How to Get Rid of Shoe Odor: 7 Methods That Work

By Paul G.
Published: April 9, 2026

Your shoes stink. I know because mine used to.

I'm not exaggerating but I used to throw away shoes after a few months. Not because they were worn out. Because they smelled so bad I couldn't save them. I'm talking about shoes that were perfectly fine on the outside. But inside? Forget it. Nobody was coming back from that ha!

If you're trying to figure out how to get rid of shoe odor, you're not alone. It's one of the most common problems guys deal with. And most of the advice out there only half works.

Here's the deal. Shoe odor comes from bacteria feeding on sweat that gets trapped inside your shoes. To actually fix it, you need to do two things: stop the bacteria and get rid of the moisture. Most methods only do one of those.

I'm going to walk you through 7 methods. I've tried all of them. Some work great. Some are a waste of time. I'm ranking them from most effective to least, so you can skip straight to what actually works.

Why Do Shoes Smell in the First Place?

Before we get into fixes, you need to understand why your shoes smell. Once you get this, everything else makes more sense.

Your feet have around 250,000 sweat glands. That's more per square inch than anywhere else on your body. Every day, your feet produce sweat. That sweat soaks into your shoes. The inside of your shoe is dark, warm, and closed off. That's the perfect environment for bacteria to grow.

Those bacteria feed on the sweat and dead skin cells trapped inside your shoe. As they break down that sweat, they produce something called isovaleric acid. That's the compound that gives your shoes that sour, cheesy smell.

Think of it like leaving wet gym clothes in a sealed bag. You forget about them for a day or two. Then you open the bag and get hit with that wave of funk. That's bacteria doing their thing in a warm, moist space. Your shoes are that bag. Every single day.

The longer you wait to deal with it, the worse it gets. Bacteria multiply fast. One bad day of sweaty feet can turn a fresh pair of shoes into a problem that takes weeks to fix.

And here's the part most people miss: shoes don't dry out between wears. You take them off at night. Put them back on in the morning. They never fully dry. The bacteria never stop growing. It just builds and builds.

That's why a quick spray of air freshener doesn't cut it. You're not dealing with a smell problem. You're dealing with a bacteria problem.

Method 1: Shoe Deodorizer Spray (Best Long-Term Fix)

This is the most effective way to get rid of shoe odor. Not because I sell one. Because it actually works.

A good shoe deodorizer spray uses fast-drying alcohol to kill odor on contact. You spray it inside the shoe after you take them off. The alcohol goes to work right away. It dries fast, so your shoes aren't sitting wet overnight. And it stops the smell at the source instead of just covering it up.

This is why it's number one on my list. It's the only method that directly addresses the bacteria living inside your shoe. Baking soda absorbs moisture. Cedar smells nice. But a shoe spray actually goes after the root cause.

Here's how to use it. When you take your shoes off at the end of the day, give each shoe 2-3 sprays inside. Focus on the toe box and the insole. That's where the worst buildup happens. Let them sit overnight. Do it every day.

That last part matters. This isn't a one-time fix. It's a daily habit. Same as brushing your teeth. You don't brush once and expect your breath to stay fresh for a week. Your shoes are the same way. Consistency is what makes this work.

I used to buy a new can of Lysol every month to spray inside my shoes. It worked for about an hour. Now I use a shoe deodorant spray It's under $12 and one bottle lasts me a full month.

The best results come when you pair this with treating your feet too. But we'll get to that later.

Method 2: Baking Soda (Good, But Messy)

Baking soda is probably the most popular home remedy for shoe odor. And honestly, it does work. Kind of.

Here's how it works. Baking soda absorbs moisture. It also changes the pH inside your shoe, which makes it harder for bacteria to thrive. If you've got mild shoe odor, sprinkling some baking soda inside your shoes overnight can make a noticeable difference.

The good part: it's cheap. You probably already have some in your kitchen. A box costs a dollar or two and lasts a long time.

