Smelly Shoes Smelly Feet

[LifeWithTheCrazy]

I have super smelly shoes and super smelly feet.
I feel like I’ve tried everything over the years to make this better.
I am now putting my shoes in the washing machine every week. I don’t wear the same spare 2 days running. New socks everyday (sometimes 2/3 times a day). Shower everyday. Never sleep in socks and socks off around the house whenever possible (little kids - Lego!!).

YABU - This is crazy! You stink.
YANBU - I’ll give you some advice!

Leather shoes not plastic or 'vegan'. Fabric ok if flip flop/fit flop type of footwear.

Lamasil Once for your feet.

Do you have athletes foot or another fungal infection on your feet that is the root of the smells? Also, do you dry your feet properly after washing? You can use some talc or other cream/powders from the pharmacy that is specifically for treating foot infections, if that's what it is.

I would say you have a fungal or bacterial problem.

Wash feet in proper soap (not dove or shower gel), dry carefully including between toes. Dust some athletes foot powder between toes and a little into sock. Repeat morning and night for 2 weeks. Hopefully that will sort it otherwise ask your pharmacist if they can help.

Use ozone generator for shoes. Get feet checked with podiatrist for infection and treat appropriately.

Have you actually tried any of the basics to treat the source of a smell?

If you're washing shoes and socks etc have you got a fungal infection on the skin? Between toes? Nails?

Are you a naturally sweaty person?

Wash your feet with hibiscrub and treat if you have a fungal infection.

Synthetic shoes do this to me. I had a lovely pair of peeptoe heels, in that soft pleather vinyl.

Made everything stink. I stick to leather or canvas if I can.

I would wash feet daily with a bar soap or a dettol type soap (not dove!)
Dry well and wipe glycolic acid all over them (helps with smell)
See if that works

Are you moving about all day? Are your shoes old? Do you wear sandals to let your feet breathe when you can? Same problem op but I haven’t changed my shoes in some time and am running about all day so it’s my own fault! I put foot powder into my shoes and use boots tea tree foot spray which is at least refreshing!

I wear non leather by choice and my feet are fine .

Have you tried -

Airing your shoes after the're washed , make sure they are bone dry before you wear them? Give them a few days rest so you alternate shoes
Charcole insoles ( Odour-Eaters type)
Surgical spirits between and behind your toes to keep skin dry there (its also aniseptic as its an alcohol)
Peppermint or menthol lotion

Rule out fungal or candida infection (see your Pharmacist or GP for advice)

Easy on the talcum, it can get all claggy

Socks 100% . No barefeet in shoes .

Something like TeaTree wash (natural antiseptic and antifungal ) either a skin wash or try the oil in your usual footwash .

I think it must vary from person to person. Plastic jelly sandals are fine for me.

I don't want to buy synthetic shoes and risk them going stinky. Plus the whole plastic/eco thing. I avoid where I can.

canvas always seems to be fine.

Try Peditech ActiFresh Foot Odour Spray - absolutely fantastic!

You need to look at your diet.

Do you eat enough fruit and vegetables?

Also are you a smoker? Smoking causes very bad smelling feet.

Bamboo socks have really reduced the stink from my feet.

Zoflora in the wash with socks and shoes will kill the smell.

I too have smelly feet.
Its helped a lot since I’ve used a soft-ish scrubbing nail brush and anti bacterial hand wash every day on my feet and nails when I’m in the shower.
I also wash well between my toes and rinse well with the shower head. My toes are close together and it’s not so easy to do. But worth the effort

Only wear cotton or pure wool socks.

My work sketchers are like this - so bad I can smell my own feet after an 8-16 hour shift.
Yet no problem with safety shoes/boots/shoes/wellies from any other brand.
I assume it down to a mix of chemicals used in the shoe and my inherited sweaty feet (thanks dad!).

You can get shoe deodorants (I use a Kiwi one called Deo Fresh on any shoes that start niffing - seems to work very well and I would highly recommend it. Makes a surprisingly big and long-lasting difference. ).

If your shoes are getting sweaty and damp then I would also stuff them with newspaper after wearing to make sure they dry thoroughly. Same as if they get wet in the rain.

Avoid plasticky shoes. Watch out for the lining materials, too - some leather shoes have plasticky linings instead of leather linings. These will make your feet sweaty too.

This is me! Totally sympathise OP xx. Have recently bought some deodorising foot powder from Boots and it has made a bit of a difference. It’s like talc but you shake it in your shoes. You can also put on your feet although I haven’t tried that. Have used it in my shoes for a couple of weeks and it’s been great so far xxx

My 12 year old had really smelly feet because they sweat badly, he also had athletes foot because of this. We treated the athletes foot with tea tree oil (worked great) and he now uses charcoal insoles every day. They are soaked by the end of the day (gross I know) and he takes them out each night to let them dry, we replace them regularly and they have made a huge difference as his feet and shoes no longer smell.

I used to have smelly feet. Since switching to proper soap and treating athletes foot, they've been fine. I wear flip flops or open toes as soon as its warm and fresh bamboo socks in leather boots and slippers. I wear trainer socks in trainers. These used to be the worst offenders.

So my tips are air your feet, wear natural materials and use proper soap.

You need charcoal insoles. They stop the odour.

I always recommend this , wee in a bucket & soak your feet in it the urine for at least 10 minutes. Do this every day for a week Wash & dry your feet afterwards of course. This will clear up any fungus & clear the odours. It must be your own urine.