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Do Silver Socks Work As A Cure For Smelly Feet?

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Socks with silver nano fibers, you might have heard of them. They are claimed to combat sweaty, smelly feet.

It’s a fact that silver nano-particles can kill odor causing microbes.

However, is this a quircky old wifes tale, of the equivalent of smelly socks being used to create Voodoo spells, or does it really work?

As a matter of fact there is some scientific data behind this invention. The idea behind these socks is that silver kills almost all bacteria.

Silver is known to kill more than 650 disease-causing organisms and is also a safe antibacterial agent.

The odor itself consists of a mixture of ammonia, fatty acids in particular, isovaleric acid and lactic acid but its bacteria that are the cause of smelly feet, shoes, and socks.

That’s why Russian scientist Vladimir Rudenov developed the nano-enhanced socks.

According to Rudenov:

“I used to be a physician. It’s a well-known fact that silver kills most bacteria, and it’s the bacteria that causes smelly feet. So I thought, why not blend nano-particles of silver with socks? And it worked!”

According to the manufacturer, they prevent athlete’s foot too. Anti sweat and smell socks are widely available for around $10 dollars a pair.

The idea of using “nanocomposite” fibres as a weapon against malodorous feet is not new.

Already in 2003 Korean scientist allocated silver’s antibacterial properties to make safe anti-microbial fibres for use in carpets, napkins and surgical masks.

Widespread use of silver

Nano-silver is not only used in socks but also in shoes to make these “anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and odor resistant”.  Several companies all over the world are using nano silver particles in deodorants and other products.

Other applications are baby bottles to “act as an anti-bacterial deodorant and maintain freshness up to 99.9% without additional disinfecting by boiling and sterilization.”

Controversy about safety silver nano particles

Concern however is expressed by opponents who state that we don’t know enough about possible side effects of these nano bots.

  • What for example, if these will be absorbed by our skin and taken up into our bloodstream.
  • Another common concern is the risk on creating resistant bacteria, just as with antibiotics.

A recent issue of Environmental Science & Technology carried a study showing nanosilver’s widespread use in consumer goods for nearly 120 years with virtually zero adverse effects on the ecology or on human health.

What happens when you wash your silver anti stink socks..

Silver lined anti-odor socks show to release much of the silver particles during laundry.

35% to 50% of the silver nanoparticles used in textiles did come off during the wash according to a Swedisch study and one conducted at Arizona State University.

As a result the particles can leak into waste water with all potential long term health risks.

Taking this all into account I would not recommend to use these socks but opt for more natural, proven ways to cure smelly feet.

Read this article to learn more about the best socks for smelly feet.

Smelly Feet In Your Uggs? Here’s The Cure

Footwear

Uggs, we love em, we hate em, we love to hate em. Whatever your standpoint is regarding the world’s most discussed boots, they are hot.

Both in literal and metaphorical sense. As with all types of footwear that provide a warm, moist environment, sweaty feet are a result.

Do you too have smelly feet in your Uggs? And are you looking for a cure? I bet you do because you don’t want to discard your beloved woolly boots don’t you?

Well here’s what you can do to combat the bad odor your feet and Uggs may produce.

“My feet were so hot, they were soaking. “

Ugg boots are praised because they are so comfortable and warm. But oftentimes they are too warm.

Wet Uggs Make Stinky Uggs

Ugg boots are not waterproof (In Australia, where the popularity of these boots originated, they are only worn indoors)

Because of this water can go inside, for example on rainy days or when stepping into a puddle. When the water goes inside, bacteria can grow which leads to smell.

So avoid as much as possible getting your Uggs wet. If they did get wet, make sure to dry them well before wearing them again. Or use waterproof protective spray for Uggs.

When wet, they may also cause athletics foot, or another type of foot fungus to occur.

“fungus breeds in dark, wet environments – conditions that are usually seen inside the trendy sheepskin boots.”

