Stinky boots

L

Lazydog1

Joined
Oct 5, 2006
Messages
318
I’ve had a pair of Columbias for over a year now. They’re not top of the range but they were not cheap. They are sold as hiking boots but I bought them to wear casually with jeans. I have other boots that I currently use for hiking. About 3 months back we were on vacation and I wore the boots more than usual. They also became mildly wet. Suddenly they started to smell like a drunken cat had peed on them. It was not my feet that caused the problem ~ I’d washed regularly and always wore clean socks! The smell was overpowering. My wife wouldn’t let me in the house with them on and everywhere I went I had to keep moving else people would think that it was me who smelled like an unwashed hobo! Finally I washed them in warm soapy water but the smell persisted. As I refused to get rid of them my wife finally sprayed them with some cheap perfume that she refused to wear. Now I smelled like a combo hobo / cheap hooker! (Cat pee / overripe peaches). I wasn’t going to give up. I washed them again. I mean I paid good money for these boots and they still looked good! Now they smelled a little better (Cat pee / peaches / fresh detergent blend).

The local shoe repair guy told me it’s the glue that smells when it gets wet. Finally I took them on a trip to the desert. Got them really dusty, got them wet in the river, got them scuffed. Now they look terrible but they smell better. (Just dust & peaches….no cat pee smell).

Anybody got any ideas on cause and a better solution? I've just bought a new pair of boots and I have this niggling concern...

Thanks, Lazydog1
 
Hmmmm... Never had boots with that kinda smell, but then I never owned a pair of Columbias. Maybe shoot the company an E-mail to see what the deal is. As for what I do when my shoes get that not so fresh feeling... wash in warm water with a strong detergent and a splash of bleach. Just enuf to nuetralize the odor.
 
I think it might a fungus of some sort. I know they make anti fungi spray for shoes you can try. Doctor Scholl's foot powder is a good investment also.
 
I have a pair of Carolina's that are the same , look good , comfortable as heck and smell inside like a.... like something bad.

To keep the smell at bay I bought anti fungal , supportive insoles , didn't work too well , I also will put a fabric softener sheet in each boot , once a week , changing as I go.
The fabric softener helps a lot.
 
I cured some funky boots once by filling the insides with baking soda and letting it sit for a couple days. Shook out all the loose stuff, and they were OK.
 
I have some almost new Merrell's that have the same problem. My feet have never had an odour problem but after wearing those hiking shoes for 4 days on a camping trip no amount of spray seems to get rid of the stench. Its a combination of new shoe and bad funk.
 
Try filling them with cat litter,it's pretty cheap, designed to absorb smell and moisture;pour about a pint in each boot and leave them for a day,empty them out,discard the nasty stuff,suck up the excess with a vacuum cleaner... and maybe they may not be so toxic,it's a cheap fix for those boots that have become a second skin but are a bit anti-social.
 
You could try a spray that actually gets rid of whatever is causing the smell, instead of just covering it up. Lysol tends to do a decent job for me.

Companies also make tech wash that is specifically made for leather and high tech fabrics, so that might be worth a shot. I have used it on high end technical jackets that have gotten mildewed and it completely took care of the issue. Try washing them and then sticking them in a small room with a dehumidifier that can get them as dry as possible. This combination usually works on my stuff.
 
Try Johnson's Medicated baby powder...It has to be the Medicated kind to kill germs....and your troubles will be over. Put in about 3 good squeezes in each boot the first night.....empty in the morning and place a little in EVERY time you wear them....Problem solved. Trust me...Have I ever lied to you before?
 
Have you looked beneath the insoles of the shoes?

I'd bet you have some mildew problems inside the shoe.
 
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