How to Eliminate Foot and Shoe Odor

Ever notice foot odor or shoe odor from a few feet away or from the other side of the room? I will give you a few tips to eliminate unwanted odors and your nose will be happy again.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• antibacterial soap
• toe nail clippers
• foot powder
• dry shoes
• Clean socks

1. 

   Wash and dry completely your feet every day, scrub them really good and use a pumice stone to remove the callous areas of dead skin. When feet are clean and dry then you are defeating the growth of bacteria that can cause odors.

2. 

   Groom your toenails after washing feet, make sure you dig out all the nasty stuff under your toenails. Cut the toenails as short as you can and still be comfortable. Cutting your toenails after you have washed your feet will make them softer and easier to cut.

3. 

   Now that the cause of the odor has been addressed, lets go after the shoes. Now you might think that shoes that smell like that should be thrown away, you might have even thought you have smelled litter boxes that smelled better! Yes, most shoes can be salvaged from odor-land.
   Dry out the shoes, this can be done in a number of ways. Set the in the sun and let them solar dry. Set them by a heat or ac register and let them air dry or throw them into the dryer and dry them out.
   You can buy commercial shoe dryers that plug into the wall.

4. 
   Gold Bond Foot Powder works!

   This is the magic step, do this one every time you put on your shoes and the odor will be gone forever, make take several applications before all the smell is gone. Put on the clean socks and powder the inside of your shoes with the foot powder. Walmart sells a generic brand of medicated powder that does the job for less than $2 per bottle and does the trick.

Tips & Warnings

• Deal with athletes foot by using an over the counter spray, if that doesn't work seek help from a Physician or Podiatrist.
• Consider shoes the "breathe well" when buying new shoes, feet need ventilation
• Diabetics have circulation problems in their legs and feet, gangrene is a very serious problem and has it own odor. See a doctor if your are diabetic and have bad foot odor.

Resources

• Shoe Dryer Company
• Gold Bond Foot Powder

[turtledove]

on 9/7/2009 Another thing that helps; buy two pairs and alternate wearing them, allowing each pair to dry out every other day. 5*

[torque63]

on 7/16/2009 I decided to do something about my feet when I found them to smell too much, I could smell my shoes under my desk and it was bad. Follow my steps and let me know how it goes for you.

[tachic]

on 7/16/2009 My husband has the worst foot odor- it would be great to eliminate it. But no matter what he tries, he just has sweaty, disgusting feet!!