3 Ways to Get Rid of Smelly Feet & Foot Odor

Do you feel embarrassed to take off your shoes when you’re visiting your friends? Have you noticed that almost every pair of shoes that you own has absorbed an odor that you cant stand? You are not alone. Having smelly feet is quite common and unpleasant things that can make you feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.

Neither the best pedicure nor high heels will improve the smelly feet. If you have this problem, take action immediately because people’s noses aren’t immune to bad odor. Here are the causes and 3 ways to get rid of smelly feet & foot odor:

Causes of Smelly Feet & Foot Odor

When the normal bacteria on your skin gets in contact with the moisture trapped in socks, shoes and between your toes, they start multiply quickly and produce substances with bad smell.

The main cause for the condition is sweating. Every foot has more than 250,000 sweat glands. In fact, the sweat itself doesn’t smell, but it’s an ideal environment for the multiplication of certain bacteria and substances that have really bad odor.

Some people would say that the smell of smelly feet is similar to sulfur or ammonia, others would describe that is similar to the smell of vinegar, others would say it smells like rotten cheese, but all people agree that the smell is unbearable and repulsive.

Other possible causes of smelly feet and foot odor are tight shoes made from synthetic materials, the presence of a fungal infection, poor hygiene and diet.

3 Ways to Get Rid of Smelly Feet & Foot Odor

Get rid of smelly feet & foot odor – Wash your feet

Wash your feet at least once a day. It may sound obvious, but it should be emphasized that it isn’t enough just to take a shower and to think that the water dropping on your feet will wash them thoroughly. Take a sponge or soft brush dedicated for your feet and clean them nicely. Don’t forget to pay special attention to the skin between your toes.

Use mild antibacterial soap to really clean your feet. Soap with antibacterial effect that’s not too strong will destroy the bacteria and your skin won’t get too dry. Before you finish washing your feet, make sure that there’s no soap residue on your skin because it’ll irritate the delicate skin on your feet, especially the skin between your toes.

After washing your feet, dry them thoroughly and don’t put socks on wet feet. To prevent foot odor, it’s important to keep your skin nice and dry. Humidity creates an ideal conditions for the appearance of not only bacteria, but also fungal infections.

Get rid of smelly feet & foot odor – Choose proper shoes

Choose shoes made from materials that allow your feet to breathe. Wearing shoes made of synthetic materials will increase the perspiration, thus enhancing the smell. Choose leather or canvas shoes. Also make sure that you rotate wearing your shoes. Don’t wear the same shoes two days in a row. Your shoes need at least 24 hours to dry completely.

After wearing your shoes, loosen the laces so your shoes will get some air inside. Once you take your shoes off, loosen the laces and ‘open’ them to allow the air to flow inside your shoes. Also you should wear absorbent cotton socks but they shouldn’t be too tight. Socks that contain nylon or polyester will make your feet sweat. Wear tights only when you really need to or buy cotton tights.

Use foot powder or spray to refresh your shoes. Today there are various products that can help you to remove the odor from your shoes. Foot powder will help your skin to stay dry during the day, so they are recommended to use if you have smelly feet.

Get rid of smelly feet & foot odor – Examine your feet

Regularly examine your feet. Take a mirror if you need to and examine the skin on your feet, your toes, the skin between your toes and your nails. If you have some symptoms such as itching, cracked skin, redness or swollen feet, seek professional help. Also consult a doctor if you notice a change in the texture or color of your nails, because it may indicate that you have some sort of infection.

And lastly, don’t eat ‘smelly’ food. Avoid onions, garlic and spicy food. Spicy food can make your body sweat, and onions and garlic can change the smell of your sweat.

3 Natural Home Remedies for Smelly Feet and Foot Odor

Natural home remedy for smelly feet – Salt foot soak

It’s extremely easy to make your own DIY homemade foot soak and to customize it however you want. Here’s how to do a simple foot soak with sea salt. In a tub in which you’ll soak your feet add 4-6 cups of warm water and half a cup of sea salt. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Soak your feet for at least 15 minutes. Remove from the tub and dry them without rinsing them with water. The salt will kill the bacteria and keep your skin dry during the day.

Natural home remedy for foot odor – Black tea foot soak

You can also try using black tea as a foot soak. Pour 3 cups of boiling water over 3 black tea bags and let it steep for 20 minutes. Remove the tea bags and dilute the black tea with enough lukewarm water. Soak your feet for 20-30 minutes and rinse your feet with water. Black tea contains tannic acid that will kill the bacteria and it’ll also close your pores so your feet will sweat less.

Natural home remedy for smelly feet – Baking soda

Place some baking soda in old socks to create a small pouches and place these pouches in your shoes after you take off your shoes. An extra step that you can do is to add few drops of an essential oil like peppermint or lemon oil. Baking soda absorbs bad smells and it’ll help you get rid of the stinky smell left in your shoes. Just make sure to change the baking soda and to wash the socks every couple of days.

And final tip is to try to wear open shoes like sandals or flip-flops whenever you can so your feel will be able to ‘breathe’.