After a season of sailing, lake water and sweat, my topsiders are nasty. My wife makes me keep them in the garage. Actually, not a bad idea. Anyway, do you have any suggestions on how best to destinkify and clean topsiders? I love these shoes, broken in and fit perfectly. i'd rather not replace them. I advance, thank you for your consideration. steve!
stinky shoes help
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Your Problem is LAKE WATER
... you need to drop them in SALT WATER. The Gulf of Mexico will work, but to Really get them fresh and destinkified try the Sea of Cortez or waters off the BVI. They don't call it "The Baths" for nothing. Being a sailor I'm surprised you didn't know this.
... you need to drop them in SALT WATER. The Gulf of Mexico will work, but to Really get them fresh and destinkified try the Sea of Cortez or waters off the BVI. They don't call it "The Baths" for nothing. Being a sailor I'm surprised you didn't know this.
Mold & Fungus.
Steve: I think you will find that there is mold & fungus under the insole. I suggest that you remove the insole and disinfect them. Lysol is one of the best things to use. You may also want to wash them out with some good soapy water before you apply the Lysol. Be sure that they are dry before you replace the insole.
Steve: I think you will find that there is mold & fungus under the insole. I suggest that you remove the insole and disinfect them. Lysol is one of the best things to use. You may also want to wash them out with some good soapy water before you apply the Lysol. Be sure that they are dry before you replace the insole.
After a couple of months of being
awarded the prize for the stinkiest feets on the planet last week I decided I was going to clean them shoes. After debating weather to use saddle soap and leather oils I went ahead and threw them in the washing machine with a half cup of detergent. They washed great, one the insoles came out but I just placed it back in. I did not dare throw them in the dryer so I just sat them on top of it. It took 2-3 days before they were finally dry. At first they felt tight like they had shrunk but after a few hours of wearing them they regained their flexibility. They looked a lot better and that awful rotten stink is gone.
awarded the prize for the stinkiest feets on the planet last week I decided I was going to clean them shoes. After debating weather to use saddle soap and leather oils I went ahead and threw them in the washing machine with a half cup of detergent. They washed great, one the insoles came out but I just placed it back in. I did not dare throw them in the dryer so I just sat them on top of it. It took 2-3 days before they were finally dry. At first they felt tight like they had shrunk but after a few hours of wearing them they regained their flexibility. They looked a lot better and that awful rotten stink is gone.
Mink Oil...
is leather's best friend and waterproofs like nothing you've ever seen. Those insoles can be replaced with much better ones that have a little arch support as well as some deoderant properties. Ol Dave's suggestion has some merit as well ;D !
is leather's best friend and waterproofs like nothing you've ever seen. Those insoles can be replaced with much better ones that have a little arch support as well as some deoderant properties. Ol Dave's suggestion has some merit as well ;D !
As my mother in law would say ...
throw them the h*** out. I would ignore her and try to rejuvinate them. I have a pair of slip-on sperrys on the boat that within 15 minutes could repulse me.... OK I am going to throw them the h*** out.. r.w.landau
throw them the h*** out. I would ignore her and try to rejuvinate them. I have a pair of slip-on sperrys on the boat that within 15 minutes could repulse me.... OK I am going to throw them the h*** out.. r.w.landau
Freeze them in your Freezer!
Put them in zip lock bags and put them in your freezer for a few days and then gradually thaw them out. I have done it with tennis shoes and it actually works! It apparantly kills the bacteria that causes the odor.
Put them in zip lock bags and put them in your freezer for a few days and then gradually thaw them out. I have done it with tennis shoes and it actually works! It apparantly kills the bacteria that causes the odor.
Dr Scholl's makes great new inserts
and they feel real good on the feet. Can get 'em in different types and thicknesses.
and they feel real good on the feet. Can get 'em in different types and thicknesses.
Vinegar
Vinegar kills the smell and the bacteria. Rub it on your feet for athlete's foot and other foot funk. Cheap white vinegar works best. Put a teaspoon in the shoes and slosh it around whenver you put them on or take them off. It won't hurt to wash them first.
Vinegar kills the smell and the bacteria. Rub it on your feet for athlete's foot and other foot funk. Cheap white vinegar works best. Put a teaspoon in the shoes and slosh it around whenver you put them on or take them off. It won't hurt to wash them first.
MORE BUGS
Salt water wash? Are you nuts!!! There is some really cool bacteria in salt water. Go ahead and give it a try...might just create geneticaly altered microbes that could eventually find a useful life in say...biochemical warfare. I like the vinegar idea, if you do it each time you take them off or put them on you could always eat them if you get lost at sea. Oh and you can soak your wounds in the ocean/gulf/bay too. It can give you a nice fulmanating infection, those strange colors of your skin will be a good conversation starter with your buddies. The waters of the world are ripe with bacteria. Just spouting off- Patrick RN.
