Here’s How To Dry Wet Shoes Without Them Smelling

The likelihood of your shoes becoming wet is greater than you may believe because we cannot always control the circumstances that lead to wet shoes. What you can control is learning how to dry wet shoes as quickly as possible without them smelling.

You should read this article to learn the best ways to dry your wet shoes. Additionally, it offers an overview of some natural and unnatural causes of wet shoes. It will also go over the essential helpful hints you can use to avoid getting your shoes wet at all costs.

What causes shoes to be wet?

Some of the most common causes of wet shoes are both natural and unnatural.

When I say natural, I’m referring to things like heavy dew, rain, and swampy areas. Some of these are natural occurrences you cannot avoid, but you can check [continue reading to learn the relevant pointers to keep shoes from getting wet].

Meanwhile, unnatural occurrences include getting wet from liquids thrown at you by mistake or unknowingly stepping your legs into a deep dirty mud hole.

Why shouldn’t your shoes get wet?

You should avoid letting your shoes get wet because they can become very uncomfortable and are bad for your feet.

Your feet were not made to stay wet for long periods, which is a grave issue to consider in addition to the discomfort it will bring.

Other things may include you beginning to feel cold if your feet remain wet for an extended period. Blisters and sores can also be caused by too much moisture.

In addition, having damp feet for an extended period can result in trench foot, even though it’s unusual unless you wear wet shoes continually for days on end.

No matter how you look at it, wearing wet shoes while out and about is bad for your feet.

How to dry wet shoes without them smelling

1. With an electric fan

with a fan

To properly dry your shoes, you can use a fan. You can use a table fan longer than the length of your shoes. Hang your wet shoes up close to the fan to accomplish this. Doing this will allow them to breathe quickly and not smell.

Below is a step-by-step instruction sheet.

  • Clear any dirt from your shoes.
  • Open the laces and take out the insoles.
  • Find a stand or a place to hang your shoes so they are close to the fan.
  • Until the shoes are dry, turn on the fan for a few hours.
  • To dry the shoes more quickly, you can also place them close to an air vent or the grill of your refrigerator (if the air isn’t too hot). Make sure the shoe is opened so that air can flow inside.

2. Dryer

shoe dryer
  • Remove the laces from any sneakers or casual loafers you’ve worn, widen the opening, and put the footwear in the dryer with the rest of your laundry.
  • Throw a few washcloths with your shoes even if you don’t have anything else to dry. This will reduce noise and absorb some of the heat.
  • However, dress shoes and bulky boots should not be dried in the dryer. It is best to use alternative techniques such as a shoe dryer.
  • A shoe dryer, unlike the traditional machine dryer, is faster and could work for any kind of shoe material. It is safer and will help get rid of bad smells easily.

3. Sunlight

sunlight

For a few hours, you can let your shoes dry in the sun. If they are dress shoes and you don’t want to use the dryer or the fan method, this is especially helpful. This will prevent it from smelling and is quick.

You can accomplish this by placing your shoes neatly on a platform, line, or ledge where they will have unhindered access to sunlight.

Be cautious though, as this particular solution might harm some types of dress shoes. Make sure to check on your shoes every hour or so when you do leave them in the sun.

As as soon as they begin to feel dry, keep them away from the sun. Otherwise, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation may shorten shoe longevity.

4. Newspapers

soaking wet shoes with newspaper

Be sure to always have newspapers on hand if you frequently need to dry wet running shoes. Newspaper absorbs water and is simple to fit into the nooks and crannies of your shoes because it is made of recycled materials and wood pulp.

For this, you ought to:

  • Make sure your footwear is spotless.
  • Take off your insoles.
  • To allow your shoe to breathe, remove or loosen the lace.
  • The newspaper should be crumpled up to conceal any areas with too much ink that might leave stains on your shoes. Don’t forget to cram the newspaper into the shoe’s toe.
  • To dry the outside of your shoes, wrap a towel or sheet around them.
  • Put your shoes somewhere dry and well-ventilated inside, out of direct sunlight. You could also put them close to a warm-air fan or vent to dry them more quickly.
  • You might need to change the newspapers a few times if your shoes are completely drenched in water.
  • Check the level of moisture regularly and add additional newspapers as needed to increase absorption.
  • Wait for some hours; the length of time it takes for your shoes to dry will depend on how much moisture there is in the air.

Tips to prevent your shoes from getting wet

If you live in a swampy area, stay away from muddy water.

If you can, invest in waterproof footwear, or when necessary, spray your shoes with a waterproofing solution.

Wear the appropriate footwear to dress for the weather. Some retailers sell fashionable, water-resistant shoes like loafers. Over time, designer rain boots have become more and more stylish.

They come in various colors, including black and navy, so they can easily match professional attire.

Check the weather forecast to be sure you would not walk in the rain; ideally, this would be accurate.

FAQs

shoes that are wet

Can moisture ruin sneakers?

Yes, it can.

To preserve your investment, it’s crucial to properly maintain and store your sneakers. Mold can quickly develop on sneakers in an environment with high humidity, ruining otherwise perfect shoes.

Can you dry your shoes with a hair dryer?

Yes, you can.

However, never leave your shoes in a blow dryer’s heat for longer than a few minutes, as this can damage the rubber, glue, and other materials used to make them. Additionally, leaving a hair dryer close to fabric poses a fire risk.

Where should you air dry shoes?

It’s best to air dry your shoes inside, in a dry, well-ventilated area because drying them outside in direct sunlight will result in excessive wear.

You can try putting your shoes close to a fan or the vent on your refrigerator to hasten the drying process.

Why do your shoes get wet inside?

The large opening where you place your foot can allow water into the shoe or boot.

It can trickle into this opening when it rains, walk on dew-covered grass, splash water get into it, or cross a creek higher than the opening.

Conclusion 

There is a good chance that your shoes will get wet wherever you are unless you are frequently outside.

For instance, when caught in the rain with boots or overshoes, your shoes will become wet. Then you will have to walk around in them if you still have things to do, making an uncomfortable experience even more stressful.

However, you can quickly dry your shoes using the methods described in this article to ensure they do not stink. To accomplish this, you must dry your shoes as soon as you get home.

Nonetheless, if you have the means to remove wet shoes immediately so they can begin drying, the following methods will assist you: a dryer, a fan, sunlight, and newspaper.

Finally, even after your shoes are dried, use a shoe deodorizer to remove any odors that may have accumulated as a result of this.

Thanks for reading.

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