How to Clean Athletic Shoes

Always wear socks. Without socks, sweat will accumulate in your shoes. Bacteria will thrive in this moisture, giving your shoes a distinctly unpleasant smell that you will struggle to fix.^[4]

Sprinkle foot powder in your shoes. You might find that your feet will sweat all the way through your socks, getting your shoes moist even when you do have socks. Sprinkling foot powder on your insoles before you lace up will help to absorb some of that moisture and prevent your shoes form developing an odor.^[5]

Clean your insoles. If your shoes are already stinky, you can clean your insoles to improve the odor. Remove the insoles from the shoes and then follow the steps listed above. Clean it with a sponge soaked in water and detergent, wipe it with a second wet sponge to remove soap, and then allow the insole to air dry.