3 Quick Tips To Keep Your Sneakers Smelling Fresh

As athletes, we have to deal with stinky clothes all the time. We’re forced to get pretty good at dealing with it eventually, or else our $200 bib shorts are too nasty to wear after three weeks!
The problem is, we can’t throw our stinky shoes in the washing machine with everything else. And that sucks because our shoes are probably the stinkiest piece of gear we use!
So, here are a few things you can try to keep your sneakers smelling fresh:
1. Foot Spray
The easiest, most conventional way to keep your sneakers smelling fresh is to use some sort of spray. The two main options are Odor Eaters Foot & Sneaker Spray and Dr. Scholl’s Odor Destroyers. Both come in an aerosol can and can be sprayed on feet, socks, or in your shoes.
Spray it on your feet before a run to increase comfort, and spray it in your shoes after a run to prevent them from getting too stinky.
2. Activated Charcoal (or Kitty Litter or Baking Soda)
Activated charcoal has some cool uses. Some people put bags of it in their basement to absorb excess moisture and foul odors, and it’s also used to create scent-proof hunting outfits (used to prevent animals from smelling hunters as they approach.)
Therefore, it makes sense that it could also work to absorb odors from stinky sneakers. What I suggest is getting some activated charcoal (like this), put it in some pantyhose or an old thin sock, and tie off the ends. Then just keep that in your shoes when you’re not wearing them.
(I’d hesitate to use charcoal from your grill, unless you want the black dust coating everything!)
You could also try kitty litter, which is probably cheaper and easier to find.
The other option is baking soda. An open box of baking soda is commonly used to keep your fridge smelling fresh, so why not try it in your shoes? Just sprinkle some baking soda in (or on) your shoes every so often and see if it helps.
At the very least, it’s a good substitute for the specialty products, since you most likely have some at home already.
3. Alternate Shoes Each Day
I picked up this tip from businessmen who wear expensive leather shoes to work each day, but I figure it could apply to running shoes as well.
The idea to is never wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. This gives each pair time to dry out between uses, rather than be constantly damp with sweat.
You would have to buy two pairs of sneakers to pull this off, but it’s not a bad idea, since you’ll probably more than double the life of each pair.
*Bonus tip*
4. Get Brand New Shoes
It’s not cheap, but new shoes should smell nice!
Honestly, if your shoes are so stinky right now, it’s unlikely that a little spray or powder will completely change things around. So you might need to start fresh!
Photo credit: poolie
Posted April 27, 2010
Comments(0)


