Don’t we all love the smell of brand new dance shoes that we just purchased but absolutely hate it when they start smelling bad, and we are looking to get rid of them so we could buy a new pair of dance shoes. It is not always possible to keep your dance shoes smell lovely as the day you bought them but there some proven techniques to clean your smelly dance shoes that I will be discussing in this article.
As we all know, dancing is a form of physical activity, so, naturally, we sweat, including our feet.
It is not always possible to keep your shoes smell good, especially after hours of practice or dance night out, so I will provide you with helpful tips for getting the smell out of your dance shoes.
Why Do Dance Shoes Start To Smell Bad
We sweat all over our body, but our body is always less smelly than our feet. The reason is that our feet are usually closed in shoes, and they cannot “breath”. This allows for moisture to seal and also creates an environment for the stinky bacteria to grow.
When your feet can’t breathe, the bacteria grows and spreads on your feet, making themselves at home in your favorite shoes. Bacteria release foul-smelling toxins, which are absorbed by your dance shoes, causing them to smell really bad.
Unfortunately, some people sweat more than others, but it is entirely normal and natural to sweat. So there is nothing to be embarrassed about. There are some proven ways you can apply right now to reduce the amount of sweat and smell in your dance shoes that I will be discussing further in this article.
To be honest, I am one of those people whose feet sweat a lot, and these techniques have worked wonders, not just for my dance shoes but for all kinds of shoes I own. You will save lots of money in the long run if you take care of your shoes properly.
10 Ways How To Clean Smelly Dance Shoes
More commonly, smelly dance shoes will occur to females because we wear our shoes barefoot. On the other hand, men wear socks with their shoes, which helps to absorb sweat and moisture.
It is entirely normal for your feet to sweat, especially while dancing.
For example, Latin dance shoes are made of suede which acts like a sponge and absorbs all the moisture that your feet produce. The moisture tends to create bacteria that results in an unpleasant smell.
Here are helpful tips on how to clean smelly dance shoes
- Use Baby Powder
I’ve been using this trick for all of my shoes, especially when putting away shoes due to seasonal changes. Adding baby powder to the smelly shoes will eliminate the smell, but it will not eliminate the bacteria. This technique could be used as a temporary smell elimination until you implement something to eradicate the core issue, which is the bacteria.
Make sure to apply the baby powder carefully inside the shoes only because it can leave a white stain if powder spreads outside the shoe.
To apply baby powder inside the shoes, dip a cotton ball into the powder and gently and carefully apply it all over the shoe insides.
2. Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is very effective in cleaning smelly dance shoes because baking soda is a Ph neutralizer, which means that chemicals in baking soda are great at neutralizing the acids that cause shoes to smell.
Sprinkle baking soda in your shoes and let it sit overnight. Then next day, remove baking soda carefully by dampening it with a paper towel. Be cautious when using baking soda on the leather dance shoes because it could dry them out.
Instead of sprinkling baking soda into the shoes, you could put two tablespoons of the baking soda into old socks, tie them up in a knot and leave the socks inside the shoes overnight. Remove the socks in the morning, and you will notice the difference in smell. This technique will be less messy than the first one because you don’t have to remove the baking soda from the shoes.
3. Try Essential Oils
Essential oils are very effective in eliminating an odor in shoes and will leave them smelling lovely. Many essential oils have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, killing the bacteria in the shoes that cause the smell. Just add a few drops of essential oils onto a cotton ball or tissue and rub it on the inside of your shoes and leave overnight.
The best essential oils to eliminate odor in shoes are lemongrass, tea tree, clove leaf, lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint.
4. Freeze Your Dance Shoes
The freezing temperature will kill the bacteria that cause the odor in your shoes. Put your dance shoes in a large resealable bag and leave them in the freezer overnight, and it will kill the bacteria.
5. Use Tea Bags
Black and green tea contain tannins that will work effectively in killing the bacteria that cause the odor in your shoes. Leave the teabag in hot water for at least three minutes. Remove the tea bag from the cup and let it cool completely. Place the tea bag in your shoes for an hour, and it will work as a natural deodorizer. Remove any excess moisture that came out from the tea bag with a paper towel.
6. Use Alcohol
Alcohol will eliminate the odor and will disinfect your shoes. Put a little bit of alcohol in a spray bottle mixed with water and spray a small amount into the shoe. It will eliminate the bacteria growing inside the shoe.
Add a few drops of tea tree oil into alcohol and water mix for optimal results. Also, tea tree oil will reduce the strong alcohol smell.
7. Insert Fabric Softener Sheet
Insert fabric softener sheets into your dance shoes and leave them overnight to eliminate odor. Don’t forget to take them out before putting shoes on. You could also put a dryer sheet into your shoe bag to neutralize the smell from the bag.
Please note that the fabric softener sheets will neutralize the smell, but it won’t kill the bacteria. So, make sure you apply other techniques I have mentioned here to get rid of the smell’s root cause, which is the bacteria build-up.
