Do your golf shoes smell bad?
If they do, you’re not alone. Many people have this problem.
No one wants to tee off with a pair of stinky golf shoes.
The good news is that there are a few simple steps you can take to get the smell out and keep your shoes smelling fresh.
In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best ways to do this.
We will also provide some tips on how to prevent your golf shoes from smelling in the first place.
Why do my golf shoes smell like cat pee?
Have you ever wondered why your golf shoes smell so bad?
It has to do with sweat, bacteria, and a compound called isovaleric acid.
When your feet sweat, the sweat is broken down by two types of bacteria (corynebacterium & micrococci) into a fatty acid called isovaleric acid.
This compound is then used as food by bacteria that live on your skin. These bacteria produce waste products that have a strong, unpleasant smell.
The smell of golf shoes is particularly bad because the shoes are often made of materials that don’t allow your feet to breathe.
As a result, your feet sweat more when you wear them, and the bacteria have more opportunities to thrive.
In this post, we will explain steps to solve this issue.
To stop your shoes from smelling there are a few things that you can do, we broke them down into what to do before wearing your shoes, and after taking them off.
How to keep my golf shoes from smelling BEFORE wearing them?
1. Wear breathable shoes (and washable if possible)
One of the best ways to keep your golf shoes from smelling buy breathable shoes in the first place.
The breathable materials will allow any moisture to evaporate quickly, instead of being trapped inside the shoe where it can cause bacteria to grow.
If possible, buy washable shoes, as this will make it easy to remove any lingering dirt or sweat.
2. Use a washable insole
First, If the manufacturer fitted insoles are not washable, then consider replacing them with a washable insole. This will help to absorb sweat and prevent bacteria from building up.
There are many different types of washable insoles available on the market, so be sure to choose one that is comfortable for you.
3. Use Copper-infused Moisture-wicking socks.
Sweaty feet are the main problem, and unfortunately, there’s no way to completely prevent sweat from happening.
However, one of the best things you can do is buy a pair of copper sole moisture-wicking socks, they will make a big difference because these socks are designed to absorb sweat and keep your feet cool.
They also help in improving the health of your foot skin because it stimulates the production of collagen and other proteins.
As a result, wearing Copper Sole socks can help to keep feet healthy and smell-free.
5. Deodorize your feet
If the smelly shoe problem is getting serious, make sure to deodorize your feet. You can do this by simply applying some deodorant to your feet before putting on your socks and shoes.
6. Medicated Foot Powder
Medicated foot powder can be used as an alternative or an addition to deodorants. The powder helps to absorb moisture and control odor-causing bacteria.
Be sure to choose a powder that is specifically designed for feet, as some powders can be too harsh and irritate the skin.
How to keep my golf shoes from smelling AFTER wearing them?
There’s nothing worse than taking your golf shoes off after a long day on the course and being greeted by a bad odor.
Below are easy & simple steps you can follow to prevent smelling bad odor after taking off your shoes.
Wash your shoes
But if you’re shoes are washable, there’s no need to suffer!
Throw them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, using either cold or warm water.
If your shoes are particularly smelly, you may want to add a ½ cup of vinegar to the load.
If they’re only lightly soiled, simply clean them with a cloth dampened with warm water and soap.
Either way, be sure to allow your shoes to air dry completely before wearing them again.
Of course, you don’t have to wash your golf shoes after every game, instead, you should consider doing it periodically, perhaps bi-weeks or monthly, or even whenever they start to smell!
Wash your insoles
You can do this manually or in a washing machine:
To do it manually, you should:
- Fill a container with soapy water
- Add a small amount of vinegar.
- Soak the insoles for 10 minutes
- then scrub them with a sponge.
- Rinse the insoles thoroughly,
- then air dry them before putting them back in your shoes.
- You can also sprinkle baking soda in your shoes to absorb moisture and help keep them smelling fresh.
If you have machine-washable insoles, then it’s pretty self-explanatory:
- Read the cleaning instructions by the manufacturer
- If they are machine washable, then throw them in with your clothes
- Take them out and let them dry
- Once they are completely dry, you can fit them back into your shoes.
