Why do my feet still smell even after I wash my shoes?

Bacteria and fungi live deep in the shoe material and insoles where washing doesn't reach them. Even if the surface looks clean, moisture trapped inside creates an environment where bacteria multiply. The insoles are usually the biggest problem because they absorb sweat directly and rarely dry out completely.

Your feet themselves might also be the issue. If you're not drying between your toes thoroughly or if you put on shoes while your feet are still slightly damp, you're reintroducing moisture. Wearing the same pair of shoes every day without giving them 24 hours to dry out means the interior never fully dries.

Old insoles that are compressed and worn out hold onto odor no matter how much you clean them. After about six months of daily wear, they need replacing.

What's the difference between odor spray and antifungal spray?

Odor sprays like Dr. Scholl's Odor Destroyers focus on absorbing sweat and neutralizing smell using ingredients like zinc oxide and sodium bicarbonate. They make your feet smell better but don't necessarily prevent or treat fungal infections.

Antifungal sprays contain tolnaftate or miconazole, which kill the fungus that causes athlete's foot. Products like Odor-Eaters Foot & Sneaker Spray combine both features. They prevent athlete's foot while controlling odor.

If you just have smelly feet without any itching, cracking, or burning, you only need odor control. If you get athlete's foot regularly or spend time in gym showers, the antifungal option makes more sense.

Do I really need name brand products or will Signature Care work?

The Signature Care products at Safeway contain the same active ingredients as the name brands. Signature Care Athletes Foot Cream has clotrimazole 1%, which is identical to Lotrimin. The Signature Care Tolnaftate Spray Powder works the same as Tinactin.

The difference is price. You're paying extra for brand recognition and sometimes better packaging or fragrance with name brands. The actual treatment effectiveness is the same because the active ingredient and concentration match.

Start with Signature Care. If you don't like the texture or smell, then try the name brand version.

Can I use these products on any type of shoe material?

Powder and spray products work on most shoe materials including leather, canvas, synthetic fabrics, and rubber. The alcohol in spray products dries quickly and won't damage most materials.

For expensive leather shoes, test the spray on a small hidden area first. Some sprays can temporarily darken leather until it dries completely. Powder is safer for leather but can leave white residue if you use too much.

Don't spray directly onto suede. The moisture can stain it. Instead, spray your feet and let them dry before putting on suede shoes, or use powder very lightly.

How long does it take for antifungal products to work?

For athlete's foot between your toes, expect about four weeks of twice-daily treatment. You'll notice the itching and burning improve within the first week, but you need to keep applying the cream for the full four weeks or the fungus comes back.

Prevention sprays with tolnaftate work immediately. Using them daily stops most fungal infections from starting in the first place.

If you're trying to treat discolored or thick toenails, over-the-counter products won't work. Despite what some packaging suggests, products like Fungi-Nail are designed for skin, not nails. The fine print says "not effective on nails." Toenail fungus requires prescription medication or professional treatment from a podiatrist.

Should I spray my feet, my shoes, or both?

Both. Treating just your feet means you're putting them back into shoes full of bacteria and fungus. Treating just your shoes means your feet keep reinfecting them.

Spray your feet in the morning after you shower and dry them. Let the spray dry for 30 seconds before putting on socks. Then spray inside your shoes at night and let them air out while you sleep. This attacks the problem from both sides.

For shoes you wear every day, spray them nightly for the first week. After that, a few times per week maintains freshness.

Is powder better than spray, or does it not matter?

Spray reaches more surface area quickly and dries clear. It's convenient for daily use on your feet. The aerosol format gets between toes and into shoes better than powder you shake in manually.

Powder gives you more control over where it goes and how much you use. It's better for work boots or shoes that need a heavy application. You can shake a generous amount directly into the shoe and let it sit overnight. Powder also tends to be cheaper per use.

The downside of powder is the mess. You'll see white residue on dark socks and shoes if you use too much. Some people also find the texture uncomfortable.

For daily maintenance, spray works better. For problem shoes that smell terrible, powder applied overnight works faster.

Will Fungi-Nail actually help my toenails?

Probably not. The packaging shows a toenail and the name says "Fungi-Nail," but the product label states it's not effective on nails. It's designed to treat athlete's foot on the skin around your toes.

Some Safeway customers report it helped their nails after months of daily use, but that's not its intended purpose. At $17 per bottle, you're better off seeing a podiatrist who can prescribe something that actually works on toenail fungus.

If your nails are thick, yellow, or lifting from the nail bed, you have toenail fungus that needs professional treatment. Over-the-counter products at Safeway won't fix it.

