I wear my Brooks adrenaline running shoes a lot. Wearing them so much has led to an unfortunate problem. The shoes smell.
The Odor Problem of Smelly Shoes
I probably wear them more than I should. I don’t wear them to run anymore because I’m not running. But I used to. I wore them to run every week and I wore them during my triathlon. Now I wear them to walk, bike, elliptical, and lift weights at the gym. I basically wear them for anything active which means I wear them 4 to 5 times a week.
Yesterday I was showering at the gym after a workout and I noticed my shoes smelled. They didn’t just smell, they REALLY smelled. They did not smell pleasant.
I’ve never noticed this problem before despite how often I wear my shoes. I know they are way past needing to be replaced (both in age and wear) but up until this week I didn’t know they also smelled bad.
I don’t normally keep shoes forever like this but right now finances are super tight and tennis shoes feel like a luxury item. I can’t really replace them until I start working and get paid toward the end of May yet I don’t want to walk around with smelly feet.
So what did I do?
The Solution To Deodorize Smelly Shoes
Febreze. Yep.
I febreezed my shoes. It does say right on the bottle that picture of shoes? That means it’s a perfectly acceptable way to get rid of smells.
By the way, I had no idea how to spell Febreze at first. I had to google it because I couldn’t figure it out. If I was going to spell it the way I say it then I would have written Fabreeze, but I knew that wasn’t right. I suppose it’s just a brand I’m not that familiar with since I hardly ever use it.
Now that I know Febreze? I’ll never forget!
It worked well though because my shoes smell much better now.
It’s a happy, clean smell now instead of a more embarrassing odor. I know I’ll have to replace my shoes soon but until then Febreze will take care of everything and no one will know. No one at my gym reads my blog, right?
I’ve already ordered more Febreze Fabric Refresher with Gain Original Scent. I’ll have wonderful smelling shoes!
Other Ways To Fix Smelly Shoes
Febreeze isn’t the only way to take care of shoes with a smell. In fact, there are several different products out there designed to deodorize smelly shoes.
Now that I’ve had time to learn about the different methods to take care of running shoes and eliminate smells, I realize there are several options you can use.
Fix smelly shoes with: Foot Sprays
- Use Natural Foot Deodorant Spray for Athletes. It fights odor and stink on feet and in shoes caused by bacteries. You can use it on feet and shoes.
- Use 2 Toms Stink-Free Deodorizer Spray to kill bacteria and ordor in shoes.
- Use a sports specific spray like Febreze Sport Fabric Refresher or Vapor Fresh® Sports Equipment Odor Eliminator.
Fix smelly shoes with: Shoe Inserts
- Buy Dr. Scholl’s Odor-X Odor Fighting Insoles, 1-Pair Packages to use inside your shoes.
Fix smelly shoes with: Sneaker Balls
- Use sneaker balls like Sof Sole Matrix Sneaker Balls (Colors May Vary) or Happy Feet Sneaker Balls to leave in shoes and gym bags to freshen things up.
Fix smelly shoes with: Powders
- Try Dr. Scholl’s OdorX All Day Deod Powder to get the odor out.
- Try On Your Toes Foot Bactericide Powder to eliminate foot odor for six months.
Fix smelly shoes with: Odor Sprays
- Or just use Febreeze like I did! – Febreze Fabric Refresher with Gain Original Scent
Anyone else have this problem? Have advice on how you handle smelly shoes?
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
Love the stuff, even though I’m sure it’s some kind of freaky chemical concoction!
I’ve heard baking soda has all sorts of smell absorbing qualities.
Silly question but do you wear socks with your shoes?
I always wear socks. I hate wearing shoes without socks unless they are ballet flats or flip flops.
I love wen girls wear ballet flats without socks and actuallyA any shoes sockless cuz there feet sweat a lot more and create a great smell hehehe yummy
I’m really sensitive to perfumes, so even though they say Febreeze is odorless, the smell still bothers me. I sprinkle baking soda in my running shoes, it keeps them fresh without any perfumes.
Baking soda! I might try that next.
Nothing worse than smelly shoes! Glad you found something that works.
Sunlight exposure is great for killing the bacteria that lives in the shoes. You could try spraying some rubbing alcohol inside the shoes before exposing them to the sun.
Tea bags also seems to work great.
Some people suggest putting your shoes in the freezer overnight but I have no idea how that works out.
Ok, I wanted to let it go, but I can’t! Why on earth would you need to google how to spell febreeze when I see in your pictures it is on the bottle not once, but TWICE!! hahahahahaha. thanks for the laugh this morning!
Haha. I’ll explain. I tend to write blog posts before I add in pictures because sometimes pictures take a while to upload, edit, upload to flickr, etc. So I was writing the post without the bottle nearby or my camera. Googling is the lazy version of checking instead of getting up to get the bottle or camera. Might seem silly but at least I gave you a laugh! :)
Also, I might point out that even though you looked at both pictures with the bottle and the name you still misspelled it in your comment. That gave me a laugh. :)
Have you ever washed your shoes? I do it regularly, and it really helps. Remove laces, insole (that is generally the main source of smell. You could also substitute it with a new one, definitely cheaper than new shoes), put everything in a bucket of warm water and soap. Let soak for some hours (one night is ok), if necesary brush/scrub them, rinse and let dry. They’ll take a while, avoid letting them dry in direct sunlight! I generally do it once or twice per “season”, and my shoes never smell!
