Athlete’s foot is a fairly common disease in people who often wear shoes or exercise outdoors. It is an infectious disease and difficult to treat, so it brings much trouble to those who suffer from it.
A simple way to minimize and aid in treating an athlete’s foot is to disinfect your shoes. If you do not know how to do it, read the most effective ways to disinfect shoes below.
When Do You Need To Disinfect Your Shoes From The Athlete’s Foot?
Inside the shoes is a warm and dark, sometimes wet environment ideal for foot fungus to thrive and grow. When you notice that your shoes have an unpleasant odor or feel itchy, uncomfortable when wearing sneakers, it’s probably time to disinfect your shoes if you don’t want the athlete’s foot to worsen.
Besides, when detecting signs of an athlete’s foot on the skin, such as peeling skin, you need to disinfect your shoes immediately.
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How To Disinfect Shoes From An Athlete’s Foot?
Method 1: Using Disinfectant Products
One of the most simple and common ways to eliminate an athlete’s foot is using anti-fungal products. Generally, bacteria are the leading cause of fungal infections in shoes and feet. Disinfectant sprays on the market are effective in killing fungi and bacteria that lurk in your shoes.
It would be best if you found a prestigious disinfectant, which usually comes with a “cure” label to handle the athlete’s shoe.
Then, you can spray disinfectant spray directly into the shoes. If you’re extra careful, you can spray disinfectant on tissues and then stuff them in your shoes. After spraying, you must not wear shoes and need to leave them overnight.
It would be best if you kept in mind when using disinfectant sprays that they can react with bleach and damage your shoes. Thus, it would be best if you did not use bleach when treating an athlete’s foot with disinfectant sprays.
Method 2: Using Baking Soda And Vinegar
You may find it confusing that kitchen products like baking soda and vinegar can be used as effective shoe sanitizers. These substances have been proven effective in cleaning and removing mold and bacteria in shoes.
Baking soda is a great all-in-one product. Sprinkle a layer of baking soda on your shoes before wearing them to help minimize mold in the shoes and eliminate odors.
To disinfect shoes with vinegar, you need to prepare a spray bottle. After pouring the vinegar into the spray bottle, you can spray the solution directly into the inside of the shoes. Vinegar is highly acidic, killing the bacteria and fungi that cause an athlete’s foot in shoes.
In addition, you can use both baking soda and vinegar to disinfect your shoes. After sprinkling baking soda inside your shoes and leaving it for about 1-2 hours, you can spray vinegar into your sneakers. It is an efficient method to kill fungal spores and odors.
If you are struggling with foot fungus in your shoes, try using baking soda and vinegar. Our article on Simple Ways To Get Foot Fungus Out Of Shoes provides tips on how to use these ingredients to get rid of any lingering fungus. By using these natural disinfectants, you can effectively kill any bacteria on your shoes and prevent the spread of foot fungus.
Method 3: Leaving Shoes To Air-Dry
The damp and dark environments are always ideal for bacteria and fungi to multiply. Air-drying your infected shoes in the sun will be a great way to kill fungus and other bacterias.
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Method 4: Using Shoe Sanitizer
One of the most effective ways to disinfect shoes is to use a shoe sanitizer. This modern machine will save you time and effort in disinfecting shoes. Not only that, but it also will not damage your shoes.
Shoe sterilizers use UV light to remove up to 99% of bacteria, fungi, and mold inside your shoes. Therefore, their effectiveness is superior compared to other methods.
The shoe sanitizer is designed with a unique shape that you can easily insert inside your shoes. You need to activate it and wait for about 25-30 minutes to have a pair of clean, disinfected shoes.
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FAQs
Do I need to throw away my shoes if I have athlete’s foot?
I must say that it is the best way to avoid reinfecting, but it’s not compulsory. You can use other methods to clean and disinfect your shoes to handle the athlete’s foot.
Should I wear socks to bed if I have athlete’s foot?
Yes, you should. Wearing socks to bed is an effective way to prevent the spread of an athlete’s foot. If you go to bed with bare feet, foot fungus can take up residence in your blankets and pillows. This will make treatment more difficult. If you live with a spouse, wearing socks to bed will also reduce the risk of infection.
What is the strongest treatment for athlete’s foot?
Personally, I think it is Lamisil. Many experts recommend this one in athlete’s foot treatment. Lamisil is a topical medication, so it is easy to use. Its effectiveness has also been widely recognized.
What aggravates athlete’s foot?
Walking barefoot is another cause of foot fungus. When you let your infected feet come into contact with many objects such as the floor, mattress, blanket, chair, the foot fungus is more likely to develop and spread.
What can be mistaken for athlete’s foot?
You might confuse an athlete’s foot with other skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Therefore, before starting treatment, you should carefully study the specific signs and symptoms of an athlete’s foot.
Should you moisturize athlete’s foot?
No, you should not. Many people misunderstand that an athlete’s foot is just dry skin. Using moisturizer might make an athlete’s foot worse since the fungus will grow quicker in a moisturizing environment.
Why is it so hard to get rid of athlete’s foot?
The fungus that causes athlete’s foot can multiply very quickly. In addition, they can reside anywhere when your feet come in contact. Therefore, while treating an athlete’s foot, any mistake can cause the disease to return.
How do I clean my shower after athlete’s foot?
First, you need to use bleach to clean the bathtub immediately after finishing showering to ensure the bathtub is not infected with fungus. In addition, you must not share towels with others to avoid infection. Please dry your towels in a separate area.
