How to get rid of stinky feet
How to get rid of stinky feet. It’s a two part problem: the stinky feet and the stinky shoes. Getting rid of the stank means addressing both.
I’m a stinky foot survivor and one of my twins has inherited the scourge (genetics play a huge roll here). Weirdly, this has come up in Fort Birthday’s social media a few times in the last 2 weeks; so I thought I would share my top 10 suggestions for how to get rid of stinky feet for Kids (and Moms).
what to expect when you are expecting.
There are three categories for dealing with foot odor: Prevention, Management, and Remediation.
Here are my 10 tips for How to get rid of stinky feet
I promise, I’ll try to keep the jokes to a minimum. Because, it’s not really a laughing matter being the kid afraid to take their shoes off at gym (me). Or the mom who worries all the way through savasana in yoga class that the person next to her can smell her feet (also me).
Prevention
I’m going to discuss some basic things that prevent stinky feet. But part of this is simply genetics. The sweatier your feet; the stinkier they are. One of my twins was blessed with my super-sweaty-foot-powers. Even as a young toddler, the poor boy already had stinky feet.
In my previous life I was a contractor. Extra sweaty feet plus work boots equals massive stank. Despite all of this, I can take off my shoes without worrying I will clear the room because of some simple strategies.
So, I fancy myself a bit of a smelly foot expert.
One – Dry feet are less stinky
Keep those tootsies dry. My number one foot odor fighting strategy is to change your socks anytime you feet start getting damp. This means multiple sock changes a day. For me, at least once a day, and in the summer as many as 3 times a day. I have perpetually cold feet, so I also change my socks for sleeping.
We change my toddler’s socks at lunch time (when he gets home from school). School age kids can take a change of socks in their back pack with a zip-loc or small reusable wet bag to stash the offensive socks.
Two – Clean feet are less stinky
The second part of foot smell is hygiene. Wet feet grow bacteria and yeasts that make a marvelous melange of miasma (they stink, yo). I wash my feet with soap and water when I change my socks. Yes, I have totally been the person in a public bathroom trying to discretely wash my feet. I’ve got no shame when it comes to keeping my feet from reeking.
Worst case scenario, I use an alcohol based wet wipe (I like Wet Ones Singles) all over my foot, paying close attention to between my toes and let my feet dry completely before putting socks back on.
Use over-the-counter athlete’s foot cremes and sprays for treating any peeling or cracking between toes. In the summer, I use this prophylacticly.
Nystatin, clotrimazole, and miconazole micatin are all safe to use on children, though talk to your pediatrician about prolonged use.
Three – The right socks
This one kills me. I am all about natural fibers. But get rid of your cotton and wool socks. Both hold onto moisture and keep your feet wet. Switch to synthetic. The more synthetic the better.
For my toddlers, I am very impressed with Cat and Jack synthetic socks. Changing to synthetic socks, for my toddler, made an enormous difference for his little feet with big stink.
Four – The right shoes
It’s time to face some hard facts about stinky-feet life. You must start picking your shoes for breathability. It takes a different mindset regarding shoe shopping. The ‘wrong’ shoes become disposable. But more on that later.
Look for vented shoes; shoes easily opened or disassembled for drying; and shoes that go in the washing machine. Read shoe labels – many ‘trainers’ are washable in a machine.
Buying shoes as a stinky-foot, means different budgeting because of different priorities. I will never buy an expensive pair of shoes that I can’t hose off again. I am more likely to buy inexpensive dress shoes these days rather than ‘investment’ footwear.
Management – keeping the problem at bay
Five – Shoe Rotation
Never ever ever wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. Best is if you use a three day rotation. This might mean buying more than one pair of the same shoes (if you have work shoes). For me this means buying less expensive shoes and rotating them.
In short, you are trying to give your shoes time to dry out all the way. I take my shoes off the minute I walk in my front door. And I even rotate during the day. The upshot of this is that I throw away shoes due to smell less often.
Six – No sockless shoes
Boat shoes are NOPE shoes. My first tough lesson in stinky-foot life was when a classmate in 10th grade gym told me I could not wear my Sperry Docksiders anymore because of how badly they stank. She was gentle but insistent. She told me a hard truth without damaging my ego. Quite a feat for a 16 year old.
And let me say, Jori Frahler, wherever you may be; thank you for the kindness you did me that day in the locker room. It was lesson number one in how to get rid of stinky feet.
Pretty much all ‘sockless’ looks are out (And I love my Toms, but no). And unless your no-show socks have some bulk and absorption to them, they are out, too (I buy these Bamboo No Show Socks that both wick moisture and are anti-microbial).
Seven – Synthetic foot beds
When you pick shoes look for synthetic footbeds. Preferably non-absorptive materials. Cork is supposed to be ok, but I have my doubts. I love keens and crocs (don’t hate – tons of great styles – look how cute these Loafers are!). Look for vegan options if you insist on sandals with a ‘leather’ look.
For toddlers, especially, vented rubber or plastic shoes are ideal. Anything you can hose off.
Remediation – Your shoes stink, now what?
Eight – Wash and Clean
Sprays and powders are all fine and good for perfuming your shoes, but they don’t really eliminate odor. Charcoal and baking soda are helpful for storing your shoes. But seem to only work until you wear your shoes again.
Your best bet are shoes that can be washed with soap and water. My Keens, Croc, and other solid-insole shoes get scrubbed with a detergent heavy soap and rinsed off (Babyganics Foaming Dish & Bottle Soap is a staple at my house). Same with my kids’ shoes.
My toddlers have worn the heck out of their Saucony Baby Jazz shoes. And they have been washed in my washing machine dozens of times. Obviously, you do this at your own risk if a shoe doesn’t specifically say it is safe to wash. But stinky shoes sometimes call for desperate measures.
I’m a huge fan of Nature’s Miracle. Heck, I buy it on subscription. After all, my kids are just really really expensive pets. I liberally spray shoes before washing them or if especially stained or stinky.
Make sure you give yourself time after you wash your shoes for them to dry out completely.
Nine – Dry shoes out
Shoes need to dry out completely between wearing or getting wet. Boot dryers are good tools for this. I also will put shoes upside down over air vents. In a pinch, I’ll put them in front of a fan.
Desiccant packs, charcoal, and inserts work to dry shoes out and keep them dry. They draw moisture out of the shoe and bind it so it can’t be reabsorbed. If you do not air condition your home, consider these whenever you put shoes away in a closet or into storage. Closets can stay damp because of low air flow.
Don’t underestimate the benefit of leaving shoes out in the sun. Not only does this warm them up facilitating drying. But the UV rays from the sun may kill some of the bacteria that are hanging out in your shoes getting them funky.
However, be warned, in most areas you should not leave them out overnight as they will readily absorb dew. Also, dark colored original style Crocs will shrink in the sun.
Ten – The Trash Can Solution
Extreme Measures – No matter what. No matter how cute. No matter how expensive. Throw out any shoes that resist the average shoe treatments. Part of how to get rid of stinky feet is knowing when to give up.
I can’t even tell you how many pairs of my shoes ended up in the trash because no matter what I could not kill the smell. Thankfully, since I started rotation and sock protocols I don’t throw shoes away any more.
It sucks to take an otherwise perfectly good pair of shoes and toss them. I hope I don’t need to say it, but don’t donate shoes that smell bad. If you don’t want them in your house, neither does anyone else.
Do you have any game-changing tips for how to get rid of stinky feet to share? Let me know.
-Leah
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