Whiffy Shoes - General running

Xerxes

15/08/2002 at 20:37

Any thoughts on how to minimise the offensive whiff from running shoes.
This is no joke, a week or so ago, we returned home from work, and
the house stank of what we thought was tom cat pee. I dutifully searched high
and low for the offenidn creature, only to track down my running shoes,
still a bit wet from previous run. I washed these in washing machine, but
they still smell like something nasty. One problem may be the fact that
I run over plenty of ground where sheep have done their business.
Any help much appreciated.

Tim

XFR Bear

16/08/2002 at 07:32

If the smelly stuff is getting into the fabric on top, then this probably means washing them every time you run, which would obviously be a problem, as they take a while to dry (BTW - I put a pair of trainers in the hot air dry cycle of my washing machine - and the glue melted and I ended up with a pair of completely knackered new £70 shoes).

To get the mud etc off the underside and edges, I put an inch or so of water in a bowl, and stick the shoes in there, using an old toothbrush to get off the stubborn bits and bits around the edges. You can then tip the dirty water down the sink.

HTH, Iain

Xerxes

16/08/2002 at 09:13

Thank Iain,
Last few days I have resorted to leaving them on a wall in the sun (naturally this will not work on rainy days!). I suppose I could get two pairs of shoes, and alternate while the other dries.
Although I have blamed the whiff on sheep above, it is entirely possible it is just me....

Lycra Kitten

16/08/2002 at 10:06

Eek don't put your trainers in the washing machine! Apparently this destroys the cushioning and gel bits that are in your trainers - they will not last! Are you sure its not your feet as well? Odoreaters are quite good.

Xerxes

16/08/2002 at 10:10

Eek! Did not know that (have heard of others putting shoes in washing machine). As it happens, I demoted the offending shoes to "garden wear", and bought a new pair, but after only a week or so of use, they pong horrifically, and my wife is insistent they remain outside the house.

Might be my feet I suppose, but honking feet have never been present previously. I think it must be the sheep...

WildWill..... pirate

pirate

16/08/2002 at 10:14

Have a look at "Trainer Tamers" about £3-£4

They are basically super strong OdorEaters specially designed for trainers

Plus alternating between two pairs of trainers is a good strategy anyway as this gives the shoes time to recover

Will

XFR Bear

16/08/2002 at 11:55

I've also seen "trainer cleaning gel" - I think I saw it in JJB sports, although I wouldn't swear to that, and I haven't tried it at all.

Nessie

16/08/2002 at 12:31

For the outside, if I've been somewhere muddy, I use an old nailbrush and detach the shower head to rinse them. You can get the outside pretty clean without soaking the inside, so they take less time to dry.

For the insides, Febreeze spray is pretty good. Also, removing the insoles occasionally and washing them only helps a lot.

Xerxes

16/08/2002 at 12:35

As opposed to only helping a little bit? :-)

Ok, will start to try some of these...Thanks.

Nessie

16/08/2002 at 12:39

I missed a comma. Should have read: washing them only, (as opposed to washing the whole shoe) helps a lot.

Can we have the edit facility back please..........

Xerxes

16/08/2002 at 12:46

Soory Nessie, just pulling your tail. I'm grateful for all advice - my wife even more so, I suspect.

Another alternative would be to put nappies on all of the sheep....

Dangly Spice

16/08/2002 at 12:51

My DaD SUGGESested using a bit of fresh air spray - you know the stuff, big aerosol can with pretty pictures of flowers on the front. Seems to work for my stinky shoes.

Minks

16/08/2002 at 13:28

Sounds mad, but some days I actually wash my feet before putting on my trainers for a run. In the summer, wearing certain sandals/shoes can make my feet stink (why some do and some don't I really don't know!), and I don't want to then transmit the stench to my running shoes.

It's worked so far ...

Dustin

19/08/2002 at 08:49

Top tips :
Use 2-3 pairs as WW suggests , allowing them to dry out between outings
Use that spray that deoderises (one free in this years FLM goody bag, I think its made by Scholl
If they get too bad put them in the washing machine.I have several pairs of Asics that have been through the wash and it doesn't appear to have done them any harm (but maybe I shouldn't have put them in with the wife's 'white wash'.....)

Xerxes

19/08/2002 at 20:52

It's definitely something to do with the wet as they were quite approachable today (I have been drying
them on a wall in thew sun as my wife has benned them from the house (will have to sneak them in when it rains!).

An interesting observation: when running towards sheep sometimes they pee, and then run off - I suspect that on my
early morning runs, I have been not been getting my feet wet with dew after all....

Hildegard

19/08/2002 at 21:41

Aren't sheep notoriously frightened of everything? I did some travel guide writing a number of years ago, and there was lots of info about not disturbing the sheep, otherwise nasty consequences (such as pregnant sheep loosing their lambs) migh occur. But have never tested this out though. So perhaps a sheep peeing is A) to be expected, and B) better than possible alternatives.

Or maybe the sheep are simply trying to include you into their flock, as you obviously don't yet have the correct sheepy smell.

fat face

20/08/2002 at 12:14

I use Dettox anti-bacterial kitchen spray stuff in my whiffy trainers. It works a treat for me.

Xerxes

20/08/2002 at 15:04

SOme of the sheep on my route try to stare you down - they do move eventually however.

I try to be cautious of sheep and give them a wide birth, as someone up there said, you can endanger unborn lambs by frightening them.

There sheep here are quite clever, BTW, there is a sign saying "Sheep - close gate".

Tim

Xerxes

20/08/2002 at 15:05

Wide *berth* I meant....

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