The Ugg Boot Socks or No Socks Controversy

The Australian manufacturer recommends to wear Uggs without socks, as is advertised on the box. But we all know what happens with bare feet in footwear, sweat and foul odor ensue.

Fake, synthetic wool “Uggs” smell way more than genuine real lambswool Uggs

Important! Wear socks in your Uggs

Do always wear socks in your Uggs if your feet are sweaty. Cotton socks (at least 80%) absorb sweat and foot odor. There are however, better socks.

Socks will also prevent some of the bacteria from nesting in the wool lining inside the boots. If your socks are thin, wear two pairs.

There exists controversy around whether you should wear socks in your Uggs or not. You should however wear socks. It is claimed that because they are sheepskin that breathes you don’t have to wear socks but this is BS.

You will know if you walked the talk and ended up with very sweaty feet.

So repeat after me, I shall wear socks in my Uggs.

The cure for smelly Ugg feet

Ugg boots may cause really smelly feet
Ugg boots may cause really smelly feet

To effectively treat smelly feet in your Uggs you must decrease the bacteria already living in your boots.

Sprinkle baking soda in the boots to kill bacteria and simultaneously remove odors.

Wash them how you normally wash them. Make sure to dry them properly. Use rolled up newspapers to hasten the drying process and remove lingering odors.

After washing  your Uggs, use this spray. It’s magic. Spray it in your fluffy boots and make sure to reach all the way in the front.

Rocket Pure Natural Shoe Deodorizer is basically a foot spray you can use on footwear too. The blend of essential oils it contains make it truly powerful stuff.

More tips:

How to get the smell out of your Uggs

  • put a bag, clean nylon sock, or little box with baking soda inside and let it sit over a night
  • you can also use activated charcoal in a similar way
  • if you sweat a lot you will want to ensure they dry out well in between. Boot dryers remove moist within a few hours.
  • wash your feet with an antibacterial soap
  • put baby powder over your feet before wearing the boots, it can help to dry up and absorb the sweat
  • use odor eater inserts, they can make a huge difference
  • put Bounce dryer sheets in them and air dry them (fabric softener towels that you put in the dryer)
  • spray the inside with Oust
  • change the inserts as often as possible
  • use cedar soles or other well reviewed insoles
  • leave them outside to air out after you have worn them
  • rotate wearing shoes, there should be at least 24 hours between wearing in order to let them air out. If you want to wear Uggs every day, buy another pair to rotate.
  • if you want to use a antiperspirant, use a hypo-allergenic antiperspirant

 

If your UGGs’ insoles have had a tough life you may want to replace them with new ones. Amazon offers sheepskin insoles replacements for UGGs and other footwear. Not all of them are original UGG liners yet many are backed with a rubber insole similar to original Ugg boots.

Share your experiences

Do you have smelly feet in your Uggs? Try these solutions and let us know if it works. Still have Ugh feet? Click here for more smelly feet cures.

 

SteriShoe UV Shoe Sanitizer Review, Does It Really Work?

Gadgets
kill the odor causing bacteria in your shoes with UV light
SteriShoe UV shoe sanitizer

When the day is over we sometimes don’t know how quickly we want to throw our stinky socks into the washer.

Our shoes however often don’t get sanitized at all.

We may clean them from the outside or even put some baking soda in the inside to kill off the pathogens but this takes time and effor.

For most of us who suffer from smelly feet, a convenient way to clean our shoes would be a lifesaver.

Especially when you consider that it’s our shoes that are often the cause of infections such as athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, and foot odor.

Apart from community gym’s, swimming pools, and other public areas, our own shoes are a major source of fungal infection.

Ultraviolet light is used to kill bacteria and pathogens in various applications. The scientific name is ltraviolet germicidal irradiation.

It is, for example, used in dishwashers but in those it’s merely a useless gadget since it only works on line of sight and for a dishwasher to be sterilized with all its nooks and crannies a far brighter source of light should be used than that of the gadgets I’m referring to.

