Foot odor is something that many people struggle with. It can range from a mild annoyance to something the permeates a whole home. Fighting odors, especially when more than one family member has issues, can seem like an impossible task. Commercial products rarely provide lasting results, and in some cases, they may not even be strong enough to work. If this sounds like what you are dealing with, then you should consider using essential oils to deodorize your shoes.
Fighting Odor
There are a couple of different recipes for essential oil foot odor remedies. Remember when mixing these up that you should always test the mixture first to make sure it doesn’t stain or spot your shoes. Be careful when using the oils so you avoid getting them on the outside of your shoes. Also, use these mixtures carefully. You don’t want to use too much so it soaks your shoe to the point where it won’t dry. In addition, you can use almost any oil you want, but some of the top ones include the following:
- Thyme
- Cinnamon
- Peppermint
- Lemon
- Fennel
Recipe #1
This is the easiest recipe. All you need is to mix a few drops of your chosen oil with baking soda. You don’t want to create a paste so use the oil sparingly. However, you should be able to smell it strongly. Put the mixture inside your shoes and let it set. The longer it sits, the more odor it will absorb. When you are ready to wear your shoes, dump out the mixture. There may be some residue left behind, but that’s okay.
Recipe #2
If you have some more time, you can try a wet recipe. Mix some essential oils with vinegar and spray the inside of your shoes. Let dry completely before wearing. Don’t overspray, though, or it will take a long time to dry.
Tips
There are many ways to play with the two basic shoe deodorizing recipes given above. Here are some tips to consider as you experiment:
- You can experiment with different mixtures of essential oils to get a scent you love. Just remember to stick with scents that are complementary to each other. For example, mixing peppermint with lime may not smell all that great. You can also just use one oil if you want.
- If you don’t have baking soda, you can use cornstarch. However, baking soda has some good properties of its own when it comes to deodorizing, so it’s a good idea to try to use it for the best results.
- Don’t go overboard with the essential oils. You don’t want too much or they could become overwhelming. You are just trying to remove the smell, not create a new problem.
- Keep any unused dry deodorizer in a tightly sealed container.
- Vinegar has a very strong smell, so you may need to use a bit more essential oil with the wet mixture.
Fighting shoe odors can be a constant battle, especially when the weather is hot. The combination of wet, sweaty feet and bacteria can almost knock you out. Fortunately, you can combat the problem by creating your own naturally-sourced foot deodorizer using essential oils and baking soda or vinegar. Soon, you can have shoes that smell great and won’t embarrass you anymore.
