Rabat – Summer has come anew, bringing with it high temperatures, surfing, travel, and adventure.
As the hottest season of the year, even short-distance walks can make one feel tired, sweaty, and very often, this also brings with it, the dreaded smelly shoes.
Many people feel embarrassed in public places when their shoes smell, especially when they are dead sure that the smell comes from their own shoes.
In trying to solve the problem, people have used numerous strategies such as spraying detergents into their shoes, but in vain, as the smell soon starts again.
In fact, the bad smell emanating from one’s shoes does not actually come from the shoes themselves, but from one’s sweaty feet as a result of constant physical movement, a confined space, and excessive heat and moisture.
As we move, our feet sweat, and after a long working day, with our feet still plunged inside our shoes, a foul smell starts emerging, even if you do not wear socks.
The following tips are just one of the many techniques that can help you get rid of your shoes’ unpleasant odor, if applied correctly.
Wear sandals instead of shoes
In the hot weather, sandals are the best option as they are aerated and your feet are more exposed to the air. Sandals decrease the chances of bad odors. Therefore, if possible, find a pair of sandals and put your close-toed shoes back in the closet until the Fall.
Wear aerated sneakers
If, for any reason (such as a medical one), you cannot wear sandals, then you can go for sneakers. It is preferable not to wear winter sneakers as they are thicker and less aerated for your feet. Take the sneakers that are specially fabricated for summer wear. These are lighter in weight and contain a soft fabric that allows air to easily pass through; as a result, they are more comfortable.
Regularly spray baby powder into your shoes
Yes, as you read in the sub-title, baby powder is a recommended option among the people who have tried it. So far, a great deal of people are using baby powder to get rid of stinky shoes, although this tip has not yet become widespread. Avoid using any type of detergent as it does not do the job as it should and sometimes makes it even worse.
Did you know? Baby powder is a good remedy for smelly shoes
There exist special deodorant powders for shoes available on online shopping platforms but less affordable. What makes the baby powder so recommended is its affordable price, availability in nearby shops, and most importantly, its anti-odor quality.
Once you spray the powder, give your shoes a good shake to spread the powder in every corner of your shoes. If your shoes already smell before the first use, the powder will not have a great effect. Thus, consider washing your shoes before starting to use the powder.
Never leave your socks inside your shoes
This is a mistake most people still make in today’s world where information has become accessible for everyone. When you are back home after a long day at work or school and you take off your shoes, never ever leave your socks inside. Hang them in a place where they must be exposed to the air like a roof, a balcony, or an open space inside your house. Leaving them inside is what allows the bacteria to do their job of producing the bad, annoying smell by the next morning.
Your socks also need oxygen
Change your socks every two days max
Wherever you are in the world, do not exceed two days wearing the same pair of socks, at least in summertime. Develop the habit of changing your socks at a maximum of two days, if not every day. Do not wait until your socks produce a strange smell to start considering changing them because that smell stays in your shoes. Consequently, when you put on new socks, they quickly absorb the remaining smell that the previous pair of socks left.
Wash your shoes periodically
Do not take this piece of advice for granted, thinking that its application will work for life if you do not wash your shoes ever again. Make sure you do this, while applying all the previous tips. Whenever you feel that your shoes are just about to start smelling again, wash them. Nothing beats odor like a pair of freshly washed shoes.
Lastly, it would be even more hygienic to wash your feet on a daily basis right before you put your shoes on, and after you take off your shoes, to rid your feet from their clammy sweat.
Read also: Enjoyable Activities for a Summer in Morocco
