Is 50/50 vinegar and water really enough to kill mildew?

[BigBrother]

We have a lot of shoes that got mildewed from a poorly-managed apartment building. I took them all out today to be exposed to the sun for two hours and, in the process, covered them in a 50/50 white vinegar/water mix.

I don't think either did much, as about half the shoes still smell of mildew. What am I missing here? Is this concentration actually enough to kill?

 

[Jonathan]

Not sure what you mean by covered them? If they are leather shoes I would wipe them down with a cloth rinsed out in vinegar and then air them out in the sun. Then lightly spray the insides with lysol. That should do it. If they are fabric, I would vacuum them first or brush them down with a soft brush and use the lysol on the inside - you could try the 50/50 vinegar on them after you brush them down, but it might stain the shoes.

 

[BigBrother]

To be honest, I really just wanted to use Lysol as that’s traditionally been my go to for general disinfection, I just thought maybe for health reasons it wasn’t good to put in shoes. But if you think it’s alright…

 

[Aqib Bhutta]

To tackle mildew odors in shoes, initial steps like exposing them to sunlight and using a 50/50 white vinegar and water mix are good, but additional measures may be necessary. Try using baking soda, activated charcoal, or freezing to further eliminate odors. Consider odor-eliminating insoles and proper storage to prevent future mildew growth. If the smell persists, professional cleaning might be required. Mildew removal may require multiple attempts, so patience is essential. Preventive measures, such as proper storage, are crucial to avoid future mildew issues.