How often should I replace shoe insoles?

If you wear the same shoes daily, replace insoles every six months. They compress and lose their ability to absorb moisture. Once they're worn down, they hold onto odor permanently.

For shoes you wear occasionally, once a year is fine. For athletic shoes used for running or workouts, every three to four months because the impact compresses them faster.

You'll know insoles need replacing when they feel flat, when odor doesn't go away even after treatment, or when you see visible wear and cracking.

New insoles with antimicrobial properties help, but standard replacement insoles from any store work fine if you use odor spray or powder regularly.

Can I use these products if I have diabetes?

Talk to your doctor or podiatrist before treating any foot problem yourself if you have diabetes. Fungal infections can lead to more serious complications when you have diabetes, and you might not notice the early warning signs.

The products themselves aren't harmful, but you need professional guidance on foot care. Your doctor might want to monitor any fungal infection to make sure it's clearing up properly.

What should I do if the products don't work after a few weeks?

For odor problems that don't improve with spray or powder after two weeks of daily use, check your shoes and socks. Sometimes the shoes are too far gone and need replacing. Switch to moisture-wicking synthetic socks if you're wearing cotton.

For athlete's foot that doesn't improve after four weeks of treatment, see a doctor. You might have a resistant strain that needs prescription medication. If the rash spreads, gets worse, or you see signs of infection like increased redness and swelling, stop using products and get medical help.

Don't keep buying different products hoping one will work. After a month of trying over-the-counter options, it's time for professional treatment.

Do I need to throw away my old shoes if I had athlete's foot?

Not usually. Treat your shoes with antifungal spray powder while you're treating your feet. Spray them thoroughly inside and let them dry completely for 24 hours before wearing them again.

If the shoes are old, falling apart, or permanently smell bad even after treatment, replace them. Otherwise, treating them while you treat your feet prevents reinfection.

Wash your socks in hot water and dry them completely. The heat kills fungal spores. Don't share towels or walk barefoot in shared spaces while you have an active infection.

Are natural remedies like baking soda and vinegar as good as store products?

Baking soda absorbs moisture and neutralizes odor, which is why it's an ingredient in many products at Safeway. You can sprinkle plain baking soda in your shoes overnight and it helps with smell.

Vinegar kills some bacteria but it doesn't prevent athlete's foot. It also makes your shoes smell like vinegar until they dry.

Store products combine multiple ingredients that work together. Odor-Eaters powder uses corn starch for absorption, sodium bicarbonate for odor, and an antimicrobial ingredient. Dr. Scholl's adds zinc oxide for longer protection. You get better results from the formulated products than from single ingredients at home.

The advantage of store products is convenience and consistency. You know exactly what concentration you're getting and how to use it properly.

Can foot odor spray prevent athlete's foot, or do I need separate products?

Some sprays do both. Odor-Eaters Foot & Sneaker Spray Powder contains tolnaftate, which prevents athlete's foot while controlling odor. The Signature Care Athletes Foot Spray Powder with tolnaftate or miconazole works the same way.

Dr. Scholl's Odor Destroyers is just for odor. It doesn't contain antifungal ingredients.

Read the label. If it lists tolnaftate or miconazole as an active ingredient, it prevents fungal infections. If it only lists zinc oxide, sodium bicarbonate, or fragrance ingredients, it's odor control only.

If you're prone to athlete's foot or use gym showers regularly, buy the combination product. It's one less thing to apply daily.

Why do some products say "not for use on nails" when the package shows toenails?

Marketing. Companies know people associate foot fungus with toenail problems, so they design packaging that shows toenails even though the product treats skin only.

The active ingredients in these products (tolnaftate, clotrimazole, miconazole) work on skin fungus but can't penetrate the nail plate. Treating toenail fungus requires either prescription oral medication that works from inside your body or special nail lacquers that penetrate the nail.

Always read the fine print on the package. If it says "not effective on nails," believe it regardless of what the front of the package implies.

How do I know if I have athlete's foot or just sweaty feet?

Athlete's foot causes itching, burning, cracking, or peeling skin between your toes or on the soles of your feet. The skin might look red, white, and soggy, or it might be dry and scaly. Sometimes it causes small blisters.

Sweaty feet without fungal infection just smell bad. Your skin looks normal. There's no itching or unusual texture.

If you're not sure, try an antifungal product for two weeks. If your symptoms improve, it was athlete's foot. If nothing changes except the smell, it's just sweat and bacteria.

You can have both problems at once. Sweaty feet create the conditions where athlete's foot thrives.