Category Archives: Gadgets

Top 4 Best Shoe Sanitizer & Deodorizer Devices

Shoe sanitizer devices do more than just remove stink from shoes. They help you finally get rid of that tenacious Athlete’s foot.

They are must-haves for diabetes sufferers too, who are prone to nail and foot fungus, infections and ulcers.

These devices also prevent you from making the mistake of focusing on foot treatment only. Contaminated shoes and socks commonly are neglected, allowing them to be safe havens for the nasty microbial foes that cause all kinds of problems.

From excessive sweating to skin conditions, to stinky feet, these devices help you tackle the problem at its core. They work without leaving chemical behind. No fumes in the room, no need to air out footwear afterwards.

Here are the most popular, bestselling choices, their benefits, and how they work.

1. StinkBoss

Do your shoes and feet have nasty bacteria buildup causing your shoes to stink? You should be using the StinkBOSS Shoe Deodorizer, Ozone Sanitizer and Dryer.

This dual-method cleaning machine uses ozone particles to break down the cell walls to kill odor-causing bacteria. In addition it dries shoes and boots by generating moderate heat.

Because bacteria can’t build up immunity against oxidation, this technology will remain effective indefinitely.

Anyone who’s active in sports knows how sweaty and smelly athletic gear can get. Rather than masking smells, the StinkBOSS completely eliminates them.

Simply place your shoes on the shoe horns inside the machine, close the lid, set the time, and press start.

It sanitizes gloves and hats as well. As well as sports gear such as pads, boxing gloves, groin protectors, shin guards and more. Dries your snowy wet gloves too.

The StinkBOSS can easily be plugged into any electrical outlet and uses only safe levels of ozone for cleaning. Not only is it effective and easy to use, it saves you time and money you’d otherwise spend on washing gear in the washing machine.

On top of that, much gear and shoes require tedious hand washing, not anymore with this innovative device.

StinkBOSS benefits:

uses proven effective and perfectly safe to use ozone
multifunctional: it’s a shoe dryer
sanitizes sports gear as well

Purchase StinkBOSS here.

2. UV Total Recovery

"uses UV-C light enhanced with ozone" — “uses UV-C light enhanced with ozone”

Anyone suffering from foot fungus or a toenail infection (Onychomycosis) knows that the spores, microbes, and fungus causing the problem must be eliminated in order to get rid of it.

The UV Total Recovery Shoe Sanitizer makes this possible with the help of UV-C rays. UV-C rays are the weaker version of ultraviolet rays, toned down for use as a sterilizer.

Unlike ozone deodorizers, these UV-C rays don’t attack bacteria cells from the outside. Rather, they use a reaction between the microbe’s molecules to kill them from the inside.

According to the manufacturer this device “uses UV-C light enhanced with Ozone” but doesn’t really delve into how this works. For instance how the ozone is distributed and how it’s ensured to be contained for safety remains unclear.

UV-C rays are 99.9999% effective in the killing of fung that cause foot and toenail infections and bacteria that cause foot odor by excreting so called organic acids.

Although direct eye contact should not be made with the UV light rays, the shoe sanitizer is completely safe to use. The UV lamp needs to be replaced once in a while.

This one size fits all shoe sanitizer should be used daily by inserting the right/left lights into the appropriate shoes and then placing the shoes in the UV protective bag. Press the on/off switch, and wait for the cycle to finish. It’s that easy.

Available here. Price: $130

3. SteriShoe

If only everything was as easy as zapping our problems away! Fortunately, the SteriShoe Shoe Sanitizer at least takes care of stinky foot odor. Well, partially that is.

UV rays blast away odor-causing bacteria that remains in our shoes, even after we’ve washed or sprayed them. UV rays are said to kill 99.9999% of bacteria.

The SteriShoe wipes away bacteria heel to toe, never missing a square inch. Buyers immediately noticed a difference after using the SteriShoe just once.

To use the device, place the pair of units into your shoes and cover with the protective black bag with the cord plugged into an outlet.

Make sure to use it in a darkened room; the device has a safety switch that shuts it off when ambient light hits it, making sure you don’t expose your eyes to the UV rays.

