How to remove bad odor from sneakers at home

Sneakers are one of the most popular trendy types of footwear, and they are comfortable and fashionable to wear. Often, after wearing them, an unpleasant odor appears a problem that is not commonly talked about, but which is very important. This was reported by SSPDaily.

There are many reasons why sneakers can have an unpleasant odor. It can be low-quality shoes made of synthetics that do not allow air to pass through. Inadequate or no shoe care, poor personal hygiene, improperly sized insoles, fungal diseases, general infectious diseases, physical activity, unhealthy habits, etc. can also cause bad odors.

How to remove bad odor in sneakers at home

You can remove the odor from your sneakers using both traditional methods and special products. Here are some proven ways.

• Wash in a washing machine. This option works well for textile shoes and only when the odor is not too strong.
• Freezing. Wrap the sneakers in any fabric and place them in the freezer overnight.
• Use baking soda. It not only fights odors and helps to destroy dirt, but also does not harm your feet and can restore white sneakers to cleanliness. Prepare a mixture – take a few tablespoons of baking soda, and one spoonful of starch, and add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil. Pour the mixture into your socks and put them in your shoes overnight. Or mix baking soda with finely chopped citrus peel, and add a few drops of oil. Put the resulting powder in the middle of the shoe, under the insole, for several hours. After that, wash the sneakers using mustard powder.

• Table salt also works well with odors. Pull out the insoles and pour the salt inside the shoe, or first into a sock and then into the shoe for 12 hours.
• Activated charcoal will help with the odor if it is not too strong. Put 10 charcoal tablets inside your sneakers for a couple of hours. If the "aroma" is strong, crush the charcoal and put it inside overnight, and in the morning shake it out thoroughly and vacuum it. This method is not suitable for white shoes, as dark spots may remain.

• Bay leaves: put a few leaves in the middle of your sneakers, walk around for a month, and then replace them with new ones. Or chop a few leaves, scatter them over the entire surface, and wait a few hours. Then shake and vacuum.
• Vinegar destroys all bacteria and odors. However, it cannot be used for leather, as well as low-quality and dyed shoes. Cracks may appear on the surface. To treat with vinegar, first wash the sneakers with soapy water in the middle, then wipe with vinegar.

• Soak the sneakers in a solution of medical alcohol. Dissolve one tbsp of alcohol in one liter of water. Pour the finished liquid into a container, and put the shoes in it for 30-60 minutes. Afterward, dry them thoroughly outside so that there is no pungent odor.
• Tea bags: Pour boiling water over a few tea bags, preferably flavored, then cool them and place them in your shoes. Dry bags can also be simply placed under the insole for 10 hours. They will absorb excess moisture and odor.

In addition to these "home" remedies, there are special odor eliminators – special deodorants, odor-absorbing capsules, and antifungal insoles.