You are at home, pregnant, when your nose picks up that typical stinky feet smell.
Being preggers, with all its stresses and strains, is already tough enough as it is so you blame your husband for being inconsiderate.
In a displeased tone you command him to wash his feet for Chrissakes.
Your enhanced sense of smell picks up such nasty odors immediately and your spouse aerating the home with his stinky feet is not something you also want to deal with right now.
It doesn’t take long before a little shame is your part when, with red cheeks, you find out about the dirty, smelly truth…
..it’s your own feet that are the source of that foul odor.
How can that be possible?
You have never had stinky feet before in your life.
And yet it’s true, your feet smell like you have been walking barefoot in your Uggs, continuously for a week.
You are not alone, many pregnant women suffer from stinky feet. Even if you have never had smelly feet before, not even during earlier pregnancies, the stinky feet syndrome may all of a sudden rear its ugly head.
When do smelly feet during pregnancy occur?
It depends. Some pregnant women never have to deal with it.
Other women notice already notice in the first trimester their feet start to smell while others find that the stench starts to set in during the third trimester.
The cause?
You sweat three times more than normal because of increased hormones. (Teenagers often have to cope with smelly feet for the same reason)
Other reasons are that your body temperature is raised, you weigh more, and you have more blood volume.
Also a zinc deficiency may cause foot fetor during pregnancy.
How to cure your stenchy tootsies
Your feet smelling like a ripe raw milk roquefort is something you will probably want to find a cure for.
And if it’s not you who is grossed out then probably your bf will want you to take action. So here are some proven methods to keep the funk at bay.
Take zinc
Add zinc rich foods to your diet to solve a zinc deficiency. Or take a zinc supplement. Foods high in zinc include; dairy, walnuts, cashews, peas, lima beans, and ginger.
Zinc is generally considered safe for pregnant women. According to the MayoClinic the recommended daily allowance is 11 milligrams for women older than 19 years.
Soak your feet in apple cider vinegar
Soak your feet in apple cider vinegar. Submerging your feet in this stuff creates an acidic environment that bacteria have a hard time thriving in. Their population will reduce and the smell will diminish.
Commonly about 6 cups of warm water and a half cup of apple cider vinegar are mixed. You could use white distilled vinegar too.
Wash with antibacterial soap
Wash your feet with antibacterial soap. Or take a foot bath with antiseptic soap since washing your feet can be a daunting task, especially when you are a long way in your pregnancy.
Sprinkle with foot powder
You can buy foot powders but baby powder, talcum powder or baking soda are also commonly used. Make sure to treat your feet with the powder when they are completely dry.
Listerine soak
Dilute Listerine in water and soak your feet in it once or even better twice a day. Make sure to thoroughly dry your feet afterwards since the bacteria that cause the smell love moist environments.
Black tea foot baths
Make strong tea from at least two black tea bags. The tannic acid in tea may help block the sweat glands in your feet, thus reducing the amount you sweat.
I tried the black tea cure myself and didn’t find it very effective but everybody is different so it may be helpful to you.
Wash your feet with vodka
Wash your feet with vodka on a wash cloth. The vodka will ward off bacteria and disinfect your feet.
In an episode of Mythbusters, Adam’s feet were washed with either a commercial foot powder wash and a vodka wash. The experiment showed that the odor was eliminated on both feet.
Use a deodorant
Deodorants do not prevent sweating but are helpful in reducing foul foot odor. Most are considered safe to use during pregnancy.
Wear the right socks
Cotton socks are better than synthetic socks with the exception of synthetic sock liners and wool socks. Here’s more on the best socks for sweaty feet.
Not recommended
aluminum chloride hexahydrate
I commonly recommend aluminum chloride hexahydrate solution or antiperspirants (e.g. Drysol, Mitchum, Odaban) containing this substance since it chemically and or physically blocks sweat glands and thus effectively reduces sweat secretion.
However, the topical use of this substance could better be avoided during pregnancy because it falls in FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby.
Do you suffer from smelly feet during pregnancy too? Do you have another cure worth sharing? Drop your comment below..
So your shoes stink huh? And you heard about people using baking soda to freshen them up.
That’s right, you can de-stink your smelly footwear with Sodium bicarbonate (the chemical name for the stuff).
