As a child of the ‘80s may remember, plastic shoes known as “jellies” were impressively stinky shoes. Although they were sandals they didn’t allow any airflow, which resulted in very sweaty feet. Choose shoes designed for breathability. New styles have mesh portions that keep your feet cooler and increase airflow. You also may want to consider alternating different pairs of shoes. Wearing the same pair every day can contribute to the colonies of bacteria thriving in them, but if you let them completely dry out, the bacteria won’t be able to survive in the dry conditions. Winter boots in particular have a tendency to stink, so rotating pairs may help kill off bacteria. Wearing socks of any kind helps reduce unpleasant smells because they soak up the sweat and keep it from permeating the shoe. You can wash socks much more easily than washing your shoes. To reduce foot odor, always wear socks when wearing closed-toed shoes. (Wearing socks with sandals is neither necessary nor advisable from a fashion point of view.) Regular cleaning and trimming of the toenails can also help reduce odor. Be sure to clean under the toenail before trimming and cutting the nail. Consider using a cotton ball soaked with isopropyl alcohol to clean around the toes and nails before bed to kill bacteria and keep your feet dry. “Thicker cotton or newer synthetics are better at absorbing sweat and wicking it away and evaporating,” says Kevin M. Wong, MD, Westmoreland Family Medicine-UPMC. “For some people, they may need to change socks through the workday.”