There's no denying that feet sweat when you wear shoes, and the resulting odor can be unpleasant and embarrassing. Unfortunately, throwing a pair of shoes in the washing machine is not usually an option. Instead, air out your shoes periodically to remove the offending smells. Your feet -- and the people around you -- will thank you.

Take out the insoles from your shoes, if they are removable. Wash the insoles periodically in the washing machine to keep them fresh.

Let the shoes dry at room temperature if they are wet. Do not dry them near a heater or other direct heat source, as this can damage the material.

Sprinkle the insides of the shoes with a liberal coating of baking soda, which helps to eliminate odors. Let the shoes sit overnight. Dump the baking soda from the shoes the next day.

Place a fabric softener sheet into each shoe if they still need to be aired out further. Let the sheet sit in the shoes overnight to freshen the insides.