The fine white powder that is often used for baking cookies (makes them chewy) or as a kitchen sink cleaner is also used in mouthwash and other oral hygiene products and as an alternative for commercial deodorants and antiperspirants containing aluminum and parabens.
No wonder it’s such a well known practice to sprinkle baking soda in your smelly shoes. The method of action is twofold:
Baking soda is a natural deodorizer.
Baking soda kills germs.
However, how effective baking soda is as an antibacterial and odor absorber remains unclear.
It is an affordable method (you can buy a pack of Arm & Hammer baking soda for about one buck) but it’s probably not the most effective way of de-stinking your shoes. More in a bit.
How does baking soda work? How does it de-stink your shoes?
Baking soda is known to neutralize bacterial acid, eliminating the stink. Studies show that; one gram neutralizes 12 milli-equivalents of acid.
It’s the acid that the Brevibacteria produce when they are feeding on the sweat on your feet, that causes the foul odor.
two trillion bacteria live on your feet (that’s 12% of all bacteria on the human body)
Baking soda acts as a fungicide and has been reported to cure athlete’s foot. It has antibacterial properties.
How to apply baking soda to your shoes
The drastic way
You can just put half a pack of baking soda in your old shoes or sneakers and leave them for a week or so like I did. (see photo)
I practically stuffed my old Nike Air Max with it and then put them in a plastic bag that I tightly knotted.
I chose for this option to make sure the baking soda would reach all the nooks and crannies of my shoes
These shoes were really stinky and my feet got hot really quickly in them so I thought nuking the sh*t out of them to be the best method. (I kept them in the freezer for a few days with the baking soda in them too)
pros
baking soda comes in contact with every part of the shoes
the bacteria have nowhere to hide
cons
leather and suede shoes may become brittle due to direct contact with the baking soda.
The more controlled way
However, if you have a pair of shoes that you want to keep nice and tidy and don’t want to end up with white residue even after tapping out your shoes frantically, you can use a coffee filter, drier sheet, or a piece of cloth tied together with a string or ribbon.
Pros
Cleaner. No need to tap out your shoes or finding residu on your socks when you take off your shoes
Cons
Possibly less effective.
Does it really work?
Despite baking soda being a very popular and widely adapted method for freshening up stinky shoes its efficacy is questioned.
Sodium bicarbonate is known to be a mild antiseptic ineffective against most bacteria.
Regarding potency it’s comparable to the common recommendation of taking black tea foot baths to reduce sweaty feet. It may be effective in case of mild foot odor but for some people these measures just don’t work.
My own findings
After the ‘treatment’ my good old Nikes were fresh and felt clean. For a short while.
Already after a few days (and I didn’t even wear them that much) the smell returned.
Having quarantined my Max’ies for more than two weeks, while keeping them in the fridge as well for a while, should have yielded a better result.
At least, that’s what I thought after hearing so much positive stories about the baking soda method.
What if baking soda does not work for you either?
Like I said earlier, baking soda is sprinkled in shoes to function as a germicide and deodorizer.
Of the many different remedies, sodium bicarbonate is probably the least expensive. The efficacy of the antimicrobial effect on the odor-causing bacteria is unclear.
Arm & Hammer, sprinkled in stinky shoes simply is an adsorbent material that can soak up odors, however, not very effectively.
For both purposes, more effective approaches exist.
Alternative antibacterial agents
Vinegar, for example, shows to be a more potent anti-bacterial agent so washing shoes with vinegar and rinsing them with water afterwards could be a solution. Downside of this method is of course that it’s more time consuming.
Even more adequate ways to get rid of stink in shoes is to use non-natural substances such as TBQ, Vesphene, Clorox, ethanol, and Lysol Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaner.
A variety of commercial household disinfectants were highly effective against potential bacterial pathogens. The natural products were less effective than commercial household disinfectants.
Pure alcohol is more effective in killing off the dreaded bacteria and relatively easy to implement. Rubbing alcohol not only disinfects your shoes but also gets rid of the stench.
Make sure to dry your shoes well, soak them in cleaning alcohol and dry them again. This should get rid of the smell.
Soaking shoes in isopropyl alcohol – found at your local drug store – is an inexpensive and highly effective cure.