It takes just 15 minutes to sterilize your loafers, pumps, sneakers, boots and what not.

Keep in mind that it’s not great for portable use due to its weight. You may toss it in the trunk of your car but stuffing it in your backpack will weigh you down (a dry pair of hiking boots weighs less).

Buy Sterishoe here.

4. ShoeZap

Have you ever had Athlete’s foot or another type of skin infection that kept coming back no matter how many times you treated it?

Your fungal medicine might not be the problem. Yeast, mold and dermatophyte fungus tend to cling to the insides of our shoes, so it’s important to eliminate all bacteria left behind.

The ShoeZap Shoe Sanitizer zaps these microscopic buggers where they live using UV rays. All you have to do is slip the pair of PediFix ShoeZap devices into your shoes, place the protective bag over them, and flip the switch.

Odor-causing bacteria, as well as fungus that causes infections in your foot, will be eliminated by the clinically proven germicidal light.

You will still have to treat the tinea pedis a.k.a. ‘ringworm of the foot’ infection but by sanitizing your footwear you will help prevent it from coming back.

15 minutes is all you have to wait to experience total clean and relief from itchy, bacteria-ridden feet. Oh, and don’t forget to wear slippers in public showers, pools, and saunas.

Order here.

More shoe sanitizers:

Other, less popular options, include the:

Delicol Ultraviolet Shoe Sanitizer Dryer
BATTOP Ultraviolet (UV) Shoe Sanitizer
Kendal UV Shoe Sanitizer Deodorizer with heating

Shoe sanitizer gadgets vs. sprays

Yes, spray bottles can do roughly do the same as some of these gadgets but application requires a bit more effort and you’ll face repeating costs of replacement bottles.

These devices may also be more efficient. But why choose? Many people use these devices in conjunction with a quality shoe spray.

And of course machines like the StinkBOSS also dry your footwear

Additional shoe sanitation tips

These devices can be an essential part of a clinical regimen to fight off fungal issues or persistent foot odor. They do so by disinfecting and sanitizing footwear.

(essential)

Use them in combination with other elements in a multi-modal approach. These include;

using anti-fungal creams and powders,
keeping shoes and socks dry because fungi thrive in moist warm areas,
prevent sweating as much as possible,
and take good care of minor nail or skin injuries.
prevent re-infection after toenail fungus treatment from the microbes in your shoes with proper shoe sterilization.

Other proper foot care practices include:

washing your feet with the best soap to prevent foot odor
wearing socks that help prevent excessive sweating and smelly feet

Note :

This top 4 is based on overall popularity, amount of ratings and average rating score.

The top 4 is not in particular order although I recommend the StinkBOSS due to its versatilty and multfunctionality.

Just looking for shoe & boot dryers?

The Best Shoe Dryers For Smelly Feet

StinkBOSS Shoe Sanitizer, Deodorizer & Dryer Review

Gadgetstina

Are you fed up with musty gym clothes and smelly shoes stinking up the place? Not to forget the effort it takes to get them clean and fresh again?

Washing sportswear with extra detergent helps but is time and energy consuming. Also, until you get to it, that ever increasing pile stale clothes is still there emitting its pungent scent.

And spraying stinky work boots and running shoes only helps so much.

The StinkBOSS Shoe Deodorizer, Ozone Sanitizer and Dryer is designed to solve lift all these burdens from your shoulders by tackling the problem at its core.

And it does more.

Here are four reasons to buy the StinkBOSS.

4 StinkBOSS Benefits

1. It uses ozone…

..which has 2 purposes:

Ozone is a powerful antimicrobial agent. In other words, the StinkBOSS utilizes ozone to kill off those foul odor-causing bacteria, but also viruses, and fungi. These are the microscopic buggers that cause your feet, socks and shoes to stink, the itchy patches called Athlethe’s foot, and other unwanted conditions.

Ozone is a potent odor remover. Commonly used by fire restoration companies, in air purifiers in casinos, by car cleaners to freshen up car interiors, by municipal water purification companies and more.

So instead of masking foul odors this innovative gadget takes away the source AND it removes odors themselves. By penetrating your gear with ozone molecules it disinfects and deodorizes.

