How To Stop Work Boots From Smelling With These Amazing Odor Eliminators

Last Updated on September 11, 2023 by Martina McKeough

If your work boots smell bad then you are not alone. The problem with smelly boots is incredibly common but easily solvable if you know how. We are going to talk about how to stop work boots from smelling so that you can wear your footwear without having to suffer that stinky smell that can be overpowering and unpleasant.

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How Do You Get The Smell Out of Work Boots?

All of the methods that we are going to talk about to help your boots smell fresh involve solving the underlying reasons why the odor starts in the first place. Solve these problems and your bad smells stop like magic.

We are going to concentrate on some of the amazing products that you can buy to help you stop your problem as well as some of the natural remedies for boot odor that you can use. These include solutions such as:

Baking Soda
Tea Bags
Boot Dryers
Sprays
Essential Oils
Foot Hygiene
Odor Eaters
Moisture Wicking Socks

Why Do Work Boots Smell?

If you want to know how to stop work boots from smelling you need to tackle the underlying causes of the problem.

Work boots tend to be worn every day for long periods of time in all kinds of conditions which means they become a breeding ground for bacteria and foot fungus.

Foot hygiene can play a part but one of the biggest culprits causing the problem is moisture from sweat which seeps into the boots and insoles. This moisture creates an ideal environment for all the bacteria to grow and they are the reason for the overpowering stinky boots.

Learning how to keep your feet clean and completely dry can make all the difference to those bad odors. Combine that with the usage of some simple products to eliminate any bacteria already in your boots and you should be able to solve your problem.

Using Baking Soda in Boots to Eliminate Odor

So let’s start with our first tip to help with smelly shoes and boots and that is by using a simple household product which is baking soda.

Baking soda is a cheap and easy product to get hold of and has been used for years as a way of helping remove bad odors from footwear.

Baking soda works so well at neutralizing smells because it absorbs the bad odor meaning that the smell ends up in the powder, not in your boots. Also, it has some anti-fungal and anti-bacterial abilities which can also be helpful when you are dealing with problems caused by sweaty feet.

Just sprinkle baking soda into the inside of your boot and allow it to work overnight. Usually, one tablespoon of the product in each boot will do the job. Just make sure that you shake your boot to enable the baking soda to get into all the areas it’s needed.

The following morning just shake any excess baking powder from your boot and hopefully, your problem is solved.

If you are worried about the powder getting everywhere you can also try placing the baking soda into a pair of cut-off tights or a pair of old socks with the tops knotted and place that inside the shoe instead.

Does a Boot Dryer Help With Smell?

One of our absolute favorite ways to eliminate bad smells from boots is by using a boot dryer with a difference.

A Boot Dryer is a fantastic invention that can help to dry out the inside of boots and shoes that have got wet or that have absorbed too much moisture. It is a great alternative to using a hairy dryer which takes too long and can overheat the inside of your shoes.

Whilst traditionally they have been used when people have been caught out in the rain or have been walking in snow they can also help to dry out the moisture caused by foot sweat. This method works so well as it means your boots can be placed in the dryer overnight and they are good to wear the following morning.

However, there is a new type of boot dryer on the market that not only gets rid of the smells but also has been created to tackle the odors as well. This Voolex Shoe Dryer and Deodorizer has a special mode to tackle really bad smells that they recommend you use if you have particularly bad-smelling boots. No hair dryer can perform this function which is why a boot dryer always makes more sense to use.

Using a boot dryer that also has the extra ability to combat sweaty and smelly work boots is clearly a better buy if you need help with both problems.

If You Have Stinky Work Boots Be Scrupulous With Your Foot Hygiene

If you want to keep your work boots smelling fresh then you need to think about how to keep your feet clean and dry to stop the sweat from seeping into your boots and creating an unpleasant odor.

Take the time to clean your feet thoroughly before putting your boots on for the day. A Tea Tree Oil Foot Soak can eliminate foot odor and keep your feet smelling fresh. It is also a useful product to help eliminate problems such as athlete’s foot which can also cause problems with smelly feet.

Drying your feet properly after they have been cleaned can also prevent problems as moisture will add to the boot smell problem.

If you have particularly sweaty feet you may need to follow this regime a few times a day.

As well as using a tea tree oil foot soak you can also buy the essential oil as well. Just add a few drops to the baking soda powder to help with eliminating smells or alternatively place some tea tree oil on to some cotton balls and pop them into your boots and shoes.

Stop Smelly Work Boots By Wearing Moisture Wicking Socks

If you want to know how to stop boots from smelling you need to tackle the sweaty feet problem as well as deal with foot hygiene. Finding ways to reduce or eliminate the amount of sweat you might produce can help to reduce odor-causing bacteria.

A really simple way to do this is by wearing bamboo socks that wick moisture away so that your feet stay dry. It should go without saying that you need to put a fresh pair on every morning. If you have really sweaty feet it would make sense to bring a spare pair of socks to work with you as well to change into in your lunch break.

Wearing socks that wick away moisture is such a simple but effective way of preventing boot odor. Bamboo socks are a well-known way of keeping your feet dry and are thought to be better than cotton socks. This is because they are highly breathable and have been designed to reduce odors so your feet smell fresh.

Buy Breathable Work Boots For Sweaty Feet

It is worth noting that the very work boots that you are using may be part of the problem. Whilst many work boots are designed to keep your feet safe and externally dry many are not so good at helping you to keep your feet dry inside your boots.

