The only equipment you really need to dance is a good pair of dance shoes.  But too quickly good shoes can go bad,…and I mean ooo-weee, put-your-shoes-back-on stinky!  Here are some tips to keep your dance shoes from ruining the romance of dance.

1. Protect your shoes from perspiration. 

And I mean goal number one:  KEEP YOUR SHOES DRY!  The sweat does not make your shoes smell bad; the bacteria on your feet that feast on the perspiration creates the odor.  So the first thing to do is protect your shoes as much as you can from sweat and from the bacteria on your feet.

• Men, wear two pair of thin dress shoes.  This will keep the majority of the sweat on the pair closest to your foot and protect your shoe from the dampness.  If you are dancing all day, bringing a fresh pair of socks to absorb the extra moisture is a good idea.
• Ladies, wear hose.  While fashion says stockings are optional, our noses suggest we wear hose.
• Use antiperspirant on your feet.  You can use regular antiperspirant (just have one that you dedicate to use on your feet only), or you can buy sprays or sticks specially made for your feet.
• Use foot powders to absorb some of the perspiration and prevent it from being sucked into your insoles.

2.  Dry your shoes out.  

After a good workout, do not bag your shoes up and put them in a drawer to marinate.  Suffocating your wet shoes just marinates the mischievous microbes.

•  Get a mesh show bag to allow your shoes to breathe and dry out.
•  Take your shoes out of the bag and let them dry out in the sun.
•  Have multiple dance shoes that you alternate  so that you can let your shoes dry thoroughly between wearings.
• Use a hairdryer to dry them out more quickly.

3.  Freeze your shoes.  

•  Bag your shoes in a zip-lock plastic bag…maybe two…and put them in the freezer.
•  Leave your shoes in the car in the winter, and freeze those pesky bacteria.

4.  Deodorize your shoes.  

•  Baking powder, coffee beans, and kitty litter are great at absorbing stinky smells.  You can make a sachet out of tea bags, coffee filters, or pantyhose and put them in your shoes when you store them.
• Cedar is also a great deodorizer; cedar inserts or cedar balls are a good way to keep your shoes smelling fresh.
• Ball up some dryer sheets and put them in your shoes.

Not only do your feet sweat naturally, they are particularly susceptible to emotional sweating.  So whether you are nervous about a performance, a competition, or impressing that special someone, be aware that your feet will be producing extra perspiration at these times.

The best advice to keep your shoes smelling fresh is to keep those puppies dry.