Deodorising boots

[Springchicken]

Does anyone know of a genuinely effective way of deodorising boots?

I have a pair of much-loved and much-used Altberg boots which now stink whenever I wear them. I have tried changing the insoles, washing the insoles and spraying the boots' interiors but to no avail. I do not want to get rid of them merely because of their distinctive bouquet as they are very comfortable and have many years left in them so, if anyone knows of or has experience of an effective way of eliminating the boots' distinctive aroma, I'd be hugely appreciative!

 

[Chris]

What have you sprayed the inside with?

I've seen a few people recommend white vinegar solution for tricky smells in shoes before. Though I think you need to be careful not to soak the leather as it'll dry it out.

Edit to add: Are you wearing wool socks in them? I find bad socks make smelly feet.

 

[Toddy]

Baking soda.
Sprinkle it generously inside the boots. Wash the insoles with a solution of it, let them sit in it for a little while then rinse and dry. Biological washing liquid works too, but the baking soda is simple and fuss free.

The smell is bacteria, so you need something to kill the bacteria....baking soda is dry, shakes out when you're done and it does seem to kill the smell effectively.

Antibacterial activity of baking soda - PubMed

The antibacterial activity of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) was assessed using three different experimental approaches. Standard minimum inhibitory concentration analyses revealed substantial inhibitory activity against Streptococcus mutans that was not due to ionic strength or high...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Chris is so right about the socks. Wool ones can be worn for days on end and not stink, but some man made fibre ones can be awful. It's as though the smell permeates into the fibres and just will not shift.

 

[Woody girl]

Dust feet with cuticura medicated talc, and wear wool socks, every time you use them, once you've given them the Toddy treatment.
A little shake of the talc inside the boots when you are not using them keeps them sweet.

 

[Springchicken]

Many thanks, all.

I can't remember the name of the spray; I think it was some sort of Dr Scholl preparation. In any case, it was useless.

Just for the record, I always wear pure wool socks - not even 'wool mix'! They are changed regularly and, thus far, neither I nor anyone who has come close would describe my feet as smelly; that observation is reserved for the boots.

I will head down the baking soda and medicated talc route and see, or rather, smell what happens!

 

[John Fenna]

12 bore.....

 

[Chris]

12 bore.....

That’s a lot of pigs to fit in a boot

 

[Toddy]

Many thanks, all.

I can't remember the name of the spray; I think it was some sort of Dr Scholl preparation. In any case, it was useless.

Just for the record, I always wear pure wool socks - not even 'wool mix'! They are changed regularly and, thus far, neither I nor anyone who has come close would describe my feet as smelly; that observation is reserved for the boots.
I will head down the baking soda and medicated talc route and see, or rather, smell what happens!

Best of luck with it. To be honest that sounds like it's the padding of the boots, not just the insoles though.

My husband had a pair that we just could not get rid of the smell from. The baking soda worked for a few days then needed to be re-done.
In the end I reckoned the only thing that would do would be to soak the boots themselves in something anti-bacterial, like the washing liquid for wick away clothing, tshirts, etc.,so that the padding was saturated with it.

Thankfully, he walked them dead before it got to that

 

[Billy-o]

Another way is to wet them and put them in the microwave for a minute. Careful, as it will soften the glue temporarily. But it works very well.

I think Spike Milligan recommended peeing into them until full and letting them stand overnight. Try and remember that you have done this though; in order to avoid plunging your feet into boots full of cold urine in the morning.

 

[Springchicken]

Sadly, I don't think the microwave trick will work because of the metal hooks and eyelets!

 

[Springchicken]

Best of luck with it. To be honest that sounds like it's the padding of the boots, not just the insoles though.

My husband had a pair that we just could not get rid of the smell from. The baking soda worked for a few days then needed to be re-done.
In the end I reckoned the only thing that would do would be to soak the boots themselves in something anti-bacterial, like the washing liquid for wick away clothing, tshirts, etc.,so that the padding was saturated with it.

Thankfully, he walked them dead before it got to that

I suppose the soaking the interiors of the boots with something like Milton 2 would work... I'll try the baking soda first, though.

 

[nigelp]

I’ve washed the inside of ‘waterproof lined’ boots with Nicwax tech wash to remove dirt and dirty water stains smells. Need to get in there with a dishwashing brush and then rinse out. The issue is then drying the boots out without them getting damp and smelly! Stuff with newspaper and keep putting in and taking out until moisture is taken up. Nice sunny day outside or an indoor window, just inside a window on vent. I’ve balanced mine on a top opening window partly open to air dry with good results.

 

[Nice65]

I have the same problem, used the Scholl rubbish, Daktarin spray etc. The cause of it, I'm sure, was well within the fabric and footbed of the boots and I couldn't shift it. Then I tried this stuff, and it works. It's expensive but the little tub goes a long way.

Ingredients:
Kaolin powder
Arrowroot
Bicarb soda
Peppermint oil
Tea tree oil
Eucalyptus oil

So, not rocket science to make I'd have thought.

 

[Nice65]

Sadly, I don't think the microwave trick will work because of the metal hooks and eyelets!

It's a bit of a fallacy that. I watched the Aussie chef guy, Nats What I Reckon or something, cook a foil wrapped chicken in the microwave. Quite sweary so I won't post the vid, but look up 'worst way to cook roast chicken'.

 

[sereneblue]

Just got back into this forum.

I use Clove Oil. Works a treat. I think its antifungal and antibacterial. The smell is organic and helps deodorising. I am sure the oil helps the inside of leather boors too.

 

[demented dale]

Does anyone know of a genuinely effective way of deodorising boots?

I have a pair of much-loved and much-used Altberg boots which now stink whenever I wear them. I have tried changing the insoles, washing the insoles and spraying the boots' interiors but to no avail. I do not want to get rid of them merely because of their distinctive bouquet as they are very comfortable and have many years left in them so, if anyone knows of or has experience of an effective way of eliminating the boots' distinctive aroma, I'd be hugely appreciative!

Baking soda. defo. A few people have mentioned it and I stand with them . DD xxxx

 

[nigelp]

I have the same problem, used the Scholl rubbish, Daktarin spray etc. The cause of it, I'm sure, was well within the fabric and footbed of the boots and I couldn't shift it. Then I tried this stuff, and it works. It's expensive but the little tub goes a long way.

Ingredients:
Kaolin powder
Arrowroot
Bicarb soda
Peppermint oil
Tea tree oil
Eucalyptus oil

So, not rocket science to make I'd have thought.

View attachment 98160

This works… bought some and it’s good.

 

[Nice65]

This works… bought some and it’s good.

Thanks for the feedback, I find it's brilliant stuff and genuinely does deodorize boots permanently.

 

[hughtrimble]

This works… bought some and it’s good.

Just bought some after your two's positive responses, thanks.

 

[TLM]

I think Tea tree oil is what does most of the killing in that, it tends to kill all bacters, even ones resistant to antibiotics. Is not very expensive but one would need some kind of spraying device.