How to Get the Smell Out of Shoes

Smelly shoes aren't a hygiene failure — they're a bacteria problem, and understanding that makes them much easier to fix. Here's how to get the smell out, and how to stop it coming back.

What actually causes the smell

Sweat itself is nearly odourless. The smell comes from bacteria feeding on it in the warm, dark, damp environment inside a shoe. So every effective remedy does one of two things: remove the moisture, or remove the bacteria. Masking sprays do neither, which is why they stop working by lunchtime.

The fixes that work

• Dry them properly between wears. The single most effective step. A shoe worn daily never fully dries. Rotating two pairs solves most odour problems on its own.
• Bicarbonate of soda. Sprinkle inside, leave overnight, shake out. Absorbs moisture and neutralises odour, and it's nearly free.
• Remove and wash the insoles separately — they hold most of the sweat. Replace them if they're old; see our insole guide, as leather and cork resist odour better than foam.
• Freeze them? A popular tip, but it doesn't reliably kill odour bacteria — and it risks the leather. Skip it.
• Wash what's washable. Fabric shoes can often be machine-washed cool; leather cannot.

Prevention, which is easier

Wear wool socks. Wool moves moisture away from skin and resists odour naturally — the same reason wool slippers suit sweaty feet. Cotton does the opposite. Our guide to choosing walking socks covers this.

Choose breathable materials. Leather and wool breathe; synthetic linings trap moisture and are far more prone to smell.

Air shoes properly. Loosen the laces, pull the tongue open and leave them somewhere ventilated — not sealed in a cupboard or a plastic box, which is also bad for the leather. See our storage guide.

For wool slippers specifically

Wool rarely needs washing — airing plus bicarbonate of soda usually suffices. When a wash is genuinely needed, do it gently: our guide to washing wool felt slippers explains how to avoid shrinking them.

When it's not the shoes

Persistent strong foot odour despite good shoe hygiene, especially with itching, peeling or discoloured nails, can indicate a fungal infection — worth a pharmacist or doctor rather than more sprays.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get the smell out of shoes? Dry them fully between wears, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda inside overnight and shake it out, and remove and wash or replace the insoles.

Does freezing shoes kill odour? Not reliably — odour-causing bacteria largely survive freezing, and it can damage leather. Drying and bicarbonate of soda work better.

Why do my shoes smell even though I wash my feet? Because the bacteria live in the damp shoe, not on you. Rotating pairs so each dries fully is usually the fix.

Breathable by design

Browse our handmade leather shoes and wool slippers, made in Estonia from breathable natural materials.