5 Easy Ways to Clean Dog Poop Off Your Shoes

Did you have the misfortune of steeping on a pile of dog poop? Fortunately, there are a number of methods that will help you eliminate the dog poop particles (and the smell) without ruining your shoes forever.

How to Clean Dog Poop Off Shoes

The majority of these cleaning methods can be achieved with items you already have at home. The sooner you act, the easier it is to clear out the dog poop from the grooves of the shoe.

1. Use a Cleaning Brush

Get an all-purpose cleaning brush from the bathroom that you are okay with disposing. Give your shoe a quick rinse with the garden hose then scrub the affected area with the cleaning brush. This method doesn’t guarantee the full removal of dog poop but it will at least remove the visible bits. You could also use an old tooth brush as an alternative.

2. Apply a Light Spray of WD 40

Here’s another method you can add to the endless list of things that a can of WD 40 can help you with at home. Some dog owners, who have stepped on dog poop countless times, have had success getting rid of the dog poop from their shoes using WD 40.

First, take off your shoes and try to wipe away most of the mushy dog poop with a paper towel. Once only the tiny bits remain, apply the WD 40 then start to scrub using an old toothbrush.

3. Dry the Dog Poop

It’s not the easiest to remove dog poop at its freshest state. You may have an easier time removing the dog poop if you dry it out first. If you live in a place with plenty of direct sunlight then flip your shoes upside down so that the soles are facing sky and let the poop dry out. Use a long sharp object like a wooden skewer to pick out the dried dog poop from the shoes.

4. Freeze the Dog Poop

An alternative method to drying out the dog poop is to freeze it. Wrap the shoe in one or two plastic bags then place it in the freezer (make sure there’s nothing else in the freezer when you do this). Once the dog poop is nice and frozen, start picking it out using a sharp object.

5. Visit the Local Golf Course

Most golf courses have shoe cleaners and compressed air cleaners that will easily remove the debris that get stuck on the soles and grooves of shoes. Visit a nearby public golf course and see if they have the shoe cleaners near the golf cart drop-off area.

How to Eliminate Dog Poop Smell from Shoes

So you were able to clear out the dog poop (at least the visible parts) but the smell of it still seems to linger on your shoes. Here are some ways to eliminate the dog poop smell from your precious shoes.

1. Use a Natural Odor Remover

You could try using a natural odor remover, such as the Only Natural Pet Remover, to eliminate the disgusting smell of the dog poop. Apply the solution on the sole of the shoe and wait for the enzymes to break down the stains that’s causing the smell in the first place.

2. Seal Your Shoe in a Bag of Baking Soda

Baking soda is a popular home remedy for absorbing smelly odor in the house. You could try using baking soda to eliminate the dog poop smell by placing the shoe in a plastic bag filled with the white powder. Try to seal the bag as tightly as possible.

3. Remove the Dog Poop Smell with Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is another popular choice for eliminating household odor. Place the shoe next to a bag of activated charcoal for a couple of days. The bad smell should disappear over time.

Tips from Other Dog Owners

Here are some additional cleaning tips from other dog owners who went through the same problem of stepping on dog poop.

Tip #1 – Removing Smell of Dog Poop

My shoe still had some foul smell remaining after I managed to clear away as much of the dog poop particles as I could. I was able to eventually get rid of the dog poop smell from my shoe by doing the following. Mix a little bit of warm water and baking soda together to make a thick paste. Scrub the baking soda paste with an old toothbrush.

Tip #2 – Walk on Damp Grass

Have a lawn or a park nearby with a grassy area? Walk on the grass while wearing the shoes with the poop smear. This will somehow remove the dog poop from your shoes. It works even better when the grass is wet or damp. Of course, make sure you don’t step on any dog poop while you are walking around.

Tip #3 – Use a Vegetable Scrub Brush

The old toothbrush got some good bits out but wasn’t enough to get the rest of the dog poop from my shoe. Let me introduce you to the vegetable scrub brush. It does an even better job of scrapping of all the smelly dog poop.