Banish smelly shoe odours with 50p kitchen cupboard staple
Expert tips to keep your shoes fresh during the warm summer weather.
Temperatures in the UK are soaring this week, and while this is great news for many, the warmer weather often result in smelly, sweaty shoes. If you've been searching for ways to keep bad smells at bay, you're not alone. Hacks for banishing your shoe odours recently amassed 72.4 billion views on TikTok as part of the #cleantok trend.
Whether it's from commutes, summer sports, or long school days, moisture builds up fast in shoes, and the sour smell becomes near impossible to avoid. Julian Nelson, footwear expert and founder of A Fine Pair of Shoes, has shared an unusual shares hack to solve your smelly problems. Using just rice and an old sock to absorb excess moisture, Julian said your bad smells will banish overnight.
He added: "Uncooked rice is a natural desiccant, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air, and in this case, from inside your shoes.
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'You can also add bicarbonate of soda and salt to boost the effect; the bicarb neutralises smells, while salt helps kill off bacteria."
Unlike quick fixes like shoe sprays or machine washing, this trick is gentle on footwear and reusable, making it ideal for school shoes, leather work shoes, or canvas trainers.
Julia said: "Washing shoes in a machine can ruin the structure and glue, especially in heat, but this is a dry solution that actually works."
The surprising hack is already doing the rounds online and receiving rave reviews from those who have tried it out.
On Mumsnet , one parent said: "I just today attempted 'natural odour absorbers' made out of old, odd socks with uncooked rice and bicarb, plus a few drops of essential oils. Tie the end in a knot and voila. I've put some inside shoes which are the pongiest… so far it smells nicer."
And in a Facebook group for youth dancers , one user asked how to clean shoes that 'smell like death', and another recommended to "pack socks full of rice, sew them shut and stick one into each shoe. The rice absorbs the moisture."
Julian added: "It's simple, affordable and surprisingly effective, and in this week's heat, it's the best way to keep shoes fresh without resorting to harsh chemicals."
How to try it yourself
Fill a clean sock with uncooked rice (about half a cup per shoe)
Add 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda and a few drops of essential oil (optional)
Tie the sock shut
Pop one sock into each shoe overnight and repeat whenever the shoes start to smell
Vittoria Wellen‑Bombelli, shoe expert and supply chain coordinator at wide fit shoe specialists Pavers, previously gave her lowdown on shoe-cleaning hacks - including one surprising trick involving a teabag.
Vittoria commented: "Do opt for a scented tea bag, such as green tea, to deodorise your shoes instead of regular tea bags, as this smell isn't particularly favourable and you're unlikely to notice any benefit.
"Avoid placing a tea bag inside of your shoes after a particularly wet walk, as this could actually cause the tea bag to leak inside of your shoes, leaving unwanted stains."
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