You may know them, those somewhat odd looking devices that look like wooden shoe molds.

Shoe trees as they are called, are used to keep shoes from shrinking, stop them from developing creases, and losing their overall shape.

Cedar wood shoe trees put an added advantage to the mix. This is due to the fact that cedar wood has some pretty convincing benefits when it comes to keeping your shoes free from sweat and odor causing bacteria.

PubMed reports indicate that Alaska cedar wood has outstanding antimicrobial activity that kills anaerobic bacteria and yeast. No wonder shoe trees made from cedar wood and cedar insoles are such popular anti-foot odor products.

In a test different types of wood species were tested for their antimicrobial activity against microbes commonly causing foot diseases and other infections in animals. Among the extracts of these woods, Alaska cedar wood proved most potent.

The cedar tree, that lives more than 1,000 years and resists insect damage was already valued by the ancient Egyptians. They used cedar as a preservative in cosmetics, as incense, and for embalming.

So in addition to giving your shoes the time to air out, using a cedar wood shoe tree will offer you a helping hand in combating smelly shoes.

• It helps absorb moisture from the linings of your shoes,
• kills off the microbes known to cause foot problems,
• and adds a pleasant cedar scent to your shoes too.

Beats the aroma of blue cheese whirling up from your sneakers don’t you think?

A cedar wood shoe tree that offers great odor killing functionality for an acceptable price is Woodlore men’s shoe tree. It has a sturdy design, comes in various sizes, is adjustable, and is one of the most popular shoe trees available.

Smelly Feet Cures Tip: do not share your cedar shoe tree with other people.  A study shows that bacteria and bacterial spores are transmitted when different shoe wearers make use of the same shoe tree.

This may lead to transmission of microbial pathogens from shoe to shoe. Thus possibly increasing sweaty and smelly feet or at least diminishing the beneficial effects of using a cedar shoe tree.