How To Deodorize Smelly Shoes. 1  Wash them. 2  Shoes made of fabric can be tossed in the washer with a couple of towels and run through a warm/warm cycle using your normal laundry detergent. Freeze them. 2  As crazy as it sounds, sticking your shoes in the freezer is a great way to deodorize them since the smell-causing bacteria can’t survive the chill. 3  Of course, it’s best to slip your shoes into a shoe bag first so you don’t get dirt all over your freezer and food. 4  Then, leave the shoes to freeze overnight.