Last night, I parked my sandals by the front door as usual. I thought nothing of it, until my partner twitched his nose and asked if I wouldn’t mind leaving them outside the back door – ouch.
Smelly sandals are nothing to be ashamed of; we’ve endured a barrage of heatwaves and our feet can’t help but sweat. But now that autumn is approaching and those sandals are moving into long-term storage, it’s worth deep cleaning them beforehand. You think they smell bad now – give them nine months!
Not sure how you can possibly remove that smell? Here are our top tips to clean every kind of sandal, including removing those ugly toe marks.
1. Knock off the sand
If you’ve just come back from the beach, your sandals may still be showing the evidence. Knock them together outside quickly to remove loose dirt and residue prior to cleaning. Brush any granules away that remain. Otherwise, the sand can stain or scratch the material.
2. Clean the undersides
The underside of the sole comes first. While you might think it’s gross, you don’t want to go to the effort of cleaning the upper, only for the dirt from underneath to transfer later.
Sandals usually have a rubber sole that can be cleaned easily with a little soapy water applied with a soft toothbrush. The toothbrush is ideal for reaching into tight crevices, although a toothpick also helps if any small stones are caught in the treads. Rinse with a damp microfibre cloth, rather than under the tap, if you want to avoid dampening the upper (such as for leather or suede).
For a speedier method of cleaning (or if you’re dealing with minimal dirt), just give it a once-over with a disinfectant wipe. Take care not to touch the fabric, though, as the disinfectant could degrade and damage I, or leave a stain behind.
3. Deal with the footbed and straps
Now comes the main event – the bulk of the sandal. The best treatment depends on what it’s made from. For plastic or rubber, you can stick to soapy water to remove any residue, using a similar technique as you did for the underside. Focus your efforts on any toe posts and toe marks, as well as the back of the heel – that’s where most of the bacteria will be.
For leather sandals, it’s best to use a leather cleaner. Apply it with a microfibre cloth, rather than directly on to the sandal, using small, circular motions to clean the footbed and wiping the straps from end to end. Then run a damp microfibre cloth over the surface to remove any residue. A leather conditioner can help the material to last if your sandals are particularly precious. If you’re out of leather cleaner and need an alternative, you could use soapflakes, if you happen to have those in the cupboard.
If your sandals are made from suede, you’ll need a dedicated suede cleaner instead. You’ll also want to invest in a crepe brush to lift and restore the pile once dry.
And if you’re dealing with a cork footbed, bicarb is the solution. Mix up a thick, gloopy paste with water (a few drops will do the trick!), then apply it evenly to the footbed using a toothbrush. Then wipe it away with a damp microfibre cloth, and you’re done.
4. Tackle nooks and crannies
Don’t forget to pay special attention to any awkward crevices on the straps as you clean your sandals. The toothbrush can help to reach into any buckles and clasps, while the toothpick can help to push through any residue caught in the holes.
Once you’ve finished cleaning the upper, leave your sandals to air dry completely before moving on to the next steps.
5. Manage unsightly toe marks
If toe marks still appear embedded on suede or cork soles, there’s a quick, unorthodox fix: sandpaper! Find a small piece of sandpaper and rub it over the toe marks with gentle, even strokes to fade them away. A nail file can also work. Don’t press too hard – you’re literally sanding away the top layer of your sandals!
6. Remove sweaty smells
Should sweaty smells persist after all of the above, you can try bicarb as a last resort. Place your sandals in a shoe box and sprinkle bicarb across the footbeds (the shoe box is there so you don’t make a mess). Then leave overnight and knock away the bicarb in the morning.
Bicarb will naturally deodorise the surface by neutralising acidic and alkaline odour molecules in the air.
7. Store right
Finally, now that your sandals are sweat-free and dry, you need to store them correctly. Shoe racks are fine short-term, but for long-term storage, specialised shoe boxes or breathable bags are the way to go. You need to store your sandals in such a way that the material can still breathe, without risk of them being crushed or dirtied by other items.
Storage boxes with latched doors and air holes are a premium choice, or shoe organisers can work just as well.
Sandal storage solutions
