Travel Shoe Deodorizer Pouches
Cedar and baking soda pouches that neutralize shoe odor in your suitcase overnight
10 min beginner Yields 4 pouches
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Baking soda
- 1/4 cup Cedar chips (small pieces, pet-store cedar bedding works)
- 6 drops Tea tree essential oil
- 4 Small muslin bags (3×4 inch drawstring bags)
Steps
- Add 1 tablespoon baking soda to each of the four muslin bags.
- Add 1 tablespoon cedar chips to each bag.
- Drop 1-2 drops tea tree essential oil into each bag, targeting the baking soda layer.
- Tie drawstrings tight and knot securely.
- Squeeze each pouch to distribute ingredients.
- Insert one pouch per shoe, pushing toward the toe.
- Leave in shoes at least 6-8 hours or overnight for best results.
Why It Works
Cedar’s cedrol and thujopsene have antimicrobial and antifungal properties targeting odor-causing bacteria. Baking soda absorbs moisture and neutralizes isovaleric acid (the sour smell from sweat breakdown). Tea tree’s terpinen-4-ol adds antifungal defense against athlete’s foot conditions.
Alternative
Substitute activated charcoal (1 tablespoon per pouch) for cedar chips. Skip the tea tree oil with charcoal — the charcoal adsorbs the oil before it can work. The charcoal version is scentless.
Tips
- Refresh every 3-4 weeks: microwave pouches 30 seconds to drive off absorbed moisture, then add fresh tea tree oil.
- Pet-store cedar bedding is the cheapest source. Look for untreated, unscented cedar.
- Also works in gym bags, ski boots, rain boots, and hiking shoes.
- For stubborn odor, double up — two pouches per shoe for 24 hours.