The bad part: it's messy. Really messy. You shake baking soda into your shoe at night. In the morning, you dump it out. But there's always white residue left behind. It gets on your socks. It cakes up in the lining. If your shoes are dark, you can see it everywhere.

And here's the bigger issue. Baking soda doesn't actually kill bacteria. It absorbs moisture and helps with the pH, but the bacteria are still there. Once you stop using it, the smell comes back. It's maintenance, not a fix.

Pro tip: Instead of dumping loose baking soda into your shoes, put some in a coffee filter or an old sock. Tie it off and drop it inside the shoe. You get the moisture absorption without the mess. It's not perfect, but it's way less annoying than cleaning white powder off your insoles every morning.

Baking soda is a solid option if you're on a tight budget or just dealing with light odor. But for anything serious, you'll need something that actually goes after the bacteria.

Method 3: Shoe Rotation (Underrated)

This one is so simple that most guys never think about it. Don't wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row.

Remember what I said earlier? Shoes don't dry out between wears. That trapped moisture is what keeps bacteria alive and growing. But if you give your shoes 24 to 48 hours to air out between wears, they actually have time to dry.

Dry shoes mean bacteria can't multiply as fast. The smell doesn't build up the way it does when you wear the same pair every day.

This is especially true for work shoes and gym shoes. Those take the hardest beating when it comes to sweat. If you've got two pairs you can rotate, do it. Even just alternating every other day makes a big difference.

Now, shoe rotation won't fix shoes that already smell. If your shoes are already loaded with bacteria, giving them a day off won't undo months of buildup. But it's one of the best ways to stop the problem from getting worse.

Think of it as prevention. You still need to treat the existing odor with a spray or another method. But rotating your shoes keeps you from starting over every week.

If you only take one piece of advice from this post besides using a shoe spray, this is it. Two pairs of shoes, alternating days. Simple. Free. Works.

Method 4: Cedar Shoe Inserts

Cedar is a natural moisture absorber. And it smells good. That's a solid combo for dealing with shoe odor.

Cedar shoe trees or inserts pull moisture out of your shoes while they sit in the closet. They also help your shoes keep their shape, which is a nice bonus if you care about that kind of thing.

You can find cedar shoe trees at most department stores or online. They come in different sizes. You put them in after you take your shoes off. They do their thing overnight.

The cedar smell is subtle and clean. Way better than whatever your shoes smell like right now. And unlike dryer sheets or air fresheners, the cedar is actually absorbing moisture instead of just masking the problem.

But let's be honest. Cedar inserts alone won't fix a serious odor problem. If your shoes already smell bad, cedar isn't strong enough to turn that around. It's a supplement, not a solution.

Where cedar really shines is after you've already dealt with the core problem. You fix the odor with a spray. You rotate your shoes. Then you use cedar inserts to maintain that freshness. That's the right way to use them.

Think of cedar as the finishing touch, not the starting point.

Method 5: Vinegar Spray

White vinegar is another popular home remedy. And it does have some science behind it.

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the inside of your shoes. Let them air dry completely before wearing them again.

The acetic acid in vinegar can help break down some of the bacteria causing the smell. It's a mild disinfectant. And it works in a pinch if you don't have anything else on hand.

Here's the catch. Your shoes are going to smell like vinegar until they dry. And that can take a while. If you spray them before bed, they should be fine by morning. But if you're in a rush, you're trading foot odor for vinegar odor. Pick your battle.

Vinegar also isn't strong enough for daily use. It can help with a mild odor problem, but it's not going to solve the kind of deep, built-in stink that comes from months of wear. And doing it every day gets old fast.

Good for an emergency. Not great as a long-term plan.

Method 6: Freezing Your Shoes (Don't Bother)

The internet loves this one. Put your shoes in a plastic bag. Throw them in the freezer. Leave them overnight. The cold kills the bacteria.

Except it doesn't.

Freezing does not kill bacteria. It pauses them. Bacteria go dormant in cold temperatures. They stop growing. They stop producing odor. So when you pull your shoes out of the freezer, they might smell fine for a little while.

