Why do espadrilles smell so quickly?

Jute absorbs sweat, and Naguisa explains that fibres that stay damp can rot and smell. Worn without socks, the sole takes all the sweat.

Does vinegar get rid of espadrille odour?

It is not recommended. Canal 26 notes it has little backing for this, and Toni Pons warns that jute can swell and deteriorate in contact with liquid.

How to Stop Espadrilles Smelling: Causes and Fixes

Espadrilles smell because jute drinks sweat. The Barcelona maker Naguisa describes jute as a fibre that "breathes well and absorbs sweat", and warns that fibres which stay damp can rot and give off a bad smell. Espadrilles are also usually worn without socks (the Zalora style guide calls it the signature way to wear them), so the sole takes in all the moisture. The cure is to dry it out, not to wash it.

The fix: baking soda on a dry sole

An article by the news site Canal 26 gathers the advice of espadrille makers:

Make sure the shoe is dry first.
Sprinkle baking soda over the sole. The maker Toni Pons recommends this, especially for jute soles.
Leave it to work for a few hours.
Brush it off with a soft-bristled brush.

The article gives no exact quantity or duration.

What not to do

Tempting idea	Why to avoid it
Spraying or wiping with vinegar	little evidence that it works on these odours, and Toni Pons warns jute can swell and deteriorate in contact with liquid
Soaking or machine washing	Castañer, quoted in the same article, recommends avoiding moisture in this kind of shoe
Liquid home remedies	the article advises against liquid mixtures not approved by the maker

Prevention: the habits that matter

The Canal 26 article cites the UK's National Health Service (NHS) for foot hygiene:

wash your feet every day and dry them well, including between the toes;
do not wear the same pair two days in a row;
let your espadrilles dry completely between wears.

Two more habits are our own suggestions. Store espadrilles somewhere airy rather than in a closed bag, so they can finish drying, and if you do not like the barefoot feel, wear invisible no-show socks, which the Zalora style guide mentions as a way to keep the clean look while adding comfort. More on that in espadrilles with socks.

A simple routine to keep the smell away

Odour is easier to prevent than to remove, and a short routine is enough. After each wear, take the pair off in a ventilated spot and leave it open, with the opening wide and nothing stuffed inside that traps damp air. Once a week or so, or whenever the pair has been worn on a hot day, check the inside by smell and by touch: if the footbed feels damp, give it a full day in the air before wearing it again. Keep two pairs in rotation if you can, so each gets a day to dry, which fits the advice not to wear the same pair two days running. Treat the sole with baking soda as soon as a faint smell appears, not after it has set in, because a light smell clears much more easily than an old one. Finally, dry your feet properly before putting the shoes on, particularly after a swim or a shower.

After a soaking

A pair that got caught in the rain is the most likely to start smelling. Dry it properly straight away, following can espadrilles get wet?, then treat the dry sole with baking soda.

When it is not the shoes

The same article advises seeing a health professional if a smell persists despite good hygiene and drying, or if you notice itching, peeling, cracks or changes in the skin between the toes, which can be signs of a fungal infection. A pharmacist, a GP or a podiatrist can tell you what is going on; this page is general information, not medical advice.