Salt water wash? Are you nuts!!! There is some really cool bacteria in salt water. Go ahead and give it a try...might just create geneticaly altered microbes that could eventually find a useful life in say...biochemical warfare. I like the vinegar idea, if you do it each time you take them off or put them on you could always eat them if you get lost at sea. Oh and you can soak your wounds in the ocean/gulf/bay too. It can give you a nice fulmanating infection, those strange colors of your skin will be a good conversation starter with your buddies. The waters of the world are ripe with bacteria. Just spouting off- Patrick RN.
Me Thinks Steve Should Do The First
Response. St Louis is getting kind of cold. FOr God's sake Patric lighten up and get yer underwear out of yer butt. Ol'Dave wuz jest funnin. Get It? Fair Winds Cap'n Dave
Response. St Louis is getting kind of cold. FOr God's sake Patric lighten up and get yer underwear out of yer butt. Ol'Dave wuz jest funnin. Get It? Fair Winds Cap'n Dave
Soaking Wounds?
I always thought that if you get a good ol' cut or scrape or anything that the salt water helped disinfect it adn help it heal better? Is this not the case? I dont want to be out in the middle of the gulf or in the carribean and get a bad infection! Anyone help? -Tom
I always thought that if you get a good ol' cut or scrape or anything that the salt water helped disinfect it adn help it heal better? Is this not the case? I dont want to be out in the middle of the gulf or in the carribean and get a bad infection! Anyone help? -Tom
Great Advise
But after you do all this work.....maybe try ongoing maintenance as the shoes will stink again. Put some powder on the shoes everytime you wear them and dry them thoroughly after each use...wash if necessary. It can be done with a little patience, however I would just through them the h*** out. lol Good luck with them feet!
But after you do all this work.....maybe try ongoing maintenance as the shoes will stink again. Put some powder on the shoes everytime you wear them and dry them thoroughly after each use...wash if necessary. It can be done with a little patience, however I would just through them the h*** out. lol Good luck with them feet!
I have a great fitting pair of topsiders, but....
I think it is about time to take out the ties and slip a new pair under them.
I think it is about time to take out the ties and slip a new pair under them.
Untill the Heel is gone and Your Toes Stick Out
They are not wore out. 5200 does a great job of keeping the insert in place when it starts slipping out. I have a couple of pairs that the wife will not let me wear if I am with her. That's OK the girlfriend does not mind them at all.
They are not wore out. 5200 does a great job of keeping the insert in place when it starts slipping out. I have a couple of pairs that the wife will not let me wear if I am with her. That's OK the girlfriend does not mind them at all.
Its not just for babies
Once you get them un-stinkified, try putting baby powder in them before each wearing. I use the corn starch version of the powder (as opposed to talc), and it keeps my feet from sticking to the inside of the shoes, and it keeps them from smelling bad. The first few steps sometimes have me creating a small cloud around my feet, but after that, no problems.
Once you get them un-stinkified, try putting baby powder in them before each wearing. I use the corn starch version of the powder (as opposed to talc), and it keeps my feet from sticking to the inside of the shoes, and it keeps them from smelling bad. The first few steps sometimes have me creating a small cloud around my feet, but after that, no problems.
Cuts and wounds at sea.
Haven't you noticed how a cut at sea takes twice as long to heal and the chances of developing an infection significantly increase. Yes the salt water has plenty of bacteria and also all the other gear aboard being handled. I guess humidity and temperature play a role as when it feels balmy them cuts don't heal quick. Another observation although partially unrelated is that salt is abrasive and can scrape the skin. Accumulated salt on deck and cockpit is not much better. When on an extended trip I try to take a shower with fresh water every couple of days just to get the salt off and will hose the boat down when getting to a marina. Another widely known fact is that the best dish detergent to use with salt water is "JOY" as it will foam the best.
Haven't you noticed how a cut at sea takes twice as long to heal and the chances of developing an infection significantly increase. Yes the salt water has plenty of bacteria and also all the other gear aboard being handled. I guess humidity and temperature play a role as when it feels balmy them cuts don't heal quick. Another observation although partially unrelated is that salt is abrasive and can scrape the skin. Accumulated salt on deck and cockpit is not much better. When on an extended trip I try to take a shower with fresh water every couple of days just to get the salt off and will hose the boat down when getting to a marina. Another widely known fact is that the best dish detergent to use with salt water is "JOY" as it will foam the best.
Get some Crocs...
They have built in an anti-microbial in the compound and grip the deck suprisingly well. Besides they are far more comfortable than Topsiders and far less expensive only $30.00. Of course they won't match your plaid shorts and pink Polo shirt but who's trying to make a fashion statement on a boat. Chicks don't dig stinky feet...
They have built in an anti-microbial in the compound and grip the deck suprisingly well. Besides they are far more comfortable than Topsiders and far less expensive only $30.00. Of course they won't match your plaid shorts and pink Polo shirt but who's trying to make a fashion statement on a boat. Chicks don't dig stinky feet...
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