Smelly Sneakers: How to Get Rid of the Odor

Anyone who is an athlete has had a problem with smelly sneakers. This is a perfectly natural phenomenon. Sweat due to physical exertion provides a hot, moist environment for bacteria to grow. As a result of their fermentation metabolic processes, these bacteria will cause your sneakers to smell bad. Although the process might be natural, it doesn't remove the embarrassment or irritation of a pair of smelly sneakers. So, how does one remove said odors from said pair of smelly sneakers?

The best way to eliminate odor is to eliminate the cause of the odor. Many commercial deodorizing products cover up the odor, but they don't eliminate the bacteria that cause them. The problem with sneakers is that they contain a lot of padding material in order to cushion the feet during exercise. This padding provides numerous nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide. This means that if smelly sneakers are treated with deodorizing agents that come in spray cans or bottles, they will continue to smell because the liquid can't permeate the padding material. Also, if one uses special deodorizing balls that they sell at sporting goods stores, he will be eliminating the smell temporarily, but once those sneakers go back on the feet they will continue to smell. So, if we really want to eliminate the odor from smelly sneakers we need to combat the bacteria.