The Wide World of Walking Equipment

Well it finally happened, my wife said it was either her or my favorite pair of walking sneakers.  Either I did something about the odor, or my shoes and I would be banished to the basement for good.  Although I do have a finished basement and would likely have  been  very comfortable, the choice was an easy one. ..Fix the Sneakers.

The Source

What causes the problem anyway?   Your shoes didn’t start out with that odor did they?  The prime source of the dilemma is, of course, your feet.  Did you know that they have a name for extreme cases of foot odor?  It’s called bromhidrosis.   The primary cause of foot odor is perspiration.  This provides a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. When the cellular debris from the bacteria and yeast begin to break down, they produce the notorious foot odor.   In addition there are some skin conditions that can also contribute to the problem.   These conditions are not necessarily harmful but do create a rich environment for the growth of microorganisms. Infections such as athlete’s foot or toenail fungus could result, so it’s best to keep the whole situation under control.

Prevention

The follow are some ways to keep your feet dry and odor free, preventing your sneakers from picking it up in the first place.  The best advice is to keep your feet as clean and dry as possible.

• Shower regularly with anti-bacterial soap.
• Use foot powders and sprays specifically designed to keep feet dry.
• Change your shoes and socks often.
• Wear sandals during warm weather.

Cure

What if it’s too late, the walking sneakers are already cursed.  What to do then?  Obviously pitching them is an option (the one favored by my wife).  But short of that, what’s to do?  There are a ton of commercial and homemade remedies.  Here are a few.  (I’ll have to admit that I haven’t tried most of these so I can’t vouch for their effectiveness)

• Wash sneakers thoroughly–inside and out–with soapy detergent and bleach.  Sprinkle bicarbonate or baking soda the insides of the shoes.  Leave overnight.  (This one worked for me)
• Wipe the insides of the sneakers with rubbing alcohol.
• Stuff the shoes with newspaper and leave overnight.
• Spray vinegar inside the sneakers.
• Stick them in the freezer overnight.  (This did not work for me).
• Seal them in a plastic bag with coffee (unused).
• Put kitty litter in an old sock and stuff it in the shoe between usages.
• Insert orange peels in the shoes.
• Baby Power is another suggestion.
• There are a host of products specifically designed to eliminate shoe odors but I’ve not tried any of them. Note: If anyone has, I’m sure we would all be interested in knowing which ones were effective and which ones weren’t.

Maintenance

Once you’ve managed to eliminate the problem there are a couple of things, in addition to foot care, that you can do.

• Rotate you walking sneakers, allowing them to completely dry out between uses.
• Give you shoes a shot of disinfectant after each use.
• Use redwood shoe trees.

Walking sneaker odor can quickly make you an outcast in your own home so it’ll be better for you and those around you if you take a little bit of time and effort to banish this source of potential friction from your environment.

It would be great to get some feedback if anyone has successfully tried any of these or other odor eradicating exercises.

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