|
highalpine
Mar 29, 2010, 9:56 PM
Post #1 of 49
(21384 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 29, 2010
Posts: 3
|
I work at the rock wall that my college has and one of the common complaints we get is about the smell of the shoes.... there they any type of disinfectant and deodorizing spray that you guys know of that is safe for climbing shoes?
|
|
|
|
|
Adk
Mar 29, 2010, 10:09 PM
Post #2 of 49
(21373 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 2, 2006
Posts: 1085
|
I've tried lots of things. I make sure I put mine on downwind of anyone I climb with.
I think the shoes came with the stink right from 5.10.
I'm thinking about a bottle of peroxide in each shoe for about 15 minutes. They smell so bad they could choke a donkey!
|
|
|
|
|
jaablink
Mar 29, 2010, 10:26 PM
Post #3 of 49
(21357 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 1, 2004
Posts: 537
|
I keep a sock ball of cedar chips in each shoe when not in use. Seems to work well….
|
|
|
|
|
Adk
Mar 29, 2010, 10:45 PM
Post #5 of 49
(21338 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 2, 2006
Posts: 1085
|
Thanks. I need a gallon of it for sure!!
Honestly I'll be giving it a shot in the next few weeks and I will report back. I can't even share a tent after a day of climbing with mine on.
|
|
|
|
|
johnwesely
Mar 29, 2010, 10:49 PM
Post #7 of 49
(21334 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 13, 2006
Posts: 5360
|
jaablink wrote: I keep a sock ball of cedar chips in each shoe when not in use. Seems to work well….
That sounds amazing.
|
|
|
|
|
Adk
Mar 29, 2010, 11:05 PM
Post #8 of 49
(21327 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 2, 2006
Posts: 1085
|
johnwesely wrote: Adk wrote: Thanks. I need a gallon of it for sure!! Honestly I'll be giving it a shot in the next few weeks and I will report back. I can't even share a tent after a day of climbing with mine on. Actually, you won't. You add an ounce or two to an entire spray bottle. I can't imagine that it would not last almost forever.
There is supposed to be a distributor close to me. I'm calling in the morning to see if they have it.
|
|
|
|
|
angry
Mar 29, 2010, 11:09 PM
Post #9 of 49
(21319 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 22, 2003
Posts: 8405
|
DWS
|
|
|
|
|
dugl33
Mar 29, 2010, 11:10 PM
Post #10 of 49
(21317 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 6, 2009
Posts: 740
|
Maybe not practical for your situation, but unlined leather shoes or shoes lined with natural materials seem to smell the least.
...Synthetic liners, yipes! Look out.
You could also require renters to wear socks.
|
|
|
|
|
abe_ascends
Mar 29, 2010, 11:21 PM
Post #11 of 49
(21303 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 18, 2005
Posts: 367
|
A sprinkling of gold bond into the shoe after climbing seems to work fairly well for me.
|
|
|
|
|
jaablink
Mar 29, 2010, 11:28 PM
Post #12 of 49
(21300 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 1, 2004
Posts: 537
|
One of the guys in NH I climb with use to work for a resoler, he recommended it to me. It’s a little low tech but it works… You can get a bag of chips at the pet store for 3 bucks .
|
|
|
|
|
ClimbClimb
Mar 30, 2010, 2:31 AM
Post #13 of 49
(21251 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 5, 2009
Posts: 389
|
Interesting.
Peroxide - I'd expect it's so reactive that it'd ruin the rubber, the glue or the leather, or maybe all of them.
Has anyone tried just soaking them and hand-washing (not machine-wash)? Maybe with some mild detergent and/or spoonful of chlorine? (The chlorine would probably destroy them, as well).
I'm assuming the smell is from microorganisms living in the shoe, not something else, so kililng would seem to be the priority...
|
|
|
|
|
dancottle
Mar 30, 2010, 3:18 AM
Post #15 of 49
(21232 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 25, 2009
Posts: 41
|
Put them in the freezer to kill the little buggers... I don't think we have an issue with that at our wall but it is mandatory to wear socks.
|
|
|
|
|
qtm
Mar 30, 2010, 3:56 AM
Post #16 of 49
(21220 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 8, 2004
Posts: 548
|
Yes, that stuff works the best of all the methods I've tried. Of course, I'm not sure how well it'll work for a climbing gym, maybe if you do 1/3rd of the shoes at a time since they need a couple days to dry.
Here's a list of the things I've tried, not all will work for a gym.
---------------------------------------------
Fabric sheets- just covers the odor, when it gets bad enough, no amount of fabric softener will help.
Powders- works for a bit, but unless you wash out your shoes, they get really slimy after a while.
Lysol- you really want this stuff on your feet? Yeah it works, but you have to leave the shoes to dry at least a full day. Still exposing your feet to nasty chemicals.
Spray deodorant- works short term to cover the odor, but doesn't help when the shoes get really bad.
Freezer- My GF won't let me put my shoes in the freezer. Might kill off bacteria temporarily, but if you're climbing every other day, I don't think it'll help much, they'll probably just start to stink once you start sweating.
