Anonymous wrote:I soak my shoes with vinegar.

The problem is that they already smell like vinegar.

I soak my shoes with vinegar.

If you washed them and they still smell, this might not work, but I usually put dryer sheets in mine and leave them for a couple of days.

Anonymous wrote:Charcoal shoe liners on amazon! They are amazing. Leather top but thin, like an insole with activated charcoal to absorb odor. I keep them in my tieks now.

What brand?

I appreciate the honesty in this post. I can never get over people who have posted unhelpful things like “I don’t understand why they would smell-don’t you bathe? do you have a medical problem?” In similar posts.

I most often get this with cheap Payless shoes or nonbreathable fabrics. If I spend more money I make sure I wear tiny socks. I would run them through w some oxyclean this time. I haven’t bought it but there is an ultraviolet light you can also buy that sanitizes (kills odor) shoes.

Biokleen BacOut - it’s what I use when my kids puke on stuff.

Essential oils and baking soda

Spray deodorant in them and let them sit in the sun for many hours.

Charcoal shoe liners on amazon! They are amazing. Leather top but thin, like an insole with activated charcoal to absorb odor. I keep them in my tieks now.

I had this happen. I washed them a second time and it fixed it.

I now also wear little footies whenever I wear my Rothys

cedar shoe TREES, sorry

cedar shoe treas.

If the insoles come out, do so, and wipe them down with diluted vinegar or bleach. Let air dry

Cedar oil on a linen cloth, rub the insoles and liners

I feel like this just happens with shoes that you wear without socks - especially if they're made out of a non-breathable material like Rothys. Have you tried charcoal inserts? Or a tea tree oil spray?

I had this happen with Tieks and I just had to trash them. Luckily I’d had them forever anyway so I got my money’s worth. Curious to know if anyone has magical solutions though.

Ugh, I got them wet and kept walking around in them. Now they smell TERRIBLE even after washing on cold in the washing machine. I need to kill whatever gross bacteria is blooming, preferably without damaging the shoe (though they're garbage if I don't fix this issue, so happy to take any ideas). What should I try?