Tea tree oil also has potent antibacterial properties that can offer help in combating smelly shoes.
Other ways to purge odor causing bacteria are with ozone, sunlight, UV light, and heat.
Alternative odor absorbers
Alternatives to baking soda are kitty litter (put in a thick nylon), zinc oxide powder, and apple cider vinegar soaks (for both feet and shoes).
Activated charcoal is a better odor absorber than baking soda. Shoe inserts with charcoal may offer a better solution. Cedarsoles are another popular means of reducing odor.
Special cedarsoles are commonly recommended for this purpose because of their antibacterial characteristics.
Saddle soap is reported to clean smelly leather shoes on the inside and outside. Especially useful for restoring dress shoes.
Additional advice
Remove shoes periodically to allow them to air out and allow sweat and moist to evaporate. This however does not mean it kills bacteria, just puts them in dormant state. Smell is likely to return in a few days.
Yet still, your feet are sweaty all the time and your socks damp and stinky.
It’s really embarrasing to take off your shoes when you enter a gypsy friend’s home, go shopping for shoes, or visit a Japanese restaurant.
When having to expose your sweat-discolored socks, contaminating the air around you, you are desparate for a solution.
You are wondering, “heck, I’m even using a quality antiperspirant, maybe it’s my socks that still cause my feet to sweat so much”.
And you are right.
Changing the type of socks you wear day in day out can help cure sweaty feet.
Footwear and socks prevent our feet from evaporating moisture. This trapped sweat quickly becomes smelly, because of bacteria that feed on it, producing the cheesy smell.
Since going barefoot* as much as possible is not a practical solution, it’s helpful to choose your socks and shoes wisely. (* I try to do so and especially love running barefoot in the woods which made my friends call me “barefoot walker” but that aside.)
One of the main causes of sweaty, smelly feet is wearing the wrong socks & shoes.
Which socks to avoid
Synthetic socks will make your feet sweat like a pig in summer. Plastic, nylon, polyester, or other synthetic fabric linings don’t allow sweat to evaporate and don’t absorb it either, so your feet stay wet. If such socks are tight they worsen the effect.
Polyester socks are often the preferred choice of athletes because they prevent blisters by keeping the perspiration away from the feet.
Cotton socks are better than synthetic socks because they are lighter and cooler than acrylic socks and allow the feet to breathe.
The problem with all-cotton socks is that they do not hold as much moisture without becoming sodden.
cotton socks absorb moisture but do not dispel it causing your feet to remain wet
They get wet, stay wet, and thus provide an environment the smell causing Brevibacteria thrive on.
Cotton socks also retain heat. Which is something these bacteria also thrive on.
Definitely get rid of synthetic socks such as acrylic and nylon socks but also avoid cotton.
Other reasons why it’s important to keep your feet dry are because moisture may cause fungal infections such as Athlete’s foot and blisters.
Not to mention cold feet in winter and overheated, extra sweaty feet with blisters in summer.
The best socks to prevent sweaty feet
Here’s why wearing the right type of socks is such an important and efficient element in combating sweaty feet.
If you own enough leather and other breathing shoes to rotate frequently, moisture will not be much of a problem in your shoes.
Soggy socks however, quickly cause foot odor (bromhidrosis). Especially if you suffer from plantar hyperhidrosis, which is the medical name for excessively sweating feet.
recommended: specialty socks with fibers designed to keep perspiration away from the foot (wicking socks)
specialty socks with fibers designed to keep perspiration away from the foot. – See more at: http://www.healthyfeetstore.com/sweatyfeet.html#sthash.crHIy46V.dpuf
Types of foot odor eliminator socks
There’s a wide range of socks that control foot odor available, designed to keep your free dry and fresh. These include; sports socks with ventilation panels, wicking socks, synthetic liner socks, wool socks, socks with metal threads woven into the yarn, and other types.
The best dress socks for sweaty feet are merino wool (Smartwool) socks. They are moisture absorbent, and contrary to what you may think because it’s wool, will not make your feet hot and sweaty.
Moisture wicking socks
Most of the socks listed below are moisture wicking socks in one or another way. The bacteria that cause smelly feet live on the top layers of the skin on your feet. They thrive on moist. Therefore it is necessary to keep sweat away from them.
