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5 steps for getting rid of shoe odor, from a cleaning consultant Credits: Social Media
By Bruno Cooke

5 steps for getting rid of shoe odor, from a cleaning consultant

By Bruno Cooke

Fall has arrived, and with it smelly shoes. I know mine are. Tips for eliminating shoe odor are a dime a dozen on the Internet, but none of them quite worked for me.

Fortunately, Taylor Riley is here. We already know certain foods make us smell. We already know why people over the age of 40 start to smell greasy. Wait, what? Well, now we know how to get rid of any lingering odors in our shoes, as well as our bodies. And you can do it yourself from the comfort of your home. Just like kitty here.

funny cat playing with a blue canvas shoe
Credit: Kilito Chan

To manage smelly shoes, you must first know them

Shoes get smelly because of bacteria and fungi, especially during fall and winter, when it’s generally wetter and colder. These microorganisms, Taylor says, love moist, warm environments.

Your shoes after a rainy day offer a perfect environment for bacteria and fungi to grow and multiply. Lovely. 

When your feet sweat or get wet, the moisture gets trapped in your shoes. That, combined with the natural warmth from your feet, creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi to thrive, Taylor says.

As they break down the sweat and other organic matter in your shoes, they release that familiar funky odor.

Yes, and its that funky odor that were trying to get to the bottom of, or get rid of, so, without further ado&

Cleaning consultants 5-step procedure for eliminating shoe odor

In order, Taylor recommends the following steps.

  1. Remove the insoles and wash them separately. Depending on the material, they can soak up a lot of water and harbor bacteria.
  2. Stuff your shoes with newspaper or cedar chips. Newspaper is easily available and pulls out dampness. Cedar chips do the same but also leave a fresh scent behind.
  3. Apply an antimicrobial cleaning spray like Microban. This will disinfect and kill off any lingering bacteria or fungi.
  4. Allow everything to dry. Take your shoes for a spin!
  5. If this fails to eliminate the odor in your shoes, place them in a large ziplock bag and leave them in the freezer overnight. The cold will kill most of the odor-causing microorganisms, Taylor says. Who knew!? Then, repeat steps 3 and 4. Ta-dah.

Personally, I would never have thought to put my shoes in a bag in the freezer. So please excuse me while I search the cupboard for a ziplock bag. Thank you, Taylor.

Taylor Riley founded Boom Facility Service Advisors, where he provides consultation and training for cleaning business owners looking to start or grow their businesses.