Shoe odor can be a constant and sometimes embarrassing problem, especially for those of us who wear shoes every day. If you’re tired of smelling foot odor or smelling worse in shoes that smell, then there’s a simple solution to your problem. All you have to do is put tea bags into your shoes. When you do that, the tannic acid in the tea will kill the bacteria that cause shoe odor. The death of the bacteria will also prevent the buildup of unpleasant smells in your shoes. So read on to know the answer how to get rid of shoe odor with tea bags.
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Shoe Odor Causes
Shoe odor isn’t caused by sweat, though the salt in sweat can exacerbate the problem. Rather, it’s caused by bacteria that grow inside your shoes, feeding off of tiny particles of organic matter. That organic matter usually comes from your feet, but it also includes dust and dirt that accumulates in your shoes, along with various odors from outside sources.
Bacteria that feed on organic matter can increase quickly in a warm, moist environment like a shoe. That’s why your shoes start to smell after you’ve been wearing them for a while and why the problem gets progressively worse. The more bacteria that feed on organic material inside of your shoe, the more food there is for them to consume and the stronger the scent will become.
Fortunately, the solution to this problem is so simple that you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it before. All you have to do is put a few tea bags inside your shoes, and they will absorb all of the bacteria-produced smells in just a few days.
Tea for Shoe Odor
Tea contains tannic acid. That’s the substance that gives the tea its bitter taste, and it’s also a potent antibacterial agent. Tea contains more tannic acid than most other plants, which is why it works so well for getting rid of bacteria in shoes.
You can put any kind of tea into your shoes, but black tea works best. It’s also a useful idea to buy loose tea, as the bags that hold it tend to be porous and allow the tannic acid in the leaves to seep out into your shoes.
The great thing about this solution is that you can use it repeatedly since you only need a few spoonfuls of black tea for each pair of shoes. That means that you can use the same tea bags over and over again until they fall apart – which isn’t long, given how inexpensive loose black tea usually is – and your shoes will stay fresh-smelling every time.
Using Tea to Freshen Shoes
There are rare different ways to use this solution to keep your shoes from smelling. If you already have smelly shoes, then put a few tea bags into them and let them sit inside overnight. In the morning, take out the tea bags and give the insides of your shoes a good shake. This should get rid of noticeable odors in just a few hours.
Keep a few tea bags in your shoes all the time to help prevent odor from building up. You can also mix a spoonful of dry tea leaves into a cup of water and let them soak overnight. In the morning, you’ll have a liquid that can be used as a shoe deodorizer – just pour it into each shoe and swish it around so that it coats the inside of the shoe well. Finally, put some loose tea leaves at the bottom of each sock before putting them on to absorb sweat and keep bacteria from growing inside your shoes while you’re not wearing them.
Tea for Preventing Shoe Odor
There are several ways to use black tea to stop your shoes from smelling, but there’s no reason not to use all of them. This solution is inexpensive and effective, so there’s no reason to avoid using it.
If your shoes are already smelly, put some tea bags into them overnight and take them out the next morning. That should get rid of any bad smells inside of your shoes in just a few hours. You can also use a spoonful of dry tea leaves mixed into a cup of water as an overnight soak that you can use as a shoe deodorizer. Just pour the mixture into your shoes and shake them around to coat the insides before wearing them again.
Finally, if you want to stop smelly bacteria from growing inside your shoes while you’re not wearing them, you can put some loose tea leaves into each sock before putting them on. That way, your socks will absorb moisture and any bacteria growing inside of your shoes while they’re sitting on the shelf.
Tea Can Make Your Shoes Smell Great!
Almost everyone has had a pair of shoes that just won’t stop smelling. Whether it’s a pair of running shoes or your favorite everyday sneakers, nearly anyone who has ever owned a pair of shoes has had to deal with shoe odor at least once. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to keep your shoes smelling nice and fresh.
One of the best things you can do is keep a few tea bags in each pair of your shoes. This way, you aren’t taking any chances at letting bacteria grow inside your shoes while they’re not in use. You can also mix up a quick batch of an overnight deodorizing solution if you already have smelly shoes. Finally, putting a few loose tea leaves into each sock before putting them on will help to absorb sweat and keep bacteria from growing inside the shoes.
Keep your shoes smelling nice and fresh by keeping them well-ventilated, using tea bags inside of them, mixing up an overnight deodorizing solution, and putting some loose tea leaves into your socks before you put them on. Once you start doing these things, your shoes should stay.