INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study Shoes are considered basic clothing for the feet because we use them almost everyday. In this modern generation, there are a variety of shoes that we use on different occasions. We have the school shoes, working shoes, rubber shoes, soccer shoes, basketball shoes, bowling shoes, boots and many more. There are a lot of designers designing shoes in different styles and colors.
The design of the shoes may be based on the season, that is, what is in. And we use them for the fashion and for the need or occasion. We use them as a means of showing the kind of personality we have or just to express the mood we are in. We use them when we perform our daily activities to protect our feet from harm. Whether we use our shoes or just store them in a cabinet or shoe rack, it will always emit an odor that can either be good or bad. It maybe the smell of the material used or simply the odor emitted by our feet due to hygienic reasons.
Whatever its cause is, it can surely be unpleasant to the nose especially when it is stored for a long period of time. The smell then sticks to our socks and eventually to our feet. This study focuses on making packets of shoe deodorizer using simple and cheap materials that will control the smell of perspiration on a leather shoe. This deodorizer is the same as the ones that are commercially sold, but it uses natural scents that can be found on garden and kitchen wastes.
Is there a significant difference between the orange peel-charcoal shoe deodorizer and the orange peel-charcoal-lavender leaves shoe deodorizer?
Sub- Problems:
- Is there a significant difference between the first combination and the second combination in terms of smell?
- Is there a significant difference between the first combination and the second combination in terms of the length the smell lasted?
- Is there a significant difference between the first combination and the second combination in terms of effectiveness upon application?
There is no significant difference between shoe deodorizer made with orange peels with and without lavender leaves.
Significance of the Study
The researchers focused on how to produce an effective shoe deodorizer with the use of natural components. Some commercialized shoe deodorizers are effective but only eradicate the unpleasant smell of shoes. The shoe deodorizer made with orange peels, charcoal, and lavender will hopefully, remedy the smell, and mask it with the pleasant smell of the natural scents used. The use of these natural scents will also benefit people by its easy procedure and cheap materials used.
Scope and Limitations
The researcher used natural scents like orange peel and lavender leaves. There will be two combinations that will be observed and produced as shoe deodorizer. These are shoe deodorizer made with orange peels and charcoal only, and shoe deodorizer with the combination of orange peels, charcoal and lavender leaves. The researchers will place it inside an empty teabag that will serve as its container. The produced packets of deodorizer are observed for two weeks. The researcher will use leather shoes in this experiment. The smell of the packets, effectiveness upon application and the length of the time that the smell lasts will be observed.
Definition of Terms
- First Combination- shoe deodorizer with orange peels and charcoal as components
- Second Combination- shoe deodorizer with orange peels, lavender leaves and charcoal as components
- Smell- smell of the packets of shoe deodorizer before application
- Effectiveness- effect on the smell of the shoes upon application
- Outstanding – the smell of the deodorizer is the strongest
- Pleasant – the smell of the deodorizer is strong
- Good – the smell of the deodorizer is present but weak
- Fair – the smell of the deodorizer is neither strong nor weak
- No smell – there is no smell of the shoe deodorizer
RELATED LITERATURE
A wide-variety of shoes is being used at present by all people. In some cases, shoe odor is one of the personal sanitary problems that people have. It is embarrassing to have this kind of problem. “Smelly shoe odor arises when the proper conditions exist to support the growth of bacteria and fungi in shoes.
These bacteria and fungi give off by-products that cause an unpleasant odor which can be a true social embarrassment. These bacteria and fungi thrive in warm, moist conditions so if you happen to have overactive sweat glands in your feet, you’ll likely end up having a problem with smelly shoe odor unless you take corrective measures. ” The unpleasant smell or odor of the shoes are usually caused by “… by smelly feet and smelly feet are usually the result of bacterial growth.
Bacteria like warm, dark, moist places, and since our feet are covered in sweat glands the shoes and socks of a person with sweaty or moist feet are a perfect environment for odor-causing bacteria to thrive. One of the commonly-known solutions to shoe odor problem is to use a shoe deodorizer. But the use of some commercialized shoe deodorizer most of the time do not work and does not do any good. “A more expensive way to deal with smelly shoe odor is to buy odor reducing inserts for your shoe from your local drugstore.
