It happens to the best of us. No matter how keen you might be of personal hygiene, sometimes what happens just happens. Especially in summer, our bodies are basically train stations for bacteria thanks to the ‘inviting’ effects of the profuse sweating associated with heat. And when that happens in your shoes, it can lead to the embarrassing moment of having to take them off only to reveal a nose-scrunching smell. Luckily, you can treat this uncomfortable issue quite easily and all it takes is using one of the home remedies for stinky feet you will see listed below.
1. Vinegar
Vinegar is the worst enemy of bacteria of all kinds, especially the ones inhabiting your skin. If you want a natural and effective way of getting rid of the unflattering odor, your best bets really are with vinegar.
Instructions:
- The most ideal and easiest way to use vinegar for your problem is by creating a substance perfect for a soak.
- Mix together one part vinegar and two parts water in your tub, a large bowl, or anything big enough to be able to fit your feet in.
- Soak your feet in this substance for 30 minutes.
- Repeat this process once a day for a week until the problem goes away.
2. Saltwater
Here’s an interesting little thing: the more moisture there is on your skin, the more favorable the environment is for bacteria and other ‘unwanted guests.’ This makes the solution seem pretty simple: temporarily drain moisture of your skin to kill the bacteria causing the bad smell.
Instructions:
- Fill a tub or a large bowl with some warm water.
- Then, add 1/2 to 1 c of kosher salt, stirring thoroughly until the salt dissolves.
- Soak your feet in the substance for 20 minutes.
- For the effects to be complete, repeat this process once a day for two weeks.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda is famous for creating perfect alkaline environments and for annihilating pH levels. This is exactly what you want in order to get rid of the unpleasant foot odor, which is why it’s among our most recommended home remedies for stinky feet.
Instructions:
- Fill a basin that you can fit your feet in with warm water.
- Next, add 1/4 cup of baking soda and stir well until it incorporates in the whole mass. For some extra benefits, you may also consider squeezing juice from a fresh lemon in.
- Soak your feet for 20 minutes.
- Lastly, repeat this process as often as you can, at least several times a week.
4. Ginger
People very commonly use ginger as a treatment to fend off germs. Not only is it effective when trying to fight germs from the inside-out, but it can also counter the sources of bad foot odor.
Instructions:
- Take a 2-inch ginger piece and crush it finely.
- Keep the pulp in gauze and then tie tightly.
- Soak in half a cup of water for 5 minutes.
- Massage the ginger pulp into your feet before going to bed.
- Repeat this process every day for the odor to start going away.
5. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil serves a wonderful double purpose. On one hand, it contains strong antifungal and antiseptic properties which can hack away at the problem right from its roots. On the other hand, it also has a lasting fragrance that can cover up the unpleasant scent.
Instructions:
- Simply add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a tub of warm water.
- Then, soak your feet in this mixture for about 20 minutes.
- For the odor to go away, you will have to repeat this process 2 times a day regularly.
6. Black Tea
Black tea isn’t only among some of the most effective home remedies for stinky feet, but it also serves other purposes such as combating hair fall. It contains a substance called tannic acid which gets rid of the bacteria causing the foot odor, thus removing the source of all evil for your nostrils.
Instructions:
- Fill a pot with 3 cups of water and then bring it to a boil.
- Add 2 bags of black tea to the boiling water and keep on heat until the tea becomes strong.
- Pour this mixture on top of half a bucket of normal water which you should have in a container of your choice.
- Soak feet for around 20 minutes and repeat this process daily for a whole week.
7. Epsom Salt
Compared to normal salt, Epsom salt has some properties which help detoxify your skin, turning it into a truly unwelcome environment for bacteria. And speaking of bacteria, Epsom salt also ‘eats away’ at them, contributing to prevention against microbial infections.
Instructions:
- Combine 2 teaspoons of Epsom salt with a bucket of warm water.
- Dip your feet in for around 10-15 minutes.
- Finally, make sure to do this soak daily for a week for the effects to show.
8. Sage
Sage has antifungal and antibacterial properties, thus making it a great ‘combatant’ in the war against foot odor. Furthermore, it also contains tannic acid, which decreases the activity of sweat glands. By reducing the amount of sweat, you can, therefore, create an environment that doesn’t favor the development of odor-causing bacteria.
Instructions:
- Add boiling water to a foot basin and then add 1 tablespoon of dried sage and 1 tablespoon of dried rosemary.
- Let the substance steep until it becomes a temperature that you can comfortably dip your feet in.
- Soak your feet into the mixture for 20 minutes, repeating this process every day for a week.
9. Sugar
Another common cause for bacteria amassing and causing foot odor is the excess of dead cells on your skin. This makes exfoliation very important when you need to rid yourself of the smell. As such, sugar is among our recommended home remedies for stinky feet because it does just that.
Instructions:
- Create a blend of 1 part isopropyl alcohol (91% or above), 5 parts water, and 7-9 parts sugar for your very own natural scrub.
- Gently massage this grainy mixture against your feet for 10 minutes.
- Wash the scrub away with water.
- Repeat this process 3 times a week to keep the smell at bay.
10. Tea Tree Oil
When looking for effective home remedies for stinky feet, tea tree oil is an excellent candidate. Many use tea tree oil for its antifungal properties, which have made out of this particular oil a miracle-performer for people struggling with acne and other skin-related issues. Therefore, tea tree oil’s ‘bacteria-killing’ prowess will also help you with the matter of smelly feet.
Instructions:
- Mix 8 drops of tea tree oil with 1 cup of water.
- Then, apply this water to your feet using a cotton ball or any other means you could think of.
- Let the water dry off naturally.
- Follow this treatment every day before going to bed.
11. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is another excellent agent for exfoliation since it has numerous beneficial properties, as well as a texture that can make it into a great scrub. And as mentioned before, ridding your feet of dead skin will create a more pristine environment that doesn’t welcome bacteria. Thanks to this, it’s one of our most reliable home remedies for stinky feet.
Instructions:
- Stir 2 teaspoons of oatmeal into a cup of lukewarm water.
- Massage the resulting scrub into your feet for 10 minutes.
- Finally, wash away the substance using warm water and then pat your feet dry.
12. Radish
Radish contains numerous nutrients and various beneficial minerals and vitamins such as phosphorus, zinc, and vitamin C. But perhaps its greatest capacity is that of stopping the bacteria from eliminating the specific odor we’ve been trying to get rid of throughout this entire guide.
Instructions:
- Take 6 radishes, cut them, and then extract their juice.
- Mix the juice with warm water in a basin that can contain your feet.
- Dip your feet into the substance for around 20 minutes and repeat this process on a daily basis.
13. Boric Acid
You can find boric acid in numerous soaps and various other antiseptic products whose purpose is fighting off bacteria. Crafting your very own boric-acid treatment is very easy, which is precisely why it’s among our home remedies for stinky feet recommendations. However, be wary since it’s not a cure we suggest if you have sensitive skin.
Instructions:
- Combine 1/2 cup of borax with 1/2 cup of vinegar and 2 cups of water.
- Stir everything together and then use the solution to wash your shoes with it.
- If your shoes don’t allow for a wash, put the solution in a spray bottle and apply it directly to your shoes this way.
- On the other hand, if your skin isn’t sensitive, you can simply powder the inside of your shoes with it.
Conclusion
Foot odor isn’t something we should be ashamed of given how it barely has anything to do with personal hygiene. Luckily, it’s something you can both prevent and treat when it does happen. If you happen to experience the wonders of this condition, the home remedies for stinky feet you’ve just read about will be there to help you get rid of it. They are cheap and accessible, most of them being items that you can find in your household or at the nearest corner store.
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