Ig Nobel Prize: UVC light sterilizes shoes, kills odor

[JumpCrisscross]

“But push it too far - 10 to 15 minutes - and the odour gave way to ‘strong burnt rubber’”

Would definitely want to know what volatiles are being produced by this process.

[exabrial]

I won't believe it until you try it on my belay partner's climbing shoes.

Their shoes should be banned under the Geneva convention.

[loa_in_]

I use bleach infused cleaning wipes and I stuff few of them inside each shoe for few nights. I take them out whenever I put on the shoes. On a negative note, it caused some cheaper insoles to literally fall apart overnight while doing this.

[hilux]

Is your belay partner airing out the shoes (ideally outdoors) between sessions, or storing them in a closed bag?

[toomuchtodo]

Have you tried spraying them inside and out with 70% isopropyl alcohol?

[xnx]

Vacuum also reduces odor: https://x.com/ID_AA_Carmack/status/1801263439769182405

[cyberax]

I've been using the bleach trick, especially when my shoes get wet on their own.

Add a bit of bleach to a bucket, put the shoes there for 3-4 minutes, and then add a bit of thiosulfate to neutralize the bleach. Rinse under running water, and then dry in a tumble dryer (on a drying pan).

[jerlam]

I heard these were already common in China:

https://xcancel.com/NukitToBeSure/status/1972467734656209164...

[ranger_danger]

Any time I have tried to use a UVC light on a product, it always comes out smelling worse. Like, burnt somehow.

[hilux]

Going by the article, you might try reducing the exposure time.

[Gualdrapo]

Recently heard that about a study saying UV light can disable airbone allergens in a short time. And now this make it seem there's going to be a big demand for UV lights