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that uses ultraviolet (UV) light at sufficiently short wavelength to kill microorganisms. -Wikipedia

 

However we are talking about a shoe sanitizer here. Does the SteriShoe ultraviolet shoe sanitizer work? Does it effectively fight infection and smell causing bacteria?

According to the reviews it does. It get’s a decent four out of five stars on Amazon.

There are some pros and cons on this nifty device though.

Pros

  • It seems to work for most people. (I haven’t  used it myself but definitely going to order one soon since I always thought that once shoes are smelly you can’t get rid of it anymore and have to toss them. At least putting them in the fridge (a popular remedy) doesn’t work for my shoes) I’d love to be able to keep my vintage Nike air maxies for a while longer).
  • It’s a convenient way of killing bacteria and other pathogens that cause Athlete’s foot, toe nail fungus, and foot odor. You just turn it on and insert it in the shoe, it turns itself off after 45 minutes.
  • Sterishoe is clinically proven to eliminate up to 99.9% of the odor-causing bacteria, fungus and viruses residing in shoes
  • Apart from ease of use it seems that rotating shoes isn’t effective because fungus spores remain dormant in your shoes. When you wear them again they are being revived by moisture and heat. The sanitizing 3W UV light kills off the bacteria instead of rendering them inactive.

Cons

  • It does not work on high heeled shoes and boots
  • Since it’s flexible it may stretch up shoes

 

Some myths debunked

Contrary to some sources, UV light as a microbial sanitizer does penetrate fabric. (If you are wearing a thin cotton t-shirt you are not protected from the sun, a white shirt for example has a SPF of about 7, when wet, its SPF is about 3)

So for really smelly shoes you may have to repeat the treatment a few times in order to reach the deeper layers of the shoes. The claim however that it can’t work because it will not reach the pathogens inside the fabric is not valid. Just look at the overwhelming positive customer reviews.

Others say you can just as easily (and without costs) place your shoes in the sun for a few hours. The sunlight will sanitize your shoes. The truth is also a bit more complicated.

The reason why ultraviolet germicidal irradiation works is because it’s UV-C light. This short-wavelength radiation is harmful to microorganisms. However, this type of UV light coming from the sun is blocked by the atmosphere.

SteriShoe Review Conclusion

Personally, why I like the concept of the SteriShoe, is because it is convenient. The reality is that if you have sweaty feet, desinfecting your shoes with other household tricks such as baking soda and sprays may work but you have to repeat the remedy week in week out.  (for some of us).

On top of that, there are indications that this device is more effective than said home remedies.

Because traditional sanitizing remedies are time consuming and less effective, the SteriShoe is an convenient, easy to use and better alternative.

Sterishoe costs $129.95 and has a 4 out of 5 stars rating at Amazon.

The SteriShoe shoe sanitizer is endorsed by a wide range of podiatrists and has received the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

In fact the SteriShoe sanitizer is recommend by more than 1000 doctors, has been awarded 7 patents, and has had vast amount of  positive media coverage including features on The Doctors and Good Morning America.

Alternatives?

Another device that rids your schoes of bacteria is the shUVee Shoe Deodorizer. It’s $96.00 and has a rating of 3,5 stars on Amazon.
Update: January 13, 2016
There’s a new shoe sanitizing device on the consumer market; the StinkBOSS.
Update 10/13/2014
The company that markets Sterishoe, Shoe Care Innovations Inc. (SCI) has launched a Kickstarter campaign to launch a new and improved version,  the Sterishoe 2.0.
What’s new?
The new model is adjusted based on customer suggestions. These are the main improvements.
  • The original Sterishoe sanitized shoes in 45 minutes, Sterishoe 2.0 does this in 15 minutes.
  • One size fits all.
  • Instead of a 3W light that only treats the front of the shoe the new version has a 5W UVC light that sanitizes the whole shoe interior.
  • A fan was added that runs 15 minutes after the UVC light has turned off. This is to kill pathogens more efficiently since funghi thrive on moist conditions.
  • Some safety features and an upgraded controller.

 

Check out this short video to learn more.

