Smelly shoes: what to do & tackling the odour
You take off your shoes and smell it straight away: a musty, sour or pungent odour that lingers in the lining. Airing them out or using bicarbonate of soda can temporarily reduce the odour, but as soon as you wear the shoes again, it often returns.
This isn’t down to “dirty sweating”. Sweat itself has hardly any smell, but in a warm, damp shoe, bacteria break down the components of sweat. This creates the odour that lingers in your shoes.
Do you mainly suffer from smelly shoes? Then sprinkle PediFris® Classic in your shoes before putting them on. Whilst you’re wearing them, the powder disinfects both your shoes and your feet, combating the bacteria and fungi that cause odours.
Do your feet and socks get wet quickly too? Then combine PediFris® Classic with PediSpray®. This antiperspirant helps to reduce excessive sweating on your skin, so that less moisture ends up in your shoes.
Why shoes can smell so persistently
Fresh sweat has hardly any smell. The odour only develops when bacteria, and sometimes fungi, grow in the warm and damp lining of your shoes. They break down components of sweat, thereby causing the typical musty or sour smell of shoes. Synthetic materials, wearing the same pair every day and going barefoot in closed shoes can exacerbate this.
Shoes smell of cat urine
Do your shoes have a pungent smell of ammonia or cat urine? This is also often caused by bacterial decomposition in the lining. Air them out, use bicarbonate of soda or put them in the freezer to temporarily reduce the odour, but these methods do not always tackle the root cause. As long as bacteria and moisture remain in your shoes, the stench may return.
A three-step approach
First the shoe, then reduce moisture on the skin, then dry and change.
Tackle bacteria in your shoes
Sprinkle PediFris® Classic into dry shoes. The powder remains in the lining and tackles micro-organisms, rather than simply masking odours.
Reducing sweating on the skin
Apply PediSpray® (Regular or Strong) to clean, dry feet. Less sweat means less moisture for bacteria in warm shoes.
Air out, remove insoles, change
Remove the insoles, leave the pair to dry for at least 24 hours (not in a sports bag) and switch to a different pair if you run every day.
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First aid versus a long-term approach
Quick remedies include: airing the feet, leaving baking soda on overnight and rinsing it off thoroughly, wearing dry socks, and drying the feet thoroughly between the toes. Vinegar, coffee pods or the freezer are often recommended. They rarely provide a long-term solution to bacteria or new moisture build-up.
For lasting results, treat two areas. Inside the shoe: PediFris® Classic. On the skin if you sweat a lot: PediSpray®. Sports and work shoes retain moisture for longer; washing often damages the shoe without actually cleaning the lining.
Why Classic is at the forefront here
With smelly shoes, the problem mainly lies in the lining. This is where PediFris® Classic comes in: the powder stays where bacteria cause odours. PediSpray® also reduces moisture on the skin, so that less ‘nutrient’ enters the shoe.
Athlete’s foot, worn-out shoes or a GP?
Does the odour return with itching, flaking or cracks between the toes? If so,athlete’s foot play a part. Is the lining structurally damaged and does everything stay wet? Replace the pair. In the case of diabetes, open sores or pain: see your GP. More about sweating:what to do about sweaty feet.
Sweaty feet
Less perspiration, more everyday comfort.
Read more
Smelly feet
Causes, practical tips and products to tackle foot odour and shoes.
Read more
Smelly shoes
Tackle stubborn odour where it really starts.
Read more
Pitted keratolysis
Extra care for sensitive and affected soles.
Read more
Athlete's foot
Support clean skin and fresh foot comfort.
Read more
Fungal nail
Support neat, strong and well-cared-for nails.
Read moreFrequently asked questions about smelly shoes
From odours from the lining to bicarbonate of soda, the smell of cat urine and prevention: answers that match how people search.
How do you get a nasty smell out of your shoes?
Air the pair, remove the insoles and sprinkle PediFris® Classic into the dry shoes. For excessive sweating: apply PediSpray® to dry feet. Bicarbonate of soda sometimes provides temporary relief; it is not a substitute for powder in the lining.
Why do my shoes start to smell so quickly?
Warm, damp footwear + bacteria. Wearing the same pair every day, synthetic materials and bare feet accelerate the problem. Without drying and without tackling the bacteria, the odour returns quickly.
Does bicarbonate of soda or vinegar help with smelly shoes?
Sometimes they mask odours. They do not inhibit your sweat glands and rarely tackle bacteria in the lining at a structural level. Use them as a first-aid measure, not as the sole solution.
Shoes smell of cat wee: what now?
That pungent ammonia smell often indicates bacterial decomposition deep within the lining. The classic remedy for dry shoes is to air them out; use a spray if your feet produce a lot of moisture.
What is the difference between this and smelly feet?
Smelly shoes = odour coming from or going into the pair. Smelly feet = foot odour on the skin. These are often related, but the first step differs: shoe powder versus a skincare routine. If there is odour on the skin, a separate foot care routine is also required.
When are shoes ‘worn out’ or should you see your GP?
Replace the pair if the lining is damaged and remains damp. Consult your GP if you have diabetes, open sores, pain or obvious signs of fungal infection. See ‘athlete’s foot’.
About the author & sources
Written by Judith de Jong (Content owner, PediFris®). Medically reviewed by Sébastien Dequidt, podiatrist. Updated on 31 July 2026. We base our advice on foot care practice and on the medical sources listed below.
Worried about a persistent complaint, fungal nail, athlete’s foot or excessive sweating? Consult your GP, podiatrist or chiropodist.
Sources
- NHS: Smelly feet: www.nhs.uk
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