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Since the dawn of footwear, people have been fighting smelly feet.
But, contrary to popular belief, sweat itself isn’t at the root of the problem. The distinctive smell is caused by the bacteria that live and grow on your skin. When these bacteria mix with your sweat, it creates an unpleasant odour.
Of course, the same can happen to other parts of your body. Feet may smell worse, however, because they have the least amount of air exposure. As a result, the smell builds up throughout the day – until that moment when you finally take off your shoes... and faint.
Wearing cotton socks is one of the best ways to keep feet fresh. If this doesn’t quite do the trick, there are other home remedies that may help to get those stinky feet smell sweet again.
1. Basic foot care
Even people without a foot odour problem should follow a basic foot-care routine: wash your feet with an antibacterial soap twice daily, in the morning and before you go to sleep; dry your feet off completely; moisturise cracked, dry skin, but don’t use the lotion between your toes: change your socks every day; never wear dirty socks; also never wear the same pair of shoes for two consecutive days – it may take an entire day for shoes to dry.
2. Black tea foot bath
Black tea is a very popular home remedy for smelly feet. The tannic acid in the tea is an anti-bacterial agent, which kills odour-causing bacteria. It also closes the pores on your feet, which will reduce sweating. Add two tea bags to a litre of boiling water and let the tea draw for about 10 minutes. Next, put the water in a bucket and add cold water. Soak your feet in the solution for 30 minutes. Do this twice a day for a week and then twice a week to soothe your hard-working feet.
3. White vinegar
Vinegar is one of nature’s disinfectants, which deodorises feet by disinfecting them and killing the bacteria on the skin. Simply add some white vinegar to warm water and soak your feet for a few minutes. The vinegar-to-water ratio should be 1:2 – that’s one part vinegar to two parts water. Take care when using vinegar as it can burn if you have cuts on your feet.
4. Lemon foot bath
Lemons are acidic, so they can help keep bacteria in check. The pleasant smell also helps mask bad odours. Add a few tablespoons of lemon juice to warm water and soak your feet for a few minutes. Just like vinegar, you should rather avoid a lemon foot bath if you have cuts on your feet.
5. Tea tree oil
If you do have cuts or abrasions on your feet, try using tea tree oil, which is often used in traditional medicine to treat infections. The oil will discourage bacteria or fungi from flourishing on your feet. Rub a few drops of tea tree oil on your feet before and after wearing shoes. It also has a pleasant smell, which acts as a natural deodoriser.
6. Baby powder
Baby powder can help keep your feet dry and prevent sweating, and may also help prevent athlete’s foot. Just rub some powder on your feet after washing them or before you put on your shoes. You can also use a scented foot powder.
7. Lavender oil rub
Lavender oil can be used as an alternative to soothe and deodorise hard-working feet. The essential oil has both antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties. Rub a few drops on your feet and massage before going to sleep. The lavender smell is pleasant as well as soothing.
- (Kyle Boshoff, Health24)
