How to Disinfect Shoes From Toenail Fungus

Known in the medical language as onychomycosis, toenail fungus leads to discoloration and thickening of the toenail. Apart from that, this infection also causes an awful odor. This infection affects nearly three percent of the population, especially males. It is commonly found in the nail’s root, the nail bed, and the nail plate.

During the initial stages, this infection discolors the nails, but later on, it can result in complications like cellulitis. The main causes of being affected by this infection are wearing shoes that do not provide proper ventilation to the feet. This causes a humid environment in the feet, paving way for the formation of a suitable breeding ground for this infection. While proper medical treatment can solve this problem, especially if it is in its nascent stages, it is important to see that all traces of this fungus are removed from your shoes. Since your shoes are in regular contact with the infected toes, the fungus spreads to them as well.

In order to ensure that your shoes do not cause this infection to occur again, you should disinfect shoes from toenail fungus. It is important to know that only poorly ventilated shoes, such as the closed toe types are likely to be contaminated by this fungus. The most important step is to keep your shoes thoroughly clean. You should store your shoes in a place where they can dry properly, especially if your feet sweat a lot. Make a habit of storing your shoes in a well ventilated area because if you do not, the fungus will start growing again.

The first step in cleaning your shoes is to put them on a flat surface and remove the shoelaces. See whether the inner surface of the shoe is damp or not. If it is, then you should dry it by exposing it to direct sunshine; this will remove any odors present in them as well.

If you have consulted a doctor, he or she might have suggested that you use an anti-fungal spray to fix your toenail fungus problems. You can treat the insides of your shoes with the same spray to remove all residues of the fungus. Since applying the spray to disinfect shoes from toenail fungus causes them to become damp, you need to dry them in sunshine again. Repeat the above procedure a second time to make sure that all the fungus present in your shoes is eliminated. You also need to make sure that you prevent your shoes from becoming damp.

If you wear leather shoes, then the best way to achieve this is by applying shoe wax to the leather parts of your shoes on a regular basis. You can also use sprays that contain paradichlorobenzene. This chemical prevents the growth of molds. However, you should be very careful with such sprays, use them sparingly and in a well-ventilated area, since paradichlorobenzene is poisonous in nature. Do not store your shoes in polythene or plastic bags, as this will prevent them from drying.

Sam Moser is a freelance content writer who has written almost exclusively for the web since graduating from the School of Journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario. Same recently been having skin problems that lead him to a toenail fungus removal in Houston.