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How to Get Rid of Shoe Odor

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  1. Absorb moisture and odor with baking soda or newspaper

    Leaving a small pouch of baking soda or balled-up newspaper inside a shoe overnight effectively absorbs both the moisture and the odor particles that cause the smell in the first place.

  2. Rotate between pairs to give each one time to dry

    Wearing the same pair every day does not give sweat-related moisture enough time to fully dry out, which makes odor worse over time. Rotating between two or three pairs gives each one a full day or more to dry completely between wears.

  3. Take out the insoles and wash them separately

    Removable insoles should come out and get washed on their own with a mild detergent, then dry completely before going back in. If an insole is old or has an odor that will not go away, replacing it outright is usually the more effective fix.

  4. Use a UV shoe sterilizer or shoe dryer as backup tools

    A UV shoe sterilizer or a dedicated shoe dryer speeds up drying and reduces the bacteria and mold that cause odor, on top of the basics above.

  5. Air out the shoe cabinet itself, not just the shoes

    Leaving the shoe cabinet door open occasionally and placing a moisture absorber inside keeps odor and humidity from building up across the whole cabinet, not just inside individual pairs.

  6. Keep feet clean and dry before putting shoes on

    Since sweat and bacteria on the feet are the root cause of most shoe odor, washing feet thoroughly and letting them dry completely before putting shoes back on is a habit worth building alongside the shoe-care steps above.

Most shoe odor traces back to trapped moisture

Odor gets noticeably worse once sweat-related moisture sits inside a shoe long enough for bacteria to multiply in it. Odor sprays mask the smell temporarily, but drying the shoe out thoroughly is the fix that actually addresses the cause.

A machine wash alone often is not enough

Washing the outer fabric of a sneaker in a washing machine cleans the visible surface, but if the insole stays inside during the wash, the main source of the smell often survives untouched. Pulling the insole out and washing it separately is usually the step that makes the real difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pour baking soda directly into a shoe?

Yes, though loose powder can leave residue inside the shoe. Putting it in a thin cloth or non-woven pouch first makes cleanup afterward much easier.

My sneakers still smell after a machine wash, why?

If the insole was not removed and washed separately, the main source of the odor is often still there. Take the insole out, wash it on its own, and let it dry fully before odor noticeably improves.