 

The new and improved Sterishoe is now available for $89 on Kickstarter. (suggested retail price is $149.95 ) Estimated delivery, December 2014.

 

What do you think of the SteriShoe shoe sanitizer?

Does it help you cure your smelly feet and shoes?

Leave your footprint below..

Tea Tree Oil a Cure for Smelly Feet? Studies on Odor, Athletes Foot, and Toenail Fungus

Natural cures

The medical term for foot odor is bromodosis and it is a year-round problem caused by two things: sweat combined with bacteria, and the growth of fungus.

When feet sweat, moisture is trapped in shoes which gives rise to odor causing bacteria and create the perfect conditions in which fungus thrive.

Shoes are then stored in dark closets and under beds and unless the shoes are fully dried by the time they are worn again, bacteria and fungus continue to grow causing the shoes – and the feet – to smell.

Pregnant women and teenagers are most prone to foot odor because heightened hormones produce more sweat, but anyone can suffer.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, people who work on their feet all day, who are stressed or anxious, or those who suffer from a condition called hyperhidrosis (increased sweat in the feet) are all prone to bouts of bromodosis.

In order to treat foot odor, the most common natural remedies include keeping feet – and shoes – dry with frequent changes of socks, adequate shoe-drying time, and foot baths.

But these treatments will not halt the growth of fungus. Warm, damp foot conditions can also promote conditions like athlete’s foot and fungal growth in the bed of the toenail.

For this type of foot odor, a more aggressive treatment is required.

Natural Treatment with Tea Tree Oil

The Aboriginal People of Australia have known about the medicinal benefits of tea trea oil for several millennia.

Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) has well documented antibacterial and astringent properties and is useful in treating a number of skin conditions including abrasions, insect bites, stings, and boils.

But can you treat foot odor with tea trea oil?

There is no well-designed scientific research confirming its effectiveness.  Small scale clinical studies have had positive results for treating athlete’s foot and nail fungus but whether it’s an effective cure for smelly feet remains unclear.

Tea tree oil is an excellent anti-fungal agent and clinical trials have demonstrated its effectiveness in treating both athlete’s foot and fungal nail infections.

Clinical research shows it is an effective cure for

  • Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)
  • Fungus infections of the nails (onychomycosis)

100% solutions of tea tree oil are recommended here since lower concentrations don’t appear to be as effective as medications such as clotrimazole or terbinafine.

In one double-blind randomized trial published in the Journal of Family Practice, onychomycosis patients either received a twice daily application of 1% clotrimazole or a 100% solution of tea tree oil.

Onychomycosis is a nail condition caused by a fungus. After six months both groups were tested again and had similar rates of recovery. Three months later, they had similar rates of relapse.

In another study published in the journal Tropical Medicine & International Health, patients were given either a cream containing 2% butenafine hydrochloride and 5% Melaleuca alternifolia oil (tea tree oil) or a placebo.

After 16 weeks, 80% of patients treated with the cream were cured compared to none of the placebo patients.

“The chemicals in tea tree oil may kill bacteria and fungus, and reduce allergic skin reactions.” –WebMD

If The Shoe Fits, Clean It

While the science is looking quite favorable and evidence exists that you can treat foot odor with tea tree oil, there are some side-effects with it’s use, typically mild skin irritation.

Nor have the effects of tea tree oil been fully studied in pregnant women and children, so some caution with these groups is appropriate.

And it must be noted that an ounce of prevention goes a long way. Athlete’s foot is quite common in the warm, moist environs of gyms and swimming pools and proper foot hygiene is a must.

Wearing flip flops or other footwear in gyms and public swimming pools, keeping feet (and shoes) clean and dry, wearing the right socks, and replacing old footwear that may have been contaminated by a previous fungal infection are all good preventive strategies.

When it comes to curing smelly feet, I would opt for the more conventional yet proven effective method.

But if the worst happens and fungal infection such as athlete’s foot or a nasty toenail infection occurs?

Reach for the tea trea oil – it’s natural, and it works.