You’ll also find various odor reducing foot powders and sprays, although these generally don’t work any better. ” Because of this shoe odor problem, the researcher aims to produce a convenient and more effective way to eradicate this. With the use of orange peels and lavender leaves as main components, and charcoal as the added component, the researchers will produce a shoe deodorizer. Orange is a well-known fruit. It is useful in many ways. Not only the inner part but also the outer part (orange peels) is useful in many ways.
Orange oils from orange peels are noted for its sweet and pleasant smell. Because of this, it is used as “Another use for orange peels is air freshening. Combine orange peels, cinnamon sticks, lemon peels, and flower petals in a simmering pot of water. As the steam leaves the potpourri, the air should become much more fragrant. Orange oil, derived from orange peels, is often used in commercial air fresheners and furniture polishes. Orange peels can also be stored in a cheesecloth bag and kept in closets to reduce musty odors. ”
There are some available shoe deodorizers that contain the scent of orange. Some of these are “Blooming Jasmine is a light jasmine fragrance enhanced with orange blossoms”“Citrus Deodorant naturally rejuvenates and deodorizers the skin, eliminating unwanted bacteria. Biodynamic Lemon and organic Orange essential oils neutralize and Beneficial Effects against body odors. Aromatizes your body and senses. ”
Lavender plant is a widely-used garden plant. The oil from its flower and leaves gives the outstanding fragrant smell. Many people appreciate lavender because of its aromatic smell. The flower of lavender is commonly used as “The fragrant, pale purple flowers and flower buds are used in potpourris. Dried and sealed in pouches, they are placed among stored items of clothing to give a fresh fragrance and as a deterrent to moths. The plant is also grown commercially for extraction of lavender oil from the flowers.
This oil is used as an antiseptic and for aromatherapy. ” “With outstanding fragrance, beautiful blooms and pleasant silhouette the lavender can be used as a specimen plant, in a large container, or in a variety of other garden situations. A favorite in herb gardens, kitchen, cottage, English heirlooms and cut flower gardens you can also use it anywhere you want to add some scent along a pathway or near an entrance way. Effective in mass plantings or as a low hedge also. ”
An added component that will be used in making the shoe deodorizer is charcoal. Charcoal will serve as the odor absorber. “…charcoal is a great odor absorber. You can place charcoal briquettes on a tray to protect the surface, and place those in the areas that do not get ventilated. With the components present and available and with the necessary requirements needed for this product, the researchers aim to produce a shoe deodorizer for the benefit of many.
METHODOLOGY
Gathering of Materials The following materials were utilized to produce the shoe deodorizer: a new teabag, an ordinary charcoal, fresh orange peels, and lavender leaves found in Tagaytay.
Procedure The two combinations of the shoe deodorizer were compared.
- First Combination: Orange peel and Charcoal in a Teabag For the first combination, orange peels, charcoal and some tea bags were gathered. The orange peel was sliced into small cubes. The charcoal was pulverized. One half teaspoon of the sliced orange peels was placed inside an empty tea bag. One eighth teaspoon of the powdered charcoal was added. The tea bag was sealed by sewing it.
- Second Combination: Orange Peel, Lavender Leaves and Charcoal in a Tea bag For the second combination, orange peel, lavender leaves, charcoal, and some tea bags were prepared. The lavender leaves were cut into small pieces. The orange peel was sliced, and the charcoal was pulverized. One half teaspoon each of sliced orange peel and lavender leaves were placed inside an empty tea bag. One eighth teaspoon of powdered charcoal was added.
The researchers tested the smell of the packet of deodorizer, effectiveness upon application, and the length of time the smell of the produced packets of deodorizer lasts once used. Volunteer respondents were selected. The produced packets were placed inside each shoe. Inside the right shoe, the packet with the first combination was placed. While inside the left shoe, the packet containing the second combination was placed. The shoes were left overnight with the packets inside it. The researchers used the Likert scale in rating the smell and effectiveness of the produced product.
DISCUSSION OF DATA AND RESULTS
There were three trials conducted in testing the produced packets of deodorizer. Three respondents conducted the testing for three days. They tested it for three Fridays. They used new sets of deodorizer for every trial. The respondents rated the smell and effectiveness with the scale comprising of:
- Smell: 5 as Outstanding; 4 as Pleasant; 3 as Good; 2 as Fair and 1 as No Smell
- Effectiveness: 5- Effective; 4- Minimal Effect; 3- No Smell Change; 2- Poor; 1- Not Effective For each testing, the respondents placed each combination of deodorizer in each leather shoe.
