Ballet flats are the shoe of the year—but at what cost? If you’d like to hop on the trend without stinking up the whole town, we’ve got some tried-and-tested tips.

Ballet-core this, coquette girl that—the rise of these subcultures has brought back a twee 2010 staple: The ballet flat. You saw Blair Waldorf don them on Gossip Girl, you watched Alexa Chung pair them with jeans and tights (and you eagerly followed suit!), and you’re now seeing them on the likes of Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber. This one shoe defined the 2010s and has come back in a big way—and the new gen is learning why they went out of style the hard way.

There’s no way to sugarcoat this. Ballet flats stink. No, really—they reek. It doesn’t matter how clean your piggies are because this market (read: your ballet flats) is home to every rancid horror imaginable. The signature stink is the result of a few design flaws: namely, the combination of poor ventilation in the shoe and its signature trendy flat sole. Essentially, sweat and grime easily build up in the shoe, creating the perfect feast for odour-causing bacteria to thrive on.

So, how do you avoid the dreaded stink? Well, fortunately in our modern age, we’ve got ways to stave off the stink so you can stay on-trend without sacrificing your sense of smell (along with everyone else’s around you!). Ahead, find five ways to stop your feet from ponging in ballet flats:

 

Remedy #1: Wear socks

Good news! High socks are also back on-trend and they pair fabulously with ballet flats. The extra layer of fabric will absorb extra sweat and prevent it from building up on your shoe lining, thus preventing the stink at the source. Just remember to wash your socks between uses!

 

Remedy #2: Air it all out

This goes for both your shoes and your feet—dampness does not go well with shoe inners, so if you want to avoid any offensive niffs, it’s best to give your dogs and your flats some airtime. The best practice is to leave your shoes either outside, by a window, or in a very well-ventilated space. Bonus points if you’re using a tablespoon of baking soda in your shoe when they’re in storage to help absorb extra moisture!

On that note, it’s important to store your ballet flats correctly—keeping them in a bag, cupboard or drawer is a no-no as this can encourage the growth of bacteria and mould which would make ofours worse. Remember: Keep it airy, keep it light!

 

Remedy #3: Deodorise, deodorise, deodorise!

If you’re committed to the sockless vibe, it’s worth investing in deodorisers for both your feet and your flats. For your feet, using an antiperspirant can help to stave off stinks by stopping the dreaded foot sweat at the source. For your shoes, you can either get a dedicated shoe deodoriser or, in a pinch, use the peel of a citrus fruit to fight off odours—all you have to do is leave the peel in the shoe overnight and you should wake up to a fresher-smelling foot in no time!

 

Remedy #4: Exfoliate your feet

Newsflash: Bacteria feeds on sweat and dead skin cells, so if you’re encountering an overzealous stench with your shoes, you may want to try exfoliating your feet more often. Exfoliation gets rid of the extra skin cell buildup, thus removing a major food source of the odour-causing bacteria on your feet and in your flats. Plus, it’ll make your feet feel and look better—there are no drawbacks!

READ: 5 Foot care essentials you need to get sandal-ready

 

Remedy #5: Keep your toenails tidy

Doing everything right but still can’t ditch the funk? You might be due a pedicure. It’s all good and well polishing up your pads day in and day out, but if your nails are long and unkept, they could be harbouring the real stinks. The key to olfactory bliss is a tidy toenail—that means keeping them short, scraping out any nasties and giving them a good soak in soapy water before drying thoroughly.

 

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