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What Do Bowling Alleys Spray in Shoes? Can You Get a Foot Fungus?

Display of various sized rented shoes at the local bowling alley

If you’ve ever been to a bowling alley, you may have noticed the attendant using a bowling shoe spray in your rental shoes. What exactly do bowling alleys spray in shoes? Why do they spray bowling shoes?

For anyone who’s curious, this article will be very helpful. In it, we’ll fill you in on what’s in that spray, why they use it, and more! Let’s get right into it.

Bowling shoes with a green bowling ball on a white background have been sprayed with bowling shoe spray because they have been worn and considered dirty bowling shoes.

What Do Bowling Alleys Spray in Shoes?

Bowling alley staff spray antifungal and antibacterial solution into bowling alley shoes. This helps to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria, as well as athlete’s foot.

The spray used may vary from alley to alley, but it is typically a combination of water, antifungal and antibacterial agents, and a deodorizer.

One of the most common sprays used in bowling alleys is Lysol Disinfectant spray.

Lysol is a household cleaning product that contains ethanol, alkyl, dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate, and more. The ingredients may seem harsh and foreign, but they are effective at killing germs and bacteria.

In addition to being used in bowling alleys, Lysol is also regularly used in hospitals and schools for infection control. It is 99.9% effective at killing bacteria, fungi, and viruses and works as a deodorizer. 

Another typical spray used in bowling alleys is Mycomist. It’s similar to Lysol in that it is an antibacterial and antifungal spray with deodorizing properties.

Instead of wiping down every individual shoe, it is much more efficient for staff to spray a solution into the shoes.

Three pairs of tri-colored bowling shoes typically at bowling centers that use a sanitizing deodorant spray.

How Often Are Shoes Sanitized in a Bowling Alley?

The frequency of shoe sanitization may vary from alley to alley, but most bowling alleys will spray shoes after every use. This helps ensure each bowler gets clean bowling shoes and the shoes are bacteria-free.

Some bowling alleys may also have a policy to only spray shoes upon request. If this is the case, it is typically best to ask for the shoes to be sprayed before using them. This way, you can be sure that the shoes are clean and sanitized regardless of the establishment’s policies.

Two colored, white and blue, bowling shoes with a bowling pin, and a yellow bowling, are slick shoes, that are made for bowling.

Can You Get Foot Fungus From Bowling Shoes?

Yes, it is possible to get foot fungus from bowling shoes. Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, so bowling shoes are the perfect place for it to grow. This is true even if the shoes have been sprayed regularly.

How?

There are a few ways that fungi, bacteria, and viruses can thrive in bowling shoes:

  • The attendant misuses the spray by not mixing it correctly or not saturating the shoes enough with the solution.
  • The attendant gets distracted and forgets to spray some of the shoes.
  • The attendant uses an expired spray that has lost some of its power.
A wall display of various colored and sized bowling shoes at a local alley where the attendant disinfect bowling shoes with chlorophyll formalin and benzalkonium and formalin and benzalkonium chloride.

How to Prevent Foot Fungus From Bowling Shoes

You don’t have to leave your foot health to chance in the name of bowling. There are a few things that you can do to prevent foot fungus from bowling shoes, and we’ll go over all of them in the list below:

  • Wear socks: Socks help to absorb sweat and keep your feet dry. This creates a less hospitable environment for fungi and bacteria to grow. It’s also helpful if you have cuts or abrasions on your feet that could increase your chances of picking up a germ.
  • Sanitize your shoes: If you’re concerned about the cleanliness of the bowling shoes, you can always take a can of Lysol with you to the bowling alley and spray your shoes yourself. This way, you know that they’re properly sanitized. Just be prepared for some confused, judgmental looks from other bowlers. 
  • Bring your own bowling shoes: If you have your own bowling shoes, you can avoid using the rentals altogether. This is the best way to ensure that your feet will be safe from germs and fungi.
  • Be careful what you touch. In addition to spraying the shoes, it’s also important to be mindful of what you touch in the bowling alley, especially if you plan on eating there. Since you’ll be touching bowling shoes to put them on, don’t go and touch your face, eyes, mouth, etc. Doing so is a sure-fire way to increase your chances of picking up an infection. Also, wash your hands thoroughly before eating any alley food. 
Tri colored, red,green and tan, bowling shoes where the bowler is wearing socks to help mitigate fungal infections.

Pros and Cons of Bowling Shoe Rentals

Now that you know how to mitigate your risk of getting a foot fungus or other illness from bowling shoes, let’s move on to the general pros and cons of bowling shoe rentals.

We’ll go over each of them below:

Pros

  • Renting bowling shoes is almost always more convenient than bringing your own shoes. You don’t have to worry about cleaning or storing them. 
  • You can try out different shoes to see which size and style is best for you.
  • Renting bowling shoes is affordable on literally any budget.
Close up of bowling sliding shoe and lilac ball lying on bowling alley lane where running shoes are not allowed.

Cons

  • You have to trust that the bowling alley is properly cleaning the shoes.
  • The shoes may not fit as well as your own shoes.
  • You may not be able to find your size at some bowling alleys.
  • There’s no way to completely eliminate your risk of getting a good fungus with rented bowling shoes.

Most find that the pros of renting bowling shoes outweigh the cons. However, it’s ultimately up to you whether you feel comfortable doing so.

In a local bowling alley the attendant with curly hair, wearing a denim jacket gives bowlers shoes sprayed with disinfectant sprays. Instead of renting, bowler can also bring their own pair of bowling shoes.

How to Get Rid of Foot Fungus From Bowling Shoes

If you’ve already contracted a foot fungus from bowling shoes, don’t worry; it’s not the end of the world. Here are a few things that you can do to get rid of it:

  • Use Vicks Vaporub.  This may sound like an odd remedy, but Vicks has antifungal properties that can kill the fungus in a hurry. Simply apply it to the affected area at least once daily and let it work its magic.
  • Soak your feet in vinegar. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant that combats foot fungus. Add 2 cups of vinegar to 4 cups of warm water and soak your feet for at least 30 minutes per day until your symptoms subside.
  • Apply tea tree oil. The antifungal properties of tea tree oil make it highly effective in eliminating fungus quickly. Apply it to the affected area twice daily, and you should see results within a few days.
  • Use oregano oil. Oregano oil is another natural remedy that works as an antifungal. Simply apply it to the affected area a few times daily, and you should see results within a week or two.
  • Try garlic. Garlic has antifungal properties that can easily nip fungi in the bud. You can eat it raw or apply it directly to the affected area. If you choose the latter, dilute it with a carrier oil like olive oil to avoid irritating your skin.
Wall display of various bowling shoe sizes and colors where the bowling alleys clean shoes with antibacterial spray with active ingriedients chlorophyll in a spray bottle to combat bacteria and fungi.

If these remedies don’t work for you, you can try antifungal ointments. These are available over the counter or online and can be applied directly to your feet.

Prevention is always the best medicine, but if you do find yourself with a foot fungus, you’ve got tools. Just be sure to stay consistent with your treatment, and you should see results in no time.

Note: Know when it’s time to see a medical professional for foot fungus. If you’ve tried everything and nothing works, it’s probably time to make an appointment. 

Family changing shoes before playing bowling at the alley and they sprayed their bowling shoes spray into each shoe themselves.

Related Articles

Now you know what bowling alleys spray in shoes, why they spray the shoes, how to prevent foot fungus, and more.

A pair of tri colored, red, blue and white, bowling shoes on a bowling lane at the foul line that has been cleaned with uv light.

We hope that this article has been helpful to you. You’ve got the information you need to bowl without any worries, so get out there and enjoy yourself!