South Carolina may not be known for snow and winter weather, but the Appalachians—and its ski and snowboarding resorts—aren’t all that far away. There are Indian Land residents who enjoy taking a weekend to hit the slopes! Of course, all that activity can lead to some tired, sweaty feet, and some stinky winter boots.

Warm footwear like the boots you wear in the winter can trap air around the feet and not let it circulate, creating problems like bad odor. This odor tends to compound over time and can make your feet smell pretty bad, too. You don’t have to put up with the foul scents, however. Cleaning the boots, treating your feet, and using home-made odor-eaters can help.

Tips to Help Boot Odor

Here are a few quick tips:

1. Wash Thoroughly – Pull out the inserts or boot liners and wash them in a tub of warm water mixed with a small amount of laundry detergent and a cup of white vinegar. Then rinse them a couple times in clean water to get out the vinegar and soap. After that, hang them to dry completely.

2. Use the Right Odor Eaters – Fill up old socks with baking soda, coffee, or a blend between the two. Once the boots are completely dry, put the odor eater mixture inside. You can also do this in between using the boots to help fight bad smells.

3. Wear Good Socks and Let Boots Dry – Whenever you go out in your winter gear, make sure you’re wearing nice, moisture-wicking socks. This helps limit the perspiration soaking into the boot. Allow the footwear to completely dry between uses, too.

4. Treat Your Feet – Try using foot powder and antiperspirant to minimize foot sweating. This helps control the odor on your feet as well as in your boots.

There are a few other techniques that might help. Try keeping the stinky winter boots, or at least their insoles, in a cold place to freeze sweaty bacteria. Remember, how you take care of boots between the times you wear them helps determine whether or not they will smell. If you’re struggling with unpleasant, foul winter footwear, or any other smelly and sweaty shoes, reach out to Carolina Podiatry Group to see how we can help. Use the web request form or call our South Carolina offices to make an appointment—(803) 548-FEET for Indian Land, or (803) 285-1411 for Lancaster.