How to destankify my running shoes?
 

I've got some Nike's that are only about a month old. I think they just got wet somehow, I don't remember, but now they smell awful. I tried leaving them out over night, putting baking powder in them, and used that popular deodorizing spray (I forget the name).

None of those have worked thus far. What're your recommendations?

i would remove the insoles and replace them if they have a strong stank to them. i'd recommend Superfeet brand... i actually removed the insoles to all of my shoes and replaced them with superfeet just because they're so comfortable and give superb support.

after that, you might try throwing a few bounce sheets inside them and running them through the dryer on low or no heat.

I would run them through the dryer as well to make sure you get all the moisture out. You need to get them bone dry before you can take any corrective measures I think.

No dryer heat, kills shoes dead, you might not see it, but it will start breaking down the SPACE AGE (tm) materials in them.

Next time they get wet, stuff them with newspaper, and change the newspaper every couple of hours. That will dry them much more quickly.

Febreeze, followed by baby powder. I know you said you tried baking powder, but all that does is absorb the odor. If you can't get the baking powder out, it will still smell. Baby powder will absorb all of the moisture, and it has an overpowering "nice" scent. If you buy new insoles, put baby powder in under the insoles, and then over.

Also, try some of those odor eaters balls that you throw in your shoes. It is the same concept as baking powder, but you can remove it and replace the balls once all of the stink is soaked up.

I've used Gold Bond foot powder, but it feels wierd. The febreeze and baby powder technique sounds pretty efficient.

Insoles work wonder. I had the same thing. Try charcoal ones.

Cat litter in an old sock.

Put some cat litter in a sock, knot the open end and leave the sachet in your shoes over night.

-bear

Baking powder is not advisible to put in your shoes unless you are whipping up a batch of cookies or something with them.

Baking soda however....

Freeze them.

I reccomend filling two socks with talcum powder and leaving them in the shoes for a few days. See how that goes.

i agree , freeze them , works every time.

I first heard of this a couple of weeks ago and tried it out with my Teva's. It works like a charm. Think about it, it is bacteria that is causing the odor so kill the bacteria by freezing out the little suckers..... ;)

One more thing -- I
l place them in a large zip lock bag. We all know some food can abosrb ordor and the last time I checked my chicken tasting like food odor...

Do your sneakers taste like chicken now?

freeze em? sounds wierd, REAL wierd.

zip lock bag smells...i mean sounds...good.

Let's hope no one finds my stash of ultima-stink in the freezer

Sounds weird, yes, but it works ;-)

Wash them in the washer and dryer......its easy, painless, and it works. If your shoes are just the right size, with no extra room, then dont put it in the dryer and hang to dry with toes pointing down. It might take a day of walking in them to get them comfy and molded to your feet again.

Freezing them works, as was noted, because of the source of the odor. Little bacteria and fungus are making a stinkhole out of your shoes. It's for that reason that I usually spray athlete's foot treatment into the shoe. It tends to kill whatever is causing the problem. Of course, freezing will kill it whether it's fungus or bacteria or whatever.

OderCide, like Febreeze but like 10x better

Hooked on freezing...worked for me!