The deodorizer containing the first combination was placed inside the left shoe, while the deodorizer containing the second combination was placed inside the right shoe. For the first testing, the first respondent rated the first combination with the smell of 4; the effectiveness with 5; and its span lasted for half a day. For the second combination, on the other hand, the first respondent rated its smell with 4; its effectiveness with 5 and its span lasted for 9 hours. The first and second respondents had the same rating with the smell and effectiveness for the first combination; but for the second respondent the span lasted for 7 hours.
The second respondent rated the second combination with the smell of 5; its effectiveness with 5; and its span lasted for 8 hours. The third respondent rated the smell of the first combination with 3; its effectiveness as 4; and the span lasted for approximately 3 hours. For the second combination, the smell was rated 5; its effectiveness with 5; and the span lasted for 8 hours. For the second testing, the first respondent rated the first combination with the smell of 3; its effectiveness with 4; and the span lasted for more than 4 hours.
On the second combination, its smell was rated 4; the effectiveness with 5; and its span lasted for approximately 5 hours. The second respondent rated the first combination with 3 for the smell; 3 for the effectiveness; and its span lasted for only about 4 hours. For the second combination, the rating of 4 was given for the smell; 4 for its effectiveness; and its span lasted for more than 7 hours. The third respondent rated the first combination with 4 for the smell; 4 for the effectiveness; and its span lasted for only about 3 hours.
For the second combination, the rating of 5 was given for the smell; 4 for its effectiveness; and its span lasted for more than 8 hours. For the third testing, the first respondent rated the first combination with the smell of 3; its effectiveness with 4; and the span lasted for more than 3 hours. On the second combination, its smell was rated 4; the effectiveness with 5; and its span lasted for half a day. The second respondent rated the first combination with 4 for the smell; 4 for the effectiveness; and its span lasted for only about 5 hours.
For the second combination, the rating of 4 was given for the smell; 5 for its effectiveness; and its span lasted for more than 7 hours. The third respondent rated the first combination with 3 for the smell; 4 for the effectiveness; and its span lasted for only about 5 hours. For the second combination, the rating of 5 was given for the smell; 4 for its effectiveness; and its span lasted for more than 8 hours.
CONCLUSIONS
The researchers conducted several tests to determine the effectiveness of orange peels, lavender leaves, and charcoal as components of shoe deodorizer. There were factors observed by the researchers and these were the acceptability of the smell, the effectiveness of the produced packets of shoe deodorizer, and the length or span of the scent of the deodorizer. The acceptability of the smell was tested by the rating of respondents. Two out of three persons rated the smell of the first combination as Pleasant. For the second combination, on the other hand, all the respondents said that the smell of the deodorizer is Outstanding. The acceptability of the scent would be a significant factor for a deodorizer to be effective.
Since the respondents’ ratings concluded that the smell of the experimental shoe deodorizer was acceptable, then the researchers conclude that the scent of the produced shoe deodorizer is acceptable. The effectiveness was tested through the application of the experimental shoe deodorizer on the leather shoes. In 3 trials, the respondents rated its effectiveness. The average rating of the effectiveness of the first combination was 4 which meant it had a minimal effect on the shoe. Meanwhile, for the second combination, the average rating of the effectiveness was 5, meaning it was really effective.
The data implies the weakness of the first combination and the strong effectiveness of the experimental shoe deodorizer. Therefore, the researchers conclude that both had effects but the second combination is more effective than the first combination. The span or length of the scent of the experimental shoe deodorizer was tested in 3 trials. The researchers tested the length of both combinations of experimental shoe deodorizers. According to the results, the length of the scent of the second combination inside the shoe lasted longer than the first combination. The researchers then conclude that the second combination lasts longer. The researchers have concluded, based on several testing, that the second combination is better than the first combination.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The researchers recommend the following for future study:
- Try the potential of the product to deodorize closed areas such as drawers, boxes and small cabinets.
- Use other containers for the mixtures such as potpourri containers and other porous papers.
- Try using used teabags and wash it, removing the smell of the tea and then dry it under the sun afterwards.
- Mix orange peels with other natural scents to replace the lavender.
- These natural scents include cinnamon, lemon grass, and others.
- Try other proportions of components and observe which is more effective.
