# Help! My sandals stink! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474 "2007-05-25T12:52:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/1 "2007-05-25T12:52:14Z")
I have a pair of Bites sandals that I really like, but the (I think) leather insoles are _rank_! I don’t know how to clean them, and I can’t find anywhere on the site that says I can replace them. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/2 "2007-05-25T13:10:51Z")
[QUOTE=singular1] I have a pair of Bites sandals that I really like, but the (I think) leather insoles are _rank_! I don’t know how to clean them, and I can’t find anywhere on the site that says I can replace them. Any suggestions? [/QUOTE] Try going to a scuba diving store and getting a product called Sink the Stink. It’s used mostly for wetsuits, but I’ve used it on fabric, leather and even plastic. Aside from that, a paste of baking soda may do the trick, but I’ve never done it. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/3 "2007-05-25T13:27:05Z")
> [@Shecky](#): > > Aside from that, a paste of baking soda may do the trick, but I’ve never done it. I’m not sure I’d do a _paste_ of anything, as that may harm the leather, or stain it. However, baking soda is cheaper than dirt. Buy a couple of boxes, put the shoes in a cardboard or plastic box, and cover the insoles completely with baking soda. Let them stay covered for two or three days. Dust 'em off, and see if you were successful. I figure this is cheap enough that even if it doesn’t work, you haven’t lost much. But I’ve had good success getting _really_ rank things un-stinky with baking soda. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/4 "2007-05-25T13:28:22Z")
The baking soda idea is a good one. Then, after you do that, put a bottle of foot powder near wherever you take your shoes off, and every day after you take them off, pour the powder in right away. It’ll keep them from stinking again. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/5 "2007-05-25T13:33:22Z")
A. Call their 800 number and ask them about buying new insoles? 800 .248. 3465 B. Found [this,](http://cleaning.lifetips.com/cat/7405/stain-removal-from-clothes/index.html) FWIW. > [@](#): > > _Leather Shoe Insoles Cleaning > You can clean leather shoe insoles by scrubbing them with a nail brush or similar small brush and either a commercial leather cleaner that you can purchase at a shoe repair shop or saddle soap. Murphy´s Oil Soap also works well. Allow them to dry in the sun, and do not wear them until they are thoroughly dry._ Saddle soap is sold at Wal-Mart and Target, on the display in the shoe section that has shoelaces and shoe polish. C. You can [buy](http://www.myfootshop.com/detail.asp?ProductID=831) new leather insoles from other people. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/6 "2007-05-25T15:08:39Z")
You guys _rock_! Thank you so very, very much! I’ll try the baking soda for the short term and the Murphy’s soap when I’ve got a few days to let them dry in the sun. Now the $7.95 has paid for itself once again! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/7 "2007-05-25T17:32:55Z")
Ahem. Try 90% tapwater, 10% Chlorine Bleach. Wipe with cloth, moistened (but **not** wet) with solution. Let stand for 10 minutes. Bacteria gone = Stink gone. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/8 "2007-05-25T21:33:10Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Ahem. Try 90% tapwater, 10% Chlorine Bleach. Wipe with cloth, moistened (but **not** wet) with solution. Let stand for 10 minutes. Bacteria gone = Stink gone. [/QUOTE] I do somethgn similar with my rock climbing shoes. I got a little spray bottle designed for travelling (you’re supposed to put hairspray in it). I put 70% rubbing alcohol in it and mist my shoes lightly after every big workout. Dries them out and kills the nasties. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/9 "2007-05-25T22:06:08Z")
Pick up a pair of Okabashis some time. They are antimicrobial and smell rather like chocolate, but never like anything objectionable. ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/10 "2007-05-25T22:07:16Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Bacteria gone = Stink gone. [/QUOTE] bacteria don’t smell, their by-products do. A case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/11 "2007-05-25T22:36:19Z")
[QUOTE=essell] bacteria don’t smell, their by-products do. A case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted? [/QUOTE] No. Water & bleach will remove the by-products (bacteria doodie) as well. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2007, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/12 "2007-05-26T01:34:14Z")
I second Baking soda. But other ideas: Sunlight. Put them out on a nice sunny day and let the sun kill the germs. Lysol spray. Antifungal foot powder. Febreeze. Bleach will work, but it destroys some materials, so use with caution. ---
**Author:** ![Subway\_Prophet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Subway\_Prophet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subway_Prophet)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-sandals-stink/405474/13 "2007-05-26T15:20:59Z")
I’ve found that putting them in the freezer for a couple of days helps too. This should only work with the bacteria and not their poo, but I’ve had some success with a light washing beforehand. There ain’t nothing more satisfying in the world, then donning a shockingly cold pair of sandals on a hot Texas summer day.