Dogs are a man’s best friend, and with that title comes great responsibility. One of those responsibilities is scooping up after your pup, no matter where they go. Even if you do clean up every time, the unfortunate truth is that dog poop can sometimes leave behind an unpleasant smell.
If you’re struggling to get rid of the smell from your shoes, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered on how to get rid of dog poop smell from shoes. Poop happens. And when your dog takes a dump on your shoes. But don’t worry, there are ways to get rid of that pesky dog poop smell from your shoes!
Tools and Materials
- Aluminum foil
- Hanger
- Rubber gloves
- Disposable plastic bag or container
A Stepwise Guide on How to Get Rid of Dog Poop Smell From Shoes
Step 1: Pick Up the Dog Poop and Gloves
The first thing you need to do is pick up all of your dog’s poop. Use a scoop or plastic bag, and ensure that no part of the feces remains behind. The reason for this is that even if you remove all of it from your shoes, there might still be particles leftover which will cause the smell to remain.
Also, it would be best to put gloves on when doing this because apart from coming in contact with feces, bare human hands are also exposed to all sorts of bacteria, including E-coli which can make people sick. If possible, ask somebody else to help you pick up your dog’s poop. This will lessen your workload considerably while also saving time.
Step 2: Use Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil
Baking soda is known to be an excellent method when it comes to disinfecting and deodorizing. Take some baking soda, spread it on the inside of your shoes, and let it sit overnight. This will help eliminate any odor that your shoes have or remove. You can also sprinkle some baking powder into your shoes after you put them away just before taking them out again for use.
Another technique that you can do is to mix 1/3 cup of vinegar with two tablespoons of baking soda in a spray bottle, shake well until the ingredients are mixed evenly, spray this mixture onto your shoe’s interior, wait for two minutes or so, then brush off dirt using an old toothbrush. Do not forget to rinse your shoes with clean water after this procedure. This is a crucial step in how to get rid of dog poop smell from shoes.
Step 3: Coat the Shoes With Aluminum Foil
After you have picked up all of your dog’s poop, it is now time to coat the insides of your shoes using aluminum foil. How does this work? When you place an acidic material on top of aluminum, a chemical reaction will happen, which causes hydrogen gas to be released. This gas has a solid ability to get rid of foul odors because it attaches itself perfectly to molecules that cause unpleasant smells.
So first, cut pieces of aluminum foil, so they are large enough to cover the inside surface area of your shoe. Then take one piece at a time and bend them into shape, so they fit nicely onto the inner part of your footwear. How long should you do this? You can keep your shoes covered with aluminum foil overnight or until the smell of dog poop is no longer present.
Step 4: Freeze the shoes
If you have a shoe rack, place the footwear into it and position them at its lowest level. If not, just lay your shoes flat on any surface that is large enough to hold them. Make sure that the dogs are inside the house if you want to do this because there might be a possibility that they can get in contact with your footwear and lick or chew on them while you won’t be around.
How long should you leave your shoes alone? According to experts, 24 hours should be enough time for hydrogen sulfide molecules to get out of your shoes which causes the smell of dog poop to disappear.
Step 5: Clean Your Shoes
Get rid of anything like grass or dirt on the shoes. This will make it easier to clean your shoes thoroughly. Once you’ve removed all debris, rinse out your gloves and take off the outer layer; this is where most of the moisture lies. You can then proceed with the cleaning by using soap or any other shampoo which does not contain bleach or ammonia (bleach-based products are harmful to dogs).
Next, get a toothbrush and scrub down both sides of each shoe until they’re spotless. When done washing them, wring them out before putting them back on.
Step 6: Dry Out Your Shoes
You need to remove excess water from the surface of the shoes by placing them near something that emits heat, such as an electrical heater or a space heater, to dry them faster. Another method involves using a hairdryer in a cold setting.
However, you risk burning yourself and your shoes by doing this, so make sure that you take preventive measures such as putting aluminum foil around the soles of the shoes and protecting the edges with duct tape before turning on any electrical appliances near them.
Step 7: Use Odor Remover
This is a simple yet very effective way to get rid of the dog poop smell from shoes. How? Pour baking soda or any other enzyme-producing materials such as activated charcoal, zeolite crystals, and sulfur-based catalysts into the area where the smell has been most noticeable (e.g., on the bottom of your shoe).
After doing this, leave them overnight and make sure that they will be undisturbed because moving them might cause these odor absorber materials to fall off. You can keep applying it almost daily until you no longer feel any hint of foul odors coming from your footwear. It can depend on how potent the smell is and how many of these materials you’ve used.
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Step 8: Make Your Shoe Deodorizer Spray
It would help if you had hydrogen peroxide, an effective deodorizer, some liquid soap (dishwashing soap can work best), baking soda, and distilled water. How do you make it? Mix one part of hydrogen peroxide with two pieces of liquid dishwashing soap in a bowl or container with a lid.
Add enough baking soda to produce a thick paste so everything will not move around when you shake the mixture up. Stir it up until they are thoroughly blended together. Once done, transfer your homemade spray into a sealable plastic baggie. You need to wait for at least 24 hours so that all chemical reactions have time to occur within the solution.
Just spray it onto your shoes until they are thoroughly soaked, leave them for 30 minutes to an hour and then rinse. These steps will help you in how to get rid of dog poop smell from shoes.
Tips and Warnings
Tips
- If you have a small yard, consider using a kiddie pool to contain the mess while still allowing your pet to enjoy it.
- Use doggy poop bags for cleaning up the poop. These are available at most stores and come in packs of 100 or more. They can be used, so they are definitely worth the investment!
- If you have to clean up after your dog outside, be sure to do so on a surface that is far away from the inside of your home. Once you come inside, try cleaning your shoes with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Spray the mixture onto the shoe and let it sit for about 10 minutes before scrubbing it off with an old toothbrush or rag. This will help get rid of the smell and any stains on your shoes caused by dirt or grass.
Warnings
- Never use the smelliest shoes you have, as they will only make the dog poop smell even worse. Also, if you are trying to avoid getting the smell on your hand, don’t pick up the poop with your hands. Use a shovel or baggie scoop to pick it up instead.
- Remember that it is not always easy to get rid of the dog poop smell from shoes because some dogs have digestive problems and eat feces. If this is what your situation smells like, then go ahead and follow all these steps but know that it may take more time for you to eliminate the odor.
- If you can still see any residue or traces of poop on the shoe after removing as much as possible, treat it as you would any other stain and put some water on a cloth and wipe it off.
- After you’ve done all that, let the shoes dry outside in the sun if possible (this helps to get rid of lingering odors also). The final step is to purchase some odor removers. There are sprays available at pet stores made explicitly for this purpose. If they don’t work, try using vinegar-soaked rags or baking soda and leave them inside the shoe overnight. You might need to repeat these steps several times before all the smell is gone, but it will eventually disappear if you’re consistent with your efforts.
Conclusion
We hope you have learned how to get rid of dog poop smell from shoes. If you’re tired of the foul odor that your dog’s poop emits, try using these five simple steps to rid yourself of it for good. You can’t get any easier than this!
