How to get an "aroma" out of leather shoes?

[MaryKLady]

I have a pair of Clarks leather sandals that I LOVE. I got them wet and now they have a "distinctive foot aroma". Other than foot sprays, tried it - didn't work, any ideas how to clean them and not ruin them? I already bought another pair but it seems like such a waste to throw them out.

 

[kathie859]

I know that newspaper stuffed into regular shoes will help remove odors. Maybe if you used crumpled newspaper and sealed the shoes in a plastic bag with the newspapers for a day or so, it might help It's worth a try

 

[disneymarie]

What about Baking Soda? Works for the fridge. I buy the huge bag at Sams for about $3 and use it to sprinkle on carpets for awhile before I sweep to remove any dingy oders.

I read that lemons too can be a deoderizer. There are order ban products at SAMS Club, or another product I used was the baby deoderizer in a spray like for diper pails and amonnia smells.

Let us know if something works.
dianne

 

[TNT21]

I have a pair of Clarks leather sandals that I LOVE. I got them wet and now they have a "distinctive foot aroma". Other than foot sprays, tried it - didn't work, any ideas how to clean them and not ruin them? I already bought another pair but it seems like such a waste to throw them out.

From Cleaning.Tips.Net:

1. Foot odor is caused by bacteria and enzymes, so one of the better ways to get rid of that odor is to kill what is responsible. A safe and easy, not to mention inexpensive, way to do this is to freeze your shoes. Just put your foul footgear into airtight sealable freezer bags and then place this package into a freezer overnight. Most odor-causing bacteria and enzymes cannot withstand the frigid temperatures. Be sure to remove your shoes the following morning and allow plenty of time to thaw them out before placing them on your feet.

2. Baking soda is an inexpensive and easy solution. By placing one teaspoon of baking soda into each shoe, you will achieve the desired results of destroying the odor-causing source. After placing the baking soda into each shoe, you need to shake the footgear to ensure that the powder covers the entire inside of the shoe. Do this every night for maximum effect and to ensure that the smell does not come back.

3. If you have ever gone to sports or shoes stores you have more than likely seen those "odor eating shoe balls" offered. Well, here is how you can make a set of your own. You just need the following materials and you can begin: One briquette of plain charcoal (make sure it isn't pre-soaked with charcoal starter) and two old socks or a pair of old tights. Crush the charcoal to powder and place it into the socks or tights. Tie them up so that they are sealed and then insert them into your shoes. Remember to remove your homemade odor balls before you put on your shoes, otherwise you might have a bit of a mess to clean up.

4. A dryer fabric softening sheet placed in each shoe each night also removes the smell. Each sheet works for about a week so this will not be a costly option. An added benefit of this option is that if you forget to remove the sheets before wearing your shoes, they will not result in any mess that you have to clean up.

I have tried freezing overnight and it did help with my sandals, haven't tried the rest...

 

[MaryKLady]

Awesome, I just stuck them in the freezer. DH said, " You're gonna put them in plastic bags, right?" Well gee hunny I didn't think of that (Duh! ) I think I'll leave them in for 24 hours. I'll report back tomorrow.....

 

[ticktock]

Too funny! I had a pair of Clarks sandals that I loved but once they got wet they smelled bad. I have never had foot odor so it really surprised me. DH said that the suede leather the foot bed was made from must have been made out of poorly tanned dog instead of cow .You never know. They were so comfy I tried to wear them anyway but they actually made my feet stink with that wet dog smell so I tossed them. Urgh they weren't cheap either. Good luck.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Frebreeze might help

 

[Robinrs]

Awesome, I just stuck them in the freezer. DH said, " You're gonna put them in plastic bags, right?" Well gee hunny I didn't think of that (Duh! ) I think I'll leave them in for 24 hours. I'll report back tomorrow.....

Let me know how it works! My son's size 15 sneakers are gonna be on the FREEZE tonight if it does!!

 

[MaryKLady]

Freezer didn't work I figure anything else I could do would ruin them...so now it's experiment time I have had them soaking in a tub with Oxiclean. That always works when I forget there's a load in the washer in August I'll let you know.

 

[MaryKLady]

Nope, Oxiclean didn't work. It took out the smell but apparently it's not good for leather. It changed the color to a darker brown and it made the leather a bit rough. Oh well, gardening shoes they are!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I have a pair of Clarks leather sandals that I LOVE. I got them wet and now they have a "distinctive foot aroma". Other than foot sprays, tried it - didn't work, any ideas how to clean them and not ruin them? I already bought another pair but it seems like such a waste to throw them out.

I opened this thread because I have the EXACT problem, also with Clarks sandals! I think it's the suede footbed that's the problem. I had to walk in the rain to my car and they got just a LITTLE wet but they absolutely stink. And they were brand new.

I scrubbed and scrubbed them with Purell and then sat them in front of an air conditioner duct to dry....didn't work. When I sniff them they smell OK, but if I actually wear them, that seems to "activate" the stink again.

I still wear Clarks 90% of the time, but I'm very, very careful to not get them even a tiny bit wet! I wish they would change their foot bed.

 

[harleyquinn]

It's not just Clarks, I have the same problem with my Borns and my Docs. I think it's a leather thing...

 

[tchrrx]

I do sprinkle my DDs cheap canvas tennis shoes with baking powder & it does work well.

 

[FoodLover]

I know for sure the dryer sheet trick works in tennis shoes. I didn't expect much because I figured it would just cover up any stinky smells, but it seems like they somehow absorb smells too. I put the sneakers in a big zip-top bag and put half a dryer sheet in each shoe - about 24 hours later they are non-stinky!

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[MaryKLady]

I know for sure the dryer sheet trick works in tennis shoes. I didn't expect much because I figured it would just cover up any stinky smells, but it seems like they somehow absorb smells too. I put the sneakers in a big zip-top bag and put half a dryer sheet in each shoe - about 24 hours later they are non-stinky!

Mary
MouseSavers.com

I'll have to try this next time and remember not to never ever get them wet!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I might have to try some of these. I have a pair of Birkenstocks that REEK. I bought the special cleaner for them, didn't work. I tried saturating the footbeds with rubbing alcohol, didn't work. They are at the same point previous posters mentioned - as soon as I put them on and they get warm they stink. I can't remember if I sprayed them with anti-bacterial Febreze. I think I might have.

Maybe I should try the dryer sheets. Or the freezer. Or both.

 

[Cruise]

The only other thing I can think of is that the problem is that not all of the moisture is ever getting removed. Short of baking them (which would probably ruin them), the only other suggestion I could make would be to bury your shoes in uncooked rice. This is what they tell people who have dropped small electronic devices (cell phone, blackberry, bluetooth) into water.

That being said, the price of rice has gone up and I'm not sure how much it would take to cover a pair of shoes. heh

 

[curlyjbs]

I just love the DIS! Not only can I get vacation tips.....I can get the stinky out of my shoes! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

~C