11 Cheap Ways to Make Your Climbing Shoes Smell Better

Climbing shoes have a habit of stinking, a lot. If your climbing shoes smell and you don’t want to blow money on fancy products to fix it, here are 11 cheap ways to make your shoes smell better with stuff you probably already have at home.

Why your climbing shoes smell

Shoe odor usually comes down to sweat plus dead skin, which is exactly what bacteria love to grow on. That bacteria is what actually stinks, so the whole game is either stopping it from growing or killing it off. Nail that and you fix the smell. If you’d rather stop it before it starts, we go deep on that in how to prevent climbing shoes from smelling.

Of course, the cheapest fix is to ignore it and #EmbraceTheStank. Or, going by my favorite Reddit comment I dug up while researching this post, you could make some money off the stank (cue the elbow nudge and winky face)

Wouldn’t it be great to hit a local sandwich shop and order one with Local Pedicheese? 

For the rest of us who’d rather get rid of the shoe stank, here are the fixes hundreds of climbers are already using. 

I also threw in a bonus tip (#12) that’s completely free, and you might be surprised how many climbers swear by it, so read to the end of the post or scroll on down, I know how you do.

1. Tea Bags

Black tea in tea bags is one of the most popular ways to knock the smell out of your climbing shoes. It’s popular mostly because you probably already have it in your house or van, and if you don’t, it’s dirt cheap at the grocery store. Black tea has tannins, which help kill the bacteria that make your shoes smell, and your shoes are left with a fresh black tea scent. Some climbers make their own tea bags with loose leaf tea and mix in spices or a little orange extract to tweak how the shoes end up smelling.

Here is what you do:

1. Put the tea bag in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes 
2. Pull the tea bag out and let it cool 
3. Set it in your shoe for about an hour for a natural shoe deodorizer

2. Newspaper

A wad of newspaper in your shoes soaks up the moisture that bacteria feed on. Any bacteria that does grow tends to grow in the newspaper, so the smell goes out with the trash when you toss it. Newspaper also helps your climbing shoe toes hold their shape while they’re off your feet, which is why a lot of climbers keep coming back to it. 

Newspaper is basically free since you can usually grab one from a recycle bin or off your front step each morning (still a thing). Bonus, you get to tell that dumb headline how you really feel by shoving it into your stinky climbing shoes.

Here is what you do:

1. Pick the dumb story you want to stuff in your climbing shoes
2. Crinkle the newspaper into a ball
3. Shove it into your shoe, all the way to the toe, so the whole inside is packed with newspaper
4. Pull the newspaper out before your next climbing session
5. Repeat with a fresh piece of newspaper

3. DIY Shoe Insert: Cornstarch, Baking Soda & Essential Oils 

DIY shoe inserts are a great option if you want to put in a bit more effort to make your shoes smell great without spending much. You can also make a big batch at once and stash the extras in a ziplock bag until you need them.

This insert is made from stuff you probably already have in the kitchen, and if you don’t, it’s all cheap at the market: cornstarch, baking soda, essential oils, and an old sock you won’t miss. I like Melaleuca and Peppermint essential oils because they smell fresh and are great at clearing out bacteria.

Melaleuca (also known as tea tree) is an antiseptic that kills fungus, which is a really common cause of climbing shoe odor. Peppermint smells fresh and works as a cleaner too, so the Melaleuca and peppermint combo leaves a great smell and makes your feet feel energized.

Here is what you do:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine equal parts of cornstarch and baking soda and mix them together
2. Mix in a few drops of Melaleuca and peppermint (how much depends on how potent the oil is. If you grab a knock-off brand from Walmart, you’ll need 15 to 20 drops more than with a super potent oil like doTERRA or Young Living)
3. Clean your old socks so they don’t smell (socks that are longer than your ankle work best)
4. Add the mix to the socks and tie the top of the socks so it doesn’t leak
5. Place the Inserts inside your shoes while you aren’t using them

4. Antiseptic Wipe After Each Session

Some climbers point out that, just like you wash your underwear on a schedule instead of waiting until it reeks, you should clean your climbing gear on a regular basis, shoes included. Wiping the inside of your climbing shoe with an antiseptic wipe after every session is a great way to pull out bacteria and keep them clean over time. Antiseptic wipes are super cheap and usually live in the medical section of your grocery store or pharmacy. You might be able to get away with antibacterial wipes from the cleaning aisle too. If you try those, let us know how it goes.

