My wife has a pair of sneakers (I won't say running shoes because she uses them for work) that just smell. She has tried washing them, washing just the insoles and using baby powder. She wears socks with them, She showers regularly and this is the only pair of shoes she has this problem with.
Does anyone use or know of a solution to the problem of stinky shoes that might help?
I told her I would turn to the wacky and wild LR message board for help!
1.) Buy new shoes.
2.) Continue washing shoes in the washing machine, use baking soda, and or the original Pine-Sol (yes, it's safe for clothing). The Pine-Sol will almost definitely do the job. Downy is worth a try, too. Vinegar may work, also.
3.) You can put dryer sheets in the shoes when not worn. And the baking soda idea can be used dry as you had tried with the baby powder.
4.) Leave them in the hot sun all day, which may be difficult depending on where you live. Don't try to dry them out this way, however. Only dry wet shoes in the shade.
First of all, gross.
Second of all, try the dishwasher. That is the best place to wash shoes b/c it does not ruin them as quickly and the water temp will kill any bacteria.
Shoes in the clothes washer will likely just make them smell worse.
Dry them by leaning them up against against the wall with shoe trees and blowing air on them with a desk fan. Works in hours and keeps the correct shape.
Other poster was correct about drying in hot sun.
That said, in the summers down in SC, after runs my shoes will literally look like I jumped into a swimming pool. If I let them dry indoors they will smell like an old jock after a couple days.
If I leave them in the sun, they are dry in an hour and smell good. It is amazing what the sun can do.
My sweat shoes go straight to the washing machine. After the spin cycle they are dried in my room with newspaper like material stuffed in them and, if I need them dried fairly quickly, a fan.
I think the dishwasher is a great idea, but I'd almost be willing to bet that OP's wife will not try that . . . at least not with their own dishwasher ;)
Brent. wrote:
I think the dishwasher is a great idea, but I'd almost be willing to bet that OP's wife will not try that . . . at least not with their own dishwasher ;)
Not with the dishes, mind you.
Put them in a plastic bag, seal them up well and put them in the freezer overnight. That should kill the bacteria that is causing the stink. If that doesn't work, burn them.
All so far, thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it. I hadn't really thought of the dishwasher, so that is a good one.
The only problem with drying them outside is, well, its been about 35 degrees here all week, so a "hot sun" is not an option until about May! Would leaving them outside in this weather still work well? I figured it would just take a longer amount of time?
MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:
All so far, thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it. I hadn't really thought of the dishwasher, so that is a good one.
The only problem with drying them outside is, well, its been about 35 degrees here all week, so a "hot sun" is not an option until about May! Would leaving them outside in this weather still work well? I figured it would just take a longer amount of time?
No, don't leave then outside right now. Do the fan thing with newspaper of shoetrees when drying. We were just discussing the sun for future reference.
If I were you, here is what i would do:
Dishwasher full cycle, add shoetrees and dry in front of fan overnight. In the morning put dry shoes (with shoetrees still in shoes) into the freezer for 24 hours.
If that does not fix them, get some new shoes. If it happens again, send your wife to the doctor.