How to get rid of odor in sneakers?

Tags: #Linen

Over time, almost every pair of sneakers begins to emit an unpleasant odor. This applies primarily to shoes made from synthetic materials.

In order not to end up in an awkward situation because of this over time, you need to know how you can rid sports shoes of an unpleasant odor.

Causes of odor in sneakers

Initially, you need to determine the cause of the unpleasant odor.

The main factors provoking its occurrence include the following:

continuous wearing of sneakers for a long period of time;
using such shoes in hot weather or staying in them for a long time in a warm room;
excessive sweating, caused by a pathological condition of the body called hyperhidrosis (in this condition, the secretory fluid is produced too intensively by the sweat glands);
using socks made from synthetic materials;
frequent consumption of spicy foods with a high content of spices (this contributes to increased sweating);
increased physical activity, which provokes more active sweating;
heart and kidney diseases;
fungal disease.

Reference! The cause of the unpleasant odor is not the process of sweating itself, but the development of various bacteria in a humid environment. It is the results of their vital activity that emit this characteristic odor.

Let's figure out how to get rid of unpleasant odor in shoes.

Proper disinfection to remove odor from sneakers

New shoes do not need disinfection. But in some cases (for example, with a fungal disease of the feet), disinfection must be carried out.

There are a lot of different means for this. TO the most common are:

Miramistin (can be used every day).
Mycostop (shoes are sprayed at night, the course is from 3 to 5 days).
Bitsin (must be used once every 40 days during treatment).
Neodez (one-time processing is sufficient).
Chlorhexidine (applies once).

In addition to such products, you can also use special antiseptic wipes that are used to treat shoes issued in public areas. If you wipe your feet with such wipes, this will provide an effect similar to that observed when using other antifungal agents.

Advice! For preventive purposes, it is advisable to repeat the disinfection procedure 2 times a season.

Washing sneakers

To remove odors, it is recommended to wash sports shoes periodically. This will give it a presentable appearance again, provide a fresh, pleasant smell and prevent the growth of bacteria.But not all models can be washed in a washing machine without damage, so you need to carefully study the label before washing.

First, you will have to pull out the laces and remove the instep supports from the sneakers. Then they should be soaped and thoroughly rubbed with a brush. Before placing items in the washing machine, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the soleplate, because sand and small stones can seriously damage the drum.

Advice! It is not recommended to wash more than two pairs of shoes at the same time. In this case, the quality of washing will be several times lower and there will be a high probability of device failure.

Sneakers must be washed in a special bag. Insoles and laces should also be placed there. When such a bag is not available, you can put 2-3 tennis balls and a couple of small terry towels in the washing machine along with your shoes. This will help balance the drum and improve the quality of the wash.

It is recommended to wash shoes of this type at a temperature of 30-40 °C in the “Wash shoes” mode (if available), this will prevent the sneakers from coming apart. It is advisable to wash leather products by hand, since such products can noticeably lose their shape in a machine.

Which models of sports shoes should not be washed in a washing machine:

with rhinestones and decorative stones — they can clog the drain if they come off during the process;
with reflectors and foam stickers - may come off during washing and get stuck in the filter;
with backlight.

In this case, it is better not to use the spin function.. It still won’t be possible to do this completely, but the washing machine can be seriously damaged.

Professional odor removal products

Aerosols such as Scholl Fresh Step, Salamander Shoe Deo, Kiwi Extra Freshness and Dividic perfectly neutralize unwanted odors in sports shoes. These aerosols contain antifungal and antibacterial components that prevent the further growth of bacteria that cause the appearance of a characteristic odor.

To remove the odor, in addition to these products, you can also use special deodorants with spray, such as Cliven, Tamaris, Ever Shoes, Shoes Deo and Odor Gone Shoes. Such products hide unwanted odor well and eliminate its immediate source. Due to the absence of gas, they are absolutely safe for sneakers and feet.

Folk remedies

Those who have already succeeded will also be useful in the fight against this phenomenon. folk remedies prove themselves well:

Tea bag (black and green work equally well). The used tea bag must be squeezed out and wiped over all the internal parts of the sneakers.

Freezing. In winter, sneakers should be placed on the balcony or hung outside the window. In the summer, shoes can be placed in the freezer, after placing them in a plastic bag.

Oak bark, lemon balm, mint or eucalyptus leaves. Dry raw materials must be placed in sneakers and left overnight (or better for a longer period, if circumstances permit).

Blend of green tea, salicylic acid and hydrogen peroxide. All components must be taken in identical parts. They must be mixed well, placed in a container with a spray bottle and sprayed on the inside of the shoes. After this, the sneakers should be left overnight in the fresh air so that they can be fully ventilated.

Soda. Best suited for white shoes. Soda should be poured into the sneakers in a dense layer and left for at least 12 hours, then shaken out. The effect of such a product will increase if soda is used together with corn starch (taken in equal proportions).

Old newspapers. You need to crumple them up, put them in your sneakers and leave them overnight. The next morning, the lumps from the newspapers should be pulled out and thrown away. The unwanted odor will disappear along with them.

Preventative agents to eliminate odor

To avoid such problems, it is recommended to purchase shoes made from natural, “breathable” materials. In addition, sneakers need to be selected so that subsequently your feet will not be cramped in them, but comfortable.

This method of combating the appearance of unpleasant odors in shoes should not be discounted. like washing your feet regularly with soap. This must be done every time after training, and the shoes must be sent to fresh air, having removed the insoles from them before doing so.

You shouldn't wear the insoles to holes so that your sneakers don't stink.. If they are already quite worn out, it is better to throw them away and replace them with new ones. If the insoles are still suitable for use, they should be cleaned from time to time with a toothbrush and dry washing powder. You can also use deodorizing insoles.

If the characteristic odor is caused by a fungus, you need to start treating it as soon as possible. This disease is accompanied by brown nails, spots, itching and flaky skin. If the fungus is not treated, a chronic stage may begin and then the treatment process will last for several years.

To prevent your sneakers from becoming unpleasantly smelly over time, you should also wash your socks daily. In some cases, it is better to change them not even once a day, but several times.