All we have are our favorite soccer cleats, and it is always to take care of each pair with great care. All we bear is the same problem: a strong, unpleasant smell.
First, you have to know the reason behind this disgusting smell. Only the smell is the issue that can also be irritating.
The main culprit is bacteria, the leading cause of stinky soccer cleats.
Another main reason is the sweat that gives a moist environment inside your shoes. Meanwhile, dust and mist from other f ground become the socks, giving them an optimal environment for bacterial growth.
Bacteria grow in large numbers on your feet and the insole of your cleats.
They produce organic acids, including isovaleric acid, methanethiol, and propanoic acid. These acids are the waste products of stinky bacteria. These are not harmful acids, but their smell is too annoying. The smell is like rotting vegetables or especially smelly cabbage.
Indeed we try to maintain and follow all possible hygiene measures. But still, we can not stop the growth of bacteria.
But fortunately, we can minimize their growth and remove the smell by following a different kinds of simple methods or techniques.
This article discusses different techniques that will help you get rid of stinky soccer cleats.
1. Wash Your Cleats
It is not easy to deal with smelly and dirty cleats when it comes to things that are full of smell and dust when you wash them.
Washing is the first step to maintaining hygiene. So, you can clean up your cleats by washing them in warm water.
Warm water help in killing odor-producing bacteria, and smell is because of these bacteria.
Washing is only for less smelly cleats.
If soccers are dirtier, use a brush and any shampoo or soap, put a little quantity of shampoo in warm water, and wash your cleats with this water. Also, rub the sole with a brush.
This simple procedure will help you eliminate the smell and kill the bacteria. And your cleats will get a brand-new look.
2. Dry Your Cleats
Washing is not only the solution because washing will only work when you wry your cleats properly.
If cleats are not properly dry, then smell can reproduce. As bacteria only need moisture and a dirty environment to grow.
Try to wear cleats after proper cleaning and drying.
3. Place the Cleats Overnight in a Freezer
Sometimes cleats even smell after thoroughly washing and drying. To avoid this condition, you can freeze your cleats.
This seems an odd option, but you can’t believe it’s a magical way to destroy all the possible bacterias that cause the smell.
The freezing point will inhibit bacterial growth that can use and, and existing bacteria will die because in this temperature bacteria will not get optimal conditions to grow.
The method to place the soccer in the freezer is to place your washed and dry cleats in a plastic bag, put them in a freezer and keep them till night.
The following day, take them out from the frigid, dry them thoroughly, then wear them.
4. Use of Direct Sunshine
You can remove excess moisture from your cleats by directly exposing your shoe to sunlight. Place your shoes in the sunlight for a few minutes or an hour. The sunlight will make dry your cleats naturally before their next wear.
5. Change the Laces and Inner soles of the Cleats
After proper cleaning and drying, the smell does not go for a brief period. It becomes challenging to wash shoes again and again.
At least after a week or 2 weeks, washing must be done.
When this period is reduced and after cleaning and washing your soccers still smell, change the laces and soles of cleats. Because bacteria may strongly grow over the laces and inside the sole.
Bacteria get enough surface area for their growth on laces and soles. The sweat and dirt provide favorable conditions to grow bacteria well.
So, consider this way a priority after the dry cleaning method.
6. Wear Clean and Dry Socks
Wearing shoes without sock result in more smell
If you wear socks, they will absorb the sweat,t and moisture will remain on the socks, not on the sole and inside the shoes. So, always try to wear clean and dry socks.
7. Make Use of Baking Soda
I experienced this method as the best for cleaning my cleats and removing the smell.
Baking soda is used in two ways:
First, sprinkle a tablespoon of baking soda over the soles inside your cleats and leave them overnight. Then clean your shoes with a brush and remove the soda thoroughly before wearing them.
The second method involves mixing baking soda, baking powder, and cornstarch. Place that mixture in a sock, and leave the socks in the shoe overnight.
And the mixture will absorb the smell caused by bacteria.
8. Putting Citrus Peel Inside the Cleats
Citrus fruits include lemon, orange, grapefruits, and lime.
If you have any of them plac,e the peeled part of citrus fruit inside the shoes, and you will get fresh air cleats the following day.