But as soon as your shoes warm back up, those bacteria wake right up. They start feeding on the sweat and dead skin that's still trapped in your shoe. Within a couple of hours, you're right back where you started.

I tried this. My shoes smelled fine for about 2 hours. Then they smelled like cold feet and disappointment.

There's also the fact that you're putting your dirty, sweaty shoes in the same freezer where you keep your food. I don't care how many plastic bags you use. That's not something I want to do regularly.

Save your freezer space for ice cream. Use a shoe spray for your shoes.

Method 7: Dryer Sheets (Barely Works)

Stuffing a dryer sheet in each shoe is one of those tips that sounds clever but doesn't do much.

Dryer sheets add a fragrance. That's it. They don't absorb moisture. They don't stop bacteria. They just put a nice smell on top of a bad smell.

It's like putting air freshener in a dirty bathroom. You don't fix anything. You just get a weird combination of lavender and the thing you were trying to cover up.

If you're heading somewhere and need a quick fix for the next hour, sure. A dryer sheet might take the edge off. But it's not going to solve your shoe odor problem. Not even close.

The Step Most People Skip: Treat Your Feet Too

Here's the thing nobody talks about. Your shoes smell because your feet smell. Fix the source and you fix the shoe.

Most guys focus on the shoes. They spray them, stuff them with baking soda, freeze them. But then they put their untreated feet right back in. The bacteria on your feet transfer to the shoe. The shoe gets warm and moist. And the cycle starts all over again.

It's like brushing your teeth and eating candy right after. The clean doesn't last because you're adding the problem right back.

If you really want to stop shoe odor for good, you need to treat both sides. Your feet and your shoes. Every day.

Here's what my routine looks like. I use a foot deodorant on the bottom of my feet and between my toes every morning. I do it again at night after I shower. Then I spray my shoes with a shoe spray before bed. That's it. Takes about 30 seconds total.

I've been doing this every day for years. My shoes don't smell. My feet don't smell. It just works. But only because I do it every day. Don't break the chain.

If you want to learn more about the foot side of things, I've written about it in a few other posts:

• Foot Spray vs. Shoe Spray: Do You Need Both?
• Why Do Your Feet Smell?
• Does Foot Deodorant Work?
• Antibacterial Soap for Smelly Feet: Does It Actually Work?

You can also check out the full foot odor solutions collection to see everything in one place.

FAQ: How to Get Rid of Shoe Odor

What is the fastest way to get rid of shoe odor?

A shoe deodorizer spray is the fastest way to knock out shoe odor. Spray the inside of each shoe, let them dry overnight, and the smell should be noticeably better by morning. For shoes that are really far gone, you might need to repeat this for a few days in a row. Baking soda overnight can also help speed things up if the odor is strong.

Does baking soda actually remove shoe odor?

Yes, but temporarily. Baking soda absorbs moisture and helps change the pH inside your shoe. That reduces the smell. But it doesn't stop the bacteria that cause the odor. Once you stop using it, the smell comes back. It's a good short-term fix, especially for mild odor. Just know it's not a permanent solution on its own.

Why do my shoes smell even after washing?

Washing your shoes removes some of the surface buildup. But most bacteria live deep in the insole and lining where water can't always reach. If your shoes still smell after washing, the bacteria are still there. You need something that actually reaches inside the shoe and stops the odor at the source. A daily shoe spray works better than washing for this reason.

Can you get rid of shoe odor permanently?

You can, but it takes a routine. There's no one-time fix that makes shoe odor disappear forever. You need to treat your shoes daily, rotate your pairs, and keep your feet clean and treated. If you stick with a consistent routine, shoe odor stops being a problem. But if you skip days, it comes right back. Consistency is the whole secret.

Is it the shoe or my feet that smell?

It's both. Your feet produce the sweat and bacteria. Your shoes trap the moisture and give bacteria a place to grow. They feed off each other. That's why treating just one side doesn't work long-term. Fix your feet and fix your shoes. That's when the smell actually stops. I wrote more about this in my post on why your feet smell.