Odor Removal From Shoes And Clothing
To remove those odors, try a variety of methods. Some are more effective on certain odors, and others work better with other smells. For example, many shoe odors respond well to a dual treatment with disinfectant spray and charcoal. First, spray the interior of the shoes with a good disinfectant spray. Lysol makes a version of this spray, but you can also buy a store brand for odor removal as well.This spray should kill all bacteria in the shoes and prevent it from growing more. To keep any unpleasant smells out of the shoes, put some activated charcoal (the kind you can purchase for an aquarium) and put it in a bag made from a piece of old pantyhose or an old, thin sock.Each time you remove your shoes, place a bag of charcoal in each shoe. The charcoal absorbs any odors and leaves your shoes smelling fresh and clean. You can also try baking soda in the place of the charcoal.Some other tricks for removing the bacteria that cause odor in shoes is to wash them (if they are washable) and dry them quickly in hot sun or over a vent. Damp shoes breed bacteria. You can also put them in a bag and freeze them for 12 hours to kill the bacteria or replace the insole.The best method for removing odors is to prevent them. You can put a bit of baby powder in the shoe and a bit in your socks. This will keep your feet and shoes smelling fresh. Just be sure not to use too much, or it may cake near your toes.Odors in clothing can often be removed by simply washing and drying the items. However, not all odors are eliminated through this method. Stubborn odors such as chemicals used in cleaning or shipping, smoke, fumes, perfumes and other smells can get trapped in your clothing.First, air the clothing out in a breezy room or porch. You can use a fan to create a breeze.The clothing items should be soaked in the washer or in a tub with enough water to cover them and 1/3 cup of vinegar. You may also get good results with borax or washing soda. They should soak for at least 10 minutes, then washed as usual with the usual detergent and fabric softener.Adding another 1/3 cup of distilled, white vinegar to the rinse cycle can add an extra boost of odor removing power.When you dry the clothing, it’s best to dry them outside. The high heat of an automatic dryer can “set” the odors in the clothes, making them nearly impossible to remove. You may find it necessary to repeat these steps if you are particularly sensitive to odors or the odors are particularly stubborn.