Use this homemade technique, and you will surely get a fresh deodorizer smell.
9. Spray Drops of Aromatic Oils
Aromatic Oils are essential oils with smell, which can dominate over odor-producing bacteria.
The most pleasant smell of oil includes cedarwood oil or tea tree oil. These will also have antifungal characteristics.
These oils are natural deodorizers. Placing or sprinkling over the sole will help eliminate smelly cleats.
10. Use Tea Bags to Absorb the Odor of Your Cleats
The super technique is to use tea bags as an odor absorber, have no compatibility with other ways, and is the easiest way to remove the smell from your shoes.
You can use tea bags to eradicate smell-producing bacteria from your soccer.
The best method is to place the tea bag in boiling water for 5 minutes and then remove all the water from them by squeezing. Now let them dry for a moment.
Now place tissue paper over the sole and place a tea bag e your shoes for an hour.
After an hour, you can notice the smell of your clean; it will be no more unbearable.
11. Use Floral Spray to eradicate the Odor
Tprimaryate method uses spray to remove the smell from your cleats.
You can buy floral and anti-bacterial, remove the odor-generating bacteria and make your cleats more refreshing.
Different effective sprays are available. Extreme Odor Eliminator is one of them you can purchase online from amazon.
But don’t consider these sprays as an alternative to washing because they are only effective when you dry the spray and ear your soccer cleats dehydrated.
If there are moisture remains inside your shoes, it can cause the production of odor-causing bacteria.
So, choose well and use well.
12. Place a Bag of Cloves Inside Your Cleats
Most people no longer agree with using a spray because of likeness and dislikeness over the odor.
Using a cloves bag is one of the best homemade methods to get rid of smelly cleats.
The method is straightforward. Just place a handful of cloves in a cloth and tie them. Now place two clove bags inside each shoe until the smell is gone.
13. Use Soap Bar to eliminate the Smell
You can also find this method more convenient. You can use any antibacterial soap. Place this soap inside each soccer, and there are pores in soaps that eliminate the agents that will destroy the smell-causing bacteria.
You can try this technique daily when you remove your cleats and put these bars and notice the smell each time.
14. Spit the White Vinegar Inside Your Cleats
White vinegar also acts as a deodorizer. You can spray it inside your cleat and let them dry and wear.
White vinegar can eliminate dusty smells and bacteria that cause an unpleasant smell in your shoes.
15. Fill Your Soccer With Detergent Water
The most commonly used method is washing your cleats with detergent. As detergent has strong chemicals and bacteria are easily killed y these chemicals.
Use this method by adding detergent to the water and filling your shoes with this solution. Place them for an hour and wash them with excessive water so that all the detergent will remove.
If detergent particles remain, it can create a reaction in your foot when sweat is excreted.
Well, there is a demerit of this method, as all the cleats are not washable and can not bear the detergent formulas. Their skin may deteriorate because of certain chemicals.
So, choose each method with great concern.
Get Rid Of Your Smelling Cleats
In this article, we have already provided you with the best possible ways to eliminate the smell in your cleats. Here we provide concise guidance, which you can follow, and also avoid your cleats from the foul odor.
By following this advice, you will not be worried, and your precious time will not be wasted cleaning and washing your cleats.
Moreover, you can quickly get an idea to prevent your cleats from smelling so bad.
We have already mentioned bacteria are the leading cause of this smell. The moisture and the dust give them survival conditions.
So, what you got!
Don’t let the moisture come; bacteria will not grow to give your soccers a bad smell.
You can not entirely remove the moisture but minimize the moisture in your cleats.
The primary source of this moisture in your shoes is always because of the sweat on your feet. The dirt, mud, or rainwater gets into your stinky cleats while you wear them.
There are a few recommendations for you. You can consider them and get rid of your cleats from smelling.
- Try to wear clean, dry socks.
- Change them regularly.
- Always wear socks on dry feet.
- Or, make your feet dry before putting them in the cleats.
- Use powder on your dry feet before placing your feet in our cleats
- Also, apply powder after you remove your cleats.
- Before wearing your cleats again, make sure that your soccer cleats are correctly dry.
- Use anti-bacterial soap for washing your feet before and after wearing cleats.
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