Q: You have sometimes answered questions about foot odor, but I’ve never seen the remedy that worked for us.  Years ago, my husband had this problem.  It was hard to be in the same room with him after he removed his shoes.

A friend had grown up in Arkansas with lots of home remedies.  She told us to put 2 tablespoons of 20 Mule Team Borax in each shoe overnight.  It worked like magic.

A: Borax has long been used as a laundry additive, water softener and deodorizer.  This mineral is toxic to pets, so shoes with this powder should be kept away from cats and dogs. Remove the Borax completely before wearing the shoes again.  It should not be inhaled.

Another reader suggests spraying the interior of smelly shoes with vodka and allowing that to dry overnight.

• article by Joe and Teresa Graedon
• copyright The Seattle Times