Feet are known to be able to produce a pint of sweat per day
Once your shoes have been exposed to sweat and lots of bacteria they will set up colony in your shoes too. That’s why it’s important to clean your shoes on a regular basis as well.
Wool socks
Wool socks belong to the best socks for sweaty feet because:
wool socks wick perspiration away from your feet
wool absorbs moisture in the inside of the fiber itself (whereas with cotton, the whole fiber absorbs moisture), the surface of wool socks stays relatively dry
wool has almost twice the moisture absorbing ability of that of cotton
wool breathes well
wool socks are commonly thicker than cotton socks
Wool can wick as much as 30% of its weight in water.
Personally, I love wool socks for another reason, wool has excellent insulating properties which means it keeps your feet warm when it’s cold but also helps your feet keep cooler when it’s warm. (which is often a problem for me, my feet heat up really quickly, leaving me with very warm or even hot feet)
Smartwool socks, a popular, well-reviewed brand, help prevent sweaty feet and most people find they are not itchy.
Of course, everybody is different so switching brands may be useful when itch is an issue.
Merino wool socks
Some people find that 100% wool socks still become clammy. If you experience this too, you may want to opt for sock liners combined with (wool) socks. Such a combination helps a lot of people keep their feet dry.
Quality lightweight 100% merino wool socks are generally sold as “liner” socks.
Merino wool socks are often valued for various reasons. For one because of Merino wools excellent insulation properties. These socks keep your feet warm in winter and cool in summer. Which is great since overheated feet are common in people with sweaty feet.
Apart from that they are very soft, especially if you have socks with a micron count lower than 20. But that’s just a nice added benefit.
Merino wool socks are probably the best socks to prevent sweaty feet because:
They can absorb a whole lot of moisture (sweat) while still feeling dry since the moist is kept inside the fiber thus blocking microbes from feeding on the sweat. Apart from that it also evaporates sweat into the air. Eventually even Merino wool will be saturated (it can absorb about 35% of its own weight) and start to feel wet but this takes much longer than cotton or normal wool.
Because of this strong wicking ability Merino wool socks stay warm when wet.
Merino wool dries quickly. So you can take off your shoes to let your socks dry while not having to worry about the stench.
This special type of wool is naturally anti-bacterial. Its chemical makeup and structure make it a harsh place for bacteria and other microorganisms.
It eliminates odor. And it does this well.
Popular brands are SmartWool and Wigwam . They are known for their hiking socks but these offer a great solution for daily wear too. After all, some folks may use these socks during a marathon but we tend to sweat as much by just strolling to the grocery store two streets down the block.
I recommend:
These popular Wigwam Merino Comfort Hiker socks with Coolmax moisture control system. These are probably the best you can get to keep your ultra sweaty feet dry.
CloudLine merino wool socks. Although advertised as hiking and trekking socks these are ideal for everyday use. Especially if you prefer a little cushioning and thickness.
Despite the benefits of wool socks, some people are just sensitive to wool.
Tip: turn them inside out and delicate wash or hand wash so they will last longer.
Here are some alternatives. Types of socks that help keep your feet dry and free from odor.
Liner socks
are worn inside traditional socks, are made from special materials and are designed to provide you with increased comfort along with certain other benefits.
are worn inside traditional socks, are made from special materials and are designed to provide you with increased comfort along with certain other benefits.Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_5949081_sock-liners_.html
Synthetic (polyester) sock liners (a.k.a liner socks) wick sweat away from your feet and keep it locked in the sock. Liner socks are worn inside traditional socks.
Thin synthetic liners worn together with wool blend outer socks are a popular solution for smelly feet. They offer comfort, keep your feet dry, help educe foot odor but also prevent skin maceration.
Some brands also feature additional protection against foot odor by adding substances that inhibit the growth of smell causing bacteria. An example: ProtectGuard® Anti-odour socks.
Antibacterial socks
You might consider antibacterial socks. These are impregnated to kill off the smell causing bacteria. Sock manufacturers commonly combine technologies.
Coolmax socks
Coolmax socks are specifically designed to move perspiration away from feet. Coolmax fabrics are made from specially designed polyester fibers with an enlarged surface. These fibers have four or six channels that form a transport system that transports moisture from the skin to the outer layer of the fabric.
