Tennis shoes are very comfortable and fashionable footwear. There are so many models on the market with different technical and aesthetic characteristics to satisfy every type of foot, even the most demanding. Unfortunately, compared to other types of footwear, they are subject to the formation of bad odors.
In this article we will explain how to deodorize your sneakers to always have them perfect and ready for use.
Contents hide
1 Why Bad Odors Form in Sneakers
2 Risk Factors for Bacteria Overgrowth on the Feet
3 Tips to Deodorize Your Sneakers
4 How to Prevent Foot Odor
Why Bad Odors Form in Sneakers
Bad odors in sneakers are due to the formation of bacteria.
Even if you take care of your feet and have impeccable hygiene, it will surely have happened to you, at least once in your life, to take them off and notice an unpleasant odor.
The classic “odorous feet” is defined by the medical term plantar bromhidrosis and indicates excessive sweating which favors the growth of bacteria.
The soles of the feet are rich in sweat glands and the skin is home to microorganisms such as Brevibacterium , which proliferates thanks to the warm, humid environment and feeds on sweat and dead cells, producing organic acids (methanethiol, isovaleric acid and propanoic acid) as waste.
While these bacteria are not harmful, they can leave a very lingering bad odor.
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Risk factors for bacterial growth on the feet
Even if you wash your feet thoroughly every day, there are predisposing factors that can promote the formation of unpleasant odors in shoes. Among the most common we can mention:
- A high ambient temperature ;
- Stressful situations that favor increased sweat production, even under the armpits and on the palms of the hands;
- The presence of fungal infections or infections including, but not limited to, athlete’s foot;
Among the factors that determine the onset of bad foot odor, we can also include the common practice of wearing shoes that are too tight and not breathable. In women and adolescents, hormonal changes also increase the production of sweat.
Tips for deodorizing sneakers
There are some really effective remedies to eliminate bad odor from sneakers.
Although there are many products available on the market suitable for this purpose, we suggest below some natural and fast methods that will help you solve the problem:
- Baking soda.This white crystalline powder is really effective for removing bad odors. Just pour a few teaspoons into each shoe, over the entire surface of the upper and also under the insoles, leaving it to act for at least one night. After just 12 – 24 hours, the bad odor disappears and you can brush off the excess baking soda.
- White vinegar.In addition to removing bad odors, this natural product has a strong cleaning and disinfecting power. To get the most out of its action, we suggest you prepare a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle, spray the solution inside the shoes and let them dry. Alternatively, you can also rub the inside of the shoes with a soaked cloth and then let them dry before using them again.
- Talcum Powder.This is a white powder made from talcum powder and boric acid that has the same properties as baking soda. To use it to eliminate odors from shoes, you can pour a few teaspoons into both, then leave them to act overnight.
- Marseille soap.Sneakers should never be washed in the washing machine because the temperature of the water, combined with the action of the spin cycle, could damage them, deteriorating the glues that hold them together, loosening the seams and ruining the rubber, especially those of the sole. To remove bad odors, we suggest you simply wash them by hand with warm water and Marseille soap. After thorough cleaning, you can proceed with a generous rinse with cold water. As a final step, let them dry completely in a well-ventilated place, keeping them away from direct heat sources.
- If you don’t want to wash your shoes with soap because you don’t have much time, you can put a bar of soap in each shoe and let it sit overnight. Since soap is porous, it absorbs bad odors and releases a pleasant clean scent.
We recommend one last tip: if after using your sneakers, you find them damp, you can expose them to sunlight to dry them, thus avoiding the proliferation of bacteria responsible for the bad smell. Alternatively, you can put a crumpled sheet of newspaper in each shoe that will absorb the humidity.
How to prevent foot odor
In addition to taking care of your sneakers, it is very important to pay special attention to cleaning your feet every day. We therefore suggest that you wash them every day with soap and water or with a disinfectant detergent, taking care to soap the skin area between the toes and also the nails, which should be kept short. After being washed, your feet should be dried completely.
We also recommend that you take a foot bath with essential oils or bath salts. Alternatively, you can use a few drops of Tea Tree Oil, known for its antiseptic properties.
We also point out these little tips for you:
- Change your socks every day, especially after physical activity, avoiding wearing synthetic fabrics that hinder perspiration;
- When you are at home, wear open shoesto let your feet breathe, or don’t wear them for a few hours;
- Do not use the same footwear for severalconsecutive days, especially if they are wet or damp.
- Wear breathable sneakersthat are at least a half size larger to allow air to circulate inside them;
- Replace insolesif they are old and worn.
