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5 Ways to Treat Smelly Shoes

5 Ways to Treat Smelly Shoes

Remove smelly shoe odours naturally. The below methods will naturally absorb the bad odours from your shoes.


  1. Place scrunched newspaper in your shoes
  2. Place tea leaves in a light cotton bag and place in your shoes
  3. Place 1 tablespoon of baking soda into a light cotton bag and place in your shoes.
  4. Place 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds or beans into a light cotton bag and place in your shoes
  5. Place your shoes inside a clip seal bag and freeze your shoes overnight. The cold should kill any bacteria causing the odours.
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Science Notes

Why do shoes get smelly? The soles of shoes are perfect conditions for bacteria. 

Bacteria thrive in warm moist areas and your feet naturally sweat (although it has no odour in itself) creating moisture in your shoes. The bad odour comes from the waste products of these bacteria.

Related Tip

Prevent smelly shoes by dusting your feet with baby or talcum powder in the morning to prevent your feet from sweating.

When possible, wear socks with your shoes as they will absorb the odours.