If you are wearing the same pair of athletic shoes every time you play pickleball, it’s possible those pickleball shoes are not smelling so great. So how to you get rid of that smelly shoe smell (without buying new shoes)? Here are some tips:
1. Febreze & Lysol
Febreze and Lysol are two of the best products on the market for removing smells from shoes. Lysol helps get rid of bacteria and Febreze removes the smell. Using the two together is a quick and easy way to get your pickleball shoes smelling like new, every time you wear them.
2. Baking soda
An old trick for getting rid of the smell in shoes is to sprinkle baking soda into your shoes after you wear them. You should leave the backing soda on for as long as you can, but preferably at least 24 hours.
You will want to make sure the shoe dries in that time so the baking soda has a chance to full soak in and remove any bacteria.
3. Soap
One of the most surprising solutions to help keep your shoes smelling fresh is to add a bar of soap into each shoe after wearing them. The soap will not only absorb smell, but it also kills bacteria and keeps your shoes smelling soapy. Just make sure the bars of soap are not wet before you place them in the shoes.
Bonus tip: You can use a scent-free bar of soap, which will work fine, but if you choose one with a specific smell (like Irish Spring) it will leave your shoes smelling even better.
4. Vinegar
Vinegar acts similarly to Febreze and Lysol: it will both kill germs and reduce smells in your shoes. You will not want to pour the vinegar on the shoes, but instead put it in a spray bottle and spray it on the shoes.
- Mix an equal amount of vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
- Spray the vinegar solution into your shoes.
- Let your shoes dry.
The downside of the vinegar solution is that that vinegar smell can stay behind for a while, but it’s probably a better smell than what your shoes smelled like otherwise.
5. Dryer sheets
Keeping a dyer sheet in each shoe overnight will help remove any moisture, while also injecting a nice smell into the shoe. You will want to replace your dryer sheets after each pickleball session to see the best results.
6. Sunshine
It may seem weird (and slightly unbelievable), but sunshine can remove bacteria from your shoes just as well as some of these other solutions. Veteran athletes know that laying your gear outside for a few hours can help keep it germ-free and smell-free.
Just make sure your pickleball shoes are in direct sunlight, and you are leaving them outside long enough for them to fully dry.
7. Socks
The type of socks you wear will affect the bacteria and smells of your pickleball shoes.
If you go sock-less when playing (as some players do), your shoes are likely to get smelly much more quickly than if you wear socks. This is mainly because you are sweating directly on the shoe, without a sock to protect it. If you prefer no socks when exercising, it may be time to add socks back in — because it could be the difference between smelly shoes and non-smelly shoes.
You will also want to make sure you wear socks made specifically for athletics. Cotton athletic socks are made to absorb sweat but is also breathable, making it your best option.
8. Hygiene
How well you take care of yourself will also affect how smelly your shoes are. Some tips for maintaining good foot hygiene:
- Clean your feet well after each pickleball session, using soap and water.
- Let your feet dry completely after washing them.
- Wear socks only one time before washing them.
- Change your socks and shoes as soon as your pickleball session is over.
LEARN MORE: 8 essential items for sweaty pickleball players.
9. Insoles
It’s a great idea to choose a shoe that has removable insoles. That way you can replace them any time they start smelling a little off.
If you have shoes that do not have removable insoles, try to choose a shoe that has the room for your own insoles. This will allow you to replace the insole when it’s not smelling right. An added bonus to this is that you can get a custom-fitted insole to help prevent injuries and give you the best shoe experience possible.
10. Rotate between 2 pairs of shoes
Many of the suggestions here require your shoes to sit for 24-48 hours. If that does not work with your pickleball schedule, you should consider purchasing two pairs of pickleball shoes and rotating them when you play.
Rotating between two pairs of pickleball shoes will allow your shoes to completely dry out between pickleball sessions, and allow whatever tactic you are using to fully work: killing the bacteria and eliminating the smell.
