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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some tips to handle stinky shoes and sweaty feet in the office:

  1. Rotate Shoes: You're already doing this, which is great! Rotating shoes allows them to air out and reduces odor buildup.

  2. Use Shoe Trees: Always put shoe trees in your shoes when you're not wearing them. They help maintain the shape of the shoe and absorb moisture, which can prevent odors.

  3. Sock Recommendations: Opt for high-quality, moisture-wicking socks. Look for materials like merino wool or synthetic blends designed for breathability and sweat absorption. Avoid cotton socks as they tend to retain moisture.

  4. Alternate Socks: Change your socks during the day if your feet sweat excessively. Keeping an extra pair in your office drawer can be a lifesaver.

  5. Shoe Care:

    • If your shoes get wet, stuff them with paper and let them dry naturally. Avoid placing them near heaters, as this can damage the leather.
    • Use a shoe deodorizer or sprinkle baking soda inside your shoes overnight to neutralize odors.
  6. Foot Hygiene: Wash your feet daily and ensure they are completely dry before putting on socks and shoes. Consider using an antiperspirant spray or powder specifically for feet.

  7. Professional Shoe Cleaning: Get your shoes professionally cleaned or shined regularly to keep them fresh and odor-free.

By combining these strategies, you can keep your shoes and feet fresh, even in a demanding office environment!

Sources: Keep Your Kicks Fresh, Summer 2016 Shopping Guide for a Business Wardrobe, Leaving Shoes at Work, S&T Summer Intern Clothing Guide, What Not To Wear

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Application Method

For maximum effectiveness, aluminum chloride should be applied to completely dry feet at night before sleep and washed off in the morning.

The proper application technique is crucial:

  • Apply to dry skin where you experience excessive sweating
  • Avoid shaving the area 24 hours before and after application
  • Apply every 1-2 days as tolerated until symptoms improve

For feet specifically, concentrations of 30% to 40% aluminum chloride are typically recommended, which is higher than the 10-25% used for underarms.
 

Some products like Zeasorb (aluminum salt dusting powder) or Odaban (aluminum chloride spray/lotion) are specifically useful for foot sweating.

Effectiveness and Duration

When used correctly, aluminum chloride can provide significant relief:

  • It may take 1-2 months to evaluate the full effect
  • If effective, you'll need to repeat treatment when symptoms return (up to every 6 weeks)
  • For plantar (foot) hyperhidrosis, studies show 84% of patients reported excellent-to-good results

How It Works

Aluminum chloride works by:

  • Forming gel-like plugs that block sweat from reaching the skin surface
  • Binding to water molecules, making sweat more viscous so it can't be pushed out of sweat glands
  • Affecting the cells that produce sweat to reduce overall sweating
 

You can use drier sheets as a deodorizer, I put them in my shoes overnight. Doesn’t stop your feet sweating but it helps stop a smell buildup. I also commute in running shoes, then place drier sheets in them, and seal them in a bag during the day. 

 

Febreeze your shoes bro

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Sounds like you need some type of deodorant or powder for your feet. You should also own at least 3 pairs of shoes (more the better) and rotate them so you aren't wearing the same pair often. Also put cedar shoe trees in your shoes when you aren't wearing them to maintain form and keep moisture out. 

There's also shoe deodorizing spray you should use daily on them along with changing your socks. 

If that doesn't work then seek medical help. 

 

Newspaper ink is rich in compounds that absorb odor just crumple and slide it into the shoe. Get more shoes to rotate (one day a week, two absolute max). Cedar shoe trees absorb sweat and you sand them every few months. Foot odor during a meeting is horrible and people do notice.

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  1. Give shoes 2 days off in between wears, and always use cedar shoe trees when they're resting
  2. Apply antipersperent to your feet before you put your socks on (same stuff you'd put elsewhere on your body, but I use a separate stick)
  3. Regularly wash your feet with soap and scrub with a pumice stone to remove dead skin
  4. Always wear socks, ideally nothing synthetic
  5. If you're still struggling after that, there's nothing wrong with swapping shoes mid-day in the office. In summer months when I lived somewhere hot I'd keep a pair of derby's, clean socks, and antiperspirant in my desk in case I needed them
 

Footpowder brother. 

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