Believe it or not there’s a technical term for smelly feet.
It’s known in medical circles as bromhidrosis.
It’s actually a word that’s used for any kind of unpleasant skin smell. And although it might seem odd that body odor has its own official medical diagnosis, there’s actually a very good reason why it does.
It’s an incredibly common occurrence—and smelly feet in particular are a nearly universal issue that most people experience at least once in their lifetime.
People tend to think of food odor as a teenager or athlete’s problem, but the truth is it can strike any one of us at any age. In fact, it’s a common complaint for seniors, or those suffering with certain ailments such as heart disease or diabetes.
But despite being so widespread for some reason it’s not any less embarrassing… or frustrating… when you’re the one dealing it.
And no matter if it’s you, your teenage son or daughter or your spouse that’s struggling with a bout of bad-smelling tootsies, as you’ve probably already found out it can be a tough problem to tackle.
Don’t despair, you can give smelly feet the boot using some simple, effective natural home remedies. And by regularly following a few foot care tips we’ll share with you today, you can help keep it gone.
But the best news of all may be that it’s probably FAR easier than you imagine.
More on that in a moment, but first let’s take a quick look at what causes that ugly odor we all know, and hate, so well.
The smelly truth behind stinky feet
Your feet are home to literally millions of bacteria.
They consume dead skin cells and sweat as a food source. And it’s the by-product of that feasting that actually causes our feet to smell.
Most of the time the system works fairly well, and when everything’s in balance we don’t even know the bacteria are there.
But shoes can knock that balance out of whack by trapping the sweat from our feet inside them.
Suddenly presented with a sweaty smorgasbord, those feet-dwelling bacteria stuff themselves creating more and more of their smelly by-products.
The result, of course, is that unpleasant odor you can smell wafting up from your toes.
Interestingly, shoe-induced smelly feet are probably not a new problem either. Archeologists discovered 40,000 year old toe bones in a cave in China that tell us that even some “caveman” wore shoes.
Which means that, yes, some unlucky cavewoman was once probably driven out of her cave by her mate’s stinky feet too.
Fungal infections also thrive in warm moist environments like those you find in shoes. And as anyone who’s dealt with a raging case of Athlete’s Foot can attest to, a bout of foot fungus can produce smelly foot odor too.
Foot odor is also more likely to occur when your circulation isn’t the best, which is why older folks and folks with diseases that compromises their circulation have to deal with this issue even more often.
If you believe you may be suffering from a fungal infection, or you have any circulation or health issues you should—of course—be sure to check with your doctor before trying to treat your foot odor at home.
But you don’t have to just live with the stink. There are some effective natural remedies you can use to tackle a straightforward case of smelly feet at home.
5 foot-odor-busting soothing soaks
Let’s start with five foot-friendly odor-killing soaks…
1. Saltwater Soak:
One of the simplest—and surprisingly often most effective—home cures for foot odor is a saltwater soak.
What you’ll need:
- A bowl or tub large enough to fit your feet in
- Kosher salt (or Epsom salt)
- Warm water
Fill the bowl with warm water high enough to cover the tops of your feet. Dissolve a cup of kosher salt in the water. Soak your feet daily for 20 minutes for two weeks.
Repeat whenever necessary.
You can substitute 1 to 2 cups of Epsom salt for the kosher salt if you wish.
Why it works:
Salt is naturally drying. By soaking your feet in salt water you’re actually pulling moisture out of your skin. This leaves less moisture for the bacteria to survive on. The result is less stinky by-products.
2. Vinegar Soak:
Another very effective soak that you can probably make from what you already have on hand in the kitchen is a simple vinegar soak.
What you’ll need:
- A bowl or tub large enough to fit your feet in
- White vinegar (Or Apple Cider Vinegar if your prefer)
- Warm water
Mix one part vinegar to two parts warm water in a bowl. (So, for example, it would be one cup of vinegar for two cups of water.) There should be enough liquid to cover to the tops of your toes. Soak your feet for around 30 minutes once a week. Rinse your feet off to remove any vinegar smell.
Repeat weekly if you wish to keep odors at bay.
Why it works:
Like salt, vinegar is naturally drying so it leaves the bacteria without enough fuel. In addition the vinegar produces an acidic environment that the bacteria have a tough time surviving in.
3. Tea Soak:
If you have some plain black teabags in your cupboard you have what you need for this next highly effective foot-odor-banishing soak.
What you’ll need:
- A pot or tea kettle to boil water
- A bowl or tub large enough to fit your feet in
- 2 black teas bags
- 2 to 3 cups hot water
- 4 cups cool water
Drop two black tea bags into 2 to 3 cups of hot water and boil for around 15 minutes. Dump into your soaking tub and add in around 4 cups of cool water to reduce the temperature.
Check the water to make sure it’s not too hot, if it still feels too warm add in a bit more cool water or drop in an ice cube or two. When the water feels comfortable to touch soak your feet in the tea water for about 30 minutes.
Do this once a week for maintenance if you like.
Pro tip: If you like wearing flip slops or rubber sandals in the warmer weather or around the house but they’re starting to smell, a tea soak can take care of that odor too.
Just drop the sandals in and put something heavy on them to keep them under the liquid for a few minutes. But be careful, tea can stain so don’t dunk a good pair of sandals because they might get discolored.
