Weird Tips to Rescue Your Flats

Any girl who has worn flats with bare feet in the summer knows there are risks. Despite how comfortable they are and the fact that ballet flats are super cute, there is always the chance of a blister, and of course, the smell.

These unfortunate side effects are avoidable. After working retail for ten years, I’ve compiled an arsenal of tips for rescuing your flats from being destroyed over the summer. These tips are odd but effective.

#1 – Put panty liners in the bottom.

Sweat is the cause of the super-obvious foot smell. When sweat gets into the material of the shoe, it gets trapped. Sweat doesn’t smell great on its own, but when you add in leather it is amplified. Throw in an eight-hour day and you’ve got quite the mix.

The easiest way to deal with this issue is to prevent the problem. If you can absorb the sweat before it hits the fabric, you’ve prevented the problem. Cue the panty liners. These thin pads are highly absorbent and have an adhesive back so they won’t slide around under your foot. They are also designed to be removed from fabric, so the adhesive isn’t so strong that you’ll damage the insole of your flats.

Simply apply the liner to the inside of your shoe the same way you’d use it in your underwear – sticky side down. At the end of the day, remove it from your shoe and throw it away. If you find that you need to change it during the day – for example, a long day outside – they’re easy to change and don’t take up much room in your bag.

#2 – Fill your shoes with baking soda.

When you get home at the end of the day, it is sooo tempting to just kick off your shoes and call it a night. Before you do, take thirty seconds to follow this tip.

If you followed tip #1, remove the liner. Then sprinkle baking soda inside your shoes. You don’t need to fill them up all the way, just full enough that you can’t see the sole of your shoe anymore. Leave them overnight, and dump the baking soda in the garbage in the morning.

The baking soda will absorb the odour from any sweat that has worked its way into your shoes. It takes about 24 hours for sweat to completely be removed from fabric, so ideally you shouldn’t wear the same pair of flats two days in a row. If alternating pairs isn’t an option, use the baking soda tip every night to extend the life of your shoes.

Keep in mind that if your flats are already rank, they are probably past saving. Built up sweat is hard to get rid of, which means the smell is there to stay.

#3 – Wipe them down with dry shampoo.

This trick follows the same principle as using baking soda, with the added bonus that your shoes will have a hairspray fragrance after.

Spray the insole of your shoes with dry shampoo, the same way you do with your hair. Let it sit for a minute or two, then scrub them down with a dry facecloth or paper towel. Using a wet cloth will only make the smell worse because you are adding extra moisture to the mix.

A dry cloth will work the dry shampoo into the fabric, and wipe off the excess. This is the equivalent of rubbing your roots once you put dry shampoo in.

#4 – Disinfect and hang them outside.

Fresh air is good for pretty much everything, including smelly shoes. Throwing your damp shoes in the closet will only encourage the growth of bacteria. Instead of giving bacteria an hospitable home, spray them down and kick them out.

I suggest using a natural disinfectant, rather than a commercial one for the simple reason that the chemicals in products like Lysol can break down the fabric of your shoes. My go-to recipe relies on tea tree oil (a natural disinfectant) and white vinegar.

In a spray bottle, mix ¼ cup white vinegar with ¼ cup water. Add several drops of tea tree oil and stir.

Lightly spritz your shoes all over. You should be able to see some drops on the shoes without them feeling wet. Hang them up outside and leave them overnight. Hanging them ensures that all the moisture has a way out, rather than getting trapped in a pool at the bottom of your shoe.

#5 – Put deodorant on your feet.

Applying deodorant to your underarms is a standard part of your getting ready routine (or it should be), and now you can add “deodorize feet” to the list.

Putting deodorant or antiperspirant on your feet serves the same purpose as putting it on your armpits. It will prevent excess sweat, and keep your feet dry. This stops the sweat from getting on your shoes.

You can pick up a special deodorant for feet, but a cheaper option is to buy men’s antiperspirant. Note that you should get antiperspirant, not deodorant. Although the terms are used interchangeably, they do refer to two different products. Deodorant will take care of the smell, whereas antiperspirant blocks the sweat glands from excreting too much moisture.

Men’s antiperspirant tends to be made of a stronger formula than women’s. Use this to your advantage by applying a powder formula to your feet before you put your flats on. Avoid gel formulas, since they will make your toes feel squishy. Can you tell I learned this one the hard way?

#6 – Blow dry with socks on.

The biggest problem I had with flats was that the backs would rub on my heels. This led to countless blisters and cuts. Even the softest materials rub after eight hours of standing.

Since Band-Aids hanging out of your shoes is not a good look (especially if you work in food service), I found an alternative. This tip works best on new shoes that haven’t been broken in yet.

Put on a pair of medium-thick socks, and get out your hair dryer. Set your dryer to hot, and aim it at your feet. Point and flex your feet as you heat the material. This will stretch them out enough that they are looser without having to buy a size too big.

Do you have a question or a style tip you want to share? Let us know in the comments.