I got a pair of Skechers with the memory foam insoles about 4 months ago and they were super comfy at first. But now they have this awful smell that won't go away even after washing the insoles. Is this normal with memory foam shoes or am I doing something wrong?
The quickest fix is to let them air dry completely in sunlight between wears - that kills off the bacteria that's thriving in the moist foam. I had the same issue with a pair and realized I was just stuffing them in the closet after wearing them, which created the perfect breeding ground for odor. Beyond that, sprinkle baking soda inside overnight a couple times a week, and if the smell persists, soak just the insoles in a mix of white vinegar and water for about 30 minutes, then let them dry in direct sun. The memory foam itself isn't the problem - it's the moisture getting trapped and bacteria colonizing it, so proper drying between wears usually solves this.
Are you leaving them in a warm, damp spot between wears?
Memory foam does trap moisture like crazy, and that's pretty much the root of the smell. The foam absorbs sweat and humidity, then bacteria and fungi grow in there because it's dark and stays moist for ages. It's not really a flaw in Skechers specifically - it's just how memory foam works. Most shoes with that kind of insole deal with this eventually if you're wearing them regularly without proper drying time.
The good news is you can actually fix it. Stop throwing them in a closet or bag right after wearing them. Air them out every single day, preferably in sunlight if you can manage it - UV kills a lot of the funk naturally. If the smell is already bad, try sprinkling baking soda inside overnight, or soak the insoles in white vinegar mixed with water for like 15-20 minutes, then rinse and air dry completely. Some people also swear by putting them outside for a day or two. For the future, consider rotating between two pairs so each one gets more drying time between wears, and maybe spray the insoles with something like Lysol or a shoe deodorizer spray once a week.
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