How to Remove Odor from Leather Shoes

Leather shoes are stylish and comfortable, but they can develop a smelly odor over time. Fortunately, removing odor from leather shoes is really simple, and you have a few options to choose from. You can make a natural cleaning solution with vinegar, water, and tea tree oil to disinfect the shoes, then follow it up with baking soda to dry them off and remove the odor. Additionally, the natural tannins found in black tea bags can disinfect your leather shoes. You can also use a commercial spray disinfectant to clean the insides of your leather shoes and leave them smelling fresh.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Vinegar and Baking Soda

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    Combine white vinegar, water, and tea tree oil in a spray bottle. Add 1⁄2 cup (120 mL) of white vinegar, 1⁄2 cup (120 mL) of water and 5 drops of tea tree oil into a clean spray bottle. Shake the bottle well to mix it well.[1]
    • If you don’t have tea tree oil, you can just use the white vinegar and water as a spray.
    • Don’t use apple cider vinegar, which can stain or discolor of the leather.
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    Spray the mixture onto a clean cloth. Dampen a paper towel or a rag with your cleaning solution, but don't use so much that you saturate it. Then, wring out the cloth before you use it so you only apply a thin layer of the solution.[2]
    • If it's possible, avoid using a cloth that's been dyed. Some of the color may transfer to your leather shoes, discoloring them.
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    Wipe the inside of the leather shoes with the cloth. Work the cloth along all of the interiors of the shoes. Be sure to clean the insole, as well as all the way to the front of the toe box, along the sides, and back to the heel of the shoe.[3]
    • It may help to remove the laces and lift up the tongue of the shoe to wipe the inside.
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    Dry the shoes with a clean cloth. Right after you wipe the cloth with the cleaning solution, use a new, dry cloth to wipe inside of the shoes. Make sure the insides of the leather shoes aren’t damp, as this could damage them or could even allow new bad smells to develop.[4]
    • Make sure the new cloth you use is clean and dry.
    • You can use a dry paper towel to wipe the inside of the shoes.
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    Sprinkle 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of baking soda into each leather shoe. After you’ve wiped up the excess cleaning solution, add the baking soda to the inside of each of the leather shoes and shake them well. Make sure the powder penetrates down to the toe and coats all of the insides of the leather shoes.[5]
    • If the baking soda doesn’t cover the insides of the shoes, add another 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) and shake them again.
    • Baking soda absorbs unpleasant odors.[6]
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    Allow the leather shoes to sit overnight. With the cleaning solution and the baking soda inside of the leather shoes, leave them undisturbed for 8 hours or overnight. In the morning, smell them again to see if the odor has been removed.[7]
    • Set a timer for 8 hours if you don’t plan to leave them overnight.
    • The vinegar will have completely evaporated and dried, so you don’t need to wipe the leather shoes before you wear them.
    • Use a vacuum to remove any leftover baking soda before you wear your shoes.[8]

    Tip: If the odor is still present, repeat the procedure again with the cleaning solution and the baking soda. Because the natural solution won’t damage the leather shoes, you can treat them as many times as it takes to remove the odor.

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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Black Teabags

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    Steep black tea bags in hot water for 5 minutes. Bring a pot of hot water to a boil and then remove it from the heat. Place your black tea bags into the water and allow them to soak for 5 minutes.[9]
    • Use 1 teabag for each leather shoe.
    • Set a timer for 5 minutes.
    • The black tea needs to be steeped in order to activate the tannins that work as natural disinfectants.
  2. Image titled Remove Odor from Leather Shoes Step 8
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    Remove the tea bags from the water and let them cool. Take the bags of tea out of the water and place them on a plate. Let them cool for a few minutes so you can pick them up with your fingers.[10]
    • Many black tea bags have strings on them that allow you to remove them without burning yourself in the hot water.
    • Use a fork or a pair of tongs to remove the tea bags from the water if they don’t have strings on them.
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    Place 1 tea bag inside of each leather shoe. When the tea bags are cool enough that you can pick them up, place 1 of them into the leather shoe at about the halfway point so the moisture can reach all of the insides of the shoe. Don’t squeeze out the juice from the tea bag.[11]

    Tip: For very strong odors, place 2-3 tea bags inside of the leather shoes.

