My shoes really really stink

You can buy a special spray for your shoes at sporting goods stores... that's what i do for my kid's "sports" shoes.

Keep more than one pair of shoes in the rotation? If your shoes don't dry out well between workouts, you'll get interesting things growing in there. A nice spritzer of lysol when you take your shoes off the day also can help.

You need some sneaker balls. They are little round balls, link the size of a ping pong ball and are filled with baking powder and they are awesome. We use them in running shoes, cleats and boots.

Pretty sure you can use some baby powder in your shoes for that

1. If you're wearing cotton socks, throw them away. I use Smartwool socks, a bit expensive but worth every penny and last for years vs. months. The reason: cotton absorbs moisture and is a breeding ground for bacteria and funky smells, lol. Wool blends will wick the moisture away and actually stay clean. Also cotton is abrasive to the skin (blisters potentially) and don't hold their shape.

2. Foot powder. The best way to use it is to put a bunch directly in your shoe, shake it around so it coats everything on the inside and pour out the excess. Do this daily.

3. Just a side note: Never ever throw your shoes in the washing machine! It might make them smell better and look cleaner but it will shorten the life of the shoe. Athletic shoes already have a short life. So you might be best off getting a new pair and using good socks and foot powder every day. These are the only things I know to actually work. Hope that helps and good luck with it!

I never had the problem, but I always put a little baby powder in my shoes that I used at the gym, and also spray my shoes once in a while with Tinactin, just as a precaution against Athletes foot, not sure if those help with odor, maybe that is why I do not get the issue. Not sure.

baking soda... or char

You don't have to do anything special, or buy anything special or fancy. First, wash your shoes, adding a cup of white vinegar to the wash (I wash my running shoes regularly with a load of towels, then rewash the towels). Allow them to dry. Then, after you run, spray white vinegar on the insides. Just a little. You won't smell like pickles, but even if you did, it's gotta be better than stinky feet. ha ha ha. Seriously, use the vinegar.
white vinegar also works well when washing stinky running clothes. cheaper than special detergents and better for the environment. Can't beat that!

ETA: bleach will destroy fabric over time, and baking soda requires WAY too much of it to be effective.

How old are they? Are they fairly new and start smelling fairly quickly?

Fastest way to get shoes to stink (for me) is to wear them barefoot. No socks = tons of sweat being absorbed by the shoe. if the shoe doesnt have a significant enough time to thoroughly dry before wearing them again, its makes a really nice environment for bacteria to grow.

(that odor you smell is from bacteria)

So first I would get good socks. The kind that absorb or wick away moisture.
Next I would make sure that after use I would store them in a place they could dry easily.
Lastly I would spray lysol or use some other antibacterial device like others have suggested.

If you let it go long enough you may be exposed to tinea pedis

How can I stop that

LOL seriously though, I dont know if its my socks, or what but like it is bad, I have almost ruined 2 pairs of shoes

I know its alittle silly but does anyone do anything to keep there feet fresh?

General rule of thumb for me is never leave them damp. If they are somewhat wet either because I rain outside in the rain or just because after my workout there was enough sweat that they are moist its important to take the time to air them out and put them somewhere where they will dry.

If you ever want to see how bad shoes can smell do the following: go hiking in rain for 8 hours in a pair of shoes then as soon as you get back to your car put those shoes into a plastic bag. Forget about said plastic bag for several days. Oh yes, then you will have some smelly shoes. Unbelievably smelly shoes.

Its amazing how a little bit of long-term dampness will turn a nice pair of shoes into a cesspool of filth and depravity from which there is little return.

One weird trick (can't believe I used that phrase) for making sure your shoes stay fresh is to stuff some socks with cat litter and put those into the shoes when you are done with your workout. The cat litter will absorb any dampness through the sock and pull it away from the shoes. It works and imo works 1000-times better than "foot spray" which really does nothing for the dampness.

Im not the only one!!
@ KserRz - They are about 2 weeks old, I figure it is my socks, or I have very stinky feet.

That is REALLY SOON for new shoes. Hopefully it is the socks. As a test try out all the tips here (I like the washing in vinegar one too) and make sure you always wear fresh clean socks when wearing them.

If the shoes are fine after a couple weeks, then it was the socks and keeping them free of bacteria. If not, it could be the feet?

Good Luck!