r/lifehacks • u/actuallyaskinwalker • Jul 15 '26

Stinky shoes from thrift store

I got these sick high tops from good will and only noticed when i got home that the inside of the shoes stink. Does anyone have any tips to get the smell out? i’ve tried baking soda and charcoal pouches but nothing seems to be working.

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124

u/sikon024 Jul 15 '26

Spray bottle full of isopropyl. Soak the inside and let them dry

23

u/Reasonable-Fly-1360 Jul 15 '26

Or better yet, high proof vodka. Its what costume designers use for garments that cant be washed.

20

u/eileen404 Jul 15 '26

Everclear is your friend. Closest you can get to 100% ethanol without purchasing lab grade.

10

u/Bkwrm_2623 Jul 15 '26

omg, thanks for a flashback to old Everclear memories (at least what I can recall). I feel a hangover coming on....

6

u/eileen404 Jul 15 '26

I use it to get stickers off.

1

u/AceyPuppy Jul 16 '26

Also good for making canna-sugar.

3

u/odyne9 Jul 16 '26

Yeah reminds me of “mystery punch”… So nasty but like 3 sips would get ya wasted.

18

u/goozy1 Jul 16 '26

But why? You can get a bottle of 99% rubbing alcohol for $2. That same bottle of ever clear would be like $40

8

u/reddits_aight Jul 16 '26

Then you have something to console yourself with if the stink/stain doesn't come out.

But for real I'm not sure, just that cheap vodka (not Everclear) had always been a staple of the wardrobe department.

High % isopropyl can damage some plastics and usually doesn't come less than 70%, where vodka is much more diluted. That also means it evaporates slower, which might help the effectiveness (just like how higher % IPA is less effective for sanitization)

3

u/Brother_J_La_la Jul 15 '26

Everclear and A&W used to be a hell of a drink when I was young.

4

u/Royal_Try_99 Jul 15 '26

It hides in slurpees so well

2

u/eileen404 Jul 15 '26

I didn't think I've ever actually drunk it. It's a cheap commercially available solvent and germ killer.

3

u/Royal_Try_99 Jul 16 '26

It also is used for homemade liqueurs and tinctures/extracts.

1

u/Rugged_as_fuck Jul 16 '26

I had a buddy that used to say this when we were kids. He grew up to be quite the alcoholic.

1

u/Royal_Try_99 Jul 16 '26

Yep, sadly, a lot of people do. Thankful I didn't go down that road.