This article was reviewed by Dr. Emilija Ashtalkoska on August 29th, 2018. Products listed therein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
Introduction
Fungi are pesky little creatures. They love living in your shoes, and they can be a huge thorn in your side if you do not get rid of them. When left untreated, fungi in shoes can lead to toenail fungus, athletes foot, jock itch, ringworm, and fingernail fungus.
Even more frightening, fungi can even spread internally in certain extreme situations. But do not worry!
Below we will outline exactly how to get foot fungus out of your shoes with a variety of topnotch options, and other steps to take to prevent spreading and reinfection.
Let’s begin.
Use An Anti-Fungal Treatment To Get Fungus Out Of Shoes
Disinfectants and anti-fungal powders are two of the most reliable products on the market that kill the fungus in your shoes.
In order to get foot fungus out of your shoes, you need to use an anti-fungal treatment.
Disinfectants and anti-fungal powders are two of the most reliable products on the market that kill the fungus in your shoes.
We have reviewed our favorites below, along with a powerful UV shoe sanitizer.
Each type of treatment has its positives and negatives, but the most important thing is that you chose one and start treating your shoes immediately.
If you don’t, the fungi in your shoes can spread throughout your body.
10 Seconds Shoe Disinfectant | Quick, 10-second shoe disinfectant and deodorizer | |||
Remedy Antifungal Powedr | Anti-fungal powder that can be used on shoes, feet, and skin | |||
Comyan UV Sanitizer Sterilizer | Power UV Shoe Sanitizer and deodorizer that kills 99.9% of fungus |
Antifungal Spray: 10 Seconds Shoe Disinfectant
10 Seconds Shoe Disinfectant is an incredibly fast working anti-fungal and antibacterial shoe disinfectant.
The disinfectant is effective against germs, bacteria, mildew, and of course, fungus. It is a fantastic low-cost option that is easy to use and only takes ten seconds (as the name would imply) to destroy the foot fungus in your shoes.
Additionally, 10 Seconds is the only disinfectant on the market today that is approved by the EPA, meaning it is environmentally safe.
It also has the benefit of being a deodorizer, meaning it leaves your shoes smelling fresh and clean.
In order to destroy the fungus in your shoes, simply spray your shoes thoroughly with the disinfectant spray and then let them sit to air-out.
The spray has a slight lemon smell, so we recommend using the product in a well-ventilated area.
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Antifungal Powder: Remedy Antifungal Powder
The main benefit of utilizing an anti-fungal powder, such as Remedy Antifungal Powder, is that it is safe to use on your feet, socks, and shoes.
This means that you can treat the fungal infection on your feet while also killing the fungi in your immediate area.
What many people don’t realize is fungal reinfection is likely if you don’t also treat the places where your feet spend the most amount of time – in socks and shoes!
Remedy Antifungal Powder is talc-free and can withstand extreme conditions when placed in shoes. It does not clump, which is a common complaint with many other anti-fungal powders.
The main ingredient is miconazole nitrate, a known anti-fungal and antibacterial agent. Additionally, it comes in a pack of two, which will last a long time even when used daily.
Ultraviolet Shoe Sanitizer
If you are not interested in messing around with a shoe spray or powder, an Ultraviolet Shoe Sanitizer is a great option to get fungus out of your shoes.
It works by harnessing the power of UV rays to eliminate 99.9% of fungi throughout the shoe.
Additionally, the process works to deodorize the shoe in an equally effective manner.
The product works on an automatic timer of fifteen minutes – simply place the bulbs in the shoes, and then go on with your day. It is the easiest treatment to use on the market today.
The Ultraviolet Shoe Sanitizer bulbs last up to 8000 hours and are easy to replace.
It is slightly more expensive than traditional anti-fungal sprays and powders, but it is well worth the added expense for the power of the product and ease-of-use.
Additional Steps To Take: 1. Harness The Power Of Air Drying
As a preventative measure, using air drying to prevent foot fungus can be highly effective. It may not seem like it would be tremendously effective, but in reality, simply allowing your shoes to dry-out in a non-moist environment can have real benefits.
Moisture builds up in the shoes when we are highly active or exposed to wet environments, and properly allowing them to dry can prevent the growth of fungi.
Air-drying can be done either outside (make sure you bring your shoes back in!) or in a dry area in the home.
Using air-drying techniques every night is great to prevent foot fungus from growing in your shoes, and in conjunction with the treatments listed above.
2. Swap Out Your Shoes
In conjunction with the steps listed above, it is in your best interest to rotate which pair of shoes you wear on a daily basis.
When shoes are used on a daily basis and constantly take a beating, it increases the likelihood that fungi and bacteria grow and thrive. This is especially true when you perspire in the shoe.
When you rotate your shoes on a daily basis, it allows for the shoes to properly air-out and remains dry.
If possible, we recommend allowing for one pair to be treated with the above treatments while you wear the other pair.
This will maximize the effectiveness of the anti-fungal treatments and get the fungus out of your shoes.
3. Wash Your Socks And Sheets
Keep in mind that while it is important to get foot fungus out of your shoes, it is also equally important to destroy the fungi in your surrounding areas.
If you get fungi out of your shoes but then reinfect yourself with unclean socks, you will have to go through the whole treatment process again.
We highly recommend washing your socks on a regular basis. Never wear the same pair of socks two days in a row, especially if you have been exercising or on your feet for an extended period of time.
While socks can prevent your feet from touching the moist lining of a shoe, they can also trap moisture and spread fungi.
By the same token, infected sheets can also spread fungi and bacteria. It makes sense – your infected feet are touching the sheets every night!
Make sure you wash your sheets weekly to prevent reinfection.
Doing your laundry at a minimum of 140 F or 60 C is needed to destroy the pathogenic fungus that may be on the clothes, otherwise, it will have no effect on getting rid of fungus on clothes.
How Long Does Fungus Live In Shoes?
Fungal spores are notoriously resistant.
It can be difficult to estimate exactly how long fungi can live in your shoes because there are various types of fungi, molds, and bacteria that can lead to conditions such as athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) and nail fungus (onychomycosis).
Fungus can stay in clothing for up to six months, and it is fair to assume that they can live in shoes for an even longer period of time since shoes can be moist and insulated.
How Long Do Fungal Spores Live?
Believe it or not, we do not know how long fungal spores can live. Various fungi have different life-spans, and it also depends on environmental factors.
As stated above, we know that fungi can survive in clothing for up to six months, so it is possible that fungal spores survive for a similar period of time.
Conclusion
The most important thing to do when trying to get fungus out of shoes is to pick an anti-fungal product and use the treatment daily.
There are a number of fantastic treatment options on the market, but the most important thing is to utilize an antifungal treatment regularly while minimizing the risk of reinfection.
This can be as simple as rotating which shoes you wear, properly air-drying them, and washing your sheets.
We wish you the best of luck with your fungus fighting journey!
References
Sources for more information:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2808700/ – UV light can sometimes be useful for the destruction of fungal spores
I am the founder of DestroyNailFungus, and I do my best to provide comprehensive guides on health and wellness.
When I’m not running the site, I enjoy spending time outdoors and drinking coffee.