My cycle shoes reek!

Windinherhair

I don't suffer from smelly feet, but the carbon soled shoes have had a good many soakings in the rain, and now they smell really bad! :shock:
Can anyone recommend a good product for helping to eradicate the stench?
Are "Sneaker balls" any good?
Thanks,
Linda

benpinnick

Burnt Toast. Seriously. Forget bought products. Take the insoles out and stick them in the washing machine. Burn some toast really crispy and black (grill is better than toaster for this), and crumble it into your shoes. Dont forget to take it out before your next ride.

Windinherhair

:shock: I'll give it a go!
Thanks (I think)

danlikesbikes

+ 1 on cleaning the insoles. Plus whilst their our out gives you a good chance to clean the inside of the shoes.

I have some sneaker balls and they are pretty good, though I only put then in winter shoes during summer when not being used and vice versa with the summer shoes in winter.

andysol

When wet fill the inside up with newspaper. and remove when wet. Dose the trick for me.
Andy

Long_Time_Lurker

The smell may be caused by bacteria - especially if the smell is caused by sweaty feet.
Best way to deal with them is to stick them in the freezer.
Make sure that they are bone dry first, then put them in a watertight plastic bag.
Bang them in the freezer overnight.

EH_Rob

Long Time Lurker wrote:

The smell may be caused by bacteria - especially if the smell is caused by sweaty feet.
Best way to deal with them is to stick them in the freezer.
Make sure that they are bone dry first, then put them in a watertight plastic bag.
Bang them in the freezer overnight.

This won't do anything if its caused by bacteria, as freezing doesn't kill them.

bails87

I put mine in a big bucket of hot water and disinfectant. That was after using them 3-4 days a week during the wet spell in spring, so they weere getting wet, being warmed up, then getting wet again on the way home, then nearly drying out, then getting wet again the next day. They stunk!

I put them in the wash wrapped up in an old pillow case too.

waby1234

Best way to stop them being smelly after getting wet is to get them dried quickly.

Wouldn't bother with freezing, doesn't do anything to the root cause of the smell.

Getting them clean, and disinfected would be a good start - then keep the smell away!

ddraver

For a quick fix, Febreeze....

Seriously!

Rushmore

Quick spray of dettol inside the shoe maybe??

carlosthejackal

All my kit stinks. My lid, gloves and shoes smell like Satan himself has taken a particularly difficult dump and rubbed it all over them. My shorts and shirts are ok 'cos I've got a few pairs and they get washed regular, but everything else is disgusting.

mintedox

All my shoes are the same, got 2 crusty pairs at home and a pair still covered in cow crap fesstering in a mates van. I never clean any :oops:

JayKay3000

I fill a bucket full of hot water and let them soak in some fabric cleaner for about 30 min outside or in the kitchen and wash the dirt out because when I do XC trail riding at a trail centre or natural trail riding I tend to ride through lots of water, animal urine and muck so the shoes and insoles can become pretty funky.

Spd shoes are great though because there is little to them so it's really easy to get the stink out. When I ride flats I use an old pair of trainers, but do the same and they smell better till the next ride.

I burn a lot of incense too so that probably covers the smell a bit.

AMcK

I bang/scrub off any major mud, pop into an old pillowcase or string bag, and sling them into the washing machine with the rest of my gear. Stuff em with newspaper and let them dry out on a radiator. Job done.

Same goes for helmet pads (which get really minging if they don't dry off properly), gloves, camelbak packs... all in the machine.