Why it works:
Tea works to combat foot odor in several different ways.
Tea contains tannic acids which act as a natural antibiotic literally killing the existing bacteria on your feet. In addition, like the vinegar soak, the tannins fight off future smell-producing bugs by creating an uninviting acidic environment.
Finally the tannic acid also causes the pores in your feet to close up naturally reducing how much you sweat and cutting off the bacteria’s food source in the process.
4. Essential Oil Soak:
Tea tree oil, thyme oil and lavender oil don’t just smell great, they can be used to make a very effective foot-odor slaying soak.
What you’ll need:
- A bowl or tub large enough to fit your feet in
- Tea tree oil, thyme oil or lavender oil
- Warm water
Mix several drops of the oil of your choice (feel free to mix them) into enough warm water to cover your feet. Soak your feet for around 20 minutes twice a day for up to a week to tackle any tough foot odor problems.
Repeat anytime you feel the need.
Why it works:
Tea tree, thyme and lavender oils help kill any smell-producing bacteria that are present on your feet. In addition, these essential oils are natural antifungals.
5. Baking Soda Soak:
Most people have a box of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in the pantry, and it turns out if you’re one of them you already have what you need on hand to make this next effective odor-reversing soak.
What you’ll need:
- A bowl or tub large enough to fit your feet in
- Baking soda
- Warm water
Add enough warm water to cover your feet to your tub or bowl. For every 4 cups of water add in around a tablespoon of baking soda and mix to dissolve. Soak your feet daily for 15 minutes for a week.
Repeat whenever you feel it’s necessary.
Why it works:
Baking soda naturally neutralizes the pH of your sweat killing off odor-causing bacteria.
Give stinky feet the boot with natural remedies
Soaks are a great way of getting foot odor under control, but they aren’t the only way to tackle a pair of ripe-smelling tootsies.
Here are some other home remedies that can help you send smelly foot odor on a hike.
6. Baking soda sprinkle:
The same baking soda you can use for an odor-killing foot soak can be used as a natural odor-fighting foot powder. Simply sprinkle a little in your shoes and socks before putting them on.
7. Baking soda and lemon deodorant:
To kill bacteria and gently remove dead skin cells mix a tablespoon of baking soda with around a tablespoon of lemon juice to make a paste (adjust amounts as needed). Gently wipe it onto the soles of your feet and between your toes (don’t rub in). Allow the paste to sit for a couple of minutes and then rinse your feet thoroughly.
8. Cornstarch sprinkle:
Cornstarch can also be used as a natural foot powder to help keep your feet dry. Sprinkle a little in your socks and shoes before putting them on.
9. Apple Cider Vinegar rub:
Soak a cotton ball in a little apple cider vinegar and gently wipe the soles of your feet and between your toes. Leave on for two to three minutes and then wash your feet.
10. Alum powder sprinkle:
If you pickle your own fruits or veggies you may already have some alum powder in your pantry. Alum naturally inhibits bacteria growth and makes a great foot-odor fighting powder. Sprinkle a small amount in your shoes and socks before putting them on.
If you come home with stinky feet and want a quick solution you can also make an alum foot wash by dissolving a teaspoon of the powder in a cup of water and bathing your feet in the solution. When done washing rinse your feet off thoroughly and dry them. Leave the solution on your feet a bit longer before washing it off for even better results.
11. Essential oil rub:
The same essential oils you can use to make a foot soak (tea tree, thyme and lavender) can be used as a soothing odor-fighting rub. Gently massage a few drops of the oil of your choice into the soles of your feet and between your toes.
But since essential oils can be mildly irritating if you have sensitive skin do a spot test with a single drop first.
Other foot-odor fighting tips
Now that you have the pungent smell under control you’re going to want to keep that foot odor from ever coming back.
Here are some smell-fighting tips that should help do the trick…
12. Go natural:
Trade in any polyester socks you have in your dresser drawers for breathable foot-friendly cotton ones.
Shoes made from plastic materials can be tough on your feet too. Natural breathable materials like cotton, hemp and leather are better choices when you’re fighting stinky feet.
13. Change your socks:
Never wear socks for more than one day, always put on a clean pair. In fact if you tend to sweat a lot consider changing your socks once in the middle of the day.
14. Rotate your shoes:
Try to never wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. After wearing a pair allow them to air out for at least 24 hours before putting them on again.
And if your shoes have removable insoles pull them out and allow them to air out separately.
15. Charcoal insoles:
Consider purchasing odor-absorbing charcoal-based insoles. Replace them every 3 to six months. Cedar chip or volcanic rock satchels can also help absorb moisture and odors between wearings.
16. Dry your feet:
If you have a hair dryer try turning it to the lowest setting and drying your feet with it after a bath and before putting your socks and shoes on.
Otherwise just be sure to dry your feet very thoroughly. Bacteria and fungus thrive in a moist environment so the dryer your feet are the better off you will be.
Remember we all suffer from stinky feet from time to time. But the next time foot odor make an unwelcome appearance in your life you’ll now know exactly how to give it the boot. And if your problem persists make sure to make an appointment to talk with your doctor about other options.
Share your own stinky feet fighting tips in the comments below.
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