Get BootedHow To Stop Football Boots Smelling
As the title suggests this article will help you put ane end to or greatly reduce bad-smelling football boots. We'll start with the Why they smell bad in the first place then we'll outline what steps you can take to reduce the pong effect is as much as possible.
Why Football Boots Smell?
You don't need a degree in chemistry and biology to work this one out as it's down to perspiration. If you consider that when you're playing football you're running around for 90 minutes and that will generate heat that builds up.
Consider how much you sweat above the waistline - I'm talking chest and forehead mainly. It's pretty easy to wipe your brow and clean down your chest at half time if you need to and this will keep the perspiration away for a while. Your body is still working from all that physical exertion so it will be a while before it stops.
Now think about your poor feet while playing that is constantly moving about and gradually the more your workout the more you sweat is created and the moisture makes its way into the boot area - ideal conditions for bacteria and fungi to thrive creating hot, humid conditions.
Also, you're wearing football socks that will keep the moisture in and heat-up your feet even more. To help you follow our Top 5 Tips below and you'll be smelling of roses (well as good as).
How to Stop Football Boots Smelling?
There are a few steps you can take to help with this and reduce the smell created by the sweat in the first place.
Tip 1: Washing Your Feet
After each football match personal hygiene is very important. Washing your feet regularly with antibacterial soap is really important that will help kill the bacteria and odour that comes with it.
Tip 2: Change Your Socks Regularly
If you can imagine all the moisture building-up after every game into your feet and think football socks that are highly absorbent and soon get damp and it doesn't matter how many times you wash your feet if your socks contain moisture from a few games - it's counter-intuitive!
So, after each game do the decent thing and put them in the wash basket. Buy yourself a few pairs so you'll always have a fresh pair ready for the next match.
Tip 3: Wash Boots With Warm Water and Soap
If you're playing in wet and/or muddy conditions then getting your boots dirty goes with the territory. If they are dirty outside and inside then you should give them a gentle TLC with a bowl of warm mild soapy water - remember to take the insoles out first and wipe them down as well. Just dry them off naturally or wipe then dry.
Tip 4: Play with Alternating Boots
Having more than one boot will also help in both reducing the smells and the longevity of the boots themselves. This may not always be possible due to the cost of some boots. But if you can afford another boot then wear them for every other game, keeping them fresh as possible in between matches as this gives it a chance for the bacteria to evaporate.