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Stinky Feet - Natural Cures and Remedies for Smelly Feet

Updated on October 29, 2010

Smelly Feet - Cured Naturally

Feet don't smell all by themselves ... a healthy foot will never stink. The stink in stinky feet comes from bacteria or fungus. If your feet smell all the time, you have an infection.

You can buy foot powders and other medicinal cures for stinky feet, and you may want to see a doctor if, despite all you try, the smell just won't go away ... but below are several natural home remedies that may just do the trick.

Keep in mind the following general advice, which applies to all the stinky feet cures below:

  • Keep toe nails short and clean;
  • Wash your feet thoroughly with soap and water before each treatment;
  • Soak your feet for at least 30 minutes;
  • Dry your feet thoroughly after each treatment;
  • Repeat treatments daily (or as often as possible) over a period of weeks, until your stinky feet are cured;

Tea Time as a Remedy for Smelly Feet

 

Make a pot of strong tea (several tea bags, well steeped), let the water cool to a comfortable temperature, and soak your feet in the tea. Leave the tea bags in while you are soaking your feet. The tannins in the tea help to keep your skin dry, and kill bacteria and fungus.

Use "real" tea, like Earl Gray or a similar variety ... I don't know if herbal teas have tannins.

 

Salt Soak for Smelly Feet

Add about a quarter cup of salt to warm water to make a salt bath for your smelly feet. The salt will kill bacteria and fungus.

 

Stinky Feet Vinegar Cure

Add a half-cup of vinegar to warm water for an effective stinky feet cure. The acetic acid in vinegar attacks fungus and bacteria, but does not harm your feet.

Stinky Feet Double Cure - Salt & Vinegar Remedies

 

If you want to make double sure, double the cure! Use both salt and vinegar in your foot bath. If you like a little irony, enjoy a bag of salt and vinegar chips while you cure you stinky, smelly feet. This could be particularly fun for kids who are having trouble staying put for 30 minutes while their feet soak.

More Stinky Foot Advice

 

General advice for preventing, controlling and curing stinky feet:

  • Wear absorbent cotton socks when wearing shoes. White is best, as some dyes can cause or contribute to foot odour;
  • Wear "breathable" shoes. Trapped moisture in shoes creates the perfect breeding ground for fungus and bacteria;
  • Consider wearing sandals, or going barefoot around the house to let your feet breath and stay dry;
  • Clean or throw away shoes that stink ... they have picked up the infection and can reinfect you!
  • Wash your feet regularly with soap and water;
  • Dry your feet completely before putting on socks or shoes.

 

Warning - Don't Cure Your Smelly Feet With Bleach

Some people have been recommending a bleach solution to kill the bacteria on smelly feet. I would not suggest this method, as too much bleach can harm your skin and cause more problems than are solved.

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