Home Remedies for Foot Odor

Did you know that our feet have 250,000 sweat glands! And that they produce about 250 ml of perspiration daily! Isn’t that much of sweat enough to give you foot odor? In fact, you may sweat more regardless of temperature or weather and if you are a teenager or a pregnant woman you have more reasons to get sweaty feet due to hormonal changes taking place in your body. Other people who are more likely to get smelly feet include those who keep standing all the time during the day, people who are under tremendous stress or those who suffer from hyperhidrosis which is a medical condition where a body sweats excessively which leads not only to foot odor but overall body odor. If you doesn’t fall in all these categories and still have foot odor, you may have fungal infections like athlete’s foot. Foot odor, medically known as bromodosis, can be embarrassing. In fact, keeping your feet freshly smelling can be counted as good personal hygiene. Here are some natural home remedies for you to keep your stinky feet fresh and odorless.

  

Remedies for Foot Odor

1. Baking Soda Foot Bath to Control Odor

Sweating is not the only reason for your foot odor. Its the bacteria which is on your skin that breaks down the sweat and produces a cheesy smell as the sweat decomposes. Baking soda creates an alkaline environment which is not at all bacteria friendly. Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, also neutralizes the pH of sweat which also helps in eliminating bacteria.

Get this:

• Baking soda- ¼ cup
• Foot bath basin
• Warm water to fill the basin

Do this:

• Fill your foot bath basin with enough warm water to soak your feet.
• Add baking soda to this warm water.
• Soak your feet in this for about 15-20 minutes.
• Dry your feet completely with a towel.

2. Vinegar to Remove Foot Odor

Vinegar,as you know, is acidic. When you soak your feet in water mixed with vinegar, it creates an acidic environment which is unfriendly for bacteria as they cannot survive in such an environment. You can use the regular vinegar or apple cider vinegar for this home remedy to get rid of foot odor. However, there is one concern here as vinegar has its own smell and while you get rid of sweaty odor you may smell vinegary! You may thus use some essential oil in your vinegar foot soak to keep this smell away from you.

Get this:

• Vinegar or Apple cider vinegar- ½ cup
• Warm water- 7-8 cups
• Thyme essential oil (optional)- 2-4 drops
• Foot bath basin or a big bowl

Do this:

• Fill the basin with warm water.
• Add vinegar and thyme oil, if using, to this water.
• Soak your feet for 15-20 minutes.
• Dry your feet with a towel.