Ask HN: Best method to solve stinky feet/shoes?
Zappa addressed the subject with more madness than method:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE1JHOOr1M0
For me doing 12-hour days on my feet in a hot humid climate I use more than one pair of shoes so I don't have to wear the same pair more than one day in a row. Plus I take socks and shoes off as soon as I get in my vehicle after work and that's where they stay. Out there in the sun with the car windows cracked for a little ventilation. Wear sandals driving back and mostly the rest of the time when not working in a hazardous environment. Never even bring the work shoes into the house. The next morning after driving back to work with clean feet in sandals, put on a very clean pair of socks, pick a pair of shoes that hasn't been recently worn and spray them with both tolnaftate and miconazole before wearing them that day.
IOW I only wear a python boot once a week at the most.
- clean all the part completely and thoroughly
- have acetic acid or any mild acid else
- the acetic acid must at a level 41-50 % concentrate
- pour directly or apply it by a media of cotton swab/cloth
- do it two times a day
- avoid hard work using the part during that time
I would have to caution against 41-50% strength of actual acetic acid which is not very mild.
Perhaps you mean 41-50% common white vinegar.
The table vinegar itself is watered down acetic acid. Diluting that to about half-strength might still cause some skin sensitivity if it gets on the foot, but 40+% acetic acid is almost 10 times the strength of 50% vinegar and quite agressive & irritating.
Merino wool socks, get rid of cotton and synthetic materials
Never wear the same socks more than one day.
Ideally, at least two pairs a day. Socks with silver-impregnated threads may help, for example Silverlight Hiking Socks. Silver is reportedly antibacterial.
Wash your insoles or replace them with fresh new antibacterial ones. Lift your insoles out of your shoes when you take them off, and air out the insoles and shoes, outdoors, in sunshine if possible.
Wash your shoes in a washing machine with laundry detergent if they're synthetic, otherwise swabbing them out with dilute acetic acid (diluted vinegar) may help. Right now, and weekly from now on.
(This question is a mild obsession for the "through hiking" crowd. Although they usually wear the same socks for a week at a time--but have separate socks and shoes for use at camp, while the hiking socks, shoes and insoles air out.)
Aluminium based antiperspirants work for me.
I wonder if copper-based could be even more effective
Socks and sandals.
Aeration is a solution but not everyone can wear sandals at all times