A popular brand that features Coolmax technology are Thorlo Experia socks. They have cushioning which provides support and reduces friction and are extra breathable. Some users even say it’s like there’s air conditioning in these socks. Haven’t used them myself.
Coolmax offers different types of socks divided in everyday use and active use. Coolmax technology can be found in a wide range of socks including; liner, full cushion, running, ultra light, all season, and extra wide diabetes socks. View prices and ratings here.
Drymax socks
Drymax wicking fibers
Drymax socks have so called Active Odor Control.
Made out of olefin, polyester, elastane and nylon they are geared towards athletic performance and support and blister prevention but also keep your feet from sweating excessively.
The synthetic olefin is also known under the brand name Coolmax.
Sweat pulls heat away from skin 23 times faster than air.
Under Armour socks
Under Armour socks are designed to wick moisture and accelerate evaporation. Made from polyester, acrylic and spandex these socks fix the sweaty feet problem for some while others complain about durability.
Under Armour socks are valued for their padding, support, and slip resistances. On the other hand, some types of UA socks don’t seem to last that long ending up with holes relatively quickly.
Because many Under Armour socks are not so durable as they used to be or tend to shed a lot they are not my favorite socks to help reduce sweaty feet.
If you do like this brand, make sure to check out Under Armour’s well-reviewed and popular Resistor 3.0 socks (available in no show, low cut, and crew as well as in a Youth and Adult version). Great for those with large feet too.
Coppersole socks
Back in the day I had those copper insoles in my shoes. Nowadays there are socks with copper fibers too. The copper fibers are embedded in the yarn.
Aetrex coppersole socks for example feature copper threads that don’t wash out and help prevent smelly feet by killing bacteria and fungi. These socks even restore collagen in your foot soles keeping them more supple and healthy.
Personally I think I’d rather go back to using copper insoles than wearing these socks. They seem a bit ‘gimmick-y’ to me.
* Update: * Since this post was first published quite a few new copper-infused socks have entered the market. Copper socks are actually comfortable and help fight sweating and foot odor. The most popular, well-reviewed on Amazon are these socks by Copper Fit.
Bamboo fiber socks
Bamboo fiber socks are eco-friendly socks that are popular among people with diabetes, those with allergy-prone and sensitive skin, and other groups.
These socks keep your feet warm in winter and cool in summer because of bamboo’s thermal regulating properties. They help reduce foot odor because they are almost 4 times more absorbent than cotton socks.
Bamboo fabrics are often claimed to be antibacterial and anti-fungal. The bamboo plant itself is antibacterial, whether the fabric, in for example socks, after the production cycle still is is not entirely clear. Researchers are looking in to fortifying bamboo’s antibacterial properties by adding additional antibacterial agents. Source Wikipedia.
The incredible soft and luxurious feeling of bamboo textiles however, is undisputed. Check out these bestselling bamboo no show socks.
Covert Threads socks
Military socks, specifically designed for harsh climates and conditions. If you suffer from very sweaty feet these socks may be for you. They make great dress socks too.
Covert Threads is just one of the several military socks brands. Like most other brands these sculpted cushion socks are specifically designed for hot or extremely cold climates.
The wool & acrylic blends keeps feet dry and prevent blisters even when walking and perspiring a lot. Other features that help reduce smelly feet is the infection preventing silver lining which is claimed to distribute heat evenly.
Silver ion socks
Silver nano particles woven into the fabric of socks offer another way to combat stinky feet. Silver’s antibacterial properties reduce the growth of bacteria, thus reduce the amount of propionic acid and isovaleric acid they generate when they break down human sweat. These acids are responsible for foul body odor.
Silver ion technology is just known by modern science to kill bacteria and a wide range of microbes. Silver actually has a long history as an antimicrobial agent. The ancient Romans and Greeks are known to put silver coins in milk and water to keep it fresh.
Some people are enthusiast about silver socks for sweaty feet while others are concerned about potential side effects. An alternative to silver socks is to spray your feet and shoes with a silver containing spray such as Primos Silver XP.
Besides silver and copper, these days there are also socks made of a yarn containing titanium. Titanium is claimed to have even more potent antibacterial properties than copper and silver.
X-Scent socks have threads with silver ions. A very popular running socks brand with silver ion tech is Balega.
