Home Remedies for Smelly Feet
Millions of people use home remedies for smelly feet every year, so if foot odor is causing you grief, don’t let it worry you. You aren’t alone in suffering from sweaty, smelly feet that cause embarrassment and may make you afraid to remove your shoes in front of others.
The main cause of smelly feet is sweat. When your feet sweat, a host of bacteria begin to feed off of the sweat, leading to an offensive and sometimes overwhelming stench. Keeping your feet clean and dry is the first defense in home remedies for smelly feet. Remember to wash your feet every day and night with a good antibacterial soap, then dry them thoroughly. If you need to, use a blow dryer on a low setting to make sure the areas between your toes are dry. Wearing clean socks made of a breathable material such as cotton can also reduce odor. Be sure to change your socks for fresh ones any time you get sweaty feet as well.
If you continue to suffer from smelly feet, try these home remedies to keep it under control. Soaking your feet in a strong brew of green tea every evening can be helpful. If you don’t have green tea, boil two tea bags of black tea in a pint of water for several minutes, then add two quarts of cold water to make a terrific foot soak. Relax with your feet soaking in this for about thirty minutes every day for at least a week. The tannic acid in the tea fights bacteria and closes the pores so that your feet sweat less.
If you have radishes or turnips in your refrigerator, you’re in luck. Simply chop them up and squeeze out the juice. Rub the juice all over your feet, making sure you don’t miss the space between your toes, and let dry before putting your socks on each morning. This is a great home remedy for sweaty feet that lasts for hours.
Home Remedy for Smelly Feet
Here’s a home remedy for smelly feet you can use after a long day. In the evenings, a soak in a solution of 50% water and 50% vinegar will help. Add a teaspoon of baking soda for added effect. This mixture combats bacteria, helps dry the skin and leaves a pleasant, clean scent behind.
If you are away from home and need a quick, easy fix for foot odor, one of the best home remedies for smelly feet is right in the medicine chest or is available at any drug store. Just soak your feet in some original Listerine mouthwash (the gold colored formula, not the flavored). Listerine is actually a strong anti-bacterial agent.
Another great home remedy for smelly feet is soaking your feet in warm water to which you’ve added a half cup of kosher salt. Make sure you stir until the salt is completely dissolved, then soak for at a last a half hour. This is very much like a sea salt bath, and feels soothing and refreshing as it eliminates foot odor.
Finally, consider mashing up a few pieces of ginger into a paste. Put this in hot water and let sit for at least a half hour, then soak a clean rag in the water and sponge over your feet. Doing this every day for about two weeks will keep foot odor from returning.
If you’ve tried all of these home remedies for smelly feet and still have a problem occasionally, try applying your deodorant or antiperspirant directly to the soles of your feet and in between your toes just before you put your socks on. This will combat sweating and odor throughout the day.