# my leather sandals stink **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 15, 2000, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-leather-sandals-stink/19586 "2000-05-15T18:57:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ramesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d07c76/32.png) [@ramesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ramesh)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-leather-sandals-stink/19586/1 "2000-05-15T18:57:08Z")
But I like wearing them… Any idea of how to get rid of the stench? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![blueslady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@blueslady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslady)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-leather-sandals-stink/19586/2 "2000-05-15T19:08:47Z")
Put them in a zip lock bag with some Baking soda. The soda will absorb the odor after a few days. The stronger the stink, the longer it takes. ---
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-leather-sandals-stink/19586/3 "2000-05-15T19:21:49Z")
I had a pair of stank-didly-ankity sneakers that I washed in a bucket of dishsoap andleft outside in the sun. Seemed to do the trick, until I started wearing them without socks again. r ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-leather-sandals-stink/19586/4 "2000-05-15T22:08:56Z")
I never wear any footwear that cannot be washed without socks. You have to be able to wash whatever you are wearing or it will stink. I do not think there’s any way around it. There are hygienic reasons in favor of washing as well. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2000, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-leather-sandals-stink/19586/5 "2000-05-16T00:13:13Z")
I’ve heard a week in a deep freeze will kill the smell. Bag them first. Who wants the food to taste like your stinky shoes. ---
**Author:** ![ramesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d07c76/32.png) [@ramesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ramesh)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2000, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-leather-sandals-stink/19586/6 "2000-05-16T04:23:56Z")
Phobia: The freezer part was a joke, right? blueslady: I will try your baking soda idea. Hope it works. I am too lazy to put on shoes every morning… ---
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2000, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-leather-sandals-stink/19586/7 "2000-05-16T04:49:53Z")
**autoclave** ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2000, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-leather-sandals-stink/19586/8 "2000-05-16T05:00:38Z")
Baking soda works. If they are really gross, you might want to try a few “changes” of baking soda. Also, there is a great natural disinfectant available to us all. It is called the sun. Leave them outside in the sun for a long time on a bright day. (Take your feet out of them before you do this.) They might fade a little, but there should be an improvement.