The Unexpected Product That'll Banish Funky Shoe Odors In A Pinch

Nobody likes a smelly shoe. Not only is it an ostracizing factor when out and about, but the stink can permeate your entire home just from the shoes sitting where you dropped them by the door. Sneakers — or any shoes used for athletic purposes — tend to be the worst offenders, for the obvious reason that they contain the most residual sweat and body odor, but other shoes you wear in high heat (particularly without those crucial, odor- and shock-absorbing socks) like sandals or crocs can also be real problems. 

Some of these shoes can safely be thrown in the wash, but that's not always the most timely, efficient, or even the best decision. However, if your shoes can get wet, there's a much easier way to clean them up with an unlikely product: denture tablets. That's right, the effervescent little tablets used to clean dentures overnight can also freshen up your shoes and get rid of even the funkiest, nastiest smells.

Body odor stinks not from perspiration but from the bacteria therein. Men, people with a lot of body hair, certain hyperactive glands, or dietary anomalies can also experience more body odor than average. Furthermore, shoes hold moisture in them and humidity breeds those tiny bacteria as well. To get rid of the stench, you need to get rid of the bacteria and the moisture, and thankfully, denture tablets can help.

If you have stinky shoes that are water-friendly and therefore washable, it's possible to clean them with denture tablets like Efferdent or Polident. Simply fill a large bucket or wash tub with hot water and submerge your shoes. Add three denture tablets, then let them sit for a few hours or even overnight if your shoes are particularly pungent. Then, rinse off any residue and lay the shoes out to dry completely, patting them with a towel to speed up the process. 

Not only will your shoes be clean but they'll smell fresh and new, with no offensive odors hanging around. Obviously, some shoes are designed to go in the washing machine, and that's certainly an option, but it's not ideal for a lot of materials. It's not the water that's the problem, as long as you follow the recommended care of course, but the agitation of the machine. 

It can leave certain shoes, like malleable sandals and flip-flops, misshapen or even broken. Just as handwashing is better for taking care of delicate laundry, leaving rank shoes to soak in a tub of water and denture tablets is less taxing on them than a machine wash.

Two of the primary active ingredients in denture tablets are citric or acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda. For anyone who has researched or even made DIY deodorizers for their home before, these two items are well-known staples. Baking soda, in particular, is a powerhouse in this area, with strong alkaline properties that neutralize and rid odors in all sorts of areas of your home, from the fridge to the carpet. 

It also eliminates bacteria and is especially good at neutralizing the acidic nature of body odor (there's even evidence to suggest it can be used as a natural deodorant). When mixed with an acid like vinegar or lemon juice, i.e. common forms of acetic acid and citric acid, it creates a chemical reaction that results in carbonic acid and carbon dioxide bubbles. In the case of denture tablets, these ingredients are inactive until they are submerged in water. 

Once they hit the water, the tablets are activated and begin to react, forming the famous effervescing bubbles. These bubbles are an important indicator that the chemical reaction is ongoing and therefore the tablets are still working. Once the bubbling stops, the effectiveness is over. However, this quick reaction is strong and effective enough to rid your shoes of some very nasty odors, so give it a try next time you're struggling with a stench.