Once you’ve realized you have smelly boots it’s probably already too late for an easy fix. Boot odor embeds itself deep into the supple fabric of linings meant to keep your feet warm. This environment leads to happy feet … and creates the perfect climate for breeding nasty odor molecules.
Unlike your socks, you can’t just throw your shoes in the washing machine and call it a day. Removing boot odor for good takes extra effort, but is ultimately worth it. Fragranced sprays tout quick solutions. But they only temporarily mask odors without eliminating their source. Those unwelcome scents return almost as quickly as they were covered up.
Find out how to get rid of odor in boots once and for all with these useful cleaning tips to keep your boots smelling fresh through multiple wears, uses, and seasons.
Best Boot Odor Removal Process
- Understand Your Boots’ Material
- Double Deodorize the Boot Lining
- Scrub Your Boots With Water and Cleaning Solution
- Fight Odors While Boots are in Storage
Double Deodorize the Boot Lining
While it may be tempting to use odor fighting sprays like Febreze to tackle unpleasant boot smells, their fragrances and perfumes only temporarily mask odors. They also include chemicals that can trigger allergies or cause harm to your health. To truly neutralize odor, use this combination of natural products. Start by sprinkling the lining with baking soda. Make sure to dust it evenly on the inside of the shoe, paying particular attention to the toe, which tends to be the main source of boot odor. By dusting your smelly boot lining, you lower the pH levels of acidic substances that cause odor, like sweat and mildew.
Next, fight set in smells by spraying the interior with Fresh Wave Odor Removing Spray. Fresh Wave is a natural odor eliminator strong enough to fight highly acidic odors that fester in linings, insoles, and the toe of your most well-worn boots. With a list of safer ingredients like water and plant oils, Fresh Wave will freshen linings made from natural material, like sheepskin, without stripping them of the essential natural oils that give them their softness. Use Fresh Wave’s natural Spray or spruce up your winter boots with a hint of lavender. Need to get rid of boot odor on the go? Throw a travel size spray in your bag or purse.
To get rid of boot smell from other potential sources, remove insoles, soak them in Fresh Wave Laundry Booster, and hang dry to optimize freshness. The combination of clean air and Fresh Wave eliminates odors and revitalizes insoles with a fresh scent that will stand up to multiple wears.
Scrub Your Boots with Water and Cleaning Solution
While the insoles dry, dampen a microfiber cloth or a soft brush with a mix of water and white vinegar and gently scrub the outside of the boots. If any odor-causing bacteria or grime has collected along seams or stitching, the vinegar will bind to those odor molecules and eliminate them. Repeat with Fresh Wave Laundry Booster. Complimenting the natural odor fighting prowess of vinegar, Fresh Wave Laundry Booster’s gentle formula deodorizes using the power of natural plant oils.
Once the shoes have dried completely, spray Fresh Wave Odor Removing Spray evenly on the shoe’s surface to get rid of any leftover smells. Check the lining to ensure odors have been eliminated, and spray the inside of your shoe if boot odor persists.
Fight Odors While Boots are in Storage
If seasonality plays a role in how frequently you wear your boots, always be sure to store them in a dry, cool area during the off season. Boot odor doesn’t go away because you stop wearing them. Bacteria thrives in damp, warm conditions (like next to sweaty feet). If boots are stored in spaces with similar characteristics, smells can return or get worse.
Ensure your shoes are completely dry before storing, then find a place in your home that is dry and cool. Place Fresh Wave Packs in the toe of your boot and replace once or twice while stored. Wrap boots in a laundry bag or keep in a sealed plastic container, and add a silica gel pack to absorb any excess moisture.
Now that you have a trusted regimen to guard against boot odor, embarrassing foot smells will be a thing of the past. As an added bonus, your boots will last longer against wear and tear with these regular cleanings.
