Summer is here and that means ballet flats are getting sweaty and gross.
You know exactly what I’m talking about!
You leave for work with perfectly clean flats and come home with sweaty (and slightly stinky) feet.
I hate wearing ballet flats that are way past their time but I also hate having to buy new flats too often.
Here are 10 ways to take care of your flats so you can wear them longer and keep them smelling fresh.
1. Put baking soda in your flats at the end of the day.
You can cut the feet off a pair of old tights and fill them with baking soda and knot them.
Then let the bag sit overnight in recently worn shoes to help get rid of the stink.
You can use thin socks instead of tights if that is easier.
2. Buy no-show socks.
I actually wore these little pedi socks for two years and they keep your feet dry all day. They also help with blisters because they provide a little extra padding on the back of the heel.
Try Women’s No Show Socks Nonslip Low Cut Liner Summer Socks for Flats.
3. Powder your feet in the morning.
Sweat glands in the feet can produce up to half a pint of sweat per day. Gross. Soak up some of that sweat by applying powder either directly on to your feet or into your shoes in the morning. I used to use this trick when I was an athlete to stop my feet from sweating and getting blisters. It works!
Try Gold Bond Medicated Body Powder, Original Strength, 4 oz
.
4. Put tea bags in your shoes.
Another hack is to put tea bags in your flats. I’ve never tried this personally but apparently you leave the bags in overnight and they absorb the smell.
I’ve tried putting newspaper in my shoes overnights which definitely works but who has newspapers anymore? Maybe I’ll switch to tea.
5. Wipe the insides with antibacterial wet wipes.
The stink comes from bacteria that is trapped with sweat in your flats. The crusty stuff that sometimes appears in your flats is a mix of sweat and skin cells, gross.
Clean your flats with wipes every night to kill the bacteria.
6. Don’t wear the same pair two days in a row.
Flats get stinky when you wear them two days in a row because the sweat hasn’t had time to dry. Alternating days also keeps your flats from wearing out too quickly.
7. Dry them out properly.
Put them out in the sun to help aid the drying process.
8. Make sure you’re washing your feet properly.
Make sure you’re washing with antibacterial soap and drying the space between your toes when you come out of the shower.
9. Store your flats in a proper place.
I wish my closet looked picture perfect but life happens and my flats end up jumbled on top of each other in the bottom of the closet. Store your flats properly and prevent unnecessary scuffing or wear.
10. Buy high-quality flats.
Cheap ballet flats may be more expensive in the long run. I really like these flats by Lucky that come in all different colors and they hold up pretty well. They’re cheap cost-wise but not wear-wise. Lucky Women’s Emmie Ballet Flat
Do you have any tips on keeping ballet flats fresh?
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Baking soda and tea bags are both great ideas that are simple for ensuring your flats stay odor-free! There are also sprays and lotions available that can help keep your feet dry and keep the smell away long term. Thanks for the great article!