2. It’s a dryer

In addition it functions as a dryer too. Toss your wet gloves, damp hat, sweaty ski socks, rainy jacket, slippery boxing gloves, or moist shoes and set a timer.

Bacteria thrive in humid environments. Take away these conditions and you are tackling the odor problem at its source.

3. It’s convenient

No more stuffing balled up newspapers in wet boots. No more drying your mittens on the radiator.

No more dabbing stuffy gear with hydrogen peroxide, sprinkling basketball shoes with rubbing alcohol or rinsing with vinegar and hanging out to air dry afterwards.

Just insert your smelly gear and switch the device on. Optionally set a timer and that’s it.

4. No additional costs

If you use sprays to deodorize your running shoes you will need to get new flasks once in a while. In a family with several sporting or hard working members this can add up fairly quickly.

Once you have introduced the StinkBOSS to your home you’re good to go. There’s no additional costs after initial purchase for filters or cartridges or anything.

freshen up stinky sports gear and more — de-stink musty sports gear, work boots and more

Is ozone safe to breathe in?

A legit question. You may have heard about home humidifiers emitting ozone to the room and how the EPA discourages using such devices.

In this case however, literally in this case, the ozone is contained. As long as you keep the lid closed while it’s running it’s completely safe.

What’s more is that the StinkBOSS complies with exposure limits to ozone set by the EPA, OSHA; NIOSH; and the FDA.

Can ozone harm my leather shoes or canvas sports bag?

It’s true that leather car interiors have been damaged by ozone but this was under extreme circumstances so don’t let this put you off.

Typically, leather will only start to dry out after an extremely high ozone concentration exposure for up to 8 hours on end.

Even if you tried you probably couldn’t damage your apparel with this sanitizer.

Why get the StinkBOSS Shoe Deodorizer, Ozone Sanitizer and Dryer?

It saves you from embarrassment when you arrive at the gym with musty tracksuit or yoga pants packed in your bag.

If you or a family member has smelly feet, this device offers the one of the most easy to use and effective ways of disinfecting footwear.

If there are one or more family members playing sports in your home, the StinkBOSS let’s you save time (and perhaps money in the long run) you would otherwise spend on freshing up athletic gear by hand (or just tossing them out on the porch).

It let’s you dry shoes and boots that have become wet due to foot perspiration. Its this residual sweat that causes bacteria to proliferate, thus making your foot odor problem worse over time.

Click here to order or read more StinkBOSS reviews.

More shoe sanitizers here:

Top 4 Best Shoe Sanitizer & Deodorizer Devices

The Best Way To Dry Wet Sweaty Shoes and Boots

Cures, Gadgetstina

During World War I, soldiers were often teamed up with “buddies”, responsible for inspecting each other’s feet. Standing for hours in waterlogged trenches without being able to remove wet socks or boots led to serious medical conditions.

For the troopers there wasn’t much to do except for changing to dry socks every few hours. Together with covering their feet with whale oil grease this was how the British soldiers kept damage to a minimum by the end of 1915.

Nowadays, we’re not dealing with “trench foot” anymore. Yet still, many of us are dealing with somewhat similar unsanitary conditions when it comes to footwear.

Are your shoes really dry?

Whether those Nikes are soaked from a rainy jog, your pumps moist from splash puddle water or your UGGs are drained in sweat, the consequences will be the same if you don’t let them dry really well.

All too often are our shoes, boots, and socks damp while we may not even know it. We have let those sneakers air out for a whole day before putting them on again right?

As far as that may be true, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are dry enough. Dry as in inhabitable for the bacteria and fungi playing an essential role in the stink.

Shoes may seem dry, but due to the absorbent nature of the materials footwear is made from, looks and feel can be deceiving.

The importance of keeping your shoes dry

As it was back then for the men on the battlefield, for us modern day civilians too it is highly recommended to keep or feet and footwear thoroughly dry since the replication of bacteria thriving on humidity is the ultimate source of the pungent smell.

In other words, keeping footwear dry is essential in combating foot odor.

You know what’s so strange?