I’ve only washed them once when they were covered in mud. I just didn’t think to washing them regularly. The insole switch might be a good idea since I think that’s generally the problem… I didn’t want to sniff them too much to investigate though. ;)
I also wash my shoes (even in the washing machine!) & then just stuff them with newspaper to let them dry (it speeds up the process considerably).
Oh, yes, I forgot about that! Newspaper speeds up the process and helps keeping the shape of the shoe (good also for hiking boots if you get rained over…They take forever to dry!). Plus, apart baking soda, also thyme helps a lot against bacteria and bad smell.
Thanks for the newspaper tip! I’ve always hated washing shoes because they are wet for so long afterward so hopefully that will help.
I hate it when my shoes get smelly.
I alternate shoes every day so they can air out. I wear cotton socks and use some kind of insert [odor eaters or similar] which help a lot. They last a lot longer. :)
Over here you can get insoles which are called odour eaters. You put on top or replace the normal insole and it helps stops smells, has some anti bacterials and stuff.
My other option which I realize is not always possible is I have multiple runners /sport shoes and I swap between them, as well as a pair if VFF. I started that after figuring out alternating shoes also helps extend the life of shoe, so 1 pair might last 6 months, but two pars alternated lasted me 15 to 18 months.
I just discovered your blog and love it! I just started my blog recently. I have lost 70+ pounds with AT LEAST another 70-80 to go….but am struggling lately, so thought blogging and reading others’ blogs would be inspirational/motivational for me. I’ve just recently started exercising after a very sedentary life, so can’t help you with the smelly shoes, but I use Febreeze a lot!! I’m off to check out your other posts!
~Lolly
I don’t really have this problem. I only wear my running shoes for running or working out. And I replace them every 6 months or so. If they did smell I think I’d go the Febreze route!
I get some seriously funky foot smell, and I have passed that lovely gene on to my Kid, lucky little monkey! I found this solution online and it has worked for me: I put baking soda in my shoes (remove the sole if you can) then freeze them for a day. It kills the bacteria, the first time I did it my husband couldn’t believe I had bagged shoes I. The freezer, but it works! I do it every month or so depending on the season. Good luck!
I never would have thought of freezing my shoes. How clever!
HAHA! Loved your blog! Yeah–sometimes I wonder I smell like a homeless man when I’m at the gym. I wash my shoes often (yes, nice high end runnning shoes in the washer because I want to keep using them and I’m CHEAP!), but when you’re working out 6 x a week, they get stinkified!!
As a psychotherapist, and avid fitness/health enthusiast, I know firsthand the benefits of mind body connection to fat loss. We have to get our mind-set in the right place before we can ever hope to achieve that ultimate body and optimum fitness for the long term.
After working with many clients in my therapy office, and teaching yoga and fitness classes, my partner, Demi Langford and I have developed a system of tools and secrets to help our clients align their minds and bodies to optimal fat loss.
Your mind is more powerful than any muscle in your body. We’ve all heard about what and how to eat and how to exercise. That’s essential information, for sure, BUT none of it will work, especially in the long term, unless your mind is in the right place.
Many Thanks,
Sunny Strasburg, MA, LMFTI
I HATE smelly shoes! For me somtimes its actually the fibers the shoes are made of that make my feet sweat and stink like no tomorrow!
I hope you can afford to replace those shoes soon! I’d like to replace mine every 6 months but like you not financially able to. I have to settle for once a year but I make sure I go out and buy really good ones. I’ve messed up my feet once I’d like to avoid going throught torn ligaments ever again!
I was going to suggest the baking soda too but sure glad I picked up the newspaper tip! Cool!
I have this issues with my slippers (which I pretty much live in!)
Strange as it sounds, I’ve tried putting deodorant (anti-persperant) on my feet after I shower, which stops them sweating which stops the odor! You could try spraying some on your feet before the gym..?
I think I’ll skip this idea. LOL. I don’t do spray deodorant anyway.
My shoes look & smell like you know what just a couple weeks after I buy them! We have Febreze at home – might have to try that! I got nothing else! ;-)
It could be possible that you would benefit from taking zinc (about 35 mg chelated capsules) every day . . . maybe have a blood chem analysis to know if you have a deficiency. Since you work out regularly and have a lot of stress (not all bad) in your life right now, you may really need a supplement. Odor from body sweat is one indication. Just an idea.
Chemicals like Febreeze are so dangerous to your body … they don’t differentiate between healthy cells and “smelly cells and bacteria” they just kill everything … I would suggest one of the more natural methods mentioned above :)
Some people may gasp and tell me off for what Im about to say, but when my shoes start getting on the nose, I throw them in the washing machine and then dry out in the sun. It works and my shoes survive just fine :) and definitely no more nasty smells. Just a suggestion.
Having said that……. its not recommended for shoes like pumps and the like. Just plain old running shoes.
My shoes aren’t smelly, oddly enough. But my roommate, he has the SMELLIEST gym clothes and shoes and towels. Even after he washes them. He tried febreezing them but it doesn’t work. If anyone has any suggestions…because I can smell them even when they’re in his laundry sack or bag or even drawers!
All u woman should feel lucky to have smelly stinky shoes and feet cuz u can find lots of guys that will pay u good $ for your nasty shoes and even socks. I have 4 woman who wear socks for days without washing and have me lick there dirty stinky gym sneakers for them. No BS