Why Do Skechers Smell So Bad?

If your Skechers smell so bad, it could be because of a number of reasons: It may be that the odor-causing bacteria that live off of your sweat and dead skin spread to the inside of your shoes, stays there, and begin to make the shoe smell.

Your Skechers may also smell bad when your feet are not well ventilated. This is because feet – with contained sweat and warmth – become the perfect home for bacteria. Your Skechers can also smell so bad when you do not let them dry well after washing, before putting them on.

The worse part is that these little bacteria will not only live on your feet but also spread into your socks and all over your favorite shoes, leading to smelly feet.

But, should that be the order of the day? Of course not!

In this post, I will explain in full detail why Skechers do smell so bad, how you can get rid of that awful smell, and how to make your favorite shoe not smell again.

I really do love rocking Skechers with most of my outfits. They are one of my favorites and I have been wearing this particular Gowalk Max Otis-Athletic Air Mesh Lace Up Walking Shoe for about a year now. I can say that it is absolutely my most comfy pair of shoes.

However, I have discovered that one of the major reasons why many Skecher lovers don’t wear them all the time is because they smell too bad to wear.

And, even the most hygienic person in the world may still have to deal with smelly Skechers. (I’ll tell you why later on). So, you are not alone in this.

So instead of looking at the downsides, I have done deeper research to know why Skechers do smell bad, and how to solve the smell problem.

Here are what I discovered…

Reasons Why Skechers do smell so bad

Like I mentioned earlier, there are a number of reasons as to why your Skechers do smell so bad, and there are also ways to solve them.

Also, Not all smelly shoes are due to odor-causing bacteria, even though it seems to be the major cause.

Well, without further ado, I will try to explain in full detail why Skechers do smell so bad, and also proffer possible solutions to each of these causes.

Odor-causing bacteria

Let me first debunk the myth that your feet or Skechers smell because of sweat. No!

As a matter of fact, your sweat does not smell.

The odor of your Skechers is actually caused by bacteria. And this bacteria is brought about by the chemical process of bacteria on your skin breaking down acids in your sweat. This is what leaves behind an odor.

Just like the palms of your hands, the soles of your feet contain the greatest concentration of sweat glands – not to mention those with bromodosis

So when I say your Skechers smell so bad as a result of the odor-causing bacteria in them, it means that when all the sweat and bacteria get trapped in the Skechers, the shoe would retain the smell – even if our feet and socks get washed regularly.

But what if you wash and disinfect your Skechers each time before wearing it and it still smells so bad? This leads us to another possible reason why Skechers smell so bad.

When the feet are not well ventilated

The structure and design of a Skechers shoe are obviously different from those easy-wear shoes you wear around the house.

At a point, I can be tempted to say most of the Skechers shoe designs do not allow for proper ventilation of the feet when wearing it.

While this can be considered as a downside, it also pretty much explains why you should expect smelly shoes – especially if you do not maintain them well.

While there are some types of Skechers shoes with breathable mesh material design like this Skechers Women’s Go Walk 4 Kindle Slip-On Shoes, there are some that do not really allow proper ventilation for the feet, for example, most of the Skechers Malton oxford sneakers design.

Consequently, the feet develop all the sweats more and more with the bacteria that gets trapped in the shoe and socks, making it smell so bad after going unwashed day after day.

A dirty Skechers will definitely smell bad

There is an inseparable relationship between dirty and smelly, and the cases of shoes are no exception. When you do not ensure that your Skechers are clean and maintained, the result will always be a smelly shoe.

One of the special things about a fresh pair of Skechers right out of the box: the unblemished fragrance and look

Who does not love a brand new pair?

But, surely, it is a special thing you will need to maintain – not just because you do not want it to smell, but also because you need it to stand the test of time and use.

There may be other reasons why your Skechers do smell so bad, but these are the common reasons. So, what now?

You now know why Skechers do smell so bad but do we then do nothing and walk around in smelly shoes?

Even Mr. Bean will say a definite NO.

So, how do we deal with this smell?

How to get the smell out of sketchers?

If you have been looking for ways to get rid of the smell in your Skechers, then this is where you will find the one-stop solution.

The good news is that the steps involved in getting smell out of Skechers are simple. All the materials you will need to successfully eliminate the awful smell from your Skechers include Coldwater, Detergent,  and a soft brush

Step one: Fill your sink with cold water

If it is a Skecher that is non-leather or made of suede material, fill your sink with cold water.