Here is what you do:

1. After each climbing session, wipe down the inside of your climbing shoes with an antiseptic wipe
2. That’s it.

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5. Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets smell great, and they can make your climbing shoes smell great too, or at least better than before, by your next session. They soak up moisture and odor, which makes them a cheap and effective shoe deodorizer. With so many “flavors” out there, I’d go citrus for something invigorating rather than a mellow lavender.

Here is what you do:

1. Set a dryer sheet in the sole of each shoe while they’re not in use (some climbers use half a sheet, so use your judgment based on how bad your shoes smell)
2. You can often get a couple of days out of a sheet, but swap it once it loses its smell or dries out

6. Lysol

Lysol spray is super cheap and it works like a charm. It kills the bacteria making your climbing shoes stank and leaves a clean smell behind. The one thing to watch is not inhaling or ingesting it, so don’t get your face right up to your shoes to smell-check. As long as you’re paying attention, it’s a non-issue.

Climbing gyms and rental centers spray their shoes with Lysol (or a Lysol-type spray) and it works for them, so you know it’ll work for you. This is what I do after every session, and my climbing shoes always smell great. 

Here is what you do:

1. Spray the inside of your climbing shoes with Lysol after every climbing session 

7. Chalk Up Your Feet

Chalk’s whole job is pulling moisture, and moisture is what the stank causing bacteria need to grow. Chalk isn’t the cheapest thing out there, but most climbers already have it, so this fix costs you nothing extra. It’s more of a preventative to keep smells at bay, but soaking up moisture helps with a current stink too. Just like with your hands, wash all the chalk off your feet after each session so they don’t dry out.

Here is what you do:

1. Prior to sticking your feet in your climbing shoes, apply a nice layer of climbing chalk to the bottom of your feet
2. Clean the chalk off of your feet after your climbing session

8. Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural disinfectant that’ll kill the bacteria in your climbing shoes that’s causing the odor. Sometimes climbers leave it in too long and a leftover vinegar smell hangs around for weeks, so if you try this one, don’t let the vinegar sit in your shoes for too long. 

Some climbers soak the whole shoe in a vinegar mix, others just hit the inside. I’d soak the whole shoe so there’s nowhere for bacteria to hide, and honestly it’s less messy that way.

Here is what you do:

1. Mix 2 parts vinegar with 1 part hot water
2. Soak your shoes in the vinegar mix for 1 to 2 hours
3. Pull your shoes out of the mix and rinse them with water
4. Let your shoes air-dry

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9. Orange Rinds

Orange rinds make for a great smelling shoe. Orange peels have oils that are naturally antibacterial, so they kill the mold and bacteria making your climbing shoes stink. On top of that, the rinds soak up bad odors while leaving a fresh citrus scent behind. 

Since you can’t really buy orange rinds on their own, this trick works best if you eat a lot of oranges. If you don’t, go back to the baking soda and cornstarch DIY insert above and use orange essential oil with peppermint instead.

Here is what you do:

1. Place the orange peels on the soles of your shoes (you can cut the peel into little pieces to get more sole coverage
2. Leave the shoes for 24 hours
3. Remove peels before you start climbing
4. Repeat each time you eat an orange

10. DIY Shoe Inserts: Old Socks & Aromatic Wood Shavings 

Aromatic shavings, the small wood chips that smell like red cedar, work best for these DIY inserts. All you need is an old pair of socks, ideally thin ones longer than ankle length, plus the shavings. Wood shavings pull moisture and mildew, which is what causes the smell, so they can be a solid shoe smell fix. 

