The {Top Secret} Stinky Shoe Solution

Come in closer and make sure no one else is listening, because I’m about to let you in on a little secret that I like to call the stinky shoe solution. Not that YOU have stinky shoes. But let’s be honest– there are certain brands of shoes that tend to smell terrible after awhile (hello, UGGS and Keens), and certain occupants of shoes that don’t help that cause either (teenage boys, anyone?) Don’t worry though, no matter the source if you want to get rid of stinky shoe odors naturally I’ve got your back. This is one tip I don’t want to keep to myself, but who wants to discuss smelly shoes?

Let’s start at the source. My kids LIVE in Keens each summer. They are fantastic shoes that fit like sneakers but can go in the water, so we do everything from playgrounds to pools to puddles to backyards. However, all those environs can equal one thing: the STINKS!

Another stink source are boots. Especially the ones that rhyme with ‘fugs’. The lining doesn’t lend itself to easy cleaning either. What to do?

Here’s the step-by-step instructions for cleaning shoes and getting rid of bad odors!

Step 1: Clean what you can. Keens and most plastic flip-flops can actually be put right into the washing machine and air dried, so I do that every few weeks or as needed. It’s a great first step for cleaning but doesn’t always take out the odor for long. I zip them into a mesh laundry bag and throw into the warm cycle of the washer. You can put them in a gallon sized Ziploc bag and place in the freezerto kill bacteria. Clean as much of the shoe as you can on the outside (note that certain fabrics such as suede and leather need special cleaners from the manufacturer), because next…

Step 2: Clear the odor naturally. This little bottle of Purification Essential Oil can do incredible things. It’s a bad odor’s worst enemy. To get rid of shoe odor on plastic or waterproof shoes like Keens or flip flops put a few drops of Purification on a cotton ball and wipe it all around the shoes. Or, fill a spray bottle with water, witch hazel and Purification, SHAKE IT UP, and spray all over the shoes.

For boots like UGGS or sneakers, you won’t want to rub oil on the outside. Add a few drops of Purification and place inside shoes overnight. Repeat as needed.

Purification oil is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, it truly sucks odors out of the air or shoes (or floors or anywhere). I don’t know where the odors go, but they leave, and it’s glorious. That one bottle will clear the odor from just about anything.

So that’s my top-secret solution for the little discussed but often annoying problem of stinky shoes. No need to be embarrassed of those fug keens or boots anymore. Just wash and purify and you’re DONE!

How do you get Purification oil in your hands? You can order it retail from my Young Living page. It’s also one of the eleven bottles of oil in the Premium Starter Kit (which comes with a diffuser for stinky room odors or using the oils for wellness via inhalation). I can’t recommend the Premium Starter Kit enough, it’s an incredible value for getting started with these amazing oils. Learn more and order yours here!

No matter the season, if you have active kids you probably all deal with stinky shoes. Any additional tips for cleaning them or other favorite uses for Purification oil?