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Investigating the causes of stinky shoes can lead you down a rabbit hole. Everyone seems to have an opinion. For example, people cannot agree as to whether wearing socks contributes to the stinky shoe problem. Some say yes, others say no.

As developers of one of the industry’s best shoe odor eliminators, we know why the debate will never be settled. It is pretty simple: neither option contributes to stinky shoes more or less than the other. People have different experiences because they are different themselves. Those that choose to wear socks have hundreds of brands to choose from. Each of those brands is slightly different as well.

Your Feet Are the Problem

There are several causes to shoe odor, but the major culprit in both foot and shoe odor problems is bacteria. Bacteria in your shoes will make them stink. Fungus will do that too, but bacteria is the bigger problem for most people. But where do those bacteria come from? Your skin.

Human skin is part of the immune system. Believe it or not, the skin is coated with all sorts of friendly bacteria that actually fight germs. Along with other microorganisms, the friendly bacteria are part of what is known as the skin microbiome.

Unfortunately, the bacteria mixes with perspiration and makes its way to the insides of your shoes. It doesn’t stink on your body because of the way your skin interacts with it. But in your shoes, away from skin contact, the bacteria begins to proliferate. It also starts to stink. So in the end, your feet are the real problem.

Stinky Shoes with Socks

Some people find that wearing socks only make their shoes smell worse. More often than not, the problem is twofold. First, the socks are made in such a way as to encourage the feet to perspire more. Maybe it is the material they are made of. Perhaps is the tightness of the weave. One way or the other, the feet cannot breathe as well as they should. So they perspire instead.

The other issue is that the socks might not be fully absorbing the perspiration. As a result, that perspiration and its bacteria stowaways are being absorbed by the shoes. Now you are right back to the same problem. Bacteria begins to stink as it proliferates.

A deodorizing shoe spray solves the problem by taking care of the bacteria in the shoes. A good spray, like ShoeFresh, can even prevent future odors for up to three months. It cannot do anything for bad socks.

Stinky Shoes with No Socks

While some people find that socks make their shoes worse, other people are just the opposite. They find that not wearing socks exacerbates a shoe odor problem. Based on what you have already read, you should understand why that is. It is all about perspiration and bacteria.

There are those people who prefer no shoes and socks at all. They are in the best position, at least in terms of stinky shoes, because they do not wear their shoes often enough to create problems. But if they end up wearing a pair of shoes long enough to encourage their feet to perspire, stink is waiting just around the corner.

No matter where you fall on this question, everyone has access to the same solution: a deodorizing shoe spray. While we cannot speak for our competitors, we can tell you that ShoeFresh is safe to use even if you don’t normally wear socks. It won’t harm your feet at all.

Do socks make stinky shoes worse? Sometimes. But going sockless can cause problems, too. It’s different from one person to the next.