Trying to eliminate funky shoes smells?
 

I just came across this tip the other day and thought I'd share:

When those shoes you wear too often get nice and ripe and start making your eyes and the eyes of those around you water like Niagra Falls try this...take some old pantyhose that doesn't have any runs or holes near the feet (steal it from your girlfriend or mother...or, I guess, just ask nicely and get it the easy way). Put a nice big scoop of cat litter in the hose and tie it off...now put the cat-litter-hose in the shoes over night or for a day or two.

Shazaam. No more smell.

Just don't set your shoes down next to the litter box or a little furball might leave you an unexpected present...ewwww....

why don't you just buy new ones? though the cat litter thing does seem like it could have some promise.

Thanks for the tip, although I don't have any kitty litter since I don't own cats.

As for the new shoes...I have some work shoes that need a little help in this area but still have some life left in them, so I'll wait to buy new ones until later.

I've read you can put them in a plastic bag and freeze them if the smell is from bacteria. Freeze them for a few days to kill it all off, let them thaw out and you're good to go. I've never tried it but I've read that advice many, many times.

I use the kitty litter approach, and it works wonders.
The freeaing thing might work, but what happens when the shoe thaws? Is the stink gone because the bacteria are dead? Or do the bacteria just come back to life and stink again?

I have some pretty stinking working shoes and my feet use to sweat pretty bad because I walk like 2-4 miles a day at my work place,anyways it was pretty bad when I can smell it when i was at stand still.So I went to wal-mart got odor-eaters and dr.scholls odor destroyers.I try each one,they both did just alright,so I spray them top of my shoes and inside of my shoes they both did alright again,but figure out the best way to do is spray both of them in the shoes,and It works.Maybe because I just put so much stuff in the shoes it just had to go away.

ima try the freezing thing tonight and report back. if it doesn't work then the kitty litter thing will sure to follow.

hahaha i think its really funny that the first reply was "why dont you buy some new ones". anyways i think it's a good idea, and i get that problem a lot because every time it rains i always walk out in it and step in a lot of puddles and my shoes are never waterproof and they start smelling really weird.

Sunshine also works well. When my shoes reach that fearful state of stank, they get pitched in the washer with rags then laid out to dry in the sunshine. A day later they're stank free & back in my non-toxic inventory.

That only works for the non-$100 dress shoes tho...
:-P

Just leave them out in the sun for the afternoon. Maybe turn them once or twice. Washing doesn't do anything for the stink. I just do that to remove layers. You're right, it is harsh on the materials.

Baking soda also works in the same way the cat litter does.