How To Stop Blundstones From Smelling (7 Ways)

Blundstone boots are super versatile. You can walk in them, run in them, work in them, dress them up, and even dance in them. That means there’s a lot of wear in a pair of Blundstones. They last for years. Leather is tough on performance but fails on freshness after a while. This could be a nasty challenge unless you know how to stop Blundstones from smelling.

There are many ways you can beat the stink:

• Stop your Blundstones from smelling by cleaning them with vinegar, water, and tea tree solution.
• Or you can freeze them to draw out the odor.
• You can also use teabags to keep them smelling fresh.
• Or you can keep your Blundstones with talcum powder and wear merino wool stocks to evaporate moisture.
• It’s also best to air them regularly. 

Alternatively you can get the job done properly by using deodorizing products like Boot Bananas. They sound super weird, but they’re a handy hack if you want to keep your nice Blundstones fresh long term.

I personally have a set and love to use them for other heavy duty boots that build up a stink like Doc Martens and Timberlands too (I’m not paid by Boot Bananas to promote them, they’re just a handy product I use).

Smelly shoes are embarrassing and are a concern for most boot wearers. As great as the boot looks on the outside, the inside certainly won’t live up to this. Why do Blundstones smell? Read on for the advice that works.

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Bacteria Is the Bad Guy

The one detractor from leather shoes is that after you’ve worn them in and been out and about, they eventually start smelling. Blundstones are no exception to this. Even though Blundstone boots are produced from superb quality, breathable leather, and the insoles are moisture-wicking, too, leather is leather and will smell. 

Leather is a natural material that traps bacteria and moisture; these two harmful substances lurk around in leather shoes, eventually making them smell unpleasant. In general, feet sweat a lot. In fact, there are more sweat glands in the feet than in any other part of the body.

When sweat gets trapped in your shoes, it reacts with the bacteria that live under the sole of your foot. The bacteria then feed off the sweat and create an acid that smells offensive, known as Bromodosis, the primary reason feet and shoes smell bad. 

Blundstones have the added challenge of being closed shoes. In fact, most of them are pull-on boots, so there is little to no chance of any natural ventilation while you are wearing them. Fortunately, when your boots start smelling, there are solutions to freshen things up. 

Look at these 5 top tips on fixing foot odor and keeping shoes hygienic and smelling good.  

1. Spray Away

The best solution to clean the inside of your Blundstones is ½ cup of water mixed with ½ white vinegar and add 5 drops of tea tree oil. Mix this all together and pour your mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto a clean white cloth; the dye on colored cloths could run and ruin your shoe. Before cleaning your shoe wring any excess moisture. 

Wipe inside your shoes, reaching the entire inside surface of the boot, at the bottom and the top, and all the way to the front tip of your Blundstone to the heel. When cleaning your shoe, please wipe it with a dry cloth and sprinkle baking soda into your boot. This will absorb any remaining dirt and smells, which can be dusted out. 

As a side note, tea tree oil has excellent antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal properties. It is ideal for keeping your feet odor free, healthy, and free from bacteria. 

Don’t replace white vinegar with apple cider vinegar; it will stain your shoes and not smell great. 

2. Brew Tea

Another great hack for removing odor from your shoes is using the teabag trick.

The natural tannin in tea absorbs odors and has disinfectant properties. It would be best to use black tea bags, not herbal teas. Follow the following steps to get the best out of the tea bag tip:

• Heat a pot of water until the water boils.
• Remove the pot and place 2 teabags in the boiling water.
• Let the teabags steep for 5 minutes. They must steep in boiling water as this activates the tannin in the tea.
• Remove the bags and let them cool until you can pick them up without burning your fingers.
• Place a tea bag into the middle of each shoe. The tea bag must still be wet, as the moisture makes this trick effective. If your shoes smell really bad, use 2 – 3 teabags per shoe. 
• Leave the bags in your shoes for 2 hours to let them work their magic. They must stay in the middle of your boot to effectively remove the odor. Don’t move or shake your shoes while the teabags are working. 
• Remove the tea bags and wipe the inside of your shoe with a dry cloth. You’ll smell the difference immediately. 
• If your Blundstones still smell a bit funky, repeat the process.

