Phew, my shoes stink! What can I do?

[Ika]

About two weeks ago I was walking back from a community service project in a park, and it was pouring madly. By the time we got back to the subway station, all of us were completely soaked through - jeans and shoes. I had no choice but to walk back home after the subway in my completely waterlogged shoes.

Fast forward to present day, I take my shoes off after a long day of classes and PHEW! My socks reek like nothing I've ever smelled before. I realize that the smell is coming from my shoes, because I'd never smelled this in my socks before. I tried putting my shoes through the wash in a pillowcase (per someone else's recommendations) but it didn't do anything but make my shoes soggy again, and still smelly.

Anyone have any tips for completely deodorizing a pair of shoes? Am I doing the laundry wrong?

 

[Ausm]

 

[coldmeat]

Stuff them with newspaper whenever you're not wearing them.

 

[Crono]

Baking soda.

 

[rudder]

Soak your feet in a 98% bleach solution for two hours.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Rinse the shoes out with rubbing alcohol or a bleach solution.

 

[eldorado99]

This happened to my shoes once. I just removed the in soles and sprayed the shit out of them with Lysol inside and out and let them dry really good for 2 days over a heat register, smell gone.

 

[PepePeru]

baking soda, gold bond powder, washing machine.

if there are insoles, take those out too.

 

[Platypus]

That lysol disinfectant spray works well.

You have to alternate your shoes too.. don't wear them for 3 days in a row, switch up.

 

[meltdown75]

cut yer fuckin toenails you filthy animal. probably a bunch of nasty ass toejam in there

 

[geno]

Soak your feet in a 98% bleach solution for two hours.

Just make sure it's not 100%, that would be dangerous.

 

[Locut0s]

Wash them again but use a generous amount of bleach.

 

[Nitemare]

amputate

 

[ivan2]

new shoes.

 

[I Saw OJ]

new feet.

fixed

 

[lokiju]

Just wash them in the washer machine, take the laces out, and put then at the base of the fridge in your kitchen over night.

The warm air that comes out of the bottom of the fridge will help slowly dry them out.

Just don't wear them before they're 100% dry.

Guaranteed to work or your money back.

 

[kalrith]

I used to spray mine with the odor eaters spray. It worked really well. For some reason I don't have this problem any more (I'm not complaining).

 

[JulesMaximus]

Burn them.

 

[Beev]

Isn't there some sort of technique like sticking your shoes in the freezer for 2 days then letting them thaw?

 

[Gothgar]

Gold Bond works good, Baking Soda too

 

[Nik]

Put your shoes in a washing machine? Do you really have to think about this?

Also, your feet/shoes need to breathe. Take your socks and shoes off when you're home.

 

[kalrith]

Isn't there some sort of technique like sticking your shoes in the freezer for 2 days then letting them thaw?

I think you're supposed to do that with your feet.

 

[Acanthus]

baking soda, gold bond powder, washing machine.

if there are insoles, take those out too.

This.

 

[lxskllr]

Baking soda always worked for me.

 

[moshquerade]

Put your shoes in a washing machine? Do you really have to think about this?

Also, your feet/shoes need to breathe. Take your socks and shoes off when you're home.

I was going to say wash them in the washing machine and let dry in the sun if possible.

More or less the shoes are toast. It's hard to get the smell out. Even Stink would say that stinks!