How to get rid of the smell from your football boots

We all know the scent of new shoes when we take them out of the box. But nothing lasts forever, especially the odor of sports footwear. It's no wonder, considering they encounter various weather conditions and our feet sweat in them. After some time of regular use, your football boots will inevitably develop an unpleasant smell.

If you give them enough care, you can keep their aroma at an acceptable level, one that you won't have to be ashamed of and that won't scare away the martens from your yard.

Let's take a look at a few tips on which football boot cleaner is the best and how to properly take care of them.

Start caring for them right from the beginning

Your football boots will thank you if you give them proper care right from the start. With consistent maintenance, they'll reward you with a longer lifespan.

After every training session or match, your boots deserve a proper clean, not just on the outside but also on the inside, where the smell builds up the most. Basically, you shouldn't skip this step from the very first moment you put on your boots.

It depends on the material

Football boots are made from various materials. There are synthetic, knitted, and leather shoes, and each requires a slightly different approach. Let's take a look at which football boot cleaners are the best and how to use them.

What you'll need

You don't need any special tools to clean your boots at home. You'll only need a few things that most households usually have on hand.

Get ready with:

• a larger stiff brush,
• a softer detail brush – ideally, an old toothbrush will do in this case,
• a bucket, basin, or sink with warm water,
• a cloth,
• newspaper.

Synthetic boots

Right after training, get rid of the biggest dirt from your smelly football boots so you don't bring it all home unnecessarily. The best case would be to get a special bag for your shoes to prevent them from coming into contact with other clothing. Especially when they're wet or muddy.

Your boots will be most grateful if you clean or wash them in the gentlest way, that is, by hand. It may take you a bit more time, but at least you'll help them last longer.

Washing in a washing machine is not recommended mainly due to unnecessary soaking. Shoes can be rinsed without completely soaking them, to avoid unnecessary water accumulation in places where it's not needed at all. If for some reason you still decide to use the washing machine, choose a program with a low temperature up to 30 °C or a program specifically for washing shoes.

Washing by hand

Prepare a sink or a container with warm water, and you can add a small amount of soap. Use a stiff brush to clean the entire boot, including the sole, but don't press too hard.

For smaller areas that the brush can't reach, use a small soft brush or cloth or sponge.

If you're cleaning studded boots for soft surfaces and want to be thorough, unscrew the studs and clean the surface underneath them as well.

Next, dry the boots with a dry cloth and place newspapers inside to draw out moisture. Let the shoes dry naturally somewhere in the space, and definitely do not use accelerators like heaters, hair dryers, or direct sunlight.

Knitted boots

The surface of knitted football boots has a thin layer of silicone to protect against damage. Practically speaking, the cleaning process is the same as for synthetic boots, with the only difference being that you should use a soft brush on areas without silicone (the tongue and fabric around the ankles).

Let them dry in the same way, that is, naturally without accelerators and direct sunlight.

Leather boots

Leather football boots are, as the name suggests, made from natural material unlike the previous footwear. That's why the care is a bit different.

First of all, throw away the stiff brush that could only damage the surface, and use a soft tool or just a cloth or sponge. Wipe away all dirt with them, refine the details in the creases, and when it comes time for the sole, feel free to use a nylon brush again.

Fill the cleaned shoes with newspapers again and let them dry freely in the room. The rule about avoiding sunlight applies even more here. This could lead to the leather cracking.

Then at least once a month, but feel free to do it more often, apply balm or cream to the boots to keep them soft, flexible, and useful for longer.

Grandma's tips for cleaning the inside of boots

We've mentioned that we shouldn't soak the inside of the boots if possible. But how do we get rid of the smell then? Let's introduce you to a few natural football boots cleaners and some tried-and-tested home remedies.

• Freezer

It sounds unbelievable, but if you wrap your boots in a plastic bag and leave them overnight in the freezer, you'll get rid of the bacteria that cause unwanted odors.

• Tea bags

Place dry tea bags in the shoes overnight, where they will help absorb the odor coming from your boots.

• Baking soda

Pour a few teaspoons of baking soda into each shoe, let it sit overnight, and vacuum it out the next day. The smell will be gone.

• Vinegar

Mix vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio, use a spray bottle to apply it inside the shoes, and let them dry naturally.

• Cat litter

As absurd as it may seem, cat litter also absorbs odors. Your cat will surely be happy to spare you a few pellets. Pour it into the shoes and after a few hours, dump it in the trash along with the smell.

• Sage, lavender, lovage

It wouldn't be proper grandma's advice if it didn't include herbs. Place sage, lavender, and lovage in the shoes and let them sit for a few hours or overnight. Thanks to their antibacterial and antifungal properties, they will help your shoes with odor, and all in a completely natural way.

And finally, one recommendation. After you clean your football boots, don't forget to wash the bag you brought them home in. Especially if you previously put muddy shoes in it.