If you are ever fortunate enough (or unfortunate enough) to get dog poop on your shoes, the first thing that comes to mind, is that you need to act quickly. No matter how small the poop is, the quicker you get rid of it the better, to avoid long-lasting stains and an embarrassing poop smell on your shoe.
Quickest Way To Get Dog Poop Off Your Shoe
The quickest way to get dog poop off your shoe is by using a high-pressure hose to flush off as much of the poop as possible, and then using a small brush (maybe toothbrush) to remove any leftover residues. Flushing with a water hose will force the poop off your shoe, while brushing will remove any other minute particles that may still be left.
Certain shoes may respond easily to cleaning, but some others that are quick to absorb moisture may pose a problem, as most of the juice from the poop may have been absorbed already by the shoe’s material.
If the shoe is of water-resistant material, then flushing alone will suffice. But for shoes like suede that quickly absorb moisture, scrubbing with a brush is a must.
Whilst working with a water hose and a brush may be the fastest way, it may not always be doable in times of emergencies, or in times when you don’t just want your shoes to get wet. If that is the case you can also use another quick method which may not be as effective as the first, but is by far cheaper and will come in handy during emergencies.
Cheapest Way To Get Dog Poop Off Your Shoes
If you’re walking down the road and suddenly step on dog poop, at that moment you may not have access to a water hose, a brush, or even a tissue. The quickest and cheapest solution here is to get a stick, some grasses (or leaves), and sand.
The sticks are for picking or taking out the poop, the leaves will do the work of a brush in cleaning off residues that the stick couldn’t, and the sand will act as a final wiping agent and smell remover.
This method is very effective for poops that are stepped on. You can simply find the nearest grassland and scrub your shoes on it vigorously, and afterward go to a very sandy ground and repeat the same thing. Though this method may not seem to be the most effective, if done right it can leave your shoe up to 90% poop-free with no smell at all, all at zero costs.
Most Effective Way To Get Dog Poop Off Your Shoes
If you want your shoes to be 100% clean from dog poop, then no magic will work here, you just have to go ahead and wash the shoe thoroughly with soap and water. Brushing and scrubbing is advisable here, for best results. No matter the type of shoe material, or the location of the poop on the shoe (whether on top, inside, or under the sole), this method is guaranteed to leave your shoe absolutely poop-free, with almost zero chance of smelling afterward.
Although this method may take time and may entail your hands coming in contact with poop water, it is your only option if you really want those spotless shoes back.
Other Methods You Can Try
If you want to remove dog poop in a way that doesn’t involve brushing, washing, or wetting your shoe, then you can try these methods.
Use A Handheld Steamer
This method is similar to the hose method, but since it uses steam, it is more effective in breaking up dirt (in this case poop) lodged in between cavities in the sole of your shoe. Unlike the hose method where you’ll likely need a brush to remove the poop lodged in the cavities of your shoe soles, this method needs no brushing, as it will break up and wash off these particles.
This method has fewer chances of smelling also.
Dry & Scrape Off
If you’re so disgusted by the fresh poop and you’re not sure you can endure brushing or washing the shoe as it is, then this method maybe your best option.
In this method, you sundry the shoe until the poop has turned to a crisp, and then you simply scrape it off.
This method may seem time-consuming, but it is very effective for leather and rubber shoes.
For some shoe materials (for instance suede) however, this method may not work so well, as you may end up scraping some of the shoe’s material along with the poop.
A letdown with this method is that final cleaning or brushing may be necessary to remove smells or stubborn poop particles after the whole process.
Freeze & Scrape Off
The idea behind this method is similar to that of sun-drying. You just need to get remove the poop in its crystallized form. This method can come in very handy in situations where there is little or no sunlight.
Of course, you can’t put a shoe in a freezer, much less a shoe with poop on it. So, to carry out this method you’ll have to wrap up the shoe in a plastic bag and place it in your freezer. Within a few hours, the poop would have solidified, so you can scrape or chip it off. If there are any residues in any cracks or cavities, simply use a brush.
This method, however, may not be so effective at removing smells, so additional treatment will be required to remove the poop smell.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Each Method
| METHOD | ADVANTAGE | DISADVANTAGE |
| Flushing with a water hose | Fast and cheapEffective | The chances of having residual poop particles are highPoop smell may still linger |
| Brushing | Cheap and easy | Must be used alongside another method Not very effective at removing smells |
| Sticks, leaves, and sand | Cheapest method Quick method Best for emergencies | High chances of having residual poop particles Poop smell may still linger |
| Overall Washing and Drying | Very efficient method High chance of eliminating poop smell Best method for any shoe type and any poop location | Time-consuming It’s a very hands-on method that may involve soaking your hands in poop water. |
| Washing with a handheld steamer | Quick and effective Better at removing poop articles lodged in-between cavities | Expensive methodPoop smell may still linger |
| Dry and scrape off | Cheap Good chance of reducing the poop smell Less disgusting | Time-consuming May not be suitable for certain shoe types Can only be used when good sunlight is availableMay require additional cleaning afterward |
| Freeze and dry off | Less disgusting Can be accessed and used anytime compared to sun-drying | Time-consumingPoop smell may still linger Expensive |
Best Methods To Use Depending On Poop Location
| Poop Location | Best Methods |
| Sole of shoes | Flushing with water hose, brushing, washing with a steamer, overall washing, and drying |
| Top of shoes | Flushing with water hose, overall washing and drying, washing with a steamer, dry & scrape off, freeze & scrape off |
| Inside of your shoes | Overall washing and drying |
The effectiveness of some of these methods will greatly depend on how long the poop has stayed on your shoes. The longer it stays, the more difficult it may be to remove completely, and the stronger it may smell.
So like they always say, the earlier, the better.
I’m Christopher Benjamin, a dedicated Animal Nutritionist at Ethos Veterinary Health with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Michigan State University. My lifelong passion for animals led me to establish AnimalsData.Com. Here, I share expert advice, educational resources, and inspiring stories to empower fellow pet lovers worldwide. Join our community as we celebrate the beauty and diversity of our beloved animal companions!
