How to clean smelly shoes

Smelly shoes are an all-too-common issue. It can be annoying; no matter how clean your feet are, they still end up making your sneakers smell. Shoes are an ideal breeding ground for bacteria because they trap sweat and moisture, creating an environment for bacteria to thrive. Here are a few ways to combat those smells:

Cleaning Sneakers:

• Remove the laces and inserts. Place them in a laundry bag and throw them in with your regular laundry or wash them separately by hand with detergent.

• Rinse sneakers with clean water.

• Use a gentle laundry detergent and a soft brush to scrub your shoes and remove scuff marks. Do not use bleach, solvents, harsh chemicals, or abrasives.

• Rinse entire shoe well with clean water.

• Let sneakers dry naturally. Don’t place them in direct sunlight or use the dryer.

• Stuff sneakers with white paper towels to keep the shape. Don’t use newspaper as it will transfer to most fabrics.

• Wait until sneakers are completely dry before placing liners back in and before wearing them.

Deodorizing Shoes:

• Vinegar neutralizes odors and fights bacteria in shoes. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that absorbs smells and bacteria. Sprinkle baking soda directly into the shoes and leave them for at least 24 hours.

• Mix white vinegar with water in equal parts into a spray bottle. Spray the solution inside the shoes after use and allow it to dry.

How to clean your jeans:

Jeans have become a wardrobe essential. However, they require a bit of special care to help them last a long time. You do need to wash them. In fact, you should be washing them every few times you wear them. Here’s how:

• Read and follow the fabric care label.

• If the jeans are machine washable, turn them inside out and wash in cold water, ideally using a laundry detergent designed for denim. For dark jeans, wash separately the first few times.

• If using the dryer, pull them out when still slightly damp and then dry flat. Once dry, hang to store.

To hand wash jeans, add detergent to cool water, swish jeans around in the water, then let them soak before draining the dirty water. Refill for another soak before taking them out, removing excess water and letting them dry.

Between washes, if jeans get a stain, spot clean by hand with cool water and a little detergent. Then rinse the area and let dry.

Reference to cleaning is caring web.

For more info, contact Risley at the OSU Cooperative Extension Service in Sequoyah County at 918-775-4838 by e-mail at janis.risley@ okstate.edu.