Nothing can be more embarrassing than stinky feet. Imagine taking off your shoes only to get a weird look or a twist of the nose response from your roommate or wife. While this is a common problem afflicting many people worldwide at some point in their life, it can be overcome with the right measures. Read on to find out how to cure stinky feet and some powerful home remedies for stinky feet.
How to Cure Stinky Feet
Are you tired of not being able to kickoff those shoes without getting a weird look from your co-workers or roommate? Here are a few tips on how to cure stinky feet:
Adopt proper personal hygiene
This should be the first measure in curing stinky feet. Wash your feet everyday with water and soap and dry them thoroughly. You should in particular dry the areas between the toes well since they can provide a great environment for bacterial growth if left damp. Instead of regular soap, consider using an anti-bacterial soap such as Hibiscrub.
Change your shoes regularly
Wearing the same pair of shoes every day is one of the most common culprits for stinky feet. You should thus change your shoes regularly, if possible, every day. This gives the shoes some time off to dry. Using shoes made of breathable materials such as leather and canvas (not plastic) can also help.
Apply some powder
Using some baby powder or talcum powder on the feet after washing is also a great way to cure stinky feet. It keeps the feet dry thus creating an unfavorable environment for bacterial growth.
Wear good socks everyday
I agree socks and pumps don’t get any close to making a fashion statement, but skipping out on a pair of socks leaves your feet in constant contact with sweat since there is nothing to absorb it. This can result in excessive growth of bacteria, culminating in smelly feet. The socks you use should ideally be made of cotton or wool.
Use antiperspirants and odor eaters
Applying an antiperspirant on your feet, especially in the area between the toes, is also a great way to combat foot odor by reducing the level of sweating. You can buy one from your local pharmacy. You can as well use odor eaters or foot odor sprays to get rid of the smell.
Prep your shoes
After wearing your shoes the whole day, you should consider applying some powder (baby powder or talcum powder) on the inside in order to dry them out and thus combat bacterial growth.
Rub some alcohol or surgical spirit
Rubbing a washcloth or cotton wool soaked in a little vodka can get rid of smelly feet. The alcohol in vodka has drying and antiseptic effects.
If the problem of stinky feet appears persistent even after adopting these measures, consider seeing a doctor or podiatrist.
How to Prevent Stinky Feet
You can prevent stinky feet by adopting proper personal hygiene involving daily cleaning of feet with water and soap, and by adopting measures that will reduce the degree of exposure of your feet to sweat e.g. wearing cotton socks and using antiperspirants among others. On a general scale, most of the measures we looked at above will not only cure stinky feet but also prevent its occurrence in the first place.
Home Remedies for Stinky Feet
Nothing can ruin your entryway, a nice pair of shoes, or a date might more than stinky feet. And once the odor begins, it is often difficult to keep from invading the rest of the footwear. While you can’t completely eliminate the bacteria, you van control foot odor. Here are several home remedies for stinky feet:
Sodium Bicarbonate
Commonly known as baking soda, sodium bicarbonate is one of the most popular home remedies for stinky feet. It alters the ph of sweat to make it more alkaline thus creating an unfavorable environment for growth of bacteria.
Directions
- Add 2 tbsp of baking soda into a bucket of warm water
- Soak your feet in it for 10 to 15 minutes every day for a week.
Lavender oil
Lavender is a natural antibacterial and antifungal which makes it a very effective home remedy for stinky feet.
Directions
- Add a few drops of lavender oil in a bucket of warm water
- Soak your feet in it for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day for one week
Epsom Salt
Epsom salt has a drying effect which eliminate foot odor by minimizing bacterial growth.
Directions
- Add a couple teaspoons of Epsom salt to half a bucket of warm water and stir thoroughly
- Soak your feet in it for 10-15 minutes
- Dry your feet
Alum
Alum powder is yet another powerful home remedy for stinky feet with antiseptic as well as astringent properties. It works by reducing the degree of bacterial growth on your feet.
Directions
- Add one teaspoon of alum powder to a cup of warm water
- Soak your feet in the resulting mixture for 10-15 minutes
- Dry your feet and sprinkle a little alum powder on them
- Repeat this every day for one week
Black tea
Black tea is usually rich in tannic acid which has a strong drying effect when applied on the skin. This creates a dry environment that is not favorable for growth of bacteria. Tannic acid also seals the pores in your feet, thus minimizing the degree of seating.
Directions
- Add 3 cups of water to a small pan
- Boil two tea bags in the water
- Now pour the boiling tea in a bucket of water and soak your feet in it for 15 to 20 minutes
- Repeat the procedure for one week
Vinegar
Also ranking high among home remedies for stinky feet is vinegar. It creates an unsuitable environment for bacterial growth. You should however not use apple cider vinegar for this remedy.
Directions
- Add half a cup of vinegar to a bucket of hot water
- Soak your feet in the solution for 10 to 15 minutes
- Wash off the vinegar with soap and cold water
- Dry your feet well with a towel
There you have it. Use these tips to cure smelly feet and if you are a great fan of home remedies, we have already got you covered in this article. So, go ahead now and rid yourself of those smelly feet so you can take off your shoes with confidence the next time you get the urge to relieve your feet of the weight a bit at the office or on a picnic.
Suggested Further Reading
- Foot Odor – Causes, How to Stop, Home Remedies, Foot Spray
- Stinky Feet – What Causes Stinky Feet, Girls
- How to Get Rid of Smelly, Stinking or Shoe Odor, Shoe Deodorizer
- How to Get Rid o Stinky Feet – What to Do, Treatments, Cures & Home Remedies
- How to Get Rid of Foot Odor – Remove, Cure & Remedies
