My Teva's REALLY smell

[LesBrass]

I'm embarrased to admit this but my Teva sandals really smell. I wear them most days and usually barefoot. I've washed them in the washer, I've soaked them in the bath and sprayed them with deoderant... and nothing seems to help.

I dont want to carry a smelly pair of shoes with me along the Via de la Plata... so is there a simple solution out there?

many thanks in advance

 

[SabsP]

Just put some bicarbonate on it for the night. Let them soak the odour in for a night.
Shake off the residue. Clean with cloth.
Then put them in freezer for couple of nights.
Did this with OH 's work shoes.
Good luck!

 

[travelgirl409]

One thing that's worked for me is soaking paper towels in rubbing alcohol, pressing them very wet into soles of Tevas, and then you just let the wet towels dry there.

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

A friend bought this Nikwax Sandal Wash as a gift (non too subtle!) for my husband's Keen aged sandals. His feet really sweat and nothing that I tried ever worked as well as this.

 

[Anniesantiago]

My Keens stink too even though they say odor free on them. Not sure if there is a fix.

 

[ShoeWhisperer]

I'm embarrased to admit this but my Teva sandals really smell. I wear them most days and usually barefoot. I've washed them in the washer, I've soaked them in the bath and sprayed them with deoderant... and nothing seems to help.

I dont want to carry a smelly pair of shoes with me along the Via de la Plata... so is there a simple solution out there?

many thanks in advance

There is a product called Mira-Zyme. It is a product used to clean wet suits, boots, and camping equipment. Very inexpensive, just follow the directions and make sure to dry the items in the sun. The enzyme action combats perspiration and other body fluids (hence the wet suit cleaner). It also helps with cat and dog accidents. It can be found at REI or any shop to do with diving and/or boating. Spray on sweaty backpack parts too. I think it is by McNett. I sell athletic sandals and recommend this product all the time, but I don't personally profit from this.

 

[Patty R.]

I had that issue with my Nike flip flops I wore in the shower and out in the town and even occasionally walked long distances on paved roads. When I could no longer stand them I scrubbed them well with hot soapy water and put them in the sun for several hours to dry out and when dry I rubbed in some talc that my hiking partner had. I don't think the talc was anything special. My friend brought it from Belgium. No stink at all since then. Hope this helps.

 

[LesBrass]

You lovely people, my husband and I thank you all... And maybe I won't need to leave my shoes outside every night from now on... And I'm pretty sure my fellow pilgrims will be pleased too

 

[Deleted member 34316]

I suggest carrying a small, portable botafumeiro (censer) while walking the Camino.

 

[AJ]

Leave them in the garage until you get home. Works for me!

 

[Pingüigrino]

Hi. I had this same problem, but the real problem were not my sandals, but my feet. The solution I found was not using synthetics socks, wash my feet twice dayly and rubbing them with diapers cream for babies asses. I did it for two weeks, during speeping time, no more problem with odors. I keep doing it when summer starts and finished. It really works.
Look at the look bellow, its easy and cheap to buy at spanish pharmacies.

https://www.google.es/search?q=bals...6MjNAhXHKsAKHRvlC2IQ_AUICCgB&biw=1920&bih=955

 

[obinjatoo]

Tea atree oil formyour feet and your Tevas

 

[notion900]

I had a pair years ago, and the rubber had a distinctive smell that attracted flies! I swear it was not my feet! It happened from when they were brand new, there was just something in the material. I had to throw them out after only a few days. It was traumatic.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Fabreze?

 

[camster]

You can soak them overnight in dentures cleaner like polydent. Apparently it does a good job with sandals (the "five fingers" kind).

 

[Wandershot]

Try one of the following:
*baby powder
* a squirt of lemon juice

buen camino

 

[newfydog]

A friend of mine, Mark Thatcher, invented Tevas. He would suggest you by a new pair.

(Actually, he has said, "as much fun as it was making all that money, giving it all away will be even more fun")

 

[nidarosa]

@LesBrass and others - thanks for the thread and input! I do lovelovelove my Tevas but not the accompanying odour ... I am on a short sunshine break in Spain at the moment and just brought my Tevas, in their plastic bag I put them in after my last walk to stop the rest of the pack from getting sand and dirt in it, and upon opening the bag I was ... deterred from using them in polite company. This I might add in spite of my regular foot cleaning and even using a natural crystal deodorant under the foot to stop this from happening. Anyway:

I have just been out to the nearest shop, they had no lemon juice (my first choice) or talc, and of course no specialist outdoorsy stuff either, but it did sell effervescent denture cleaning tablets, and yes I bought the cheapest ones. No bucket in the place I am staying, so I filled the sink with hot water, dropped two tabs in and then dunked in my sandals and left them lying there sole-up for about half an hour (it said 10-20 mins in a glass of water for dentures). I went to check on them - all was well, nothing had melted, dissolved or changed colour, but the smell was as good as gone! I left them for maybe half an hour longer to make sure, then cleaned them quickly with hand soap (replicating camino conditions) and put them outside to dry in the sun. So far so good! All that remains now is to find out how often I need to repeat this as I know from experience Tevas get that way no matter how you try to prevent it.

Thanks to @camster for the tip, this is sheer genius! It means I can keep using my Tevas for long walks without bothering anyone else, and all for the weight penalty of a few grammes for some tablets!