6 Must-Know Home Remedies for Smelly Feet - Foot and Ankle Center of the Rockies (2024)

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6 Must-Know Home Remedies for Smelly Feet - Foot and Ankle Center of the Rockies? ›

White vinegar kills bacteria (ironically enough). So, if your feet still smell sour, Dr. Rowland recommends soaking them in a mixture of warm water and white vinegar for 10 to 20 minutes. She suggests mixing 1 to 2 cups of white vinegar with a gallon of warm water.

White vinegar kills bacteria (ironically enough). So, if your feet still smell sour, Dr. Rowland recommends soaking them in a mixture of warm water and white vinegar for 10 to 20 minutes. She suggests mixing 1 to 2 cups of white vinegar with a gallon of warm water.

White vinegar and apple cider vinegar both work equally well. If you just can't take the smell of vinegar, a half cup of Epson salts dissolved in a basin of warm water is also a good deep-soak choice.

Apply an antifungal foot spray or medicated foot powder on your feet once daily. Insert medicated deodorant insoles into your shoes. If you need to quickly cut down on your foot odor, it's safe to apply antiperspirant or deodorant spray to your feet.

Benefits of soaking your feet in vinegar. Vinegar can protect against bacteria, fungi, and other harmful microbes. Soaking the feet in a 1-part vinegar, 2-part water solution may help manage odor and infections. Vinegar can have a variety of uses, such as in cooking, cleaning, or alternative medicine.

Let your feet soak for up to 20 minutes once a week. Epsom salt helps to remove moisture from your skin, so bacteria are less likely to hang around. Vinegar also helps to remove bacteria from your feet. You shouldn't soak your feet if you have any open wounds or sores.

There are numerous bacteria that live on feet, which feed off the sweat, producing an acid that actually causes the odor. If that's not enough, fungus also thrives in warm, moist environments like what sweaty feet provide.

Use a surgical-grade antibacterial soap found at your pharmacy. We recommend Betadine Skin Cleanser, pHisoderm® or Hibiclens. Dry your feet thoroughly, especially between your toes.

What medical conditions cause stinky feet? ›

Skin Conditions – Certain medical conditions, like athlete's foot, may cause smelly feet. Hyperhidrosis – This is a condition that causes excessive sweating even when it isn't warm. Feet sweat more leading to smell. Diabetes – People with diabetes could develop a foot ulcer and may not be aware of it.

Wash your feet with mild soap and lukewarm water at least once a day. Dry them thoroughly, and make sure to remove all moisture between your toes. Keep your toenails short and clean. The shoes and socks you wear can make a difference when you're fighting foot odor, too.

If soap and water just aren't enough, try soaking your feet once a week for up to 20 minutes. Experts recommend a solution of warm water and either vinegar or Epsom salt. Stay dry. The bacteria that make their home on your feet and in your shoes thrive in moist places.

You can neutralize your foot odor with a warm water foot soak. Simply fill up a foot basin with warm or cold water, add in 1/3 a cup of apple cider vinegar and soak your feet for 15 minutes. You can perform this foot soak multiple times per day if necessary.

You should use a vinegar and water solution to battle the odor. In a spray bottle, mix one cup of vinegar and one cup of water. Spray the solution inside your shoes and allow them to dry. The vinegar will eliminate the odor and keep your shoes smell fresh for hours.

Epsom salt soak: Epsom salt is effective at exfoliating the dead skin of your feet and is also a great remedy for smelly feet because it pulls moisture out of your skin, thus preventing the growth of bacteria. Dissolve ½ cup of Epsom salt in a small tub of warm water. Soak your feet in the solution for 10 minutes.

To take your routine to the next level, try soaking your feet. Cleveland Clinic reports that “Thoroughly cleaning your feet is more than rinsing them in a quick shower.” The Clinic's podiatrist on staff, Doctor Rowland “recommends soaking your feet in a mixture of vinegar and water or Epsom salt and water.”