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H-e-l-p! how to get rid of stubborn foul smell in a pair of 50s eng. boots

Zero2Hero

New Member
Taking my hat off to everyone as we speak...ive been keeping a pair of vintage 1950's engineer boots far away in a storage locker because for almost 1.5 years because ive been unable to get rid of a foul, dampy, i dont want really want to add mil-dewy to the mix as it was not wet or damp when i initially acquired them but anyway ive been unable to sport them since i got them and granted ive kept them in a zippered bag because i did not want it to affect other items in my storage.
Any tried and tested tips cheerfully accepted.
till soon
Zero2Hero
 

Zero2Hero

New Member
Adama36- Many thanks for the fast reply - Ok so the initial stage of spraying it with Febreze, how long do i leave it for before airing it? also after initially spraying it, do i keep it in a zippered compartment/bag ?
 

Adama36

Well-Known Member
Adama36- Many thanks for the fast reply - Ok so the initial stage of spraying it with Febreze, how long do i leave it for before airing it? also after initially spraying it, do i keep it in a zippered compartment/bag ?
spray them then air them outside
no zippered compartment bag
 

Zero2Hero

New Member
Flakmagnet - Baking soda sounds economical, maybe i should try that first, in the event that the BS works well enough, how would i get it out of the boots ? Obviousley i will attempt to shake it out but would it be ok to remove the rest with a damp cloth or something ? Cheers.
 

FlakMagnet

Well-Known Member
Flakmagnet - Baking soda sounds economical, maybe i should try that first, in the event that the BS works well enough, how would i get it out of the boots ? Obviousley i will attempt to shake it out but would it be ok to remove the rest with a damp cloth or something ? Cheers.
Shake residue off, and maybe use a vacuum to get the stuck bits off. If you really need to, maybe use a cloth or paper towel dampened with rubbing alcohol or disinfectant instead of water? Moisture (from water) could potentially make your boots smell again.

Also, I’m a big fan of wearing wool socks with boots as it’s really good for wicking moisture out of your feet, and keep shoes from stinking.
 

Zero2Hero

New Member
UPDATE: No dice - yea the odor more mighty than the baking soda, it almost made no difference at all and i let it sit a few hours. On to the Febrez but i have to ask again, ya'll sure it will work for a really hard core stubborn odor?
 

mulceber

Moderator
UPDATE: No dice - yea the odor more mighty than the baking soda, it almost made no difference at all and i let it sit a few hours. On to the Febrez but i have to ask again, ya'll sure it will work for a really hard core stubborn odor?
A few hours really isn’t enough time for baking soda to de-odorize it. I’d seal it in a plastic bag for the better part of a week.
 

Zero2Hero

New Member
Thats honestly what i thought too..a couple hours on something so hard core just didnt sound right but i tried it anyway, luckily i didnt mess with it so i can just leave it where it is a few days, someone also suggested spraying with white vinegar down the line.
 

Zero2Hero

New Member
UPDATE: No dice..ive now left it for over a week with a healthy serving of baking soda..it didnt make a damn bit of difference, and i honestly doubt fabreeze can tackle this hard core job. What other remedies can i try..as ive stressed the smell is really hard core, not a nasty stench per say but more like something thats been left damp or wet for a long while..akin to mildew on wet walls or something..but there is no evidence of actual mildew on them.
 

Dany McDonald

Well-Known Member
Can you show an image of the inside?

If the smell is due to mold/mildew etc, you can spay borax diluted with distilled water inside the boots, and repeat.

Not a wetdown, just humidify. Wait for it to dry and repeat, until it's gone.

HTH,

D
 

Zero2Hero

New Member
No worries..here are some pics, but the white dust you see in the inside is because i have yet to vacuum the baking soda out of the interior.

Cheers
BTW if anyone can help me date them it would be great..i'm guessing they are 50's but perhaps older?
 

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Thomas Koehle

Well-Known Member
I'd also try FEBREEZE - just spray it on in a closed room - inside and out ...

I had some good experience with that stuff on garment

Wasn't there any sort of wood that absorbs odors?

Or any kind of "activated carbon"?????
 

mulceber

Moderator
Wasn't there any sort of wood that absorbs odors?
Yep, cedar. That might help some.

I'll add that para mothballs are an odor eater as well - that's why they get used in urinal cakes. Put them in a pillowcase in the boots, seal (air-tight!) the boots in a Tupperware container, and leave them for a few weeks. Then let them air out in a well-ventilated space.
 
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