It's an unpleasant but familiar problem. You reach for your favourite pair of shoes and find there's a nasty odour coming from them.

If the first thought is to discard the malodorous footwear, then think again. There are simple and cheap remedies for how to get rid of smelly shoes that don't involve your rubbish bin.

Let's first deal with how to get rid of smelly shoes using what you've probably already got at home. Many smells are caused by bacteria, which generally need moisture to survive.

Simply stuffing a pair of shoes with newspaper as you store them should absorb all the moisture and leave the shoes smelling fresh. Replace the newspaper, if necessary, at regular intervals. For stronger smells, you may need to take additional steps, and, surprisingly, it may be helpful if you have a feline pet.

That's because cat litter is designed to absorb both moisture and smells. Take a pair of old socks, and half fill each with cat litter, before tying off the top and placing one in each shoe. There's another quick fix, if your shoes aren't made of leather. A simple gentle wash in your machine should do the trick. This works particularly well with trainers. Be sure to remove the laces first.

Don’t hesitate to let your shoes play outside without you when it’s dry and sunny - not only your feet need a regular airing; so do your shoes. Use some baby or talcum powder afterwards to prevent smelly and sweaty feet. Before going to bed, you can deodorize your footwear with baking soda. You want to wear it the next day? Clap the soles together to get rid of the remaining powder.

You won't find a shelf at the supermarket marked "how to get rid of smelly shoes" but you're sure to find fabric conditioner sheets in one of the aisles. Since these are designed both to absorb odours and to add fragrance, they're a great choice as a solution for how to get rid of smelly shoes.

Try them - two per shoe is ideal - and you're likely to find the nasty odour is replaced by something a lot more pleasant.

In the long term, there's another solution that will protect your favourite shoes from odours and it may mean a trip to a shoe store or your local repairer. There you should find cedar-scented insoles.

Be sure to choose the correct size and simply insert into your shoes. It may be a good idea to use one of the other remedies first - stuffing your shoes with newspaper for instance - to give the insoles the best possible start. Then, step out confident in the knowledge that your shoes are as fresh as the day you bought them.