We all know that thoroughly washing and dusting our feet with foot powder is important and washing and drying our feet and socks is common practice but our shoes are commonly neglected when it comes to this.

Bacteria and fungi love your damp boots. Clean and dry them regularly

Reasons to keep shoes dry include;

White, macerated foot soles in squishy shoes are more prone to damp footwear related conditions.

The typical musty odor shoes develop stems from bacteria and fungi thriving in damp conditions. Since these unwanted guests grow rapidly in high humidity fungal infections develop more quickly.

Athlete’s Foot is one of those conditions caused by a fungus,

as is onychomycosis, an infection underneath the surface of the nail also referred to as toenail fungus

Plantar hidradenitis, often found in hildren with a “common recent history of exposure to cold, damp, footwear”, according to PubMed.

The human papillomavirus that causes plantar warts can also thrive in damp shoes. (it’s not very easily spread but small skin cracks could offer a way for the virus to enter your body).

Other harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi such as including Staph and MRSA, also thrive on damp shoes.

Make sure to take the time to regularly inspect your feet, and look for redness or itchy areas between your toes since such problem areas can quickly spread to other parts of your feet.

Shoes are dark, warm, and moist—the perfect place for fungus, bacteria and other microbes to grow

You can sprinkle your socks and shoes with foot powder or baking soda all you want. You can wash them with surgical soap, you can soak them in apple cider vinegar.

But if your shoes or boots are still a tad bit wet those bacteria will keep on spreading, feeding on your sweat and skin cells, and thus producing that dreaded stench.

How to end the embarrassment

The reason we often feel awkward about our feet stinking is because it automatically brings about the association with being unhygienic. We feel embarrassed since people will probably think insufficient hygiene plays a role.

And if you’ve been one of those unfortunate souls who’s slipped out of their sweaty sneakers while running, you will know it’s uncomfortable, embarrassing and can be even dangerous.

You will know what I mean when you had to stop the treadmill because the belt got all wet and slippery. Here’s a remedy for reducing the amount your feet sweat.

Foot odor is not a sign of being unclean, it’s a symptom of allowing those bacteria to have their way and one essential method in stopping them is maintaining dry footwear.

You can prevent this embarrassment and discomfort by ensuring your footwear is perfectly dry at all times. After all, it’s mold and bacteria that make (running) shoes stink.

The best ways to keep your footwear dry

Take the necessary precautions, whether you are an athlete who wants to keep his or her home from smelling like a rugby team locker room.

Or maybe because you need your shoes to dry out in between spin classes, or you are just someone who sweats a lot in their shoes. In fact, on average we sweat about half a pint through our feet every day. Which makes you realize how important dehydration is.

Here are things you can do to dry your shoes.

Rotate footwear. Don’t wear those squishy shoes before they are absolutely dry. Use alternate shoes until the other pair is dry again. Allowing extra time for footwear to dry in between use will reduce wetness

This is the old-fashioned DIY way. The method my grandma used. Stuffing shoes with balled up wads of newspapers can help pull moisture from your footwear. If your shoes are really wet the paper will be saturated quickly and replacing it will be required. You may have to do this several times before the shoes are completely dry.

A similar shoe drying hack although probably more effective as it dries footwear faster and removes bad odors too. Fill nylons or tights with cat litter or Cedar chips and let them sit overnight to absorb moist and smell.

Some people use silica gel desiccant packets to remove moist from their shoes. You know, those little packs they put with your new electronics.

Place your shoes near the heater, heating vent or fan. The heat and circulating air will dry them and reduce the amount of bacteria. Be cautious with extreme heat though since this could dissolve the glue in footwear damaging them.

Replace inserts, wash them, dry them. If you suspect they are beyond help , toss them and get new ones. This is actually an additional measure, not an effective way of drying footwear.

Use a wash and dry bag for dryer and washer. I admit to having thrown my runners in the dryer once in a while. I now know this is detrimental to shoes and could damage the dryer too. Luckily there are special mesh bags that attach to the dryers door so while still inside the drum the shoes are prevented from tumbling while still benefiting from the hot circulating air. What’s even better, the bags can be used in the washing machine too.