You can usually grab wood shavings from a local hardware store, break apart wood chips from the garden, or pick up a cheap bag on Amazon.

Here is what you do:

1. Clean your old socks
2. Place a handful of the shavings into your old socks
3. Tie the top of the socks so the shavings don’t come out
4. Place the inserts in your climbing shoes when they aren’t being used.

11. Freezer Method

Tossing your shoes in the freezer is a great way to kill the bacteria causing the smell. According to this research article on the effects of freezing bacteria, some bacteria can survive in water, so it’s important that your shoes are dry for this method. The freeze and thaw cycle also helps kill bacteria, so if one round doesn’t do it, repeat a couple of times to get any leftover bacteria that survived. 

Some climbers complain that the freezer method makes their freezer stink, but there’s an easy fix. Seal your shoes in a tight container or zip-lock bag so the stank doesn’t “infect” the rest of your freezer.

Here is what you do:

1. Put your climbing shoes in a freezer friendly zip-lock bag or Tupperware
2. Put your climbing shoes in the freezer
3. The next day, take your shoes out of the freezer and bag
4. Repeat as needed, some climbers do this nightly.

Bonus Tip 12: Wear Socks While Climbing

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about whether or not you should wear socks while climbing (here is that article). I was surprised at first by how many climbers wear socks, since I figured socks hurt your performance. Turns out there’s little evidence that socks make a difference in performance, and you get the bonus of cutting down the climbing shoe stank (as long as you wear clean socks every time you climb). 

Everyone already owns socks, so wear what you’ve got and it’s completely free. If you want a pair made for climbing, look for something thin. Disclaimer: socks work best when your shoes are tight so they don’t cause slipping.

Here is what you do:

1. Wear clean socks while climbing
2. Wash your socks after each climbing session…

Conclusion

If you’re not on board with #EmbraceTheStank, you’re probably hunting for a real fix for your smelly climbing shoes. Sure, there are plenty of shoe inserts you can buy, but they usually run over $10 each and you have to repurchase every month or two.

While you’re dialing in your gear, it’s worth dialing in your climbing too. Send Edition’s free newsletter drops one quick climbing drill in your inbox each week, about 15 minutes a session, no cost. It’s an easy way to keep leveling up between climbs.

The best way to make your climbing shoes smell better is to prevent the stank in the first place. But if your shoes already reek, the 12 fixes above will make your climbing shoes smell better on the cheap.

Frequently asked questions

Why do my climbing shoes smell so bad?

Sweat and dead skin build up inside your shoes and feed bacteria, and that bacteria is what actually stinks. Climbing shoes are tight and usually worn without socks, so they trap moisture fast and the smell shows up quicker than in normal shoes.

What is the cheapest way to make climbing shoes smell better?

Newspaper and clean socks are about as cheap as it gets, both basically free. Black tea bags, dryer sheets, and a quick Lysol spray after each session are all cheap and work well too.

How do I stop my climbing shoes from smelling in the first place?

Keep moisture out. Dry your shoes after every session, wipe the insides with an antiseptic wipe, chalk your feet or wear clean thin socks, and do not leave them balled up in a hot pack. There is a full walkthrough in how to prevent climbing shoes from smelling.

Can I wash climbing shoes to get rid of the smell?

You can spot clean them and soak them in a vinegar and water mix to kill bacteria, then let them air dry. Do not leave vinegar in too long or the smell can linger for weeks, and skip the machine dryer since heat can wreck the rubber and glue.

Does putting climbing shoes in the freezer actually work?

Freezing kills a lot of the bacteria causing the smell, but your shoes need to be dry first and you may need a few freeze and thaw rounds. Seal them in a bag or container so your freezer does not pick up the stank.

Sara Climbing Coach, Climbing Trainer, Writer

Sara is the founder of Send Edition, author of '77 Drills to Help You Climb Better,' the creator of 'Elevate Your Climbing: Training Planner and Tracker,' and climbing coach.

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