Running shoes - a little stinky...

hellou76
hellou76 Posts: 33 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Due to my sweaty feet when running (very glamorous) and getting wet my running shoes are a little wiffy.

Does anyone have any idea of how to make my running shoes smell any better... I don't want to wash them really because I am worried that it will ruin them, has anyone out there got the same or similar pair that they have put in the washing machine? (Nike+ lunarglide 3) what was your result?

I have only had the a short while (3 months) and they were quite expensive.

Any better idea to freshen them up? I have seen those little balls you can get to put in them, Any good?

Replies

  • YUMMY45
    YUMMY45 Posts: 21
    Try washing them in a pillow case, then using baking soda inside. A .50 cent solution! I hope it helps. I love my new balance and this is what I do...
  • PJ_73
    PJ_73 Posts: 331 Member
    Phew! I am glad I'm not the only one!

    I've been sitting at my desk this morning at work wondering what the smell was......the office carpet, the bins? Finally tracked it down to my gym bag and the smell hit me.....my training shoes!!

    Any advice here too, would be great!
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    I dunked my DC skate shoes in a bucket of weak bleach/water mixture and it worked. Have to let it dry for a few days, of course. Those special insoles also do the trick but will make the sole feel thicker which may affect your running. Powder doesn't work that well - it might remove the smell overnight but it's temporary and not really much better than just leaving them off overnight!
  • HappyStack
    HappyStack Posts: 802 Member
    Mine get disgustingly smelly because I'm not only sweating, but I run on grass at around 6:30am, meaning it's always wet or dewy. I throw them in the washing machine every couple of weeks on a quick wash in a pillow case (I take out the laces and wash those by hand), which takes around 30 minutes. I then rinse them to make sure they're completely free of detergent (much better than getting itchy, irritated feet, just in case) and either hang them on my window handles, so they catch the cool air & dry naturally without being in direct heat or sun, or use my hairdryer on the coolest setting.

    They smell pretty good by then.
  • Ke22yB
    Ke22yB Posts: 969 Member
    I know there are products out there but I just use a little powder in the shoes after they dry and air. I walk or run almost every day so I have 3 pair that I rotate I know its a litlle more in the beginning but after 2 months when I started I bought the second pair then 2 months later the third now since they wear slower since its every third time I only need to replace a pair about 500 miles which is 9 months or more after I bought them.
    With the powder they are dry aired out and fairly fresh
  • AmandaJade9
    AmandaJade9 Posts: 118 Member
    Just add a few drops of vinegar it will do the trick :-)
  • catewest
    catewest Posts: 5 Member
    We have something called "Grans remedy" over here in New Zealand which is amazing for getting rid of smells in shoes! I'm not sure where you are??
  • chelovik
    chelovik Posts: 200 Member
    Gold bond powder to the feet and the shoes after the run
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Don't wash you runners, you'll wreck them.

    When you get them wet stuff them full of balled up newspaper to get them dry as quickly as possible and let them air out thoroughly. The stench is caused by bacteria (I have 2 soccer playing kids.....2 pairs of reeking cleats can be overpowering at times).

    There are commercially available sprays that help quite a bit (akin to the stuff they use at bowling alleys). You can also sprinkle either foot powder or baking soda in your shoes to alleviate some of the pong. My favourite treatment, however, is a UVC light - you can pick up a "sanitizing" wand and give the shoes a good dose of UV light (don't look directly at the light source) - it kills the bacteria and is very effective in making shoes less hurl worthy.
  • stefjc
    stefjc Posts: 484 Member
    If your feet smell all the time you may be low on zinc. A few weeks on a cheap supplement might help. Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar will also help - with warm water on a flannel or as a soak.

    As for the trainers bicarbonate of soda works wonders. Sprinkle some in overnight. It will dry them out and deodorise them, Just remember to shake it out before putting them back on again - it is gritty and if you have any wet vinegar left on your feet it will fizz quite alarmingly!

    My husband has no end of smelly foot trouble and bicarb works wonders on his workboots every time.

    When he works away he saves a couple of teabags from breakfast and wipes his feet with them before putting his workboots back on. The tannin deodorises really well and helps reduce sweating.

    Can you tell this has been a problem for us? :)
  • grimsin
    grimsin Posts: 78 Member
    best way to prevent foot odor is to rotate your shoes daily :) this allows them to fully dry and air out
  • BSchoberg
    BSchoberg Posts: 712 Member
    Mine get a good blast of Odor Eaters Spray every time I wear them - as soon as I get home! I also have multiple pairs, so I rotate and try to let them fully dry out.

    Even my backpack gets a spray down once every week or so (my shoes often have to sit in there all day at work... blech).
  • cookn_mama
    cookn_mama Posts: 228 Member
    My son's football cleats get a good spray of febreeze and then packed with newspaper. Heard newspaper worked but backed it up with febreeze. They were NASTY!!!
  • rprussell2004
    rprussell2004 Posts: 870 Member
    Friend of mine swishes listerine inside his vibrams.

    Bonus: They then become a room freshener for the duration!

    (I swear I am not making this up)
  • usernamekelly1
    usernamekelly1 Posts: 1,941 Member
    If you have cats then I would suggest using some cat litter (fresh unused before I get comments) in them, leave over night and the litter will absorb the smell, just be warned you'll need to hover inside to get all the powder out. Works a treat :)
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    everything Brian said. I live in a very soggy part of the world -it's that more than the sweat that's likely making them pong. I use febreze on mine - works pretty well. Also any commercial anti-bacterial spray will help.
  • hellou76
    hellou76 Posts: 33 Member
    Thank you for all you suggestions, I only have the one pair of running shoes but now I have a good excuse to purchase another pair:) just so I can alternate them or course. :laugh: My feet are not usually stinky, only when I wear my running shoes. I will try the bicarb option and give them a few days to recover, next run is not planned now until Tuesday anyway.
  • ingies2011
    ingies2011 Posts: 127 Member
    I too get very sweaty feet at the gym, esp during body attack. I used to do a lot of skiing and use the ski boot drier to dry my shoes whilst i shower. Works really well, the one i have is called thermic boot drier, amazon sell it for $40. Would highly recommend it.
  • Sox90716
    Sox90716 Posts: 976 Member
    Febreze spray.
  • chanixxx
    chanixxx Posts: 64
    I sue newspaper. I just ball it up and showe it inside and toss it when I put my shoes on. Works for me so far.

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