Bleach- Ouch, this one really hurt and the only pair I had to throw out. You can't get the bleach completely out, and it leeches out into your feet as they sweat... and it burns, burns, burns!
Mild detergent and scrubbing- works OK, but, but never seemed to get the shoes completely odor free.
Enzymatic cleaner- worked surprisingly well. Even without scrubbing, shoes came out smelling fresh. With a good scrubbing, they were like new for weeks.
|
|
|
|
|
karmiclimber
Mar 30, 2010, 3:11 PM
Post #17 of 49
(21170 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 11, 2004
Posts: 1058
|
You guys are totally going to laugh at me, but this is the greatest idea EVER. I'm a female, in case you didn't know, and I go to get facials every once in a while. When you get a facial (hang with me here, I'm going somewhere with this) they pop your zits and then use a special light to disinfect the popped zit area. They should make a similar product to disinfect climbing shoes!
I use a product called T for Toes in my climbing shoes...its from the company Lush and its a powder with tea tree oil and lime oil. It smells really good.
|
|
|
|
|
acorneau
Mar 30, 2010, 3:18 PM
Post #18 of 49
(21155 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 6, 2008
Posts: 2889
|
karmiclimber wrote: ... they pop your zits and then use a special light to disinfect the popped zit area. They should make a similar product to disinfect climbing shoes!
They make UV light pens to disinfect water. I guess you could stick them in your shoes but I'm not so sure how well they would work on the leather, fabric and rubber of climbing shoes.
|
|
|
|
|
karmiclimber
Mar 30, 2010, 3:20 PM
Post #19 of 49
(21154 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 11, 2004
Posts: 1058
|
Yes, my point is the ones that you use on your face, would surely be safe for leather climbing shoes, right? Or at least use similar technology, as it involves no chemicals, etc...
|
|
|
|
|
bill413
Mar 30, 2010, 3:23 PM
Post #20 of 49
(21149 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 19, 2004
Posts: 5674
|
This won't help a lot once they stink (although it does a little), but it definitely helps delay or prevent the onset. Let your shoes dry as fast as possible after climbing. Don't put them in a bag - strap them to the outside of your pack. Put them where they get air circulation, not stuffed into a cubby.
Bacteria have a harder time growing in the dry than the wet.
|
|
|
|
|
qtm
Mar 30, 2010, 3:23 PM
Post #21 of 49
(21146 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 8, 2004
Posts: 548
|
karmiclimber wrote: You guys are totally going to laugh at me, but this is the greatest idea EVER. I'm a female, in case you didn't know, and I go to get facials every once in a while. When you get a facial (hang with me here, I'm going somewhere with this) they pop your zits and then use a special light to disinfect the popped zit area. They should make a similar product to disinfect climbing shoes! I use a product called T for Toes in my climbing shoes...its from the company Lush and its a powder with tea tree oil and lime oil. It smells really good.
You could use a SteriPEN in your shoes. That would kill the bacteria that's living close to the surface. But I don't know how far it would penetrate into the seams. Nor how good direct UV would be to the material.
Powders cover up the smell, works for a while, but then get really nasty really fast. I wouldn't use anything with oil, that builds up in the material and makes them slick over time.
(This post was edited by qtm on Mar 30, 2010, 3:23 PM)
|
|
|
|
|
karmiclimber
Mar 30, 2010, 3:29 PM
Post #22 of 49
(21141 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 11, 2004
Posts: 1058
|
Well its a powder that is mixed with essential oils. Tea tree oil has been used as a natural disinfectant forever. And besides...the powder helps with the sweat and drying them out. I usually hose mine off every once in a while anyway. I dunno, I do what works for me and my girly smelly feet probably aren't as bad as some of you dirtbaggin' males out there ;-)
|
|
|
|
|
shimanilami
Mar 30, 2010, 7:50 PM
Post #23 of 49
(21111 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 24, 2006
Posts: 2043
|
It seems to me that the smell is secondary to the health concerns of sharing shoes.
Someone suggested Lysol. I'd second that.
Bowling allies are another place that share shoes. Perhaps you could check out what they use.
|
|
|
|
|
Adk
Mar 30, 2010, 9:12 PM
Post #24 of 49
(21087 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 2, 2006
Posts: 1085
|
Lysol may work great if you use it from the start but if you start using it once the bacteria grow it's not going to help unless you give your shoes a big drink of it.
My stuff has been ordered and should be here in a few days. Hopefully I'll have a report on this stuff for sometime next weekend.
I only have a problem with my climbing shoes. All my other shoes are fine. Well.....So I think anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
kiwiprincess
Mar 30, 2010, 10:15 PM
Post #25 of 49
(21057 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 26, 2007
Posts: 307
|
Most gyms give it a spritz of anti bacterial spray after each use. Yours sound bad and probably need serious attention/ cleaning to kill the Bacteria then that kind of maintenance.
Freezing works good on smelly Sandals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
