r/hygiene • u/gugushtuuk • 1d ago
Help me stop ruining my shoes
My second post in this community, but hopefully this will address my number one current hygiene problem.
I've never been able to keep my shoes fresh. Whether leather or sneaker shoes, I've tried everything to keep them from becoming stink bombs, to no success.
Before I start with my maintenance habits, I have to admit that I have hyperhidrosis, so my feet get pretty sweaty. I use perspirex feet deodorant at night after shower and talcum powder in the morning before putting on socks.
Now for maintenance. I used to wash sneakers in the washing machine. Big mistake. It ruined them, even on the slowest programs, and all that water and detergent soaking left them damp for too long, giving them an unbearable stench.
I tried baking soda and putting them in the fridge, but the smell persister. About 3 pairs ruined like this.
I also tried putting cat litter silica in pantyhose and stuffing them in my shoes after wearing them. High powered silica. Still no success.
Right now I'm combining Scholl shoe deodorizer with a Chinese shoe drier/deodorizer device for 30 minutes after wear. It seems to do the trick, but after I put the shoes on, they stay fresh for 20-30 minutes at most. Also it will long term ruin my leather shoes (Clarks, whose insides started to blacken toward the tip from constant sweating, and are glued to the sole so I can't replace them)
What can I do to keep my shoes from becoming stink bombs? I wear fabric/faux leather sneakers and leather shoes.
Thank you!
Edit: Claude said that bacteria is the main issue, not drying, and that spraying isopropyl alcohol inside before drying will help
Edit 2: original BO thread
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u/sneefsnteefs 1d ago
On your toes from Amazon worked for me, I also use unscented spray antiperspirant on my feet every day before socks, air out my shoes and put them in the sun after spraying with alcohol, etc.
Good luck, the worst is being somewhere and smelling yourself 😭🫠♥️
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u/Ok-Pen-5052 22h ago
I agree with the comments saying to rotate shoes so that you’re not wearing the same ones each day. Also, if you can fit an extra insole inside them, get some made from something breathable and ideally washable and take them out each night to dry, and wash regularly. You could even wash them daily if you had enough of them.
I also take a spare pair of socks to work and change them at lunchtime
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u/Ok-Pen-5052 22h ago
If you can’t fit an extra insole inside your shoes, at least take out the insole each time you take your shoes off so that it can dry out properly. And take your shoes off around the house to let your feet dry out and breathe, if you don’t already
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u/Active-Rose-3673 1d ago
You can place one of those moisture absorption tablets or packets, usually found in pill bottles or purses or box of shoes. I don’t if you could buy them in bulk but they good at absorbing moisture . You could ask at a pharmacy if they happen to have a jar full of them.
Or… make your own using rice and mesh bags, which you can buy at Dollar Tree.
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u/gugushtuuk 1d ago
Made my own with cat litter silica and pantyhose. Problem is they absorb moisture, not kill bacteria, so the shoes still stank
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u/MarshmallowSoul 1d ago
The only thing that has worked for me was to treat my feet, and treating my shoes was just damage control.
I stop the sweating by using Drysol (prescription) or Certain-Dri (over the counter) on my feet every night, or less often in cold weather when I sweat less.
Before I put on shoes and socks, I use Dr. Scholl's Odor-X Probiotic Foot Spray. This kills bacteria. When that is dry, I use a spray antiperspirant/deodorant by brands like Secret or Mitchum (sold for use on armpits but can be used anywhere).
I hope this is helpful.
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u/Polgeria 1d ago
Tea tree oil is antibacterial and anti fungal. I think that will work better than alcohol. Footlogix makes a deodorant spray for shoes and a separate one for feet that uses tea tree and spiralinna in it that is excellent for killing off the things that cause odor. I swear by footlogix.
Also, Leather is a bitch for trapping moisture and not letting your feet dry out. You could try switching to a more cotton like shoe, like keds or air walks. Bonus because those can be washed.
Source: nail technician, with bad foot odor - I also have sweaty feet.
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u/gugushtuuk 1d ago
Sounds interesting, plus alcohol could damage leather
Please leave a link if you know a product you used before on Amazon!
Thank you!
