How To Remove Odour From Basketball Shoes?

remove odor from basketball shoes

Basketball shoes often develop an intense smell after being worn for a while, especially if they’re not properly ventilated.

One simple way to remove odor from basketball shoes is to sprinkle some baking soda inside them and let them sit overnight. In the morning, just vacuum up the baking soda, and the odor should be gone. You can also try putting your shoes in the freezer for a few hours, which will kill any bacteria that are causing the smell.

Poor ventilation setup in basketball shoes make your feet start to sweat, and then the socks suck all moisture present on your feet. At last, that moisture sticks in the shoe. So when you kick off your shoes at your home, they start to smell so bad and feel overwhelming that you wish to throw them away. However, there is no need to throw them away. There are some easy ways to get rid of the overwhelming odor.

Why Do My Basketball Shoes Smell So Bad?

Smelling Basketball Shoes
Basketball Shoes Smell

Sweaty feet are the main reason why your basketball shoes might smell bad. When you wear socks, they absorb some of the sweat, but when you’re not wearing socks, the sweat can build up and make your shoes smell.

Know the cause of smell

Cause of smell
Know the Cause of Smell
  • One primary reason is damaged insoles. The damaged insoles can cause odor and make your shoes smelly, so you should place the new one or dry them well. Everyone around you will be pleased.
  • If you have any kind of injury or foot problem, then this can also cause your shoes to smell bad.
  • If you wear shoes 24/7, your feet will obviously gain sweat due to less breath-ability, and as a result, your shoe becomes stinky. In this case, using the odour-reducing product would be a great idea.
  • When your feet can’t breathe properly, the bacteria spread rapidly on your feet and socks. And then they release overwhelming odor absorbed by your shoes and cause them to smell even after they’ve aired out.
  • To fight bacteria take a look at steps described below to remove odor from shoes.

Different Methods To Remove Odor From Basketball Shoes:

A few other methods can be used to remove the smell.

  1. Use Baking Soda:

Baking soda is one of the most effective ways to remove odor from basketball shoes. Simply sprinkle baking soda inside the shoes and let them sit overnight. In the morning, brush off the baking soda, and your shoes should be odor-free.

If your shoes are particularly stinky, you may want to try this method: fill a small bowl with baking soda and place it inside the shoe overnight. In the morning, empty out the bowl of baking soda, and your shoes should be much fresher. 

  1. Wash Your Shoes With Surgical Disinfectant:

Washing
Washing Basketball Shoes

Another option is to wash them with surgical disinfectant. This can be effective in killing bacteria and removing odors. However, it’s important to carefully follow the instructions on the disinfectant label, as some products may damage shoes if used incorrectly. 

  1. Freeze Your Basketball Shoes:

One unique method is to freeze them. This might seem counterintuitive, but freezing can actually help kill the bacteria that cause the bad smell. Simply place your shoes in a plastic bag and leave them in the freezer overnight. In the morning, take them out and allow them to thaw and air out before wearing them again. You may need to repeat this process a few times to eliminate the odor completely. 

  1. Apply Hand Sanitizer:

One way to remove odor from your basketball shoes is to apply alcohol gel hand sanitizer. Simply squirt a generous amount of sanitizer into each shoe and let it sit for a few minutes. The alcohol will kill the bacteria that cause the bad smell. You can also use rubbing alcohol, which can be found at most drugstores.

  1. Stuck Your Shoes With Newspaper:

Wrapped Basketball Shoes
Stuck Your Basketball Shoes With Newspaper

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to remove odor from your basketball shoes, try sticking them with newspaper. This cheap and easy hack will help absorb any lingering bad smells, leaving your shoes smelling fresh and clean. Simply stuff a few sheets of newspaper into each shoe, and let them sit overnight. In the morning, remove the newspapers and enjoy refreshed sneakers. 

  1. Use Baby Powder:

You can use baby powder to remove odor from basketball shoes. Simply sprinkle some baby powder into your shoes before you put them on, and then let them sit for a few minutes before putting your socks on. You can also put some baby powder in your socks before putting them on. 

  1. Wear Socks:

Wearing socks is one of the best ways to remove odor from your basketball shoes. Socks absorb sweat and help keep your feet dry, which prevents the growth of bacteria that causes odors. 

