6 Natural Remedies for Foot Odor
Stinky feet? Check out some of these tried-and-true natural remedies for getting rid of foot odor.
You know the scenario: You visit a friend’s home and they want you to take off your shoes before entering. All you can think about is your stinky feet. Before subjecting your family and friends to the unpleasant scent of foot odor, you may want to try some of these natural remedies:
- Tea. Tannins, which are found in tea, are a natural drying agent. Boil three or four tea bags in one quart of water for about 10 minutes, and then add enough cold water to make a comfortable soak. Soak those stinky feet for at least 15 minutes. Then rinse with fresh water and pat dry.
- Powder your toes. After washing, apply foot powder, cornstarch, or an anti-fungal spray to help keep your feet cool and dry.
- Kosher salt. For extra-sweaty feet, a solution of 1/2 cup kosher salt (which is coarser than ordinary table salt) in one quart of water will help dry out your feet. Soak for at least 10 minutes, then dry feet thoroughly.
- Stay cool. Closed shoes aggravate sweaty feet and set up a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. As much as your environment permits, keep your feet open to the air, or wear breathable shoes made of natural materials.
- Sage. Europeans sometimes sprinkle dry, crumbled, sage leaves into their shoes to control odor. Perhaps a dash will do the trick for you.
- Baking soda. When untreated foot odor takes over favorite shoes, freshen them up by sprinkling a little baking soda on the insoles to dry up any residual moisture. Leave the baking soda in overnight, and then pour it out in the morning. Newspapers rolled up and left in a stinky shoe is also known to work well at absorbing odors.
Keep in mind, the vast majority of foot perspiration and odor problems can be effectively treated with simple home remedies, but for a particularly persistent problem, contact your doctor.
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
