Is there a solution to smelly football or rugby boots?

As a footwear accessory brand we often hear parents talk about their child’s stinky boots – made worse in the winter months by the wet weather and muddy conditions. As parents ourselves we’ve tried many different things.

Cleaning boots can save you cash!

Keeping your boots clean after each training session or match ensures they last longer—and saves you having to replace them so often. We all know that new football or rugby boots are expensive.

We’ve all been there, minutes before leaving for their game and oh look the wet boots are in a dirty plastic bag still – giving off a wretch-inducing musty stench - reminiscent of a cat litter tray!

We asked our community on Pitchside Parents Hub on Facebook, as well as our wider community of parents and here is their advice.

"Smells like cat wee. Most football boots smell like this when wet or damp. Nothing will take smell out. My boys say it has something to do with the material," read one reply.

Dry the boots first!

Drying the boots seems to be the key to early success. Try stuffing with newspaper, or kitchen roll to soak up some of the moisture. If you keep on top of this early on it will help but this doesn’t always get rid of the odour from already pongy boots. 

If you don't have a newspaper to hand, leaving fresh tea bags in the shoes emerged as another popular recommendation. The jury is still out with this idea at HQ – our head of marketing ended up dyeing the inside of her son’s favourite football boots with tea stains!

Another parent told us to; "Try some bicarbonate of soda sprinkled on the inside.. you might want to put some tea tree oil on the bicarb first.. as it is a natural antiseptic. If this doesn't work.. repeat and leave outside for the fresh air to get into them."

‘’Bicarbonate of soda in the shoes after every session and if wet, we put them in the airing cupboard. We re-use the bicarbonate a few times by putting it back in a little container.”

Cleaning football or rugby boots. What not to do!

First things first don’t use a washing machine it can ruin both the boots and the machine. Hand-washing is quick, only taking 15 minutes! Follow this simple process:

Boot cleaning in 5 simple steps

1. Remove the laces and insoles.
2. Brush off loose dirt with a dry brush.
3. Clean with warm water and a cleaning solution, gently scrubbing in circular motions.
4. Let them dry naturally, avoiding radiators or dryers.
5. Freshen them up with a deodoriser spray or sachets.

Luckily, we now have a solution that combines steps 4 and 5 – as it will remove moisture and remove odours. Introducing our new Defiance Fresh deodorising pouches and kit bags!

Our founder Emma confesses that this new product came about after yet another pair of expensive football boots were smelling SO bad that she thought their cat had actually pee’d in the house. These boots were only a month old and the wet weather and lack of aftercare (thank you, teenagers!) had created an unpleasant lingering smell.

This frustration spurred Emma into action and hence the new Defiance Fresh range launching for winter 2024.

The two NEW products coming in the Defiance Fresh range are:

1. Defiance Fresh Shoe Pouches – these handy sized inserts have an odour absorbing property and a delicate lemon fragrance that after 24 hours "eats" away at the smelly boot odours, removing unwanted smells and moisture. As well as beating odours in boots and trainers, these pouches work great for goalie gloves, kit bags or even the car!!

2. Defiance Fresh Kit Bags - these new backpack style kit bags contain 4 odour-absorbing pouches hidden within a zipped compartment. These can be replaced as and when necessary to give optimum freshness. With the stylish Defiance branding, durable material, handy zip pocket design and fresh smelling pouches; they are perfect for taking kit to school or matches.

Ready to dive into the chat? Have you got a solution to pongy boots? Is there another topic you’d like to discuss? Connect with us on Facebook and become a part of our Pitchside Parents Hub group.