How to Clean Your Shoes and Insoles (2024)

Cleaning Tips for Shoes and Insoles

Odor in shoes and feet is common. With more than 250,000 sweat glands in our feet, sweat seems to be the main cause of odor. Keeping our feet, socks and shoes clean and dry is the first step to avoiding unwanted odors, but if this doesn’t work, listed below are other options to try. Keep in mind that everyone's body chemistry is different, so what works for one person may not work for another.

  • Use warm water and mild soap or detergent and wipe down or gently scrub with an old toothbrush or nylon brush; do not saturate with water. Air-dry overnight. It is a good idea to remove your insoles from your shoes each night so that air can dry each side. This is especially important if you perspire heavily.
  • Spray your shoes and insoles with a combination of 50 percent water and 50 percent white, distilled vinegar. Spritz the mixture into your shoe lining and sole, and let it air dry for 30 minutes. You can use a hair dryer after that if you are in a hurry to dry the shoe. Follow that up with baking soda in the shoe overnight.
  • Using a mixture of 2 parts vinegar and 1 part hot water, soak the insoles for a few hours. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and will work to kill the bacteria hiding in the shoes.
  • Use baking soda to neutralize odors and kill bacteria.Put one to two teaspoons of baking soda in a large plastic bag. Then, place the insoles in the bag and shake the bag. Make sure you get the baking soda all over the insoles. Let the insoles sit in the bag overnight. Then, take them out of the bag and use a clean cloth to wipe off any remaining baking soda on the insoles.
  • Some people use a pet odor remover found at pet stores or hardware stores. One brand was called "Out! Stain & Odor Remover."
  • Dryer sheets.Leaving the insoles in the shoes cut a dryer sheet in two and place each piece in each shoe. Let the dryer sheet sit in the shoes overnight to remove odor in the shoe and the insole. This is a good option if you are in a hurry to remove odor from the insoles and want a quick solution.
  • Put smelly shoes or insoles in the freezer. This trick works surprisingly well, especially for shoes/insoles that shouldn’t get wet. Place the shoes/insoles in a clean freezer bag (I’m sure you don’t want shoe germs all over your food!) and let the cold kill the bacteria for 24 to 48 hours.

Partial references

https://www.softstarshoes.com/live-bare-blog/2013/02/19/why-do-shoes-smell-and-what-can-you-do-about-it/

https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Insoles

How to Clean Your Shoes and Insoles (2024)

FAQs

How to Clean Your Shoes and Insoles? ›

Use warm water and mild soap or detergent and wipe down or gently scrub with an old toothbrush or nylon brush; do not saturate with water. Air-dry overnight. It is a good idea to remove your insoles from your shoes each night so that air can dry each side. This is especially important if you perspire heavily.

How to clean the insoles of your shoes? ›

Use warm water and mild soap or detergent and wipe down or gently scrub with an old toothbrush or nylon brush; do not saturate with water. Air-dry overnight. It is a good idea to remove your insoles from your shoes each night so that air can dry each side. This is especially important if you perspire heavily.

Should I wash shoes with insoles? ›

Be sure to remove any insoles and wash them separately from your shoes. Wash shoes and insoles with warm water and a mild detergent. Liquid laundry and dish detergent work great. Use a shoe brush or an old tooth brush to scrub off dirt and grime.

How do you clean the inside of your shoes without removing the insoles? ›

Spray them with water and white vinegar.

In a spray bottle, create a mixture of half water and half distilled white vinegar. Spray the interior of the shoes and let them air dry thoroughly for about 30 minutes. Repeat as needed. If you're in a hurry, speed up the drying time with a hair dryer.

What is the best thing to clean the inside of shoes with? ›

Spritz a mixture of half vinegar and half water in the inside of your shoe (vinegar is a natural disinfectant). If your shoe smells, sprinkle some baking soda in and let sit overnight. Soak your insoles in a mixture of two parts vinegar and one-part hot water for a few hours.

How to clean shoes that smell bad? ›

Vinegar neutralizes unpleasant odors and fights bacteria in shoes. Simply mix white vinegar and water in equal proportions in a spray bottle. Then spray the mixture on the shoes after wearing them and let them dry.

Why are my insoles so dirty? ›

The insoles of your shoes can get dirty over time, especially if you wear your shoes often. You may notice the insoles in your shoes have a bad smell or stains and dirt marks. You can clean insoles using warm water and soap or vinegar and water.

Can you wash shoe insoles with dish soap? ›

If your shoe insoles are starting to get dirty and smelly, you can easily clean them with hot soapy water and a brush. Just mix dish soap with hot water, remove your insoles from your shoes, and scrub the insoles clean. Don't forget to clean the bottoms, since these can get dirty too.

How long does it take baking soda to deodorize shoes? ›

Wait a few hours, preferably overnight. The baking soda will kill odor-causing bacteria and absorb odors. Extra-stinky shoes may require 24 hours. Over a trashcan or the sink, tap the shoe to remove the remaining baking soda from the inside.

How long to soak shoes in vinegar? ›

The alcohol will kill any odor causing bacteria that is in your sneakers and should prevent the stinky smell from returning. You can also soak your sneakers overnight in a tub filled with vinegar and water. Use two cups of vinegar for every three gallons of water you add to your soaking tub.

How to wash shoe insoles? ›

Stir a clean stiff-bristled brush or a cloth in soapy water and scrub each side of the insole, paying extra attention to the toe and heel areas as the majority of dirt and bacteria concentrate there. Now, rinse the insoles, squeeze excess water, and pat them dry with a clean cloth or paper towels.

What to avoid when cleaning shoes? ›

Using too much water or detergent

Too much water or detergent can easily ruin your shoes. Avoid using high-pressure hoses, as this could drive dirt and moisture deep into the material and cause staining or stretching.

What is the best household item to clean shoes? ›

Mix warm water with a small amount of mild laundry detergent or dish soap. For white and light-colored shoes, you can also make an effective cleaning paste by mixing equal parts baking soda and water. Note: When it comes to using dish soap, it's important to take caution and dilute the soap with plenty of water.

Can you wash sole insoles? ›

How long do SOLE footbeds to last? To clean your footbeds, we advise that you remove the footbeds from your footwear, and wipe them with a damp cloth and a mild detergent, and allow them to air dry. If your footbeds get wet during use, remove them from your footwear and allow them to air dry.

How do you remove mold from shoe insoles? ›

First, get rid of the mould from your insole using either rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or white vinegar. Otherwise, you can scrub insoles with soap and water to get them clean. Subsequently, you can use a dehumidifier or silica gel packet to prevent moulds from forming in your shoes.

How to remove sticky residue from shoe insoles? ›

Spray a little WD 40 on a soft cloth and very carefully rub the adhesive residue away. However be aware that a moments carelessness on your part can lead to mild staining of your shoe leather. Good luck in this quest for perfection!

References

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