You may have the process of taking care of the outside of your shoes down pat, but having a great-looking pair of shoes won't mean much if they stink!

Keep them Dry!

The No. 1 culprit for shoe odor is moisture. Bacteria that cause shoe odor thrive in humid environments. This can come from the sweat from your feet on a daily basis, but the bigger issue is water. If you step in a big puddle or get caught out in the rain, you're going to want to dry your shoes as best as possible as soon as you get home. Also be sure to remove any in-soles in sneakers or if you have them in your dress shoes.

After they dry, you'll need to wash the shoes. Most sneakers will be fine to throw in the washing machine. For dress shoes, you'll want to clean them yourself. But if you want to keep the sneakers out of the wash to be safe, Red Moose's Shoe and Sneaker Care Kit will cover you regardless of the shoe. This comes with a Foaming Cleanser along with a suede brush, cleaning brush, and microfiber cloth. The accompanying Shoe Deodorizer is fragrance-free and is perfect to use in maintenance situations as well. It's available separately for purchase here.

Other Deodorizing Options

If the odors are stubborn or you're looking for some natural remedies, look no further than your pantry or refrigerator.

You can simply take some baking soda, pour some into two coffee filters, tie the filters closed with rubber bands, and place one satchel in each shoe.

Another option is to put a few drops of essential oils (citrus-based scents are the best) onto a couple of cotton balls and let them sit overnight in the shoes. If you don't have essential oils, a lemon or lime peel may even do the trick.

You can also take advantage of the elements. If you're in a dry environment, put the shoes out in the sun to help speed up the process. If it's wet, humid, or dark out, you can put your shoes into a sealed freezer bag and place them in the freezer overnight.

If you have any other home remedies we didn't list here that you think we should know about, don't hesitate to drop us a line!