I’m getting complaints from my wife about my smelling cycling shoes, particularly now that winter has arrived and I’m riding indoors in the basement. She claims the smell permeates the room - I don’t really smell anything. There is a small window that I open while riding but it has to be closed the rest of the time (because it’s winter). I do leave it open for an hour or two after the ride.
I’ve only had the shoes for about a year. Even though my annual mileage is probably just rounding error for some of you, am I holding on to them too long? Should I be replacing them every year?
She wants me to store them in the unheated garage. I don’t see this as a viable solution (because its winter). I’ve suggested a small plastic bin with a container of baking soda (or whatever it is we use in the fridge for door absorption).
Anyone else have this problem? Any good solutions?
What’s wrong with the garage? I just wash them every few months and use shoe deodorant between that. But if I had a garage, I would use that. The cold would only help keep the smell down
It will be the best investment you’ll ever make in regards to keeping athletic shoes of any kind smelling decent without having to resort to special washing, freezing or any other procedures. Just get in the habit of putting your wet/moist/damp shoes on the drier very soon after use and they’ll stay decent smelling for their whole life. Great for any kind of footwear not just cycling shoes. The wattage of these units is very low and heat minimal enough to not worry about fires.
I think people are spot on here with shoe dryers. I use Drysure ones for running shoes because of the simplicity of not involving electricity. You could pop in sneaker balls after a while as well.
For indoor cycling I use Shimano sandals just because I don’t like how clammy shoes get indoors and I don’t want to ruin my nice cycling shoes. Being sandals they are obviously open, the material isn’t absorbent and they just wipe clean. They aren’t ideal because they use MTB cleats so they aren’t for everyone. I keep meaning to see if there is some sort of cleat adapter.
There are two issues: first you need to defunk the shoes, then you need to keep them from getting smelly again.
For the first part, wash them in a detergent and bleach solution. I use our washing machine, and put the shoes in a mesh bag to keep the cleats and buckles from damaging the washer. Let them air dry.
To keep them fresh, the shoe dryer mentioned is a good option. There are also UV shoe inserts that will help kill the bacteria/fungi.
I found the baby powder only works for the next time you use the shoes. Then they stink again. I’ve tried the washing machine with no luck. Only thing that has worked for me is the dishwasher.
At the risk of sounding like a stereotypical male, it never even occurred to me to wash them, although my wife didn’t suggest it either, so I don’t feel as stupid.
At the risk of sounding like a stereotypical male, it never even occurred to me to wash them, although my wife didn’t suggest it either, so I don’t feel as stupid.
Cleats in or out?Do you mean leaving the cleats on the shoes? For sure.
I clean my shoes with a rag and a lot of dish soap, then rinse them out in the tub blasting water from inside and outside. Maybe every month of so - and certainly after they get muddy.
My experience: best prevention is to dry the shoes immediately.
Once the shoes get pretty smelly you can fix it temporarily by washing them. Bleach is best. But smell always comes back after a few uses. That’s bacteria growing by eating skin flakes and skin oil you left behind. It’s impossible to kill it all using reasonable measures, so bacteria just grows again when moisture is introduced, and then shoes smell again. Smell is impossible to eliminate permanently to get your shoes to how they were when they were new, not without using caustic measures that would damage the shoe not to mention your feet. Keep the shoes clean and dry from new. Or this will happen.
Wearing socks prevents most of the possibility of ending up with bad smelling shoes.
But you need to wash them once in a while, like pants.
Wearing them sockless ? It’s like underwear …
Wearing socks prevents most of the possibility of ending up with bad smelling shoes.
But you need to wash them once in a while, like pants.
Wearing them sockless ? It’s like underwear …
…