{"id":1483,"date":"2026-09-11T15:19:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foxpro.vn\/blog\/giay-bi-hoi\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T17:59:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T17:59:31","slug":"giay-bi-hoi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foxpro.vn\/en\/blog\/giay-bi-hoi\/","title":{"rendered":"Smelly shoes: why they still smell after washing and how to get rid of the odour for good"},"content":{"rendered":"

In short:<\/strong> shoes that still smell after washing have bacteria in the insole and foam cushioning, so they need deodorising at the source, not just surface washing.<\/p>\n

Washed thoroughly, dried, sprayed with deodoriser, and two days later the shoes smell again. If this is you, the problem is not that you did not wash them well enough. It is that the smell does not live on the surface of the shoe.<\/p>\n

This article explains where the smell really comes from, how to get rid of it for good at home, and when it has soaked in too deep to handle yourself. For an overview of other shoe conditions, see our shoe cleaning service<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Where the smell comes from<\/h2>\n

Sweat itself is almost odourless. The smell comes from bacteria breaking down sweat and dead skin cells. Shoes give them everything they need: warmth, moisture, darkness and a ready food supply.<\/p>\n

The place bacteria live most is not the upper but the insole<\/strong> and the foam cushioning under the insole<\/strong>. This foam soaks up moisture like a sponge and holds it for a long time.<\/p>\n

Why they still smell after washing<\/h2>\n

The three most common reasons:<\/p>\n