StuffIts drying inserts combine cedar wood filling with a moisture-wicking fabric to draw out moisture and mask foul odor. Pathogens are prevented from growing on the inserts due to an antimicrobial coating. With an Amazon rating of 5/5 stars this is a very well-reviewed product designed to keep your shoes dry.

Put your shoes in the sun. Preferably with the inside exposed to the light as much as possible. UV light kills bacteria. Depending on where you live this option is obviously not always available.

Get a boot/shoe dryer. These devices dry your shoes relatively quick and they do it well. Popular models are Sterishoe dryer and the Peet shoe dryer. While they dry footwear really well they may not remove all foul odors, especially in older shoes.

The best way to dry wet shoes?

If you suffer from sweaty, smelly feet a shoe dryer is the best way to dry your shoes.

Here’s why.

You sweat a lot so your shoes need regular drying. Being dependent on the weather (for sunshine) or tinkering with crumpled newspapers is just too much of a hassle.

Also, the newspaper method may work for rainy boots but for damp shoes due to sweaty feet it’s probably not efficient enough.

Having to turn on the dryer almost every day doesn’t make much sense either if you know there are dedicated, more energy and thus cost-efficient devices specifically designed to do what you need. Drying shoes.

Shoe dryers are (commonly inexpensive) gadgets well worth the costs. Some of them not only remove moisture but also have a disinfection feature too.

Recommended shoe & boot dryer:

The Peet M97-FSB is stable, sturdy, silent and affordable. It fits all kinds of shoes and dries even the soggiest heavy steel-toed work boots without wobbling.

The Peet M97-FSB is able to dry sopping wet shoes in a matter of hours. Its ceramic heating elements have a self-limiting temperature ability thus protecting your shoes from damaging by excess heat.

For this relatively affordable expense you will get convenience in the form of ease of use in return. And in the long run, your shoes will last longer. Not to forget, you are reducing the risk on infections and stinky feet.

NEW: shoe dryer, deodorizer and sanitizer:

StinkBOSS Shoe Sanitizer, Deodorizer & Dryer Review

The Best Shoe Dryers For Smelly Feet

Gadgetstina

drying shoes properly helps fight smelly feet

Shoe dryers and sanitizers come in different types. The basics behind all these devices is the same.

They reduce moist in your shoes and boots. The technology used may differ. Some models have extra disinfecting features.

Getting rid of moist is important since smell-causing bacteria thrive on moist. After wearing, and thus, sweating the moist needs to be able to evaporate.

Otherwise the bacteria get the chance to set up camp, feast on your feet, and cause the typical cheesy smell.

Boot dryers are very useful after hiking, hunting or fishing, snowboarding and skiing,

Especially parents of young kids playing in the snow, dealing with a seemingly constant supply of wet boots and gloves know that dryers are lifesavers.

People who play a lot of sports are probably aware of this too. (if you were not you may now know how come your feet start smelling almost as soon as you put on your sports shoes).

Shoe dryers are more useful than many people think

People commonly think that the benefits of boot and shoe dryers are limited to these groups and uses.

People who tend to drench their shoes during certain activities and need their footwear to be dry for the next time you’ll wear them.

Matter of fact is that shoe dryers are highly useful in case of sweaty feet. Even if you don’t play sports or wear boots. Since everybody’s feet sweat about a half pint to a pint per foot per day (sources differ on the exact amount) it is crucial to thoroughly dry shoes in between wearing them.

You may think they are dry but the shoes interior, the inside of the fabric could be still moist.

Especially if the place your shoes are put to air out, the garage or the hallway doesn’t have an ideal relative humidity (rH) e.g. a high temperature and low humidity, evaporation of water is slow. And thus, bacteria and fungi continue to proliferate and cause smell and possibly other problems such as Athlete’s foot.

These devices remove contaminants like viruses and mold that can cause skin irritation as well as deteriorate the materials your shoe is made of.

In other words, by using a dryer you are ensuring your footwear will be completely dry after a few hours. No matter if it concerns your smelly surfing booties, your safety toe boots for work, or your normal shoes.

