How to Eliminate Hockey Skate Odor
Quick answer: Hockey skates smell because sweat saturates the liner and footbed inside a boot that barely breathes. To eliminate it, saturate the tongue, liner, and footbed with The Stink Solution's Hockey Odor Eliminating Spray, which breaks the odor down on contact with OAM Technology. Pull the skates out to dry after every session instead of leaving them sealed in the bag.
Why do hockey skates smell so strong?
A hockey skate is a tight, insulated boot wrapped around a foot that sweats hard for an hour or more. That moisture sinks into the liner and footbed and sits there, and because the boot does not breathe well, it barely dries before the next skate. Bacteria thrive in exactly that environment, and the smell gets powerful.
Then the skates go back into a zipped bag, which seals the moisture in and spreads the odor to everything around them.
Can you wash hockey skates to get rid of the smell?
Soaking or machine washing skates is a bad idea. Water gets trapped in the boot construction, the steel can rust, and the liner takes days to dry, which only feeds the bacteria. You want to eliminate the odor at the source without drowning the skate.
How do you eliminate skate odor the right way?
Target the inside of the boot and saturate it. OAM Technology identifies the odor, binds to it, absorbs it, breaks it down, and eliminates it on contact.
- Loosen the laces and pull the tongue forward to open the boot.
- Saturate the liner, the tongue, and the footbed.
- Saturate any removable insole separately, top and bottom.
- Stand the skates open in a ventilated spot to dry.
Apply heavily. The odor lives deep in the liner, so a light pass will not reach it.
The spray is Plant Based, Enzyme Free, Biodegradable, and Made Without Harsh Chemicals, and it is safe on skin, so it is a smart fit for the footbed that sits against your foot. It will not stain the liner.
How do you keep skates from smelling between uses?
Never leave skates sealed in the bag. Pull them out to dry the moment you get home, and pull the insoles if they are removable so air can reach the footbed. Treat the liner with the spray after each skate, and keep a 4 oz bottle in the bag for a fast rink-side hit. Dry, treated skates simply do not build the smell.
Beat skate odor this season
The Twin Pack Hockey Odor Eliminating Spray gives you a 16 oz bottle for home and a 4 oz bottle for the bag for $24.99. Treat your skates at home and top them off rink-side.
See everything for hockey in the Hockey collection.
Hockey Skate Odor FAQ
How do you get the smell out of hockey skates? Saturate the liner, tongue, and footbed with a hockey odor eliminating spray that breaks down odor on contact, then stand the skates open to dry. Avoid soaking or machine washing them.
Why do hockey skates smell so bad? The tight, insulated boot traps foot sweat in the liner and footbed and barely lets it dry, so odor-causing bacteria build up quickly.
Can I wash my hockey skates in water? Soaking or machine washing is not recommended. It can trap water in the boot, rust the steel, and leave the liner damp for days. Treat the odor with a spray instead.
Is the spray safe for the footbed that touches my foot? Yes. It is Plant Based, Made Without Harsh Chemicals, and safe on skin, and it will not stain the liner or footbed.