What can be worse than the odor of stinky shoes? It’s bearable when you come home and no one except you smells it. But when you spend the entire day in the office or you’re going to visit someone’s house, shoe odor is absolutely unnecessary.

Sweat, bacteria, and foot problems are the major causes of disgusting shoe odor. While you’ll be trying to eliminate the root cause, give a whirl the following tricks to instantly get rid of your constant shoe odor.

1. Black tea bags

Enjoy a cup of black tea and combat shoe odor at the same time. Just brew your tea as usual and place those tea bags in your shoes, leave for a few hours or overnight and remove them. Black tea has powerful antibacterial properties and it kills bacteria – one of the main causes of the odor – preventing them from spreading onto your feet.

2. Baking soda

You can also treat stinky feet with baking soda. Sprinkle a dash of baking soda on each shoe and leave overnight. Wipe it off in the morning and you’re ready to go. It’s crucial to remove it because baking soda can negatively affect your feet health.

3. Cloves

Need to fight the odor during the day? Put 2 to 3 cloves in each shoe and the odor will disappear. Clove oil can do the trick as well. Just don’t overdo it. 2 drops will be enough.

4. Dryer sheets

Don’t feel like wearing the shoes with cloves? Place dryer sheets instead. They will keep your feet sweat- and odor-free during the day and won’t cause an uncomfortable feeling.

5. Kitty litter

Whether it’s silicon or natural wood, kitty litter can help you destroy the odor of stinky shoes in a jiff. It’s best if you use kitty litter infused with mild deodorizer. Layer the shoes with kitty litter and leave for an hour or overnight. Throw it away and you’re ready to get your boots on.

6. Cornstarch

Due to its excellent perspiration absorption ability, cornstarch will keep your feet dry all day long and thus prevent the odor. Simply sprinkle a bit of cornstarch on each foot and inside each shoe.

7. Essential oils

Eucalyptus and tea tree oils can also work miracles for your stinky feet. Not only will they take away the odor buy they will also kill bacteria and keep your feet healthy. Add 2 to 3 drops to each shoe and voila! Never apply essential oils directly onto your skin as they can cause irritation and allergy reaction.

8. Sage

Sage is an incredible source of tannic acid, which kills any unpleasant smell. Sprinkle ground sage on your shoes and feet or place a few sage leaves in each to fight the shoe odor. You can also add sage leaves to your footbath to combat bacteria.

You can also place your shoes outdoors in the sunlight to quickly get rid of the smell. But most importantly, keep your feet healthy and wear only high-quality shoes. Do you have flat feet? Try to shop for the best walking shoes for flat feet.