How to Clean Stinky Shoes: Home Remedies for Fresh Feet

The best ways to get funky smells out of shoes, both by hand and in the washer

Co-authored by Moe Draper and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: February 3, 2023 References Approved

Without Washing

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Washing Your Shoes

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Preventing Smelly Shoes

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Video

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Q&A

You sit down to put on your favorite pair of sneakers, when you notice a certain… funk. It’s no wonder why our shoes tend to get a little smelly: when our feet sweat, that moisture gets trapped inside our shoes, leading to a stench that can be a little, well… unpleasant. Fortunately, since stinky shoes are such a common problem, there are tons of ways you can tackle the odor and get back to your daily routine fast. Keep reading to learn how you can clean your smelly sneakers and prevent new odors for fresh shoes to wear every day.

Things You Should Know

Absorb smells quickly by putting baking soda inside your shoes.
Kill germs with white vinegar or a disinfectant spray.
Put your shoes in the freezer overnight to kill germs and bacteria.
Wash your insoles or your sneakers in the washer to tackle tough smells.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Without Washing

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Absorb smells with baking soda. Fill up 2 socks or 2 coffee filters with a couple spoonfuls of baking soda. Place one in each shoe, then set your shoes out overnight. In the morning, take the baking soda out and throw it away.^{[1]
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- Baking soda naturally absorbs odors, which makes it great for cleaning out smelly shoes.
- Want to replace that stench with a new scent? Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the baking soda before putting it in your shoes.
- Don’t have baking soda? Use kitty litter instead.
2
Spray your shoes down with diluted white vinegar. In a spray bottle, mix equal parts water and white vinegar. Spray the inside of each shoe with the solution, then let it dry overnight.^{[2]
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- Vinegar is another natural odor fighter. Try using your vinegar solution every time you take your shoes off to combat odor over time.
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3
Kill germs and bacteria with a disinfectant spray. Disinfectant sprays neutralize the germs that create the stench inside of your shoes. Spray the inside of your shoes with a disinfectant, then leave them out overnight to dry.^{[3]
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- Always let your shoes dry before putting them back on. Wearing wet shoes will only make the stench worse.
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Place your shoes in your freezer overnight. First, put both of your shoes in a resealable plastic bag, then squeeze out all the air. Leave the shoes in the freezer overnight, then let them thaw before wearing again. The cold temperatures will kill some (or all) of the bacteria that causes the stink, leaving you with better-smelling shoes.^{[4]
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- Freezing your shoes is a great short-term hack, but experts warn that it can cause shoes to degrade faster over time.
5
Leave your shoes out in the sun. The natural UV rays will kill bacteria inside of your shoes and freshen them up. Take off your shoes, then set them outside in a sunny spot for as long as possible. Just be sure to take them in if it starts to rain!^{[5]
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- UV rays can cause the color on your shoes to fade, so put them in a shady spot if you want to keep them bright and new-looking.
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Tuck dryer sheets inside your sneakers overnight. Dryer sheets are meant to freshen the smell of clothing, so they can be used in shoes as well. Simply place a dryer sheet in each shoe, then leave them overnight. You’ll notice a marked improvement when you take out the dryer sheets the next day.^{[6]
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- Always throw away used dryer sheets, and insert a fresh one daily to keep your shoes smelling great.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing Your Shoes

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Remove your insoles and wash them to get rid of the smell. In most shoes, and especially sneakers, it’s the insoles (or what you’re stepping on) that smell bad. If you can remove your insoles, take them out and then throw them in the washer like you’d normally wash clothes. Set them out to dry before sticking them back inside your shoes.^{[7]
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- If your insoles are still stinky after a wash, consider buying new ones. Fresh insoles will vastly improve the smell of your sneakers, even if you don’t do anything else to clean them.
2
Scrub your shoes with a baking soda and vinegar paste for tough odors. In a small bowl, combine 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of water, 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of white vinegar, and 1 tbsp (14 g) of baking soda. Use a toothbrush to gently apply the paste to your shoes, inside and out, then set your shoes in the sun to dry. Gently tap your shoes to remove the paste, and use a paper towel to scrape out any on the inside.^{[8]
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- Baking soda and vinegar work well separately, but together, they’re even more powerful. Don’t worry if you see some fizzing when you combine your ingredients—that just means they’re working!
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Wash your shoes in a washing machine as a last resort. Before putting them in the washer, remove the insoles and tie the laces together (so they don’t get tangled). Add detergent and wash your shoes in cold water, then set them out to air dry.^{[9]
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- Try to use cold water, not hot. Hot water is hard on your sneakers, and can strip the color from them.
- If your shoes are very smelly, one wash cycle might not be enough. Wash your shoes twice using cold water to make sure the stench is banished.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Smelly Shoes

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Wash your feet in the shower every day. If you keep your feet clean, unpleasant odors are less likely to rub off on your shoes. Bacteria in feet can multiple fast, so always remember to wash your feet thoroughly in the shower.^{[10]
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- Lather your feet up with soap. Scrub them thoroughly, targeting dirty areas in particular, and then rinse with water.
- When you get out of the shower, make sure to completely dry your feet. Fungus, which causes a stinky smell, loves to linger on damp and wet feet.
2
Avoid wearing the same shoes 2 days in a row. Your shoes need a chance to air out completely. If you wear sneakers every day, have a couple of pairs in rotation so you don’t have to wear them multiple days in a row. That way, each pair will have a chance to dry out.^{[11]
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- Try to let your shoes dry out for at least 24 hours before wearing them again.
3
Wear moisture-wicking socks. Socks made of cotton and wool are perfect for wicking away sweat and moisture. Always wear socks when you wear your sneakers, and change your socks if they get wet or sweaty throughout the day.^{[12]
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- Never reuse your socks or put on a dirty pair, since that can intensify the smell inside your shoes.
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Use foot powder to reduce foot sweat. Foot powder absorbs moisture, which can help prevent odors. Sprinkle some foot powder on your feet and inside your shoes before putting them on each day.^{[13]
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- If you struggle with treating athlete’s foot, foot powder can also help with that.

Community Q&A

Question

I've already tried the above methods to get the perfume smell out of my sneakers. Is there anything else I can try?

Community Answer

Do the tea bag method every day for a week.
Question

Can you use more than one of these at a time?

Community Answer

Yes. Although be prepared for some bubbly fun if you combine the vinegar and baking soda methods!
Question

How do I clean my all-white Nike Air Force 1s?

Community Answer

Use the tea bag or dyer method. If you really want to clean them, try a very light bleaching.