I love this $1 hack for removing shoe odor overnight – it’s mess-free, non-toxic, and needs little effort

These odor-busting bags are a life-saver

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A landing area with a staircase and wooden banister, and a seating area with a large sofa and footstool. Fitted bookcases.
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As a very active household, we are more than familiar with stinky shoes. If it isn’t my partner’s unwashable climbing shoes causing the stench, it’s my gym trainers. As a result, I’ve developed a knack for removing shoe odor.

Rather than covering the smell with scented sprays, I tackle it at the source using one common household ingredient: Baking soda.

Removing shoe odor with baking soda doesn’t have to be as messy as it sounds, however, with this simple trick to make an entryway smell nice.

Easily remove shoe odor with baking soda

It is fairly common knowledge by now that cleaning with baking soda, such as the Arm & Hammer 100% Pure Baking Soda, from Target, is one of the best ways to remove bad odors from your home, especially if you prioritize creating a non-toxic home like I do.

However, this super fine powder can end up everywhere when removing shoe odor, and it turns out that vacuuming too much baking soda could shorten the life of your best vacuum cleaner.

That’s why I swear by reusable tea bags, from Amazon, which work out at only 56 cents per bag. Spooning some baking soda into these drawstring bags and tying them off means I can slot the odor-busting bags into shoes with minimal mess, making cleaning and wearing the shoes the next day quick and easy.

I simply refresh the baking soda every few uses to keep the method effective.

The best part of this method is that it contains exactly zero harsh chemicals. And, if you want to add a fragrance to your shoes, you have full control. Simply add a dab or two of your chosen essential oil (you can find essential oil starter sets at Walmart, if you are indecisive) to the bags before slotting them into your shoes.

Of course, how you organize shoes will also play a big part in removing shoe odor. Trapping shoes in contained spaces is likely to make the odor worse by providing the ideal breeding grounds for bacteria. On the other hand, you don’t want to leave your shoes lying around, creating visual clutter in an entryway.

The answer, Shaniece Jones, professional organizer, declutter expert, and founder of ClosetTherapy, suggests, is drop front shoe boxes – specifically the Drop-Front Shoe Boxes from The Container Store, which come with strategically placed ventilation holes.

She adds, ‘The key thing I always check for is the breathability of the shoe boxes; shoes need airflow, especially leather or suede, to prevent discoloration and odor. While I usually have a clear floor policy when organizing closets, a shoe wall built with drop-front boxes is one of the few exceptions I’ll make.’

What to shop

While removing shoe odor with baking soda is my go-to, there are a few other tools you can use to prevent malodors in your shoes and protect your feet.

Meet the expert

Shaniece Jones
Shaniece Jones

Shaniece Jones is a closet organization and declutter expert who brings her background as a scientist, stylist, and mental wellness advocate to help clients create new habits, implement new systems, and get to the root of their clutter.

If you’re a self-care aficionado, why not try storing broken bath bombs in shoes to prevent odors and stop creating unnecessary trash at home, too?

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Chiana Dickson
Chiana Dickson
Kitchen Appliances Editor

Chiana is Homes & Gardens’ kitchen appliances editor. With a lifelong passion for cooking and baking, she grew up experimenting in the kitchen every weekend with her baking-extraordinaire Mom, and has developed a great understanding of how tools and appliances can make or break your ideal relaxing kitchen routine.