Dry Your Shoes & Keep them in a dry, cool & ventilated area
Dry your shoes after every game, can be by simply putting it in a cool and ventilated area when they’re not being worn.
An overheated shoe closet will only make the problem worse, so avoid that.
Unless its mid-summer and your shoes are dripping wet then you need to take more care because wet shoes are much more likely to develop bacteria that cause unpleasant odors.
You can dry your shoes by hanging them in a warm, dry place, or by placing them in front of a fan.
Rotate between shoes (if the problem is too bad)
First, if you have more than one pair of golf shoes, rotate between them, if you don’t, then consider buying another pair.
This will give the shoes time to air out between uses.
Second, avoid wearing wet shoes.
If your shoes aren’t fully dry after your last session or after your wash, take the time to dry them thoroughly before wearing them again.
Otherwise, it will be a great opportunity for bacterial growth.
How do you get rid of shoe odor fast?
If your golf shoes are starting to smell, there are a few things you can do to prevent the smell from getting worse and to keep your shoes smelling fresh.
KWs: get odor out of shoes – get the smell out of golf shoes – quickly
1) Freeze the shoes
One way to eliminate shoe odor is to put the shoes in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer overnight. This will kill the bacteria that are causing the shoes to stink.
Just make sure the plastic bag is properly closed to prevent your frozen shoes from stinking up your frozen food!
2) Wash them.
One of the best ways to get rid of shoe odor is to wash them, either in the washing machine or manually with soap and water.
You can also add vinegar to the washing cycle to help remove any bad smell[1]. Make sure that the shoes can actually be thrown in a washing machine, for example, if your shoes are made of leather, then you should avoid this method.
3) Dry the shoes.
One of the quickest ways to get rid of shoe odor is to hang them up and let them dry slowly. If you’re in a hurry, however, you can also use a hairdryer on a low setting.
Just be sure to hang the shoes up afterwards so that they don’t retain heat and create an environment that’s ripe for bacteria growth.
In general, it’s best to give shoes enough time to dry completely before wearing them again. This may mean waiting a day or two, but it’s worth it to avoid stinky feet!
4) Switch your shoes.
As mentioned earlier, one of the best ways to get rid of shoe odor fast is to switch your shoes.
If you have another pair of shoes, rotate them and switch them out for every golf game.
This will help to prevent the build-up of bacteria and fungus that can cause shoes to smell.
If you don’t have another pair of shoes, then it’s a great idea to own another pair, especially if you have a stinky shoes problem.
But if you don’t go golfing more than 2 or 3 times a week, then one pair is probably enough.
5) Deodorize your shoes
There are a few things you can do to deodorize your shoes and keep them smelling fresh.
First, invest in a banana deodorizer insert that you can put in your shoes when you’re not wearing them. These inserts will help to absorb sweat and odor-causing bacteria.
6) Neutralize the odor with baking soda
One of the simplest solutions is to put socks filled with baking soda inside your shoes before you go to bed.
This will help absorb any moisture and sweat that has built up over the course of the day.
In the morning, simply give your shoes a good shake before putting them on.
You can also try sprinkling baking soda inside your shoes to absorb odor-causing bacteria. In the morning, just vacuum out the baking soda and your shoes should smell much fresher.
With these simple tips, you can say goodbye to stinky shoes for good!
References:
[1]: https://www.nike.com/a/how-to-remove-shoe-smell
Andy Starr is a golf writer with Apple Mountain Golf.
He’s been playing the game for more than 10 years and has a passion for it.
Andy also enjoys reviewing golf shoes and other equipment, which he posts on his blog.
When he’s not writing or playing golf, Andy can be found spending time with his wife and two young children.
When he was just out of college, he decided to turn his passion for the sport into a career and began writing about golf for Apple Mountain Golf.
Since then, Starr has become one of the most respected golf writers in the industry.
He has a gift for making complex topics easy to understand, and his articles are always filled with insights and tips that can help readers improve their game.
In addition to his work as a writer, Starr is also a highly regarded golf instructor.
He has taught at some of the biggest clubs in the country, and his students have gone on to win championships at all levels.
Whether he’s teaching or writing,
Blog: https://applemountaingolf.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/golfapplemnt