4 February 2020

Five of the Top Ultraviolet (UV) and Ozone Shoe Sanitizers

By Marie Davis Health

Published 4 February 2020

Last updated 27 March 2021

If you have been battling athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, or just very smelly shoes and can’t seem to get on top of the problem, you should consider investing in a shoe sanitizing machine.

These inexpensive, easy-to-use devices can kill not only odor-causing bacteria but some models can help to get rid of the fungus and bacteria that cause toenail fungus and athletes’ foot. They are also recommended for people living with diabetes who may be at risk for infections that could result in amputation.

Some sanitizers can kill up to 99.9 percent of fungi and bacteria in your shoes and are often recommended by Podiatrists after completing treatment for fungus infections.

Why Use a Shoe Sanitizer?

The fungus spores and microbes that cause foot fungus are notoriously tricky to get rid of. Many individuals find that even after treatment, they are faced with re-infection, and foot fungus becomes a chronic problem.

Microscopic fungal spores spread quickly and easily and get on everything, including socks, all types of footwear, towels, and bedding. No one wants to throw out all of their shoes each time a re-infection occurs, and footwear is usually tough to clean, especially on the inside and when you are wearing them every day.

When you use a shoe sanitizer daily, it becomes an integral part of a complete treatment to help prevent the recurrence of foot fungus.

How do they work?

Sanitizers work by disinfecting the inside of shoes by using either ultraviolet (UVC) light or by using gentle heat with ozone.

Using UVC light to kill bacteria is a technology that has been used in hospitals for years to help keep equipment and hospital room sterile. UVC light is generally considered safe to use, although you must ensure that you never look at the UVC light or touch it to your skin. Usually, these types of devices are used in a dark environment or put into a bag to ensure that there is no chance the user will be exposed to the light.

A few sanitizing devices use ozone to sterilize footwear. Ozone has also been used for many years in different types of industries like hospitals, hotels, and food processing to kill bacteria.

Top 5 Ultraviolet (UV) and Ozone Shoe Sanitizers

Comyan shoes Germicidal Lamp

Comyan shoes Germicidal Lamp is an excellent option if you are looking for a budget-friendly device. It uses ultraviolet light and ozone sterilization and claims a sterilization rate of 99.9%. The treatment time is also only 15 minutes, and the replaceable bulb has a lifetime of approximately 8000 hours. This model will fit most types of shoes.

Available from Amazon

PEET Deodorizer Shoe and Boot Sanitizing and Deodorizing Module

The PEET Deodorizer Shoe and Boot Sanitizing and Deodorizing Module is another option for shoe sanitizers. It works on most shoes and boots by killing common germs & bacteria that cause foot odor. It is a great price and seems to work well for most people looking to reduce odor in their shoes. So if you need to get rid of the smell, this is one option to consider.

Available on Amazon

SteriShoe Essential

The SteriShoe Essential is a great design if you are looking for a good quality, clinically proven, reasonably priced sanitizer. The SteriShoe Essential can treat the entire shoe and is one-size-fits-all footwear. If for some reason footwear won’t cover the light sensor, you can put it in the black bag. It uses a UVC light to sanitize the inside walls and has safety features to ensure that it won’t turn on if it isn’t being used properly. It earned a Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association and is recommended by over 1,000 doctors.

It can kill up to 99.9% of the germs that cause odor, athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, and warts. It is straightforward to use, all you have to do is place the SteriShoe inside your footwear and plug it in, after 15 minutes it will automatically turn itself off. It comes with citrus-scented cartridges to help deodorize footwear with a freshening scent. The manufacturer offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. (Continental U.S. sales only).

Available from Amazon

LAVIEAIR Shoe Dryer, Boot Deodorizer

The LAVIEAIR Shoe Dryer, Boot Deodorizer is primarily a foot dryer, but it also helps to keep bacteria at bay as well. If your footwear already has an odor, this device won’t do anything to help kill it, but it helps to keep shoes dry, so bacteria doesn’t have the chance to grow in the first place.

Find on Amazon

StinkBoss

The StinkBoss has a much different design than our other top picks. The idea is that you place your footwear inside the StinkBoss device and the enclosed design allows the ozone to circulate throughout your shoe, sanitizing it on both the inside and the outside. It doesn’t use UV light but kills bacteria using ozone and mild heat.

