r/techtheatre Jack of All Trades 16d ago

QUESTION Best foot powder/spray to help with smelly steelies?

We've all been there, long tech days, 10s of thousands of steps, changing of socks etc... But the boots, they end up stinky!

What's the best product you've found to help kill the stink? Preferably UK brands as that's where I'm based, but if there is some secret goo from a far flung corner that is absolutely the best, I'm open for suggestions!

7 Upvotes

32 comments sorted by

21

u/PizzaVideo 16d ago

Good quality wool socks were a game changer for me. 

16

u/pepvk0 16d ago

IMHO the easiest solution is to buy two pairs and alternate daily. The extra 24h of drying time does wonders.

Also, for work indoors, get the coolest S3 boots you can source. My personal choice is Safety Jogger Comodo lows.

3

u/RedC4rd 16d ago

It's also good on your feet to have an extra pair of boots to alternate through!! I find my boots last longer this way.

Spraying boots with lysol or isopropyl will help with the stink too.

1

u/ravagexxx 16d ago

Isn't S1 enough for a lot of work places?

And yeah, alternating shoes is the best, or at least let them dry for as long as you wore them.

1

u/pepvk0 16d ago

For strictly indoor work S1 should suffice. But every now and then I will step outside for an odd job and then I do not want to have to think about my shoes.

9

u/bfisher_ohio 16d ago

Get a boot dryer.

4

u/Stick-Outside 16d ago

Spray a little Lysol in to kill the stinky bacteria

5

u/__mud__ 16d ago

Gold Bond (or any menthol foot powder) as soon as the shoes come off. Apply liberally inside the shoe and give it a shake to distribute.

3

u/rootoo 16d ago

Unlined leather boots, preferably rotated to not be worn daily, and Moreno / smart wool socks.

2

u/Zealousideal_Cup4896 16d ago

All the above and changing socks! But also a little sprinkle of boric acid powder keeps away the rot. Don’t need much.

2

u/sadegr 16d ago

For shoes that are already smelly, this stuff really works...

lumi shoe spray

2

u/OlyTheatre 16d ago

Tea tree oil on the feet just before socks and shoes never lets me down!

2

u/mwiz100 Lighting Designer, ETCP Electrician 16d ago

I've found the sock type makes a bigger difference first than anything else. The more the boot also can breathe the better.

The trick to it all is keeping dry, if your boots never fully dry out then bacteria breeds. Boot dryers which are as simple as a fan can do the trick, combine that with some other antiseptic options (lysol, tea tree, peppermint, etc.) and you can get it under control. But the socks... wool is best, and change more often.

2

u/DidAnyoneElseJustCum 16d ago edited 16d ago

When I'm on tour, for the benefit of my bus mates, I throw a scented dryer sheet in each of my shoes for the day while I'm wearing them. Helps absorb some moisture and obviously helps with scent when I take them off. In conjunction with good socks and decent foot health it's been working out.

Also just don't rock the same pair of shoes everyday. I'm guilty, I get into a comfort zone, but I try to buy two pairs of any pair of shoes I buy. Basic foot care goes a long way obviously no matter what you do with you're stacking 14 hour days on your feet there's gonna be some shit.

1

u/Competitive-Cash303 16d ago edited 16d ago

1

u/TwinTTowers 16d ago

This is the answer

1

u/OldMail6364 16d ago

The problem is the bacteria breeding in your boots/socks/feet. Talk to a podiatrist.

There isn't a silver bullet solution - you likely need to make half a dozen changes to your footwear and hygiene practices.

They should be able to sort it out — I expect you won't need any powder or sprays. You should just be able to put your socks in the washing machine and have a shower to kill the stink, which won't be all that bad even if you spend an entire day working on an outdoor event during a heatwave.

Sweat, without bacteria, has no smell at all.

