Baking soda is great at removing odors but it is an abrasive. If it's put a inside a boot it will seek out every nook, cranny, thread and peg hole it can find. You'll never get it all out and over time it will assist in the boots having a come-apart. If you use it for odor control, put it in a small open container inside the boot for a couple of days and that should acclomplish the desired effects.
yikes! did not know that. ive actually only used the baking soda on one pair and i hardly wear that particular pair. ill skip the baking soda step from now on