The unpleasant smell of shoes is a real annoyance in our daily life, and it can cause a lot of embarrassment with family, friends or co-workers.

How can we avoid this problem?

In a report published by ReadersDigest in its Australian edition, writers Morgan Cutolo and Trish Barber show some clever tricks to keep shoes clean and get rid of unpleasant odors.

  • baking soda

To get rid of the unpleasant smell, it is recommended to sprinkle baking soda in the shoes and leave it overnight, then dispose of the powder in the morning.

Be careful not to use baking soda on leather shoes, as repeated use can dry out and damage them.

A reusable deodorant can also be made by filling old socks with two tablespoons of baking soda, tying them up, and leaving them inside the shoes at night.

To get rid of the bad smell, it is recommended to sprinkle baking soda in the shoes and leave it overnight (Pixabe)

  • Fabric Softening Wipes

To deodorize athletic shoes, put a dry tissue in the shoes and leave it overnight, then discard it in the morning.

Fabric softening wipes can be used to eliminate unpleasant odors in your shoe closet and the bag you carry with you to the gym.

  • the salt

Sneakers and canvas shoes can give off an unpleasant odor when worn in summer without socks.

To get rid of odor and absorb moisture, sprinkle a little salt in the shoes.

Sprinkle a little salt in the shoes to get rid of unpleasant odors (Shutterstock)

  • essential oils

Putting a few drops of essential oils in your shoes will give them a fresh scent. It is preferable to use eucalyptus oil, clove oil or tea tree oil.

If you don't want to apply the oil directly to your shoes, put a few drops on a tissue and leave it inside your shoes overnight.

  • Alcohol

By pouring alcohol on the wet or dirty part of your shoes, you will get rid of unpleasant odors and germs from your shoes.

  • black tea bags

Black tea contains tannin, which helps to get rid of bacteria accumulated on the shoes and unpleasant odors.

Place the tea bag in boiling water for 2 or 3 minutes, then remove and let cool.

Put it in the shoe for an hour and then clean up any remaining liquid on the shoe.

Black tea contains tannin, which helps to get rid of bacteria accumulated on the shoes (Al-Jazeera)

  • baby powder

Using baby powder is a proactive step before putting on shoes to avoid bad odor.

If you have to wear smelly shoes, put some baby powder on your feet.

  • cat sand

This may sound a little strange, but cat litter contains a lot of deodorants and can absorb liquids.

Fill the bottom of the shoe with cat litter and leave it overnight, then discard it in the morning and wipe the shoe with a damp cloth to clean it completely.

  • Washing machine

It is also possible to clean the shoes in the washing machine and then dry them if they are dirty inside and out, and this method is especially suitable for sports shoes.

If you don't have a shoe dryer, don't put it in a clothes dryer because it could damage the machine.

Shoes can be cleaned in a washing machine and then dried if they are dirty inside and out (Shutterstock)

  • Freezing shoes

If you don't have any deodorizer, put the shoes in a plastic bag and leave them in the refrigerator overnight. Freezing will help kill bacteria and remove bad odor.