Which is helpful in preventing smelly feet because the less chance you give the bacteria to take over your shoes the better. Even if you make a habit out of rotating shoes.

When shoes are stored at home often they don’t get the chance to dry completely.

That’s why these devices are an important factor in combating smelly feet. They utilize heat able to dry garments without causing damage.

Apart from shoes and boots here are some more applications:

helmets,
socks,
(boxing/mma) gloves,
pants,
shinpads and groin guards.

Shoe dryer types available on the market:

Electric shoe dryers that utilize heat, either with a fan that blows the hot air into the shoes for a set period of time or with elements that radiate warmth. They generally emit hot air at about 40C / 99F to up to degrees 80°C/ 180F.

Footwear dryers that use ultraviolet light as an additional method to sanitize shoes. UV light kills off bacteria. Standalone UV shoe sanitizers exist too.

Similarly, some devices feature Ozone technology as a secondary method to rid shoes of microbes. Some models make use of PTC heating materials.

You can also use a mesh shoe sneaker dryer bag to put your shoes in the dryer without them being tumbled and possibly damaging.

Things to consider when buying a shoe dryer

Make sure the device you are considering has a drip tray if you need to dry shoes or boots that are soaking wet.

Auto-shutoff fan(some dryers stiffen up shoes if they overdry)

Portable or not. For example when taking it with you to work or on vacation but also for easily relocating it at home (some people sometimes place it turned off on a vent grid)

Dry with radiant or forced heat. Drying with forced heat (fans) is useful in cold climates or during winter time.

Think about capacity. does it have to be able to dry multiple pairs at a time?

Modest heat level protects your footwear and keeps your electric bill low

Do you need additional sanitation? For instance UV light or Ozone gas to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Some fans make noise, check the reviews to see what buyers say

Some devices make use of a fan to move air through the shoes, which shortens drying time.

The best shoe dryers on the market

In my opinion, the best portable shoe dryer is the PEET Dryer PEET Power Cell. Because it’s not too big but still powerful it is great for when you are traveling or for example when on sports camp.

Peet-Original-boot-dryer — affordable, high quality and effective

If you want a bigger dryer, one to use regularly at home, go for the PEET Dryer M97-FSB (also referred to as the Peet Original) on which you can dry two pairs simultaneously.

This is a well-reviewed dryer that will thoroughly dry the wettest shoes or boots within half a day or so.

Reasons to get this dryer:

If noise is an issue, go for the Peet Original dryer. It’s completely silent.
According to some reviewers it’s able to dry the toe box really well too (other models less so)
Other pros, it’s very sturdy and stable and affordable.

I’m a fan of the Peet brand because they not only make quality devices but also provide up to 25 year warranty. They don’t get too hot, don’t slurp electricity, and just do what they are supposed to do. Also important, they are relatively affordable too.

Both are available on Amazon. Check out the reviews to see if they fit your needs. (I bet they will)

There’s another ‘best’ shoe dryer

Depending on your needs the following boot dryer is another great choice.

Maxxdry XL boot dryer

Maxxdry-boot-glove-dryer — fast but less silent

Contrary to the Peet dryer which is a low heat convection device that employs radiant heat, the Maxxdry dryer is a so called forced air dryer. The addition of the fan allows for faster drying than the Peet dryer.

The Maxxdry is relatively silent considering the fans blow lots of air but does make some noise.

The noise is comparable to “the hum of a small room fan” according to one reviewer and similar to a “bathroom exhaust fan” according to another user. It is less stable, more likely to topple over than the Peet Original.

Reasons to get the Maxxdry XL boot dryer:

When a little bit of noise isn’t much of a problem
and if short drying times are important to you, (e.g. after washing sneakers in the washing machine)
and if you want to dry a pair of boots and gloves simultaneously *,
the Maxxdry XL may be your best buy.

(* to be able to dry two pairs of boots at the same time you need to purchase a 2nd set of boot extensions at about $15)

More quality shoe dryers

There’s a plethora of dryers available so I won’t list them all. Here are some more well-reviewed dryers utilizing various drying and sanitizing techniques.

Shoefresh shoe dryer

If you suffer from nasty fungi that cause toenail infections or Athlete’s foot you may want a machine that offers more than just drying your footwear.

