Flats have the notorious reputation for being the most smelly shoes within a women’s closet. Part of the shoes problem exists in the way that they are worn on a regular basis without the use of nylons or socks to conceal dead skin particles or foot sweat. This creates a rich moist environment for bacteria to call home and the propagate.
Fortunately, there are several solutions for removing the footy funk from your flats and make sure that it does not build up again. The following tips will in ensure that they are always smelling at their best and are never an odorous issue.
Smell Removal Tips of Flats
1 Baking Soda
This household powder has wonderful absorption capabilities and does a great job in pulling in unwelcome foot-related odors. Before going to bed, try to sprinkle one or two teaspoons of baking soda within the shoes, and proceed to shuffle them until the powder has made its way to the toe area of the flats. Once complete, allow the shoes to sit over night to freshen up. If one night does not do the job, repeat this practice nightly until no odor remains within the shoes.
2 Activated Charcoal Inserts
If you have the time, this long-term solution can make sure that an odor never develops within your flats. Obtain an old pair of nylon leggings and cut the legs apart. Place 2-3 charcoal briquettes within each legging and tie an knot above the last briquette. Next, put the nylon enclosed charcoal briquettes within the flats, making sure that they are pushed all of the way down the the toe area. Finalized by placing the activated charcoal filled shoes within a shoe box and allowing to sit over night. This usually takes between 5-7 to effectively remove the odor from the interior of the shoes.
3 Coffee Grounds
Most people associate this material with morning brew, but seldom know that it has powerful absorption capabilities. Fill four coffee ground filters with two teaspoons of coffee grounds each. Pull the loose ends of the filter together and bound closed with a rubber band. Once completed, place within the interior of each flat and allow the shoes to sit over night. If smells still remain after the first night, place these same filter back within the shoes for a seconnd or third night. If successful, the coffee grounds will have lifted the foot-related odor and replaced it with the subtile scent of coffee beans.
4 Kitty Litter
This is usually used in deodorizing cat dropping and keeping thing sanitized within the home, however it can remain effective at deodorizing as well. Keep a small portion of fresh cat litter by your bed, and pour a small amount of this filling within each shoe nightly. The cat litter will work to dry out moist foot sweat and create an unsuitable environment for odorous bacteria.
5 Enzyme Dipped Paper Wads
Harnessing the power of enzymes can work well at literally eating through the organic odors within the flats. Scrunch up several paper towels and lightly dip the tips within a small bowl of enzyme deodorizing solution. Next, stuff the paper towels down within the interior of the shoes and allow 24-48 hours for the cleaning solution to eliminate the foot related odors. Once this time has passed, remove the enzyme dipped paper wads and place flats outside within the sun to finalize the freshening process.
Photo credit: Danielle Scott
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