Lifehacks
When the shoes stink: This is how to eliminate unpleasant smells
Not only in summer we sweat on our feet, but also in sports. In addition, the (wrong) materials contribute to the formation of odors. But what to do when the shoes stink?
If our feet (and thus also the shoes) smell uncomfortably, this is not a sign of lack of hygiene. In fact, special bacteria in human sweat are to blame for stinking. And these feel particularly comfortable in moist and warm environments – such as the interior of our shoes. If we take off the wet sweats, the bacteria react with the air. This creates the unpleasant smells. Unfortunately, these persistently stay in the shoes by wearing regularly, so that they have to be treated every now and then. In the following, we have summarized which (house) means to minimize the stench.
Quick help against smells: shoe sprays & powder
In numerous drugstores as well as online, you can buy special shoe sprays to remove poor smells. They are sprayed directly into the shoes and cover the stench with fragrant fragrances – however, they do not remove the cause. For this reason, it can make sense to have your shoes with one To treat regularly because they also combat bacteria (and mushrooms).
Alternatively, there are microbiological Against foot odor, which consists of 99 percent of natural ingredients and – according to the manufacturer – should last for up to six months. Or you can use special With natural activated carbon, which are put in the shoes and should absorb unpleasant smells and thus neutralize. According to the manufacturer, this lasts up to a year.
Incidentally, there are also special reduce bad smells. However, you should enjoy them with caution, as they can sometimes contain harmful and skin -irritating ingredients. Be sure to pay attention to the ingredients here and better choose a brand .
Stinking shoes: what to do? The best home remedies
In order to banish bad smells from worn shoes, you can use proven home remedies – such as:
Baking powder (or soda)
If your sneakers stink, you can have a package baking powder (alternatively a teaspoon ) sprinkle in the shoes. Let the home remedy work overnight to bind the moisture and remove the powder the next morning – preferably with a hand vacuum cleaner. Or you first put the baking powder into an old nylons sock and then tie it up. This saves you the tedious removal afterwards.
Citrus
The shells of citrus fruits should also help neutralize bad smells in shoes. The essential oils contained therein have an effect by laying the shells overnight on the stinking insoles. This trick should also work with all citrus fruits, so it does not matter whether you use a lemon or orange, lime or grapefruit.
Coffee
As is so often the case, coffee is a popular home remedy – so even when removing unpleasant smells. Due to its strong aroma, the stench in shoes is to be easily neutralized. To do this, only put some coffee powder (dried) on the inner soles and leave it on overnight. But be careful: coffee can discolour the soles, so it makes sense to first put the powder in a thin fabric bag or nylon stockings.
Extra tip: Place your muffling shoes in the freezer for 24 hours. The odor -forming bacteria do not tolerate such cold temperatures. Before that, however, it is advisable to put your shoes in a freezer bag.
Hygiene tips: How to avoid stinking shoes
So that there are no bad smells in the shoes, you can take a few preventive measures:
- Wear a fresh couple of socks every day.
- Leave the shoes worn in the fresh air.
- When buying a shoe, pay attention to breathable materials.
- Use that you exchange regularly.
- Change your shoes regularly so that you can ventilate long enough.
- Clean insensitive shoes (e.g. sneakers) in the washing machine.
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Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
