How to clean flip-flops and get rid of the smell

To clean rubber or foam flip-flops, scrub them with warm water, a little dish soap, and a stiff brush, then use a baking soda paste on stains and smelly spots, rinse, and let them dry completely in the shade. Most pairs take about 10 minutes of scrubbing. Leather, suede, and fabric-covered flip-flops need a gentler, less wet approach, covered below.

What you'll need

• Dish soap or another mild liquid soap
• Baking soda
• A stiff brush or old toothbrush for rubber and foam
• A soft brush and cloths for leather or fabric
• White vinegar (optional, for odor)
• A bucket or sink

How to clean rubber and EVA foam flip-flops

Most everyday flip-flops are rubber or EVA foam, and both handle soap and water well.

1. Rinse the flip-flops to knock off sand and loose dirt.
2. Fill a sink or bucket with warm (not hot) water and add a squirt of dish soap.
3. Scrub the footbed, straps, and soles with a stiff brush. Spend extra time on the heel and toe areas where dirt builds up, and on the textured grooves of the footbed.
4. For gray footprint stains, mix baking soda with a little water into a paste, spread it on the footbed, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and scrub again.
5. Rinse well with clean water.
6. Shake off the water, towel dry, and leave them to air dry in a shaded, airy spot until completely dry.

Very hot water can warp some foams, and long stretches in direct sun can fade colors and break down foam faster, so warm water and shade are the safer choices.

Can you put flip-flops in the washing machine?

Some plain rubber or EVA flip-flops survive a gentle cycle in cold water inside a mesh laundry bag, but it isn't risk-free. Glued layers can separate, straps can loosen, and foam can warp. Hand washing is safer and doesn't take long. Never put leather, suede, or cork-soled sandals in the washer, and never put any flip-flops in the dryer. If your brand says its sandals are machine washable, follow its instructions.

How to clean leather flip-flops

Leather needs moisture kept to a minimum.

1. Brush off dirt with a soft dry brush.
2. Wipe the straps and footbed with a cloth dampened in water with a few drops of mild soap.
3. Wipe again with a clean, barely damp cloth.
4. Let them air dry at room temperature, away from heat.
5. Once dry, apply a leather conditioner made for shoes to keep the leather from cracking.

For suede straps or footbeds, use a dry suede brush and a suede eraser instead of water. If your flip-flops have a cork footbed, the steps in our guide to cleaning Birkenstocks apply to them too.

How to clean fabric-strap flip-flops

Spot-clean fabric straps with a toothbrush dipped in soapy water, then rinse with a damp cloth. If the footbed is foam or rubber, scrub it as described above, but try not to soak the area where the straps join the sole, since that's often glued.

Why do flip-flops smell?

Sandals smell because sweat and skin cells build up on the footbed and bacteria break them down. Textured foam and fabric hold onto that buildup more than smooth rubber does, and pairs that never fully dry between wears smell sooner.

How to get rid of sandal odor

Start with a full clean, since odor usually comes from buildup you can see. Then try these, one at a time:

1. Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on dry footbeds, leave it overnight, and brush or rinse it off in the morning.
2. For rubber and foam, wipe or briefly soak the footbeds in a mix of equal parts white vinegar and water, then rinse with plain water and dry fully.
3. Let sandals dry completely in a shady, airy spot before you wear them again. Damp sandals are where odor starts.
4. In hot weather, switch between two pairs so each has time to dry out.

If a foam pair still smells after cleaning and the footbed has started to break down, it may be time to replace them. Cheap foam doesn't last forever.

How often should you clean flip-flops?

Rinse them after the beach or pool to get rid of sand, salt, and chlorine. Give them a full scrub every couple of weeks during heavy summer wear, or any time the footbed looks gray or they start to smell.

Keeping flip-flops cleaner between washes

Rinse off sand and salt water after each trip to the beach, wipe the footbeds now and then with a damp soapy cloth, and store them somewhere dry and out of the sun. Clean, dry feet make a big difference to how quickly the footbed darkens and how soon odor comes back.