Boots provide essential protection for your feet when other types of footwear don’t cut it. They’re great for getting work done safely and keeping your feet dry while on an outdoor adventure. But unfortunately, boots that get a lot of use can start to smell pretty bad. Here are four ways to remove unpleasant odors from your boots.
Washing
The most practical way to remove unpleasant odors from your boots is to wash them regularly. Letting dirt, mud, and other materials build up on your boots without doing anything will cause them to smell bad and degrade faster.
Cleaning your work or hiking boots as soon as they get dirty will remove unwanted smells and ensure the footwear lasts as long as possible. You can’t run most boots through a washing machine, so you’ll need to clean them by hand. Scrubbing them with a small amount of soap and water should be sufficient for removing most types of debris.
Baking Soda
You may need to try something a little tougher for smells that are harder to get rid of. One common trick is to neutralize the odor with baking soda. Simply sprinkling some on your boots and letting it set overnight can be a huge help.
Baking soda is excellent for keeping Western work boots free of unwanted smells. You only need about a teaspoon of baking soda per boot. If you want to keep the material clean, put the baking soda in a separate cloth or sock instead of sprinkling it directly on the boots’ surface.
Essential Oils
If baking soda isn’t enough, or you don’t like how it smells, you can try using essential oils as an alternative. The great thing about essential oils is they don’t simply provide a pleasant aroma. They’ve also been shown to elevate mood and reduce stress.
Mixing essential oils like tea tree, lemon, and peppermint will give your boots a more natural smell than simply using baking soda. Lavender is especially effective for foot odor due to its antibacterial properties. Rub the oil directly on your feet and make sure you get it between your toes, where bacteria tend to grow.
Inserts
If nothing else is working, you may need a more clinical approach. Manufacturers offer inserts capable of making your boots more comfortable, improving posture, and reducing smells. Inserts are an especially valuable option if you already have foot pain or other orthopedic issues.
Boot inserts can be soft, rigid, or somewhere in between. Many have antimicrobial properties that sterilize the material, killing germs and reducing odors. For instance, charcoal inserts absorb smells and moisture, providing a deodorizing effect.
It’s Easy To Get Odor-Free Footwear
It’s only natural for boots to start to stink over time. However, living with unpleasant boot odor isn’t necessary with so many practical solutions available. Knowing a few simple ways to remove unpleasant odors from your boots will make wearing them more enjoyable for you and everyone else.