TOMS: A Smelly Conundrum

After several years of popularity (and in my case several years of wear) TOMS are officially everywhere. I have not been immune to the simplicity, comfort and style of the now footwear giant and own multiple (6!) stinky pairs.

Which brings me to my point: They freakin' stink. Some of them smell so bad that I refuse to wear them now. I have tried SO many methods to keep them stink free and only two have really "cured" the stench.

So what's a girl to do with six stinky unwearable pairs of shoes? I realize now that I should have been more preventative with some of my newer pairs...but on my newest pair I have finally started taking the proper courses of action to keep them wearable. It also seems to me that if you want to get real longevity out of TOMS you absolutely must must must not get them wet, once they are wet that's when the worst smells happen.

Normally I hate wearing socks with them-- but that's just about the best way to keep them smelling as "fresh" as possible. Target has some great socks (meant for flats) that are even smaller than 'no-shows' and work great for this purpose, and don't show on the outside of your TOMS. (The ones online don't look as thick as the ones I've seen in the stores.. so I suggest hunting for them in the sock area!)


So, here's what I've learned when it comes to keeping your Tom's smell free: 
- Do not get them wet, I repeat, DO NOT get them wet! Avoid water at all costs. Toms + No Socks + Water = Stench.
- Don't attempt to de-stink them once they've gone past their prime. The washing machine, sprays, powders etc. do not help & in my experience genuinely MAKE THINGS WORSE! (Also time & money wasted attempting to try these things!).
- Buy & wear some liner socks. They help keep the smell down to a minimum like normal shoes, and I promise are worth every penny if you care about keeping your Tom's smell free!
- Keep dry old newspaper inside of them while they're off your feet. This helps absorb excess sweat, moisture and also absorbs the smells!