Hi. I have a big problem with the smell of my shoes. I'll start from the beginning. 3 years ago I suddenly felt the stench of shoes. I thought it was athlete's foot, so I used clotrimazolum and terbinafine. It helped for a while. Later I had recurrences of this smell, but my new shoes lasted for several months. In the meantime, I used a lot of foot preparations such as powders, chlorhexidine, antibacterial soaps, deodorants and antiperspirants, and formalin. After all these treatments, my shoes inside have a nice smell, my feet do not smell either. Only when I put my shoes on it starts to emit a strange smell. Reminiscent of neglected, musty socks. This is very strange because after taking off the shoes the smell disappears. I emphasize that the stench spreads throughout the room. It disturbs my life a lot, office associates also complain about this smell. New shoes start to smell 3 hours after putting them on. I know it's very strange. I have seen many doctors but they don't know the cause of my problem. Of course, I regularly change and disinfect my shoes, but it helps for a maximum of an hour. It is very strange that the smell is emitted from the shoes to the outside. The inside of the shoes smells better than the room in which I am sitting. The smell appears regardless of the type of footwear, I usually wear good leather shoes. I think I caught some fungus or bacteria that is resistant to everything. Only I don't have any marks on my feet or boots. My feet are sweating on average. I have no hyperhidrosis. Of course, all blood and hormone tests are ok. Please help me because I don't know how to live with it.
Do you find anwser for this problem?
Regards
Hyperhidrosis - Why I have terrible shoes odor?
Question posted by Ernestoo on 6 Oct 2022
Last updated on 7 October 2022
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Answers
I found some tips, some you already know, perhaps there are some you have not tried:
"Step 1—Prevent, if Possible
First, address the root of the problem by following best shoe hygiene practices. Some tips to remember include:
Washing your feet thoroughly, especially on sweatier days. Foot bacteria are always multiplying, so you need to give your feet a solid scrub to eliminate odor. Soap up your soles and between the toes. Make sure your feet are completely dry before putting your shoes on.
If you have trouble with moisture buildup in your shoes, consider storing them outside in the sunlight so they can dry faster and deter bacterial growth.
If your shoes are washable, you should clean them routinely, but especially after intense training.
Keep your shoes in rotation and avoid wearing the same pair two days in a row.
Step 2—Blast the Bacteria
Step two to banishing the stench is all about shoe sanitation. There are a few different ways you can do this:
Since bacteria thrive in warm and humid conditions, sliding your smelly shoes into the freezer overnight will help kill bacteria. So slip your shoes into a plastic bag or pillowcase, freeze them overnight, then allow them to defrost before their next wear.
You can also use a spray mixture to kill bacteria and remove odor from shoes. Rubbing alcohol is a great option here because it evaporates quickly. Its drying effect will force moisture to evaporate along with it.
White vinegar is another great disinfectant for tackling bacteria. Spray a 50/50 mixture of distilled white vinegar and water into your shoe lining and sole. Allow at least 30 minutes to air dry before the next wear.
Step 3—De-stink the Stench
Now that you’ve killed the bacteria, you can work on removing the leftover stench.
Baking soda is the hailed hero of smelly shoes. In fact, studies show that just one gram of baking soda neutralizes 12 milli-equivalents of stinky-smelling acid. One great method to remove stinky odors from shoes is to wrap a coffee filter, dryer sheet, or piece of cloth around a ball of baking soda and leave the ball in your offending shoe overnight.
Wear clean socks. This should be a no brainer, but you might need to swap out a fresh pair mid-day if you suffer from excessive perspiration. Moisture-wicking socks are your best bet. They help move moisture away from the feet and into the fabric, reducing your chances of blisters and athlete’s foot.
Step 4—Keep Them Fresh and Dry
The funk is gone, but if you want your shoes to smell fresh, you can take it one step further.
If you have a few spare bars of soap, take one and place it in your shoe overnight. The soap is porous, so it’ll absorb any remaining odors while leaving behind a nice, clean scent.
Essential oils are another way you can make your shoes smell pleasant again. Place a few drops onto a cotton ball and leave them inside your shoe. Don’t have any clean, citrusy scents on hand? Lemon and orange peels will work just fine.
Remember, it’s important to keep your shoes dry if you don’t want that rancid smell to return. One of the best methods to eliminate moisture is to stuff your shoes once they’re off your feet. Keep some old newspapers on hand in your closet and stuff them into your shoes in order to soak up any residual sweat.
Another at-home remedy for smelly shoes? Kitty litter. Cat litter absorbs odors and moisture to protect your home from stinking up; the same can be applied to your stinky kicks. Just fill a mismatched sock or worn-out pantyhose with litter, secure it with a rubber band, and let it soak up offensive smells and remaining moisture.
Step 5—Time to Toss Them
If you’ve tried steps 1-4 and nothing seems to take care of the stench, it might be one of the signs you need new running shoes.
Some shoes are just beyond recovery. They’re probably infested with bacteria, which have completely taken over the inner and outer linings, the fabric, and the deepest pores in the soles. The microbes thriving in here will be exceptionally hard, if not impossible, to drive out. Do yourself a favor, toss them and don’t let your next pair get to that level."
Hope I have contribute to helping you out.
I have already used the above-mentioned ways to get rid of the smell, but unfortunately nothing helped. I have over 30 pairs of shoes so the rotation is good and the shoes are drying up.
Here is the similar problem.
https://www.drugs.com/answers/opinion-feet-stink-shoes-545833.html
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hyperhidrosis, tinea pedis, odor, athlete
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