Shoefresh is a shoe dryer that dries with heat and disinfects with ozone.

By employing two techniques, ozone (O3) and fans distributing heat, it promises to be more effective in killing bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungi.

Ozone is a naturally-occurring, potent oxidizing agent used commonly in municipal water and bottled water disinfection.

Studies show ozone gas is effective in sanitizing footwear and is useful as an additional therapy to antifungal medications for toenail fungus (onychomycosis) and Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis).

Reasons to get the Shoefresh shoe dryer & refresher:

When you need something extra to fight off harmful microbes
If you don’t mind that it’s more costly
The sound it produces is less than 30 decibel which can be compared to the sound level inside a library.
It is advertised to dry shoes within 30 minutes.
More info at Shoefresh.

DryGuy

Another forced-air garment dryer for shoes, boots, gloves, pants, and more. Here are some of its pros and cons.

DryGuy is claimed to dry most garments within the hour.

As one reviewer notes, it is able to dry damp shoes within the 3 hour timer setting. Soaked shoes need longer forcing you to reset the timer since 3 hours is the max.

This device is fairly light. Heavy boots may cause it to fall over.

Prago Hy’n Dry dryer

Just like the Peet Original dryer, this dryer utilizes ceramic heat.

The Hy’n Dry also features a dripping tray collecting water which helps you keep your floor clean. According to users it is stable and silent.

It does not have an on and off switch. You could get around this by putting it on a timer.

What about a dryer with UV?

The Peet Go is a portable boot dryer that utilizes UV light for additional sanitation. It is however not really well reviewed and seems somewhat delicate.

Another UV warmer/dryer is the Sidas Drywarmer however not much user experiences are available. Another model is the DryGuy Circulator, again not very well reviewed.

If you are adamant on UV sanitation of your footwear, go for Sterishoe. Keep in mind that this is not a dryer.

More sanitizing and deodorizing devices that use UV and ozone:

Top 4 Best Shoe Sanitizer & Deodorizer Devices

Where to buy shoe dryers offline?

Besides online you can also buy them offline at Costco, Target, and Wallmart to name just a few.

In case you can’t buy a shoe dryer

Maybe you can’t afford it. Perhaps there’s no power outlet available. Or there may be another reason purchasing a boot dryer device isn’t an option for you.

In that case, here are some shoe drying methods that do not work as efficient as dryers but are better than doing nothing about the moist in your footwear.

Store your shoes in a well-ventilated, dry place.
Stuff your squishy sneakers with crumpled up newspaper.
Dry them on the radiator. Downside, drying from the inside out is better and excessive heat may cause damage.
Dry them with a blow dryer. Do this very carefully though since too high temperatures may cause damage to glue and fabric.
Put the shoes on the inside of the dryer door and pull the shoe strings up over the outside of the dryer door. When the door is closed the strings will hold the shoes in place keeping them from tumbling around. Put the dryer on a lower heat setting to prevent deteriorating adhesives and damage to leather.
Some dryers feature a shelf that fits inside the drum made to hold shoes while the dryer drum spins around them.
A DIY shoe sanitizing hack some people use is putting shoes in a plastic bag and run an ozone tube into it for about an hour.

Whether it’s to cope with excessive sweating or unexpected puddles, whether it concerns tennis, golf or running shoes, sneakers or work boots, especially for people who suffer from sweaty (and stinky) feet, these devices can make a huge difference.

Addional smelly feet cure tips

More advice on why and how to dry your shoes.

Remember, wearing appropriate socks, using a good soap, and an effective anti-perspirant all help in getting rid of foot odor.

Another common method to give bacteria and other troublemakers less chance to wreak havoc on your footwear and feet is to use shoe dryer inserts.

Do you have smelly feet in your Ugg boots? A boot dryer can help you out. Or read this post about curing smelly Ugg feet.

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons.

SteriShoe UV Shoe Sanitizer Review, Does It Really Work?

Gadgetsuv lighttina

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.

Read my StinkBOSS Shoe Sanitizer, Deodorizer & Dryer Review.

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..