How to Eliminate Foot Odors in a Household

Get rid of foot odor with baking soda.

When someone in the house has smelly feet, foot odor can quickly take over not only a room but an entire home. The strong, distinct odor makes the home feel unclean and uninviting, often preventing you from even having guests over. To properly get rid of the foot odor, use a routine that absorbs the odor. Avoid using commercial air fresheners, as these may mask the odor temporarily but will not get rid of the odor.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Bowls
• Vacuum cleaner
• White vinegar
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Sprinkle baking soda around the home, dusting all upholstery, carpeting and furniture with a light coating of the soda. Let the soda sit in place for about three hours, as this allows time for any surface odor to be absorbed.

2. Fill several bowls with about 1 cup each of baking soda. Place these around the home, using about 1 bowl per room.

3. Vacuum the baking soda off of the surfaces you sprinkled the soda onto. Again, let about three hours pass so the baking soda has time to absorb the odor.

4. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and mist throughout the home. Use this in place of your basic air freshening spray, as the vinegar works quickly to absorb and remove the odor.

5. Sprinkle baking soda into smelly shoes each night and tap the shoes off into the trash can before wearing the next day. This allows the baking soda to not only absorb odor but also absorb any moisture caused by sweaty feet.

References

• UMD.edu: Alternatives for Household Products
• MSU.edu: Alternatives for Household Hazardous Waste