Summer Feet Solutions

I warn you, this isn't going to be a pleasant post... but it's something we all have to deal with: Stinky Summer Feet. As the weather warms up the cute little flats come out and we all start wearing our heels to work without trouser socks or hose. I'm really, really hoping I'm not the only one with stinky shoes! (Not that this would be the first time I've publicly embarrassed myself.)

Tip # 1

About a year ago I found an AWESOME deal on coffee beans at my local grocery store. Unfortunately, the deal ended up being not so awesome since neither my husband nor myself liked the flavor of the coffee. We are plain 'ole Folgers Classic Roast people! I thought I'd find some use for the beans or someone to give them to but I never did and now they are way expired and way stale. So, I googled "uses for stale coffee beans" and a couple sites suggested putting a bowl of coffee beans in your refrigerator to absorb smells, like baking soda. That got me thinking...

I also happen to have a box of snack sized plastic baggies that turned out to be not quite big enough for a snack. (I have portion control issues, I'm well aware!) They are truly an odd size and I didn't quite know what to use them for. Can you sense the wheels turning in my head??

 

I made shoe-stuffer-smell-absorbing-baggie-thingies! I just filled the snack sized baggie with old coffee beans and poked tiny holes along the bottom & sides of the bag with a needle. Then, I put them in a pair of freshly worn work shoes.

I tested this theory out for a couple days before writing this post because I didn't want to suggest something that didn't work but much to my surprise, it does actually seem to be working! I can't believe it- I thought of a good idea all on my very own! (Apologies to anyone who thought of this before that I wasn't aware of.) My shoes smell a little bit like coffee but not as strongly as I thought they would. I wore this same pair today and I certainly didn't smell coffee every time I took a step (although I think that would have been awesome).

Tip # 2

Being a frequent couponer, I sometimes end up buying products we don't really need or use simply because it's free or sometimes stores will even pay me to buy certain products. (Rebates, reward programs like CVS's ExtraCare Bucks, Overage allowances, etc.) I end up donating most of those products to a local women's shelter or give them away to friends or family. A couple weeks ago my grocery store gave me a Catalina coupon for a free package of Scott Naturals flushable moist wipes. I held onto them for some reason.

The coffee revelation got my wheels turning once again and I decided to take my Scott wipes into work. I put them in my desk drawer and half way through the day I pulled a wipe out and gave my feet a good wipe down. Now, I don't know if this is actually helping my shoes from getting stinky (lab results are not in yet) but it felt pretty good! I like having clean hands and apparently I also like having clean feet. 

One benefit I did notice is that my shoes seems to rub my feet less when I clean them once halfway through the day. I think taking a minute to slip my shoes off and let my feel cool down also helps them de-swell (is that a word?). Since my feet aren't as swollen my shoes rub less and therefore my feet hurt less and feel less tired at the end of a long day. 

Does anyone have any other suggestions or ideas for beating stinky summer feet?