there are some solutions to get rid of the bad smell of faux leather items like leather shoes. I've heard people ask, "why do faux or fake leather shoes smell like fish?" and I've always been puzzled about the answer to that query. After doing some research, I came up with a few different explanations, and I'm happy to offer everything that I discovered as a result of my investigation. Why, therefore, does a fishy odor come from faux leather shoes? One or more of the following could be responsible for the odor that is associated with faux leather: Because of the packaging that faux leather shoes are sold in, the product could have an odor similar to fish. The dyes that are used to give color to faux leather shoes can sometimes cause them to smell like fish. Because of the preservative chemical that is used when the faux leather shoes are being transported, they may have an odor similar to fish. The glue that is used to make fake leather shoes sometimes has a fishy odor. 
Due to the protective coating that is applied to faux leather shoes, the faux leather may have an odor similar to fish. If items made of faux leather shoes are stored for extended periods, they will develop a fishy odor. In the next sections of this essay, I will explore all of the possible origins of the unpleasant odor that you might find when you buy furniture or apparel made out of artificial or faux leather shoes. This odor may be present on the product for some time after you first purchase it. In addition to that, I will offer you some advice that you may use to get rid of or at least significantly reduce the smell of your faux leather shoes. Why Does Fake Leather Smell Like Fish – Specifics of the Odor? The reasons why products made of faux leather shoes could have a fishy odor are broken down in the following section in further detail.
- The packaging that the faux leather product is sold in may have a scent resembling that of fish.
If the packaging of the faux leather item has been recycled and may have been used in the past for fish or anything else related to fish, the fish smell may also adhere to the clothes or furniture that is made of faux leather shoes. If you do not follow the cleaning recommendations very well, the smell of "fish" will most likely be on the exterior of the item made of imitation leather. However, the smell can penetrate deep into the lining of the fake leather's surface. The most effective strategy for dealing with this issue is to make certain that the shipping containers are adequately ventilated. In addition, you should inspect your products made of faux leather as soon as they are delivered. If you discover something fishy (no pun intended) with the boxes that the product was packaged in, you have the right to request a refund if the smell is overwhelming. 
- The dyes that are used to color faux leather shoes can sometimes result in an odor similar to that of fish.
It's possible that the dyes or coloring chemicals used to color faux leather are to blame for the irritating fishy smell that certain faux leathers have. It is not at all unusual for these artificial ingredients to leach out and produces an objectionable smell. In most cases, these are colorants that are utilized in the process of fabricating the material that is intended to resemble leather shoes. Azo dye is a well-known type of dye that is frequently used in the process of manufacturing faux leather products to impart color. Because of its inexpensive price and widespread availability, this particular chemical dye is the one that is utilized the most frequently for coloring faux leather. When used for an extended period, dyes belonging to this category can result in a distinct smell, and a decline in quality or durability, particularly if the process of their application is not adequately regulated. However, these dyes do not present any dangers to human health.
- Due to the preservative chemical that is used during transport, synthetic leather may have an odor reminiscent of fish.
Items made of faux leather could have a fishy odor if the products were preserved with chemicals such as formaldehyde while they were being sent. The formaldehyde-based preservatives that manufacturers employ in their packaging and transportation operations are applied to faux leather goods in the form of a gas spray before they are shipped. These preservatives are used in the manufacturing process. In addition, given that these preservatives are gases, the gas particles can permeate and soak deep into the faux leather item, resulting in a smell that is comparable to that of fish. These chemical agents are frequently used by manufacturers who do not wish to spend the money required to purchase costly preservatives. As a result, the items can be preserved adequately until they reach their final site. 
In addition, the use of such chemicals can give the object made of faux leather that is being transported a smell that is similar to that of fish; nonetheless, this helps to prevent the growth of insects, rodents, mildew, or mold while the item is being transported. In this kind of scenario, you will note that the fish smell will typically be strong at the beginning when you have just received the item, but that the smell will gradually disappear over some time. On top of that, the amount of time that the item made of faux leather spends in storage or while being transported with all of the preserving chemicals can also impact how strong or concentrated the fish smell is on the item made of faux leather.