Step two: Add detergent

Add into the cold water a quarter-size dollop of detergent onto the soft brush. You want to make sure you are starting off with a small amount of detergents because it creates lots of soap suds. Also, make sure that the detergent you use is safe, and non-bleach

Step three: Scrub your Skechers with a brush dipped into the cold water

Use the soft brush to scrub the shoes with cold water. A clean rag can be an alternative for a soft brush

Step four: Rinse your Skechers and air-tight

After you have scrubbed the Skechers and see that it appears clean and free of odor, rinse and let them air-dry overnight. Take note that it may take longer than overnight. The goal is to make sure it drys well

Step five: Add baking powder in the insoles

To help snuff out the smell finally, you can put baking soda in the soles

After doing this, your Skechers shouldn’t be smelling anymore.

Another way that really works for removing smell out of Skechers shoe is placing it in the freezer overnight. As you probably know, cold prevents any bacteria from growing especially in the shoes.

This will consequently get the smell off your Skechers.

That is basically all about removing smell from Skechers shoe. No matter the type of Skechers shoe you are wearing, these steps will help you in eliminating smells from the shoe. You may, however, need to do this regularly as these steps are not a permanent solution.

There is actually no permanent solution to making shoes not smell, they will require regular maintenance, disinfecting, and cleaning.

But do you really have to go through all these whenever you perceive any unpleasant odor in your Skechers shoe?

This leads us to find out if you can stop your Skechers from smelling.

How can you stop your sketchers from smelling?

Is there really a one-time step to take in order to make your Skechers not smell ever again? I guess, not.

But surely, there are tips you can take to ensure that your Skechers do not smell as they use to, so you won’t have to battle with smelly Skechers too often.

And luckily, these tips apply to all other types of shoes. For the years that I have been rocking shoes, there are some things I do that help me. And even till now, I can not remember the last time I notice really awful smell in any of my shoes.

As part of the ways you can stop your Skechers from smelling, I would like to start by practicing good foot care.

This is as simple as saying you should pay attention and take good care of your feet just as you would your face.

Most times, your grown toenails serve as real estate for those odor-causing bacteria we talked about earlier.

You should also take care of those rough, cracked spots on your feet where odor-causing bacteria thrive.

And, wash your feet!

I know most people who assume that soapy runoff in your shower will get the feet clean, just as my little brother does.

One of the ways you can stop your Skechers or other shoes from smelling is if you make it a point of actually washing your feet with an antibacterial soap.

There is another secret to stoping your Skechers from smelling, and this one has to do with a deodorizing foot bath.

Soaking your feet at least twice a week in a deodorizing bath helps in getting rid of the bacteria that cause very stubborn shoe odors. This one works like magic.

The deodorizing bath is prepared by adding 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar and 2 quarts of cool water to a deep bowl or basin.

If you are going to do this, I advise you to add a drop or two of tea tree oil just like this one HERE.

I forgot to mention, soaking your feet in this deodorizing bath should last for 15-20 minutes. Pat your feet dry afterward and see how it works.

Lastly, you can stop your Skechers from smelling by freezing the smelly shoes. Like I mentioned earlier, freezing Skechers can kill odors. This is because the odor-causing bacteria will only thrive in a warm, dark place.

So when you freeze your Skechers, you kill the smell and stops it from smelling. Simply put the Skechers in a bag first and then tuck them in a freezer overnight.

Is it okay to wash second-hand sketchers?

The short answer is Yes.

However, how you wash second-hand Skechers really depends on the type of Skechers. While Nylon/Mesh Skechers Shoes will require 10 to 12 hours for the insoles to fully dry, Smooth Leather Shoes will require cleaning and care with shoe creams or polishes.

Second hand Suede Skechers Shoes, just as you have seen in the steps above, can be washed with cold water, safe detergents, and a soft brush

There is nothing bad in washing second-hand Skechers shoes, as long as you wash in the proper way to keep the shoe fresh, clean, and free of smell.

You can also add deodorizing spray such as Skechers Odor Eliminator Spray to second-hand Skechers shoes to keep them fresh and odor-free.

In conclusion…

My love for Skechers has never gone down even when I see many complaints about the smell problem of the shoe. Sure, Skechers boast of a comfy and great footwear option for the summer.

But the common question most Skechers owners come online to ask is how they can stop their shoe from getting so, so stinky. Some even come online to know why Skechers smell so bad.

After very long deliberation, I and my team came to the final conclusion that sketchers do smell so bad basically because they do not seem to be very breathable as other types of shoes. And so, the feet just sweat in them.

Another milestone consideration is making sure that the Skechers are completely dry before wearing them again. Some Skechers shoe material may require you to leave it for 4 or 5 days after washing them.

And lest before I forget, let me warn that you run the risk of destroying your Skechers when you put them in the dryer because of the heat.

So the best option is to leave them out to dry naturally.

I hope this post has been able to show you the answers to why Skechers do smell so bad in a best-detailed manner.

And now, I want to believe you know what to do so that your smelly Skechers shoe to make it look as fresh and clean as a new pair right out of the box.