November 13 - Here's why your running shoes stink—and how you can remove the smell

Here's why your running shoes stink — and how you can remove the smell

Did you run the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in Las Vegas, or do you just like to run? Either way, here's the solution to a known problem.

You know the drill: You're feeling sporty, you go for a run, and you come home sweaty and feeling great. Sure, you got your pulse up in the meantime, but now you're left with a nasty smell in your sneakers. How did that happen?

The culprit is bacteria. In fact, the same bacteria that make your armpits smelly are also making your running shoes stink. Our feet and hands are covered with sweat glands, but while sweat can evaporate from your hands, it gets trapped in our socks and shoes.

"Just as with all other organisms, bacteria need fluid to thrive, and your foot sweat does that job perfectly," explains Sara Landvik, who works at Novozymes and is an expert in bacteria and other microorganisms.

Our skin is covered with bacteria, including staphylococci, micrococci and corynebacterium—and that's quite normal. When your feet sweat, corynebacterium and micrococci break down the sweat into a fatty acid called isovaleric acid, which causes the smell in your running shoes.

"I don't worry that my running shoes smell because, luckily, there's something you can do to fix that," says Landvik.

Three steps to fresher running shoes

• Freeze: Put your shoes in the freezer to kill the bacteria, as they cannot endure cold temperatures.
• Dry: Bacteria and microorganisms thrive in damp conditions, so keep your shoes dry, for example, by stuffing them with newspaper after a run.
• Neutralize: Because the smell in your shoes comes from isovaleric acid, you can neutralize it with an alkaline compound like baking soda. Sprinkle half to a whole tablespoon of plain baking soda into each shoe and leave them overnight.

What are microorganisms and bacteria?
Bacteria are microscopic living organisms. They are extremely important in ecosystems, where they are crucial to maintaining life and breaking down materials such as plants. The study of microorganisms is called microbiology, a topic that started with the discovery of microorganisms by Anton van Leeuwenhoek in 1674.

But bacteria can do much more than make your shoes smell—they can do good things too. Today bacteria are used as a natural fertilizer in agriculture, for the production of flowers, vegetables and crops such as soy. Microbial solutions protect crops against diseases and help plants grow better.

Who is Novozymes?
Novozymes is a global biotechnology company headquartered in Bagsværd outside of Copenhagen, Denmark. The company focuses on research, development and production of industrial enzymes, microorganisms, and biopharmaceutical ingredients. In the US, the company has production and R&D in North Carolina, California and Virginia employing more than 1000 people.

Watch this video to learn more about microbes and bacteria: http://www.novozymes.tv/video/12627455/novozymes-microbial-solutions