How to get rid of bleach smell

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<p>I have a pair of shoes (PUMA, sporty, not a sneaker but the insides are build like a sneaker) that I regularly wipe out with Clorox wipes because they are worn without socks. This has always worked great. I recently wore them at the beach and they were pretty nasty, so I sprayed some bleach-based bathroom cleaner in them. Now, despite many attempts over a period of two weeks, I can not get rid of the strong bleach smell. </p>

<p>The things I have tried washing and soaking them in include Dawn dish soap, laundry soap, antibacterial hand soap and Febreeze. I have tried each of the above multiple times and soaked and rinsed with plain water many times. I have let them air dry outside in the breeze as well as drying with a high-temp blow dryer.</p>

<p>Any ideas?</p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.ehow.com/how_12130331_neutralize-bleach-clothes.html”>http://www.ehow.com/how_12130331_neutralize-bleach-clothes.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Maybe this would work. In the future, try wiping the insides of your shoes with a cloth sprinkled with some rubbing alcohol.</p>

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<p>Thanks, BB! I will try both of those things!</p>

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<p>FYI, that article is correct about hydrogen peroxide being able to neutralize bleach, however, the product is not “harmless free chlorine” as it states, but sodium chloride. Here is the reaction:
<a href=“http://www.instruction.greenriver.edu/kmarr/Chem%20161/Chem%20161%20Labs/Lab%204%20Rxn%20of%20H2O2%20and%20Bleach/Lab%204_RXN%20of%20Hyd%20Perox%20and%20Bleach_F2010.pdf”>http://www.instruction.greenriver.edu/kmarr/Chem%20161/Chem%20161%20Labs/Lab%204%20Rxn%20of%20H2O2%20and%20Bleach/Lab%204_RXN%20of%20Hyd%20Perox%20and%20Bleach_F2010.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol will not neutralize bleach smell; it can be used instead of bleach to kill bacteria. </p>

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<p>no help to 4k perhaps, but for me, wearing the shoes a time or 2 would be enough to take care of the bleach smell. My feet would neutralize it!</p>

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<p>Vinegar has been known to neutralize many smells, but I am not sure about a chemical reaction. Have you tried setting them out in the sunshine for a couple of days or running them though the dishwasher on the top rack?</p>

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<p>The cure is worse than the disease.
Vinegar will neutralize bleach small.
However, vinegar smell is ten times worse than bleach fumes.</p>

<p>Take them to a dry cleaners.
They have potions and lotions to neutralize ALL smells.</p>

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<p>Yes, Kajon, I have tried setting them out in the breezy sunshine after several of my cleaning attempts. It may have helped a little, but the bleach smell is still pretty strong. I will say they look like new after all the scrubbing!</p>

<p>I didn’t get to try the peroxide solution last night, but will try it tonight and let y’all know how it goes. Thanks again for the suggestions.</p>

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<p>I love chlorine smell. </p>

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<p>OP, if you do not have hydrogen peroxide solution, you might want to give Oxyclean a try. It is an inorganic peroxide.</p>

<p>FWIW, I had good luck with using Nature’s Miracle (sold by pet stores for cleaning up pet accidents) to remove BO smells from clothes. After all, we are mammals, too. So you might want to try this solution instead of chlorox next time. </p>

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<p>BB I am so glad you suggested that… no amount of anything ever gets fiance’s workout clothes or pajama shirts back to normal again, I will try Nature’s Miracle. Will have to do that when he’s not looking, he might be offended! :P</p>

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<p>Thanks again, BB. I am going to try the peroxide first, since I have it on hand. But it’s always good to have a backup…</p>

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<p>Well, the peroxide solution definitely helped. Not perfect, there is still a faint smell of bleach, but it definitely helped and the shoes are wearable again. Thanks, BB!</p>

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<p>Thanks, College4K! Happy to hear that it at least partially took care of the problem. </p>

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<p>I have an intolerance to food preservatives so I have to soak my veggies (especially the stuff that has been “fresh washed”) and fish in hydrogen peroxide. Great to know that I can use the same formula to remove a bleach smell! </p>

<p>I am going to try the Natures Miracle for hockey elbow and shin pads.</p>

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<p>This may sound wacky but my dad swears by it–put a sock with cat litter in it into your shoes. The cat litter will absorb the odor.</p>

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<p>gouf, that’s a great solution! :)</p>

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<p>How about charcoal? Bought some bagged bamboo charcoal that Golden Gate Park and use it around car nd home to reduce scents/odors. </p>