- Due to the glue that is used to make fake leather, the product may have a fishy odor.
There are two primary ways that glue can cause synthetic leather products to have a fishy odor. This can be due to the glue that was used in the process of creating faux leather, or it might be due to the adhesive that was used to put together the objects or products made of faux leather. Objects made of faux leather can be assembled using any one of several different kinds of glue. Some adhesives are expressly made for use in the production of faux leather goods, while others are not; utilizing adhesives that are not specifically designed for this purpose may result in a great deal of difficulty, including an unpleasant smell of fish. Let's get some distance between us and the situation! There's a possibility that the fishy smell comes from the glue that was used in the production of the faux leather material itself. PVA is typically the primary component in the vast majority of different types of glue (polyvinyl acetate). It is used during the manufacturing process of faux leather to connect other materials such as polyester (and sometimes cotton) to other foam components to create the material that is considered to be faux leather. 
It should not come as a surprise that faux leather will have a smell that is not particularly nice because all of those chemicals will combine and react with one another.
- Because of its protective coating, faux leather shoes could have a fishy smell.
To protect it from moisture damage, faux leather is frequently covered with a protective coating. In addition to providing the faux leather with a characteristic sheen, the protective coating deters water and moisture. The stench may be caused in part by the fact that many of these coatings are made of plastic or petroleum. The good news is that if you want to solve your fish odor issue, it is simple to remove this coating. The faux leather surface only has to be cleaned by first scrubbing it with baking soda, followed by warm water and dish soap rinse.
- If kept in storage for extended periods, faux leather goods like shoes will smell like fish.
Your faux leather item's fishy odor could also be caused by how long ago it was made, according to certain theories. Alternatively, the atmosphere in which the faux leather item was kept before being delivered to you. The likelihood that chemical agents will cause odor issues decreases with time. Faux leather may have absorbed odors if you have items that have been sitting in storage for a while. These things might start to smell like fish as a result. This implies that while your faux leather things are in storage, you should constantly make sure there is enough airflow around them since otherwise, they may start to emit an unpleasant stench. 
Don't worry if this occurs; all you have to do is scrub the area with baking soda for 30 seconds before washing it with warm water and dish soap. Immediately after treatment, your faux leather item won't smell anymore. Advice For Cleaning Fishy-Smelling Faux Leather Products like leather shoes: There are techniques to get rid of the fishy smell that may come from your faux leather item. If there isn't enough airflow, your possessions may eventually begin to emit an unpleasant odor. A faux leather item may absorb odors from other products, such as food or beverages if it is stored in a space that is too small or isn't properly ventilated for a long period. The majority of the time, using correct storage techniques will be sufficient, but if the fish smell does occur, don't worry—all you have to do is scrub the surface with baking soda for 30 seconds before washing it with warm water and dish detergent! Immediately after treatment, your faux leather item won't smell anymore. Use an anti-bacterial spray on the surface in place of baking soda if you want to preserve the same appearance as your item while getting rid of that unpleasant odor. On avoid, the stench from coming back, stay away from applying any cosmetics or scents to your faux leather item. Spray Febreeze on surfaces and clean them with dish soap to get rid of the fishy smell right away! A box of unopened baking soda can also be placed nearby so that it can continue to circulate in the air. If you are one of the fortunate few who has plenty of room, consider occasionally letting your faux leather items air out in the sunshine and fresh air for an hour or two. You may also fight the fishy stench with natural smells like lemon and lavender! If you don't have time to wait, use your preferred air freshener. 
Try cleaning out the interior with an odor-removing agent like vinegar or baking soda if the leather item has an interior scent. Additionally, you may provide an added layer of defense against future odors by applying talcum powder to the interior of your faux leather. If you are unable to eliminate the odor, try putting your faux leather products in a container containing baking soda or other natural smells. These only apply to specific kinds of faux leathers, and this is not an exhaustive list. Consult a specialist if none of this works. If you're one of the fortunate few who has plenty of space, consider leaving your faux leather item outside for an hour or two to air out.