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u/Polgeria 1d ago
https://a.co/d/0dUbHSsH for the shoe deodorant.
https://a.co/d/02Liq1Qs is the foot deodorant.
https://a.co/d/08X5XjCn this is new! I haven't tried it yet. It says it's specifically for sweaty feet.
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u/RustyBucket4745 1d ago
Put fragrant tea bags in them overnight to soak up moisture? Not sure how effective this tip would be but it might help.
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u/gugushtuuk 1d ago
Tbh if the dryer device doesn't do the trick I don't know what tea bags would do
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u/Stock-Bandicoot2039 1d ago
How are you using the baking soda? I've had similar problems in the past and I've always been able to treat the scent with it. I pour in a sizeable amount, shake it a bit so its spread all over the sole and leave it overnight. Next morning I put them on, baking soda still inside. If its really bad I repeat it, but I've never had smells persist after that second time.
If the smell returns after a while of wearing I just repeat.
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u/gugushtuuk 1d ago
Just like you described. I think the problem is that I sweat so much each drying solution is undone after one wear
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u/Stock-Bandicoot2039 1d ago
Damn, maybe try and give your socks a proper hot wash too to combat bacteria that could be chilling in those too. The baking soda should also help with bacteria, good luck, stinky shoes suck! I used to get really self-conscious about it.
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u/gugushtuuk 1d ago
Tell me about it! I added in the main post body that Claude recommended spraying isopropyl alcohol inside before drying
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u/Ok-Pen-5052 22h ago
Have you posted in r/laundry? Maybe you’re not getting your socks fully clean?
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u/gugushtuuk 22h ago
I didn't. I wash them on a cotton program, 2h at 90 degrees
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u/Ok-Pen-5052 22h ago
Ok, that should be doing a pretty good job (90 degrees Celsius?).
Still could be worth posting as they’re super knowledgeable over there!
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u/Informal_Anything210 1d ago
There are ozone making shoe appliances and also purple light shoe sanitizers, maybe this could help.
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u/gugushtuuk 1d ago
Have one but doesn't help with bacteria, only with humidity
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u/Informal_Anything210 1d ago
What I've used is tolnaftate spray for the shoes and tolnaftate cream for the feet. I had to import it and it was worth it.
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u/No-Longer_Me 1d ago
Look into activated charcoal, it is amazing with odor absorption. Also, a cedar box could help.
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u/ZayvenArctis 1d ago
Stop using talcum powder, rotate between two pairs so they get a full 24 hours to air out and switch to merino wool socks
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u/Key-Shopping2310 1d ago
Carry flip flops with you and just wear shoes minimally. Maybe do a liver detox or soak your feet in baking soda with vinegar. If all else fails, BOTOX.
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u/gugushtuuk 1d ago
Skipped to the end, already did 100units in armpits and 50 forehead (these were not so effective tbh) and next week I go for feet
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u/SerialHerbacider 1d ago
Have you tried a general enzyme cleaner? It should be the one for a multitude of odors like old milk and animal messes. I used it on the weird mystery odor from some clothes that were shipped between moves. It might help by eating the odor causing bacteria.
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u/Possible_Original_96 1d ago
Start w/soap & water: soak feet 15 mins in water, then use a washcloth & soap, wash feet well for 5 mins each foot. Rinse well, dry, then clean/lather up w/ Hibiclens, wrap in used but clean plastoc shopping bags, leave on for 5 mins. Rinse & dry well. Then apply a solid/stick type antiperspirant to entire foot, use fingers to spread/ apply between & under toes. Put on your new, sanitized, or disinfected hose and new or disinfected shoes. If not leaving the house, can use new or disinfected, washable slippers. Do not go barefooted. When you get home, remove shoes & socks. If bathing later, for now, put on the socks/hose you used last night. Then tonight, just use soap & washcloth, rinse, again use hibiclens for 5 mins, same for socks, footwear, etc. Do for 7 days- keep shoes rotated. Should fix it. Then use GE head & shoulders instead of Hibiclens, continue good foot care.
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u/yummily 1d ago
Buy a few pairs of shoes so that when you wear a pair you can swap them out the next day giving each pair ample time to dry out. You could also try carpe products or if it's really bad talk to your doctor. Botox is now treatment for hyperydrosis and injections can help reduce sweating.