8. Use Enzyme Cleaners
Enzyme cleaners are very effective at killing the bacteria growing in your dance shoes and cause the odor. You can use store-bought enzyme cleaners or make your own. Here is an excellent article on how to make the DYI enzyme cleaner.
Although enzyme cleaners can do wonders in killing the bacteria and eliminating the odor in your shoes, I would recommend being very careful because these enzymes could cause a skin reaction. Freeze your shoes overnight after applying enzyme cleaners, so the enzymes get eliminated, reducing your skin reaction.
9. Look For The Cause Of Smell
Find the root cause of the odor in your dance shoes. Examine your shoes before you try to treat the smell. If you have damaged insoles, either take them out and dry them. You could purchase new insoles and replace the old ones. If your dance shoes are very old and too worn out, then the best bet would be to replace the shoes altogether.
10. Insert Skin Of A Citrus Fruit
Cut a small piece of citrus fruit skin such as oranges, lemon, grapefruit, or lime peel into your dance shoes overnight. These citrus fruits have a fantastic smell because of their natural essential oils. Your dance shoes will smell much better, but they will not eliminate the bacteria. To eliminate the bacteria, please use other techniques I mentioned earlier.
Some people would suggest for ladies to wear socks because socks absorb excess sweat. I would not recommend wearing socks in your dance shoes because it does not look good and will not feel comfortable and stylish. Also, wearing socks in your dance shoes for a more extended period of time could stretch your shoes out.
I would definitely recommend that men wear socks in their shoes because the feet will be more comfortable, look more presentable, and the socks will absorb the sweat that could lead to bacteria growth within the shoes and cause the shoes to smell very bad.
How To Prevent Your Dance Shoes From Smelling Bad
Here are steps you can take now to keep your dance shoes nice and fresh as soon as you purchase them.
- Keep Your Feet Dry
You can keep your feet dry while wearing dance shoes by apply antiperspirant on the bottom of your feet or apply hand sanitizer. It will keep your feet dry for a more extended period of time.
- Rotate Your Shoes
If you are dancing more than once a week, I would suggest getting a few pairs of dance shoes and rotate them during your dance sessions. Rotating dance shoes will allow them enough time to dry and reduces the growth of bacteria that occur when shoes are dry enough, and you put them on again.
- Dry Shoes After Use
After each use, you could dry your dance shoes with a hairdryer. It will dry off moisture and will stop bacteria growth.
- Store Dance Shoes Properly
Store your dance shoes in a cool and dry place, so it doesn’t accumulate moisture. Take your shoes out of the shoe beg as soon as you arrive home. Let your dance shoes breathe somewhere ventilated for at least 24 hours after each use. I would recommend putting your dance shoes in the direct sunlight occasionally. However, be careful not to leave leather dance shoes out in the sun for a very long time. It could damage them.
- Keep Your Feet Dry
Do not put on your dance shoes immediately after showering because water between your toes can encourage bacteria. Dry your feet, including moisture between your toes.
- Use Foot Powder
Whenever possible, use foot powder to absorb any excess sweat. I would recommend Squeaky Cheeks from Amazon because it effectively removes odors from shoes and reduces foot sweat.
- Stuff Your Dance Shoes With Newspapers
This technique may seem odd, but it works. Stuffing newspapers into your dance shoes is one of the best ways to absorb excess moisture while maintaining the shoes’ shape.
- Wash Your Feet
I know that this one may seem an obvious one, but washing your feet thoroughly and properly will combat the feet’ odor. During hot summer days, your feet may need extra care because the bacteria on your feet may just be multiplying if you don’t follow proper foot hygiene.
Once in the shower, lather up the sole of your feet with soap. Do not miss between the toes. Rinse your feet with water, and dry your feet thoroughly, including toes. If you have to step into the shoes immediately, you could dry your feet with the hairdryer for extra dryness.
Related Questions
Can I clean my dance shoes with water? It would be best if you never soaked your dance shoes in water. Water will cause permanent damage to your shoes, and you will need to purchase a new pair of dance shoes. Dance shoes are made of special material intended for dancing, such as suede soles and insoles. Water would damage and ruin these shoes, and they wouldn’t be suitable for dancing anymore.
Can I machine wash my dance shoes? You should never wash your dance shoes in a laundry machine because it would wreck your shoes entirely. Dance shoes are made of special material intended for dancing, so the water and high impact of the laundry machine would leave your dance shoes unusable.
Final Words
Getting rid of the bad smell from your favorite pair of dance shoes is not always easy, but it is attainable. Once you apply the techniques I mentioned, such as baking soda, alcohol, tea bags, baby powder, and others, it will kill the bacteria and eliminate the odor. It will leave your dance shoes to smell like new, and you will feel more comfortable wearing them.
Happy dancing!
