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Your gym sneakers are nasty. Here’s how to make DIY shoe disinfectant spray at home.

Maryal Miller Carter   Paste BN
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Fed up with your favorite footwear playing host to unpleasant odors? Then it’s time to ditch the stink and disinfect those gross gym shoes once and for all. Luckily, you don’t have to resort to the old bowling alley technique of spraying the stink away with store-bought disinfectants. All you need to refresh those nasty shoes are two ingredients and a little know-how. 

Crafting a DIY shoe disinfecting spray at home is a total breeze. What’s more, once you’ve mixed your magic antibacterial potion, you can give those shoes a quick spritz every time you take them off to easily maintain freshness. Game changer! Here’s how to disinfect shoes at home with a DIY spray.

Watch the video above to learn how to disinfect your stinky shoes at home.

How to disinfect shoes at home

Supplies:

  • Misting spray bottle
  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Essential oils (tea tree oil works well)
  • Funnel (optional)

Stinky shoes: How to deodorize your shoes

Instructions:

  • Ensure the misting spray bottle is clean and dry.
  • Using a funnel or a steady hand, pour isopropyl alcohol into the spray bottle. Leave enough space at the top for the other ingredients.
  • Add a few drops of your chosen essential oil, such as tea tree oil, for a pleasant scent and additional antibacterial properties.
  • Secure the spray bottle cap and shake the mixture thoroughly to combine the ingredients.
  • Hold the shoes with the toe box facing you and give a few sprays inside.
  • Target the heel area with a couple more spritzes.
  • Apply the spray routinely after wearing your shoes.
  • Allow the shoes to air dry completely before wearing them again.
  • This method is most effective for athletic and canvas shoes. Avoid using on materials like leather, as alcohol can dry them out.

Clean shoes: How to clean suede shoes without ruining them

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