening, roll up your sleeves and coat your shoes with baking soda on the insides. Once you do this, seal them up in a plastic bag and store them in the freezer. Bacteria can’t withstand the cold, and any existing odor will be removed fully by the baking soda.
Don’t wear the shoes soon as you take them out of the freezer. Keep them out in the open for a while before you slip them on again. This will bring down their moisture content, and reduce the chances of brevibacteria breeding in your shoes again.
Sources:
healveda.com
wikihow.com
howtogetridofit.com
livestrong.com
Other links:
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