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Shining Your Shoes, Deodorizing Them, and More

Shining Your Shoes, Deodorizing Them, and More

My grandfather stored his shoes on cedar shoe trees and I always assumed the reason he kept shoes this way was to keep the shoe’s shape. Little did I know until recently the natural benefits of cedar for shoes! Here is more about cedar shoe-care, deodorizing smelly shoes, and how to find a shoe polish that won’t cost your health or the earth:

Cedar Shoe Trees
Have you ever seen cedar shoe trees? Cedar wicks moisture, acid, and salt from shoes, so housing shoes in cedar is a great idea since the cedar will keep the leather from cracking.

Baking Soda Shoe Deodorizer
Sprinkle baking soda into your shoes after wearing them, and brush it out the next morning. Baking soda is a great deodorizer.

Tea Deodorizing Spray
Tannin, that dark bitter-tasting aspect of black tea, is a great deodorizer (and dust-mite neutralizer). Make a cup of black tea, cool it, and spray the insides of the shoes (making sure that the shoes are dark so that the tea won’t stain the leather). Let it set overnight. If the shoes are still damp from the spray in the morning, sprinkle with a little cornstarch to absorb the moisture, and then remove.

Antibacterial Shoe Spray
Add 1 teaspoon of an essential oil of your choice to a cup of water in a spray bottle. If your shoes smell really strongly of mold and mildew, choose tea tree oil for the essential oil, but all essential oils have some antibacterial qualities. Spray the shoes, and air for a week so the smell has completely dissipated before wearing.

Shoe Polish
Most shoe polishes are made with petroleum solvents and should be avoided. A nice light freshener is to polish with a bit of jojoba oil. Just dab a bit of this liquid wax on a rag and buff the shoes. Otherwise find plant-based shoe polishes online, but be alert to the strong smell of terpenes.

Read more: Home, Household Hints, , , , , ,

By Annie B. Bond

Annie B. Bond

Annie is a renowned expert in non-toxic and green living. Named one of the top 20 environmental leaders by Body and Soul Magazine, Annie has authored four books, including "Home Enlightenment" (Rodale Press, 2005) and "Better Basics for the Home" (Three Rivers Press, 1999).

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Home Enlightenment

Practical, earth-friendly advice for creating a nurturing, healthy, and toxin-free home and lifestyle.buy now

23 comments

+ add your own
5:38PM PDT on Apr 5, 2012

Thanks.

10:29AM PDT on Aug 23, 2011

Thank you

10:00AM PDT on Aug 3, 2011

great article, thank you :)

6:30AM PDT on Jul 19, 2011

I kinda like washable inner soles.

5:36AM PDT on Jul 19, 2011

Given the autumnal summer we've got here in the UK I don't think sweaty feet are going to be as much of a problem as usual, unfortunately!

12:51AM PDT on Jul 16, 2011

Thanks Annie.

4:07PM PDT on Jul 15, 2011

thank you!

6:37AM PDT on May 17, 2011

Sending this article to my kids. Their shoes can gag a maget seriously!

6:36AM PDT on May 17, 2011

Sending this article to my kids. Their shoes can gag a maget seriously!

12:56AM PST on Dec 1, 2010

Thanks for the article.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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