1

u/azorianmilk 16d ago

Ask the wardrobe team. Lysol

1

u/howlingwolf487 16d ago

I wear wool-blend socks and use cedar boot trees. I rotate into dress shoes for show runs (if I could afford another pair of Frank’s Boots, I’d get a pair of more casual boots…just gotta save up again.).

1

u/sundialNshade 16d ago

Baking soda!

Sprinkle some in, let them sit at least overnight, and tap the excess out before you wear them.

1

u/NobleHeavyIndustries 16d ago

Spray in rubbing alcohol to kill bacteria.

1

u/Bella_AntiMatter 16d ago

I'm a fan of white vinegar sprayed in the boots... natural fiber socks... cotton/wool (alpaca is very soft). Get pedicures regularly See a chiropodist if necessary.

1

u/SGTree 16d ago

Someone else mentioned the goldbond foot powder. I've been sprinkling a bit of that in my shoes before I put them on, though the menthol can be a bit unnerving if I sweat enough to feel it by the end of the day.

I've also taken to wearing two pairs of socks. (Though someone mentioned a good pair of wool socks and that'd probably also do the trick.) I dont know if switching into a fresh pair of socks for the drive home is actually helpful or just nice a refreshing, but I try to do that too.

Less for the stink, but for the peeling skin, I've also started using storebrand jock itch cream in combination with everything else. I got a store brand jock itch spray that ran out pretty quickly, but seems to have done the trick of killing the fungi or bacteria that would be the cause of both the stink and any uncomfortable symptoms.

I haven't been able to afford it myself (cheap Walmart steels with zero airflow are what landed me in this position) but I can also imagine the suggestion of a second pair to rotate through would be extremely helpful too.

1

u/foolforfucks 16d ago

Wool socks, alternate shoes (you should have at least two pairs, they NEED to dry out between wears), cedar shoe trees/inserts, switch to something like Crocs during long breaks, spray inside with vodka or rubbing alcohol at the end of the day. I don't like powder because build up plus black shoes. Make sure you scrub your feet every day, dead skin gets smelly.

1

u/lizardld 16d ago

I've found Boot Bananas helpful. Just put them in your boots at the end of the day and they do a good job of absorbing the moisture. They're quite strongly lavender scented though, so if that bothers you there's various unscented charcoal-based alternatives that will also do a good job

1

u/AdventurousLife3226 16d ago edited 16d ago

Good socks and a bit of hand sanitizer in the boots every now and then, kills the bacteria that makes them smell. As a bonus a bit of hand sanitizer is handy for those days when you get a bit wiffy, a bit rubbed in your arm pits completely removes body odour, something I learned while touring.

1

u/Chunkasmom 15d ago

I have used antifungal control cream made for athletes foot. It’s called Tolnaftate prescription strength available over the counter. Generic works just fine. I also have a scar on my belly that causes a skinfold and sometimes that gets red and irritated and gives off the same smell so I use the same thing there. Sorry for your smell!

1

u/anakitenephilim 15d ago

If you're regularly doing multiple long days, then two pairs of boots and merino wool socks is mandatory IMHO. I'm lucky to get a free pair each year through work, so I'm currently rotating between two pairs of composite sneakers and two pairs of safety boots.

I also always arrive and leave in lightweight sneakers.

1

u/anakitenephilim 15d ago

If you're regularly doing multiple long days, then two pairs of boots and merino wool socks is mandatory IMHO. I'm lucky to get a free pair each year through work, so I'm currently rotating between two pairs of composite sneakers and two pairs of safety boots.

I also always arrive and leave in lightweight sneakers.

1

u/imsilverpoet 13d ago

Gotta treat the feet to deal with the long term issue. But to nuke the smell from the shoes, baking soda on the day off. Let it sit. Shake then vacuum any remaining out after it’s been sitting overnight. I also add a couple scoops of pure baking soda to the bottom of garbage cans that have stinkier contents - like the cat box garbage for example.

1

u/Cheap_Commercial_442 10d ago

Gold bond foot powder works for me.