Fighting foot odor with athletic shoes

After sweating from a brisk walk or intense workout, your clothes may develop a bit of an odor, and your athletic shoes are especially prone to this stinky problem. If you often find you’re too embarrassed to take off them off in the locker room or you can’t even bear the smell yourself, you may need to take better care of your shoes. Here are some tips to keep your shoes smelling fresh:

Air out your shoes

It’s no secret that cramming damp items together may cause them to get smelly. Just like your laundry basket can develop an odor when dirty clothes are left piled too long, your shoes can, too. Instead of stuffing athletic shoes in your closet after your morning gym routine, let them air out. Loosen the laces and keep them in your garage or outside for a few hours.

Put newspaper in athletic shoes

On rainy days or times you don’t feel like sticking your shoes outside, opt for newspaper to soak up the smell. Simply crumple up a page from the paper, and stick it inside the shoe. You can do this right when you finish your workout or even overnight. It will help absorb some of the odor and moisture, keeping your athletic shoes smelling fresh.

Sprinkle baking soda in your athletic shoes

To get rid of odors overnight, sprinkle a bit of baking soda in your shoes. The baking soda will help absorb the odor and moisture while you sleep. In the morning, simply tap the shoes over a waste basket to remove the powder.

Wash your shoes

As with all of your clothes, you can simply throw your shoes in the washing machine to clean them. While it’s safe to put them in the dryer after, you may not be able to stand that loud banging it causes as they get tossed around. Instead, let them dry out in the sun.

Wear shoes the right way

With all of these techniques, don’t slip on your sneakers until they have thoroughly dried. Additionally, avoid wearing them without socks. It may make the odor worse, and it can leave you more susceptible to fungal infections like athlete’s foot. It’s important to take proper care of your footwear.

Athletic shoes provide comfort while you workout, so having a cute pair in your wardrobe can be a great motivator to stay active. Don’t let the inevitable odor stop you from enjoying this great footwear.