10 Tips To Stop Unpleasant Shoe Odors In Their Tracks Before They Even Start

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

We've all been there before — you kick off your shoes after a long day, open up your closet, or pass by your shoe rack on your way out of the door only to catch a whiff of something ... gross. Stinky shoe odors can be embarrassing, unpleasant, and seemingly impossible to get rid of once they set in, but by learning more about what causes these odors and taking steps to prevent them, you can decrease your risk of dealing with this smelly problem.

The reason shoes start to smell bad is the same reason plenty of other things pick up an unpleasant odor as time goes on: bacteria and fungi. The inside of a shoe is a dark, damp, and warm environment, and if these conditions are maintained, it creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungi to multiply.

You can increase your chances of fighting odor with some minor changes to your routine and footwear. Make sure to wash your feet well in the shower, pick up some moisture-wicking socks if you're prone to sweating, and invest in footwear that is made of breathable materials or has ventilation. But to prevent this problem from developing, it's necessary to disrupt this environment and do what you can to kill the bacteria and fungi. Solutions range from antibacterial sprays to clever DIY shoe storage. With these small swaps and a more focused approach to storage and cleaning, your shoe rack should remain stink-free.

Proper ventilation is very important when storing shoes, and if you're regularly stowing them in a closet, things could start to get stinky. This doesn't apply if you have a large walk-in or frequently keep the door of your closet open to the rest of your space, but if you're working with a small closet that's always closed, it might be worth moving your shoes to another area. An entryway or mudroom is a great place for a shoe rack — as an added bonus, you won't track dirt and debris through your house.

We hate to break it to you, but whether or not your shoes stink, they're harboring at least a little bit of bacteria. The world is far from sterile, and a clothing item that gets that much wear between deep cleans is bound to pick up some germs along the way. To help keep bacteria from growing and prevent odors, use a shoe deodorizer regularly. Something like Dr. Scholl's Odor-X Odor-Fighting Spray Powder will absorb excess moisture and make the environment less hospitable to bacterial growth.

If you don't want to purchase a premade shoe deodorizer, you can keep your shoes smelling fresh with a common kitchen ingredient: baking soda. If you're already familiar with DIY cleaning solutions, this should come as no surprise. Baking soda is a deodorizing superhero, useful for freshening up everything from fridges to litter boxes. To use it in your shoes, all you need to do is sprinkle some inside and leave it for several hours or overnight. When you want to wear the shoes again, dump out any excess, and you should be good to go.

Washing your shoes can be intimidating, but if you want to keep them looking and smelling fresh, this is the way — if they're made of material that can be washed, of course. Some fabrics like leather, suede, and velvet need special treatment. All you need to hand-wash shoes is warm water in a sink or bucket, a small scrub brush, and gentle laundry detergent. Submerge the shoes in the water, then scrub away. After rinsing, let them air dry, and they should be good as new in about 24 hours.

Plastic bags are convenient options for storage and transportation, but if you're putting your shoes away for more than a few hours, they should be avoided. Whether it's a trash bag in the back of your closet, the original protective plastic they came in, or a zippered plastic bag to prevent getting the rest of your luggage dirty on vacation, you're better off using an alternative material that won't hold in moisture. Instead, store them in a cardboard box or fabric shoe bag.

The last thing you want to think about after a long workout is unpacking a bag, but if you take the time to remove your shoes from your gym bag and air them out, you can avoid a lot of unpleasant smells. This doesn't have to be a major cleaning process, either. Once you get home, unload your gym clothes and store your shoes next to your bag rather than in it. A zipped up bag, especially one that doesn't have great ventilation, can trap moisture and smells.

It's natural to have favorites in your shoe collection, but if you want to prevent smells, it's necessary to give your footwear a break. Rather than wearing the same pair of shoes every day, give them at least 24 hours between wears so they can properly air out. This doesn't mean you have to change up your look, however. If you wear a uniform or simply love one pair of shoes, try getting a backup pair of the same style to wear on alternating days.

Cedar is a durable wood that makes a great choice for fence pickets, but it can help out your shoes, too. If you want to properly maintain your more formal footwear, a cedar shoe tree is the way to go. These trees mimic the shape of a foot and keep leather from warping when your shoes being worn. Options made of cedar also provide a fresh scent, can help to absorb excess moisture, and can kill bacteria that might lead to odor if left unaddressed.

If you're worried about your shoes getting stinky over time, replacing the insoles can go a long way in freshening them up. These inserts inside the shoe are the prime suspects when it comes to trapping bacteria and moisture, so swapping them out is almost as good as getting an entirely new pair of shoes (when it comes to preventing smells, anyway). This will also give you the opportunity to invest in thicker or custom inserts that will make walking and standing for long hours each day more comfortable.

If you're looking for something with the same functionality as baking soda or refresher sprays without the mess, consider picking up or making some scent and moisture-absorbing sachets. Store-bought options like these Arm & Hammer In-Shoe Odor Destroying Pouches often include baking soda or activated charcoal, but you can also freshen up your musty closet with tea bags or silica gel. If you want your sachets to add a pleasant fragrance rather than just eliminating odor, incorporate a few drops of your favorite essential oil, dried herbs, or ground coffee into the mix.