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PEET Dryer Saves Sweaty Shoes from Odor, Bacteria, and Breakdown
From the editor's desk:
Recently, we took my 2-1/2-year-old daughter, Hayley, on a pleasant walk to the park. Along the way we stopped to throw pebbles in the creek. While I had my back turned, Hayley's father, in all his wisdom, allowed her to run into the water -- favorite Mary Jane shoes, socks, and all. As she charged in even deeper, above-mentioned father was talking on his cell phone and I found myself running in after her. Once we were soaked we figured "what the heck?" and just had a ball splashing, jumping, and throwing sticks for our dog. Do I sound like a free-spirited mother? Don't be fooled. If I hadn't had a PEET (shoe) Dryer waiting at home, I would have been very unhappy with this episode of spirited play.
For the uninitiated a shoe dryer may seem like a non-essential appliance -- along the same lines as those bread makers that were so popular 10 years ago, or that Epilady device (heavily marketed in the 1980s) designed to pull your unwanted body hair out by the roots (yes, it felt just like that until it got stuck in my shag carpet.) But let me assure you, my PEET (shoe) Dryer is now among my most prized possessions and if I had a bigger laundry room, I'd make sure that everyone in my family had a shoe dryer so that I wouldn't have to share mine. Here's how my love affair with PEET began.
Because all of us at the International Hyperhidrosis Society are immersed in the world of hyperhidrosis, we recognize that those who suffer from plantar hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating of the feet) struggle with consistently wet footwear that can smell, harbor bacteria and fungi, cause other foot problems like blisters, and deteriorate rapidly. We also recognize that children with hyperhidrosis, in particular, need a way to safely and efficiently dry their shoes on a daily basis. That's because children's hyperhidrosis is difficult to treat and often the best course of action is to just try to prevent as much discomfort and embarrassment as possible. With the needs of plantar hyperhidrosis sufferers in mind, we found the PEET Dryer and volunteers, like me, to try it.
When my Original PEET Dryer arrived in the mail, I was astounded by its simplicity. Just place your shoes upside down on the dryer's "feet", plug the dryer in, and it silently and efficiently (drawing less power than a 40-watt light bulb) uses natural, gentle thermal convection to bring warm air through the base of the dryer, up its air chamber tubes, and into your shoes. Attachments that you can purchase separately from the PEET company allow you to dry gloves, hats, helmets, wigs, and more! We recently put a Big Bird plush puppet on the dryer after he "accidentally" took a bath.
Gene Peet created the first dryer in his home in Idaho in 1968 because he was sick of his expensive work boots getting soggy from perspiration and cracking because he dried them on a heater. Soon he was building dryers for his friends and the whole family was getting involved. Today, PEET Dryer remains a family-run business and Gene Peet's original, simple design still works. In fact, Lori Peet-Poffenroth, Market Development Director for PEET Dryers and Gene Peet's daughter, says that her father still has the first dryer he ever built and that it works just as well as it always did. This is a deal that can't be beat -- Original PEET Dryers cost just $39.95 and come with a 25-year warranty.
Despite the elegant simplicity and impeccable (based on my nearly 1-year experience) performance of the original dryer, PEET has branched out to include dryers that have fans to blow warm air gently through your shoes and ionization for better odor and bacteria control (odor and microbes are well controlled by the original dryers, too, because without wetness it's difficult for them to grow). There is even a model that uses UV light to kill germs, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mold in shoes and whatever other equipment you place on the dryer. These newer dryers have on/off switches as well because, says Lori Peet-Poffenroth, some consumers found it disconcerting to not know for certain if the dryer was on or not (personally, I think the "can't tell it's on" silence is wonderful and I enjoy the simplicity of just plugging the dryer in, rather than having to plug it in and turn it on.) Also available are attachments for toddler's shoes (although I think the regular sized attachments work just fine for little shoes) and a portable model for traveling (great for those who have sweaty feet and travel for business, sports, or pleasure). The dryers never overheat and in 40 years have never been accused of playing a role in any fire, according to Lori Peet-Poffenroth. And, she says, "It's completely safe to leave the Original PEET Dryer plugged in all the time -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." I agree, the dryers seem to be a great place to "park" your shoes at the end of the day -- whether you've just come in from the rain, humidity, soccer practice, or the office.
But don't just take my word for it, read the additional International Hyperhidrosis Society shoe dryer testimonials below and visit www.PEETShoeDryer.com for more reviews and to learn about the dryers' technology.
To purchase a dryer (I recommend the economical and efficient Original PEET) and/or dryer attachments, call 1-800-222-7338 or shop online at www.PEETShoeDryer.com. SweatSolutions readers will receive a 20% discount! Just enter the code "sweathelp" in the promotion code box in the shopping cart area of the online store. In addition to giving SweatSolutions readers a 20% discount, PEETs will also donate $5.00 to the International Hyperhidrosis Society with every order using the "sweathelp" promotion code.
Now, if only they sold an attachment for my wet dog.
Additional International Hyperhidrosis Society Reviews
"I have to say that the boot drier worked like a charm!" says Leslee Ganss, of Cedar Run, New Jersey. "I left my leather motorcycle boots out in the rain. They actually filled up with 2 inches of water! I drained them and put them on the PEET Dryer and by the end of the day they were dry! Not only that, but the leather was still in good condition. How would I have dried them without the shoe dryer? I have no idea! I decided to keep the dryer plugged in and put it to work on a regular basis. I now use the dryer a few nights a week for my 11-year-old son's sneakers, which he wears (like only an active 11-year-old can) every day. No more smelly shoes! We live in a high tidal area so we often have to get around in high rubber boots, and they get sweaty pretty fast. All the boots get the PEETs treatment and are usually dry in an hour. After snowy days, our snow boots and their liners are put on the dryer. It is so easy to use; we just keep it plugged in downstairs in our mud room, where we take our shoes off. With three of us using it pretty much on a daily basis, I wonder how we got along without it!"
"I first used the dryer on my nephew's boots after he had finished playing in the snow," says Christine Fleckenstein, of Philadelphia, Pa. "While the boots were not soaked, they were moderately wet around the bottom. It took about a half-hour to dry them thoroughly. I used the dryer again on my own sneakers. The shoes were wet throughout. But the dryer only took about 45 minutes to dry my shoes. When I took them off, I was pleased to find that they were warm and toasty inside."
Of course, even the best shoe dryer can only dry your shoes -- not your feet. If managing the damage sweat does to your footwear is not enough to make a difference in how sweating affects your life, your choices, or your outlook, it may be time to seek medical treatment. Iontophoresis and Botox injections are well-documented, effective treatments for sweaty feet and our Physician Finder can help you locate an experienced physician to provide hyperhidrosis care.
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Find a doctor who treats excessive sweating. |
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