If the soles of your sandals are badly stained, you can also add a little dish soap to the paste for extra cleaning power. Quality Control Tip: Mouthwash is another fix for funky flip-flops that also takes advantage of essential oil compounds. Products like Listerine use ingredients including menthol and thymol as active antiseptic agents. To treat smelly shoes made of synthetic materials, mix mouthwash with water in a 1:2 ratio. Soak your sandals for about 15–20 minutes before rinsing and leaving to air dry. Soap and Water If this is a concern, you can and should test this cleaning method on a small and inconspicuous area of your shoe first. When possible, choose natural breathable designs like leather or cork. Not only are these more comfortable in many cases, but they’re also less susceptible than synthetic materials to building and holding onto bad smells. How Do You Disinfect Sandals From a Thrift Store?

Simply leave the smelly shoes outside on a dry day with good airflow. If the shoes are made from leather or suede, keep them in the shade. Air-drying stinky sandals in a breezy, sunny spot can be the finishing touch for any of the aforementioned cleaning methods. With the disinfecting power of its UV rays, the sun can further deodorize your sandals as they dry.

Odor absorption is one of the many amazing uses for vinegar around the house, making it a readily available and low-risk option to clean stinky sandals. The acetic acid in vinegar bonds with odor molecules to kill the smell. It’s safe on most materials, though you should avoid oversaturating natural fabrics like suede. Follow these steps to eliminate irritating sandal and flip-flop odors: Don’t be tempted to let your sandals dry in the sun. Leather sandals especially will dry out and can even split. If you’re still needing a method for how to get smells out of sandals and the above methods aren’t hitting the spot, simply try air and sunlight. Swap shoes: Swap between wearing your favorite sandals and other shoes. This gives your sandals time to air out adequately. Sometimes airing out your sandals overnight isn’t long enough — they might need 24 to 48 hours. Dampness: Sandals become soggy and damp, usually because you wear them to the beach, and then they don’t get a chance to air out properly. After getting wet, always give your shoes a chance to dry 100 percent.

Smelly shoes are the epitome of a bad smell; once you've got them, they won't go away. But in a time where most of us are trying to waste less, you don't want to be throwing out your old footwear because of a little stench - especially when you can easily spruce them up and make them feel good as new again. We've got a few solutions for getting the smell out of your sandals, but the best remedy is to not put it there in the first place. Follow these tips for keeping your sandals fresh after each wear, and you may never have to clean them again! Sandals are the surest sign of a good time, but nothing can kill the excitement of putting them on like the hot blast of sweaty stink when you unearth them from the closet.Every time you shower, use a washcloth or a natural body scrub and scrub away dead skin from the soles and tops of your feet. When it comes to sandals, don't wear them out — air them out. Buy several pairs of sandals for different occasions and keep them on a rotation in your closet. After you wear them, you can give each set at least a day or two to dry out and refresh them.