3. Ice The Odor

Even though ice and boots don’t seem a natural fit, ice is one of the best odor removers. Here’s how to freeze out the smell:

• Fill a Ziploc freezer bag with water and ensure it’s 100% sealed, never overfill the bag. 
• Place a bag into each shoe.
• Place each boot into an individual freezer bag.
• Put your Blundstones into the freezer and wait for them to ice. They will ice overnight.
• Remove the bags in the morning and wipe your shoes with a dry cloth.
• Sprinkle Baking Soda into your shoes and put them into the fridge. 
• Leave your boots to chill overnight.
• Dust the shoes out in the morning; they will smell as good as new. 
• Repeat the process if your boots still smell. 

4. Dry Things Out

Because moisture is the primary cause of shoe odors, keeping your boots and feet as dry as possible is a cure and prevention. 

Keeping your shoes and bacteria at bay is easy if your feet stay dry. Luckily this is highly doable. Talcum powder has excellent moisture-absorbing properties. Rubbing your feet with talc and sprinkling some in your shoes will work well. 

There are many foot powders available on the market, but if you want to make your own and do your bit to save the planet, here’s a simple recipe:

• Mix a cup of cornstarch and ½ a cup of baking soda and add ½ a cup of baking powder.
• Tea tree oil works well. Add 5 drops of essential oil to the mix. Use lavender if you want a less medicinal smell.
• Mix everything together and sprinkle this into your Blundstone boots. 
• Leave the talc overnight and dust it out in the morning. If you aren’t successful with dusting, use the small nozzle on a vacuum cleaner. 

5. Go Woolly

Wearing boots means, you must wear socks. If you don’t, your boots will not smell good after the first few times you march about in them. 

The best socks are Merino wool socks; they are pricier than standard synthetic socks but well worth the money spent. Here are the benefits as explained by a foot doctor:

• Marino Wool isn’t moisture-wicking but causes moisture to evaporate so your socks dry before moisture seeps into them.
• They are softer and less scratchy than standard woolen socks because the Marino wool fiber is short and finer than wool and naturally moves with your feet.
• These socks provide excellent insulation, keeping your feet warm in winter and cool in summer. 
• Marino is durable; socks will last far longer than normal wool or cotton blend socks. 

Blundstone sells Marino wool socks, so add a pair to your basket when buying your boots. 

6. Wash, Wear, And Air

Prevention is always better than cure. It’s quick and simple to keep your boots from smelling:

• Wear fresh socks every time you head out in your Blundstones.
• Air your boots at the end of the day. Please leave them in a clean, dry place, and don’t put them into a dark closet or back into a shoe box. 
• Wipe them with a slightly damp cloth at least once a week.
• Use deodorizing shoe spray inside your shoes. Give your boots a quick spray before you wear them, making sure to spray the entire area inside your shoe. 
• Use an antiperspirant foot spray before you slip your feet into your Blundstones.

Conclusion

Whether you like it or not, leather shoes will eventually smell bad. There are ways to fix and prevent odor. Clean them with water, vinegar, and tea tree solution. Freeze your boot to lift bacteria, and use baking soda to dust it away. Use black tea bags to neutralize smells. Wear Merino wool socks, air your shoes, and deodorize your shoes and feet before wearing your Blundstones.

For more Blundstones content, check out:

Do Blundstones Stretch? (My Experience & Photos)

Are Blundstones Worth It? (My Experience & PHOTOS)

How To Break In Blundstones? 9 Easy Ways (With Photos)

Blundstones Vs Doc Martens: Which To Get? (8 factors)

Blundstones Vs Timberlands: Who Wins? (8 Factors)

Are Blundstones Comfortable? My Experience (Photos)

Are Blundstones Non-slip? My Experience (Design Breakdown)

Are Blundstones Good For Wide Feet?