How to Stop Youth Soccer Cleats and Sneakers from Smelling

How to Stop Youth Soccer Cleats and Sneakers from Smelling

How to Stop Youth Soccer Cleats and Sneakers from Smelling

As a footwear accessory brand, we often hear parents complain about stinky soccer cleats and sneakers — especially in the winter months when wet weather and muddy fields make the problem worse. As parents ourselves, we’ve tried almost everything!


Clean Cleats = Save Money

Keeping youth soccer cleats clean after each practice or match not only prolongs their life but also saves you money on replacements. We all know how expensive kids’ sports gear can be.

We’ve all had the moment: minutes before heading to a game, and there they are — wet, muddy cleats stuffed in a plastic bag, giving off that unmistakable musty smell… almost like a kitty litter box.


Community Advice: What Works

We asked our Pitchside Parents Hub community on Facebook, along with our wider parent network, for their tips. Here’s what they shared:

  • “Smells like cat pee. Most soccer cleats smell like this when wet or damp. Nothing will take the smell out. My boys say it has something to do with the material.”

  • Dry the cleats first! This is key to keeping odor at bay. Stuff them with newspaper or paper towels to soak up moisture after each game or practice.

  • If you’re out of newspaper, some parents recommend leaving fresh tea bags inside the cleats overnight. (Full disclosure: we had one teen whose favorite cleats got stained from this trick!)

  • Another tip: sprinkle baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) inside the cleats to neutralize odor. A few drops of tea tree oil on the baking soda can boost the antiseptic effect. Shake out the baking soda and let the cleats air out.

“We put baking soda in the shoes after every session and reuse it a few times in a small container. If wet, we pop them in a ventilated area to dry.”


What Not to Do

  • Do not put cleats in the washing machine — it can ruin both the shoes and your washer.

  • Hand-cleaning is quick, safe, and effective.

Quick 5-step process for cleaning youth soccer cleats and kids rugby boots:

  1. Remove laces and insoles.

  2. Brush off loose dirt with a dry brush.

  3. Clean with warm water and a gentle cleaning solution, scrubbing in circular motions.

  4. Let them dry naturally — avoid radiators, hair dryers, or direct sunlight.

  5. Freshen them up with a deodorizing spray or sachets.


Defiance Fresh: A Game-Changer for Cleat Odor

We now have a solution that combines steps 4 and 5 — removing moisture and odors at the same time. Introducing the Defiance Fresh range.....

Our founder, Emma, was inspired after yet another pair of expensive cleats developed a lingering stench in just a month, thanks to wet weather and teen negligence. That frustration led to Defiance Fresh — designed by parents, for parents.

New products in the Defiance Fresh range:

  • Defiance Fresh Shoe Pouches: Small, odor-absorbing inserts with a subtle lemon scent that neutralize smelly cleats, trainers, goalie gloves, kit bags, or even the car.

  • Defiance Fresh Kit Bags: Stylish backpack-style kit bags with four hidden deodorizing pouches inside a zipped compartment. Durable, functional, and perfect for transporting youth soccer cleats or rugby boots to school, practice, or matches.

Protect your kids’ cleats, prevent stinky soccer cleats, and extend the life of your youth sports gear.


Tips for Maximum Freshness

  • Use pouches immediately after training or games.

  • Rotate or replace pouches regularly for optimum odor control.

  • Pair with cleaning and proper drying routines for best results.

With Defiance Fresh, you can finally say goodbye to wet, smelly cleats — keeping your child’s youth soccer cleats or rugby boots fresh, dry, and game-ready!

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