Keeping shoes odour-free

Your shoes may have started to smell — it would not be surprising as our feet sweat more than many people think.

- 

During the day, the amount of sweat can quickly add up to the equivalent of a small shot glass.

Do remove this moisture as otherwise it accumulates inside your shoes, allowing bacteria and fungi to grow. That's what causes an unpleasant smell.

However, with a little prevention and some proper care, you can easily avoid such odours.

Keeping shoes fresh starts long before any odour appears.

According to Claudia Schulz of the German Shoe Institute, the simplest fix is often the most overlooked: rotation.

Give each pair at least a full day’s rest between wears to let trapped moisture evaporate. She also suggests slipping crumpled newspaper into shoes overnight to give the same result.

For something a little more elevated, cedar shoe trees are a smart investment. They naturally absorb moisture while imparting a clean, woody scent.

Material choice matters too.