It produces zero waste and is considered environmentally friendly. You can use it for shoes as well as other gear like hats, gloves, sports equipment, and most delicate materials. It only claims to kill the bacteria that causes odor; it makes no claims about killing foot fungus.

The StinkBoss has various cycle times from 30 minutes to 6 hours, and it comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Available from Amazon

Are they Safe?

With proper care and operation, all of the devices that we have listed are safe to use. The big concern when using UV light is that you can damage your eyes or your skin if it is exposed to it. To avoid this happening, each model has safety features included. Usually, the safety features include an auto-shutoff if the UV bulb is exposed to light.

Many products also come with protective bags that you use during the sanitization process that will also protect your family against exposure to the light

The devices that use ozone are also safe to use as the ozone generated complies with UL Standards, which regulates household use of ozone.

Do UV sanitizers work?

Not all UV sanitizers are created equal; most will kill the smell from your footwear, but to get rid of bacteria and fungus, you will need to get the right product. There have been some independently published studies that confirm that devices like the SteriShoe do get rid of up to 99.9 % of fungus in footwear that is tested. Sterilizers are often sold and recommended by podiatrists after professional laser treatments for fungus and are generally considered by most experts to be a useful tool in the battle against fungus re-infection.

Features to Look for

Safety features – Since UV light can be damaging to your eyes, any device you purchase must have the safety feature of an automatic shutoff if the UV bulb is exposed to regular light. It is especially important if you have children or pets in the house. You should also check to make sure if you are buying a product that uses UV light that it also includes a bag to put the footwear in if you are sanitizing a type of shoe that doesn’t fully cover the UV bulb.

Size – Some of the older models only fit a specific size, so you have to choose between a small, medium, or large model. Newer models are one-size-fits-all and can be shared between family members.

Treatment time– Treatment times vary from about 15 minutes to 6 hours. As the technology improves, so does the treatment time, obviously, the shorter the treatment time, the more convenient the product will be to use. The more you use the sterilizer, the higher your chances of successfully getting rid of odor and bacteria in your footwear.

Replacement parts – The UV light models will require you to (most likely) have to replace the bulb after about two years since the power and effectiveness of the lamp decreases in strength over time. Replacement bulbs for the SteriShoe are around $15-$20 and can be found on their website.

Heat – A few devices use heat as part of the sanitation process, but the heat is usually so low that it is unlikely to damage fabric or material. If you are trying to get the odor out of a particularly delicate fabric, check the level of heat that is used to ensure that there is no possibility of damaging the material.

Types of shoes it can treat – Most sanitizers will work with all kinds of shoes including sandals, high heels, boots, or most types of materials. Check the specs of any product you are considering to ensure that it comes with a protective bag if you are going to be using it on sandals or open-toed designs.

Warranty – The standard warranty for the most popular sanitizers is a limited one-year warranty.

FAQS

How often do you have to use these devices to keep shoes from smelling?

Since the treatment time on the latest devices is so short, it is recommended that you use sanitizers daily whenever the footwear is worn.

How do you determine if they are working?

If you are using a sanitizer to eliminate odor, the obvious way to determine results is by the smells disappearing.

Determining whether fungus microbes have been killed is not something that you will be able to measure by the naked eye. The best indicator that the devices are killing off fungus bacteria is whether you have a reoccurrence of a foot fungus infection. If you are using a high-quality product like the SteriShoe and are still faced with re-infection, ensure that you are also correctly cleaning bedding, towels, socks, and any fabric where fungus can be hiding. If you are unsure of a product that you have bought, it is best to go to the company website and check any clinical studies that have been done on the product.

Can these devices be used on different footwear?

Most of the sterilizers on the market are designed to be used on all different types of footwear, including sandals, open-toed, heels, and boots of any size. You can use the products interchangeably with family members as there should be no chance of passing an infection on to another shoe. Although always check for specific instructions on any products that you are considering purchasing.

The Bottom Line

Whether you use a foot sanitizer to help with odor or you use them to kill fungus to help stop re-infection, these products can be a beneficial addition to your household. Since shoes and boots are tough to clean, and it is incredibly challenging to get rid of foot fungus, these devices are a great tool to help with everyday hygiene.