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five easy tricks to get rid of stinky feet
antiperspirant, apple cider vinegar and black tea are just some ways to get rid of foot stench.
may 28 2020
2 minute read
antibiotic creams can help get rid of the stench of stinky feet. stock/getty
summer weather brings the return of flip-flops and sandals. but with it also comes stinky feet. while not very pleasant, and perhaps embarrassing, foot odour — caused mainly by sweat, perspiration and bacteria — is a pretty common issue in both men and women, but there are some easy tricks to help you fight off the stink.
a black tea soak
lori s. weisenfeld, a sports podiatrist in new york city told the healthy that soaking feet in tea can help dry them out so they’re not perspiring as much. she added that the tannic acids in black tea kill the bacteria that causes feet to smell. just boil two tea bags of black tea for 15 minutes in a pint of water, remove the bags and dilute the tea with two quarts of water. let the mixture cool, and soak your feet for 15 to 30 minutes.
antibiotic creams
weisenfeld says that it’s the bacteria, not sweat, that give feet their smell. “the bacteria like moisture. if you can get rid of the moisture and minimize bacteria, that’s how you mitigate the smell,” she said. one of the ways you can do this is by rubbing antibacterial ointments like neosporin on your feet before bed, and pulling on some socks before going to sleep. when you wake up, the bacteria will be gone as will the smell.
apple cider vinegar
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scientific reports suggests that apple cider vinegar has the antimicrobial potential to help eliminate bacteria, and with it the odour. soaking your feet in a solution of 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar in a basin of water could help to get rid of the smell.
moisture-wicking socks
weisenfeld told the healthy that moisture-wicking socks can help to keep your feet nice and dry. she said that the best ones are usually made out of synthetic materials that transfer moisture from our feet to the socks’ outer layers. “if your feet perspire a lot, avoid wearing nylon socks and shoes that aren’t made out of natural materials,” she said.
antiperspirant
if it’s good for the arms, it can be good for the feet. weisenfeld said that if your feet sweat excessively, you can try using antiperspirant to help combat the smell and bacteria. there are even some that are made specifically for the arms, feet and body for people who are struggling with unpleasant odours.
of course, if you give all of these a try, and the stink from your feet is still getting you down, it’s probably a good idea to see a doctor.
jordan heuvelmans is a freelance journalist with healthing.ca. you can follow her on twitter at @jordanheuvelm
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