The Best Sprays, Pods, and Pouches for Getting the Stink Out of Your Shoes

The Best Sprays, Pods, and Pouches for Getting the Stink Out of Your Shoes

Smelly kicks don’t stand a chance against these odor-fighting, bacteria-killing products.

When you get home and kick off your shoes after a hard summer workout, there’s a good chance they reek. After all, when your feet start to sweat, that moisture is trapped in your socks, which is then stuck inside your shoe harboring funk. Here’s what you can do. First, if your shoes are wet, get them dry; odor-causing bacteria thrive in humidity. Remove the insoles, stuff the shoes with some newspaper, and let them hang out overnight in a well-ventilated area. Next, start using odor-reducing and germ-killing sprays or inserts regularly. If you’re overwhelmed with all the options out there, we’ve got you covered.

Signs of Bacteria

Even shoes with ample ventilation and mesh panels tend to hold on to some of the stink following your run. And that rancid smell is actually more than just an odor. “What some people don’t know is that actual smell is bacteria, and it’s living inside your socks, shoes, and on your feet,” says Luke Lombardo, an RRCA-certified running coach and Ironman triathlete. “Not only is it important to get rid of that nasty smell that’s on your running shoes, but it’s also imperative that you kill the pesky bacteria living in your shoes.” If not, that bacteria could lead to an infection over time.

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How We Tested

In order to gauge the effectiveness of these odor eliminators, we had to get a little smelly. But we had to be smart about how we did it. In order to consistently replicate stinky running shoes (and without risking exposure to harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus), we found the answer in a cheese called Bavarian Limburger. It’s one of the most pungent varieties out there. But that’s not the only reason we chose it: While body odor has many sources, one key player is Brevibacterium linens, a rod-shaped organism found on human skin that makes feet stink. In a kind of gross—yet cool—coincidence, this same bacteria works to ferment Limburger, which helps explain why it really does smell quite a bit like a sweaty foot.

We tested a total of 21 odor eliminators—pods, balls, pouches, powders, and sprays. To simulate a hot and sweaty shoe post-run, we warmed Limburger cheese in a microwave and let it sit out to work up a potent stink. Next, we placed individual 60-gram wedges inside airtight Ziploc bags with one of the odor-eliminating contenders. And then we waited. After about four hours, and again after 24 hours, we opened the bags and took a whiff, comparing them to the smell of an untreated piece of bagged Limburger as our control. The products below are the 11 that did both the best job at minimizing cheesy aromas and, in the case of the inserts and pods, were well-made.

 

The satisfactory Sprays, Pods, and Pouches for buying the Stink from your shoes

Stinky kicks don’t stand a threat in opposition to those odor-fighting, bacteria-killing merchandise.

When you get home and kick off your footwear after a hard summer time exercise, there’s a great hazard they reek. In the end, when your ft start to sweat, that moisture is trapped in your socks, that's then stuck inner your shoe harboring funk. Here’s what you may do. First, if your shoes are wet, get them dry; scent-inflicting micro organism thrive in humidity. Do away with the insoles, stuff the shoes with some newspaper, and let them grasp out overnight in a well-ventilated area. Next, start the use of scent-reducing and germ-killing sprays or inserts frequently. In case you’re crushed with all the options accessible, we’ve got you included.

Symptoms of micro organism

Even footwear with enough ventilation and mesh panels tend to preserve directly to some of the stink following your run. And that rancid odor is surely greater than simply an scent. “What a few human beings don’t know is that real smell is micro organism, and it’s dwelling interior your socks, shoes, and to your ft,” says Luke Lombardo, an RRCA-licensed going for walks train and Ironman triathlete. “not only is it essential to eliminate that nasty odor that’s on your going for walks footwear, but it’s additionally vital that you kill the pesky bacteria dwelling for your footwear.” If now not, that micro organism could result in an contamination through the years.

This content material is imported from embed-name. You'll be capable of discover the equal content material in another layout, or you will be capable of locate extra facts, at their internet website online.

How We examined

With a purpose to gauge the effectiveness of these odor eliminators, we needed to get a little pungent. But we had to be smart about how we did it. In an effort to constantly replicate stinky walking shoes (and with out risking exposure to harmful micro organism like Staphylococcus), we determined the solution in a cheese known as Bavarian Limburger. It’s one of the most stinky varieties obtainable. But that’s no longer the simplest purpose we chose it: while frame smell has many resources, one key player is Brevibacterium linens, a rod-formed organism found on human skin that makes toes stink. In a sort of gross—yet cool—coincidence, this equal bacteria works to ferment Limburger, which helps explain why it absolutely does odor quite a bit like a sweaty foot.

We examined a complete of 21 odor eliminators—pods, balls, pouches, powders, and sprays. To simulate a warm and sweaty shoe submit-run, we warmed Limburger cheese in a microwave and let it sit down out to paintings up a robust stink. Subsequent, we positioned man or woman 60-gram wedges interior airtight Ziploc baggage with one of the scent-disposing of contenders. And then we waited. After approximately four hours, and once more after 24 hours, we opened the baggage and took a whiff, comparing them to the odor of an untreated piece of bagged Limburger as our control. The goods under are the eleven that did each the great task at minimizing cheesy aromas and, inside the case of the inserts and pods, have been well-made.