This is why it makes sense to buy work boots that are breathable so they keep your feet smelling fresh rather than allowing the moisture to accumulate inside your boot.

Carhartt Men’s Rugged Flex Waterproof Breathable Composite Toe Work Boots are the ideal footwear to purchase if you want to avoid the rancid boot smell. They have been specially designed to wick away moisture with their breathable but waterproof membrane which allows air to circulate keeping your feet feeling dry.

Best Work Boot Odor Eliminator

Even if you are scrupulous with your foot hygiene and wear the right socks there are some people who have much sweatier feet than others. If you are one of those people who sweat profusely then you might need a little extra help to keep your feet dry.

Our secret weapon when it comes to hyperhidrosis or very sweaty feet is a little-known product called Carpe Anti-Perspirant Foot Lotion.

This product has been developed to stop your feet from sweating rather than being a product that absorbs moisture. It has rave reviews and can get rid of your odor problem by eliminating it at the source.

All you need to do is use a small pea-sized amount and put it on your feet in the morning and evening to keep your feet clean and sweat-free.

Using Your Freezer As A Smelly Boots Home Remedy

Whilst we have given you some solutions to keep your feet sweat free what can you do if your boots smell already? How can you get rid of the existing smell inside your boots so that every time you put them on you aren’t overcome with the stench?

Well, one of the cheapest smelly boots home remedies is using your freezer at home to kill bacteria that are causing the odors.

All you need to do is place your work boots in a plastic bag and place them into the freezer overnight or preferably longer to kill the bacteria inside that are causing the unpleasant smell.

When you remove your shoes the following day the smell should have gone meaning all you now have to do is follow the sweat reduction and foot hygiene tips to keep your boots smelling fresh.

Using Cat Litter As a Work Boot Deodorizer

Learning how to stop work boots from smelling can sometimes be as simple as using a cheap home remedy such as cat litter. Obviously, if you already have a cat you should have some lying around that you can use.

Just sprinkle the cat litter into the work boot and leave it in your boots overnight. The cat litter should help to absorb moisture and get rid of any work smells.

The next morning just tip the litter out and you should find that the smelly work boots are a thing of the past.

This Worlds Best Cat Litter is Lavender scented so if you want you can leave behind a pleasant smell as well!

How to Stop Work Boots From Smelling With Tea Bags

Another household remedy to get rid of smells from boots are tea bags.

Tea bags can help to absorb moisture and also neutralize bad smells when they are placed in boots and shoes. Just pop one or two in each boot and leave overnight to do their work.

Whilst tea bags are a popular home remedy they are less effective than many of our earlier suggestions and are unlikely to get rid of really pungent odors so these should be perhaps left as a last resort option.

Keep Your Boots Smelling Fresh with Dryer Sheets

Laundry dryer sheets are another simple method to leave a fresh scent inside your boots.

This method simply involves leaving a dryer sheet in each boot overnight and in the morning you should have a fresh clean smell rather than a musty sweaty odor.

Just note that some dryer sheets can be incredibly pungent so if you don’t like the overpowering smell you can try one of our other methods.

Using Odor Eaters As a Boot Smell Remover

There are also plenty of products that you can use inside your boots to help keep them smelling fresh. One of the most recognizable brands on the market are Odor Eaters.

Odor Eaters are inserts that can be cut to size and are placed in the sole of your shoe to eliminate the bad smells. They also have the added bonus of adding additional comfort to your shoes and boots.

Just remember that they will need replacing every few months if you want your boots to continue smelling fresh.

How to Remove the Smell From Boots By Using Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is another great product that you can buy that can help to counteract the smell in boots and shoes.

Rubbing alcohol helps to kill the odor-causing bacteria thereby stopping the smell and it is really simple and easy to use.

Just pop it into a spray bottle and spritz the inside of your boots with the product. This will evaporate over the course of a few hours and yu should find the nasty smells begin to disappear as well.

Remove Odor From Shoes and Boots With Sprays

There are plenty of products that manufacturers have created to absorb odors and eliminate bad smells. These are really simple to use as all you need to do is spray them inside your boots to help them smell fresher.

Whilst deodorizer sprays don’t deal with the cause of the problem they can at least help stop your boots from stinking before each wear.

We particularly like Foot Sense Natural Shoe Deodorizer and Foot Spray as it is natural enough to be able to spray on your feet and in your boots and shoes as well.

Why Do My Work Boots Smell Like Cat Pee?

Whilst we have primarily talked about smells related to sweat and moisture from your feet there is another smell that you may come across that also causes a problem and that is boots that smell like cat pee.

This ammonia smell isn’t caused by a problem with your feet but by the polyurethane in the sole of your boot starting to rot because of water exposure. When this occurs you may be able to eliminate the smell in the short term by using some of the methods we have already talked about but eventually, your boots are likely to disintegrate.

To prevent this from happening make sure that you clean, dry and store your boots properly after each wear in a well-ventilated place.

If this has happened with a pair of new boots take them back to the place where you bought them as there may be a manufacturing defect.

Learning how to stop work boots from smelling isn’t difficult when you follow the right steps to stop the problem. Remember to think about your foot hygiene, take steps to eliminate sweat and take time to dry and store your shoes well. Use supplementary products to keep your boots smelling fresh and clean and you can’t go far wrong.