  4. Image titled Remove Odor from Leather Shoes Step 10
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    Let the leather shoes sit for 2 hours. With the tea bag inside of the leather shoes, leave them undisturbed for 2 hours to allow the tannins to disinfect them and remove the odor. Avoid moving or touching the shoes until they’ve been disinfected to ensure even coverage.
    • Set a timer for 2 hours so you don’t have to worry about checking on them.
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    Take out the tea bags and wipe the leather shoes dry. After the tea bags have been allowed to sit and disinfect the leather shoes, take them out and throw them away. Then, take a dry cloth or paper towel and wipe down the insides of the shoes to remove any excess moisture from the tea bags.
    • If the odor persists, try repeating the process again to further disinfect the leather shoes and remove the smell.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Disinfectant Spray

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    Check the packaging to make sure the spray is safe for leather shoes. Look for a commercial shoe cleaner or a disinfecting spray that says it’s safe to use on leather shoes. Some disinfecting sprays are designed for cloth sneakers and can stain or damage leather shoes.[12]
    • You can find spray disinfectant designed to clean leather shoes at drug stores, department stores, and online.
    • If the product is safe to use on leather boots, then it’s safe to use on leather shoes.
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    Spray the inside of the leather shoes. Use the spray on each shoe 1 at a time. Hold the shoe upside down and aim the nozzle down into the toe of the shoe so the spray covers everywhere inside of the shoe.[13]
    • Spray for about 3-4 seconds to fully coat the leather shoes.
  3. Image titled Remove Odor from Leather Shoes Step 14
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    Let the shoes dry for 5 minutes then smell them. The spray disinfectant will dry in a few minutes after you apply it. When they’re dry, give the leather shoes a good sniff. If the odor is still there, apply the spray once more, allowing them to dry a second time.
    • You can repeat the process as many times as necessary, but be sure to allow the leather shoes to fully dry between applications. That way, the leather won't soak up the moisture, which could cause it to warp.
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Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    How do you fix stinky shoes?
    Marc Sigal
    Marc Sigal
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Marc Sigal is the Founder of ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox places custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations so you can pick up and drop off items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
    Marc Sigal
    Marc Sigal
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch in your shoes and let them sit overnight so the powder absorbs any bad odors. Then, vacuum out your shoes the next day.
  • Question
    How do you kill bacteria in shoes?
    Marc Sigal
    Marc Sigal
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Marc Sigal is the Founder of ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox places custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations so you can pick up and drop off items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
    Marc Sigal
    Marc Sigal
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Spray the shoes with a disinfectant like Lysol to kill the bacteria and remove the odor.
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Things You’ll Need

Vinegar and Baking Soda

  • Spray bottle
  • White vinegar
  • Tea tree oil
  • Baking soda
  • Clean cloth or paper towel

Black Teabags

  • Black tea bags
  • Clean cloth or paper towel

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References

  1. ↑ https://housewifehowtos.com/clean/deodorize-smelly-shoes/
  2. ↑ https://housewifehowtos.com/clean/deodorize-smelly-shoes/
  3. ↑ https://housewifehowtos.com/clean/deodorize-smelly-shoes/
  4. ↑ https://www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/household/tips/shoes.php
  5. ↑ https://www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/household/tips/shoes.php
  6. ↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.
  7. ↑ https://www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/household/tips/shoes.php
  8. ↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.
  9. ↑ https://misterminit.eu/it_ch/blog/how-to-remove-bad-odor-from-your-shoes
  1. ↑ https://misterminit.eu/it_ch/blog/how-to-remove-bad-odor-from-your-shoes
  2. ↑ https://thehomemadeexperiment.com/homemade-tea-bag-shoe-deodorizer/
  3. ↑ https://www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/household/tips/shoes.php
  4. ↑ https://www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/household/tips/shoes.php

About This Article

Marc Sigal
Co-authored by:
Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
This article was co-authored by Marc Sigal. Marc Sigal is the Founder of ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox places custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations so you can pick up and drop off items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. This article has been viewed 53,687 times.
16 votes - 75%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: July 28, 2022
Views: 53,687
Categories: Cleaning Shoes
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