Tips for Dealing with Kids' Stinky Feet

Little bitty feet are super cute and usually never thought of as being stinky. However, with all of the different styles of shoes now made and sold for kids, and fabricated of various materials, it seems that some shoes have a real tendency to make even a tiny tike's feet really stinky. Unfortunately, some of these styles of shoes, such as Crocs, are also some of the most comfortable and convenient kids shoes on the market, so lots of parents are reluctant to stop using them simply because they are the culprit of their kids' stinky feet.

Regardless, stinky kids' feet are an unwelcome side effect of even your favorite pair of kid's shoes, so you are likely looking for ways to scrub that smell off your child's feet as soon as they take their shoes off. If you need tips for combating your kids' smelly toes, the following tips may be useful.

Try Lysol - When your kids' stinky shoes are empty of little feet, try spraying them with Lysol, and then leave them outside to air out and dry. This will probably have to be done regularly to combat shoe odor.

Wash their shoes - Crocs can be wiped down easily with a Clorox or Lysol wipe, or even rinsed off with the hose outdoors. They can also be thrown into the wash, however after several washes the clips will begin to degrade and the shoes may fall apart. For other types of foam or rubber sandals, try the same method of wiping down with sanitizing wipes, or frequently rinsing them with a garden hose.

Wash their feet often - Around our house, the kids know that if they come inside the house after playing, their stinky shoes have to stay outside, and they have to run and rinse their feet in the bathtub. Although this is only a quick wash, it does a lot to combat foot odor, and also makes the kids more comfortable. I don't have them use soap every single time because it would just dry their skin out too much.

Try tea tree oil in the bath - To combat my youngest son's considerable foot odor (he loves to wear Crocs), I add some liquid antibacterial soap to his bath, along with a few drops of Tea Tree Oil. The combination goes a long way in making his feet smell sweet again. Tea Tree Oil is dangerous if ingested, so only use this method in a bath with a child who can be completely trusted not to put any of the bath water into their mouths, or, be sure to supervise the entire bath.

Baking soda can work, too - If the shoes causing the smelly problem are tennis shoes, then you may try sprinkling a bit of baking soda inside of each shoe in between washings. Baking soda will go a long way in absorbing odor. Additionally, you may want to try baking soda in the bath or foot soak. Again though, make sure your child is not putting any of the water into their mouths.

Use a brush to scrub those piggies - You can use a specially made foot brush to let your child scrub their feet clean. We have found that using a thin hairbrush with stiff bristles works best, and the long handle allows my son to manage the brush easier.

Sometimes, your favorite pair of kid's shoes can be the worst culprit for stinky feet. But follow some of these suggestions, and you'll have your kid's feet smelling sweet again in no time!