  1. Get A New Pair Of Insoles:

shoes sole
New Pair Of Insoles

If everything else fails, get a new pair of insoles. The old insoles may be the source of the odor, and a new pair will help to freshen up your shoes. 

Tips to Keep Your Shoes Smell Fresh

Tips Keep Shoes Smell Fresh
Keep Your Shoes Smell Fresh

A simple and easiest way to remove the odor is to use some odor and germ-killing products on a regular basis. But firstly you should know the cause of the smell.The most effective method is to buy two pairs of basketball sneakers. And try not to wear the same sneaker every day but try to give them a day off. So the moisture formed in them will evaporate, and bacteria breeding ground will come to halt that makes your shoe so smelly. This is much effective that you can get the smell out of your shoes.

Follow Possible Prevention’s

Prevention's
Follow Possible Prevention’s

Step one is that you have to do possible prevention; so that you stay away from odor or funky smell from your basketball sneakers. Make sure that you wash your feet thoroughly, store your shoes in the open air after use and wear clean socks.

Secondly, wash your feet thoroughly helps to maintain freshness on your feet and stops bacteria to keep summing up. After soaping up your soles always make sure to dry them before wearing sneakers.Doing this you won’t get moisture in shoes.If your shoes are washable, you should clean them routinely, but especially after intense training.

Store your shoes in front of sunlight

Store shoes in sunlight
Store your shoes in front of sunlight

Storing your shoes in front of sunlight also helps to prevent moisture buildup in your shoes. Due to sunlight, the moisture evaporates faster, and it puts off bacterial growth.
Wear clean socks

Wearing clean socks every day helps prevent excessive perspiration. And avoid chances of blisters by moving moisture away from the feet and the fabric.

Make sure that you follow these practices. So your shoes keep smelling fresh and stay away from bacteria.

Remove Bacteria

Remove Bacteria
Remove Bacteria From Basketball Shoes

The second step is the removal of bacteria from your sneakers. This step is all about sanitizing your smelly sneakers, and this can be done by methods written below.

Spray mixture: Spray mixtures are also effective bacteria killers. The rubbing alcohol is an antiseptic and it can be used to evaporate moisture. Also, it’s drying effect forces moisture to evaporate along with it.

White vinegar: Use white 50 % distilled white vinegar and 50 % water into your shoe lining and sole, and allow them at least 30 minutes to air dry before wearing them.

De-stink the Stench

After killing the bacteria, now we have to de-stink their waste left behind. This can be done by using baking or charcoal.

1.Baking Soda:Usually, Brevi bacterium feeds off the sweat on your feet and produces some bacterial acid. And afterwards, this causes odor in your shoes. We can use baking soda to remove that bacterial acid as it has been proved in studies that one gram of baking soda can neutralize12 mili-equivalents of pungent acid.

You can put some baking soda straight into your shoe, but then you will have to deal with the mess it produces. So just watch out for that. It would be better that you put baking soda in a piece of cloth or coffee filter and then place that piece of cloth in the shoe. So there would not be an issue.

2.Charcoal:Charcoal is used as a deodorizer for smelly shoes. The same method is for charcoal as you did with baking soda. If you place a few small pieces inside an old pair of tights and leave them in your shoe overnight, it’ll help the shoe breathe and eliminate the stench.

Keep your sneakers Fresh and Dry

This step is to make your basketball sneakers smell fresh, and different methods can do it. One way is to place a bar of porous soap in your shoe overnight; It will absorb remaining odors and leave behind an excellent, clean scent.

Essential oils are another way you can make your shoes smell pleasant again. Another way to make your shoes smell pleasant again is to place a few drops of oil onto a cotton ball and leave them inside your shoe If the steps mentioned above did not work.

Go for a New Pair of Basketball Shoes

Step five is to throw your stench shoes away and go for a new pair because some shoes are not even able to recover. They are entirely rounded up by bacteria, and it is much difficult to drive them out.

Note:

  • Always try to keep your shoes dry if you don’t want that stale smell to return.
  • Wear the right socks
  • Use some foot antiperspirant because a few sprays will make your shoes smell like roses

Conclusion:

Baking soda can be used as an effective and natural remedy to remove odor from basketball shoes. Baking soda will absorb the odor and leave the shoes smelling fresh. For best results, sprinkle baking soda on the shoes and let them sit overnight. In the morning, vacuum up the baking soda, and the odor will be gone!