Thicker socks for mildly sweaty feet
Additional advice
Some people only have mild complaints. Their socks may get damp after walking a while.
Others suffer from full-fledged plantar hyperhidrosis. They sweat so much that their feet slip around inside their shoes and emit a chronic and severe odor (bromodrosis).
No matter how severe your complaints, the right choice of moisture wicking socks made out of cotton, or even better, wool can make a huge difference.
Clean socks
Remember to change socks during the day. Take a clean pair of socks with you to school or work.(Which is why I am no fan of liner socks. It’s a hassle enough to have to change one pair of socks during the day.)
Use absorbent foot powder twice a day. Always wear clean socks.
Wash your socks on the hottest cycle. After washing, rinse your socks in a diluted antiseptic solution and let them dry in the air.
If necessary, wear a second pair of appropriate socks over the first pair for increased absorbency.
damp conditions inside a shoe and the wrong type of socks promote sweaty feet
Clean, breathable shoes
Make sure to wear non-occlusive , breathable footwear. Leather, canvas, and mesh shoes are best and athletic shoes or boots should be avoided.
Wear a different pair of shoes on alternate days, so they can dry fully.
Take your shoes off whenever possible during the day. This way your socks can dry and your shoes can air out a little.
Although hiking shoes such as Goretex are often breathable, some people still experience sweaty feet. If that’s the case for you go for non-waterpoof boots without membrane.
Washing the foot pads inside your shoes will help fight the smell causing bacteria. Since they feed on sweat, make sure to clean them regularly.
Most people who suffer from smelly feet think they need to buy odor reducing insoles, use a powder, or wash their feet with a strong antibacterial soap.
Which, in a way, is true. These measures are helpful.
However, those have nothing to do with the one thing that’s essential to curing smelly feet. These remedies are not the secret I’m talking about.
Don’t get me wrong, these remedies all help but the most effective weapon in the fight against foot odor is something else.
The most powerful action you can take to combat those smelly feet attacks the problem at the source.
If your feet just moderately smell after a long day of walking you may not need this measure.
But some people’s feet really stink (because they are really sweaty).
Their feet feel sloppy and soggy all the time. The sweat ruins their shoes within months.
If they take of their shoes the building needs to be evacuated. The stench announces their presence long before they are seen or heard.
Those who are too close to the whiff will get nauseous and collapse. Some people’s feet reek so horrendous, even skunks avoid their footprints.
For those people, the heaviest artillery in the foul feet odor war needs to be used.
The weapon of choice for such situations is to close down, barricade, block the sweat glands in your foot soles. Less sweat glands means less water evaporation, which means less smell.
Common ways to block sweat glands
Since hyperhidrosis, the medical name for excessive sweating, is a physiologic disorder a number of systemic, topical, surgical, and electrical treatments are available.
You may have heard about how people who really sweat a lot under their armpits will undergo surgery to close the overactive sweat glands.
This type of surgery for feet is often perceived as a last resort remedie or even discouraged since it carries with it the risk of lifelong troublesome side effects.
Botox injections are commonly used as a remedie for excessive underarm sweating. Although this treatment may be used to combat sweaty feet as well, plantar injections of Botox (injections on the foot) can be painful and the results do not last as long as they do in the underarms. Typically, after 3 to 4 months Botox injection effects are worn off.
Patients with hyperhidrosis are sometimes adviced to get iontophoresis treatment. In this remedy, a mild electrical current is conducted in water making contact with the skin’s surface.
This remedy, however, also has a disadvantage, its short-lived effect. You will need to undergo this treatment weekly to be effective. That’s why people often purchase iontophoresis devices for home use.
Iontophoresis is often recommended in case clinical or prescription strength antiperspirants have proven insufficient.
So how to block those sweat glands effectively and safely?
The secret of curing those smelly feet can be described in one word: astringent.
An astringent is a substance, a chemical compound that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues.
Here’s how astringents will reduce sweating
Don’t be afraid, you won’t need a risky surgery or a time and money consuming electrical treatment to achieve a similar effect on your feet.
Astringents are substances you can apply that do practically the same thing. (shutting down sweat glands in order to reduce sweating).
Less sweat equals less bacteria equals less smell. Here’s how astringent agents work:
they alter keratin proteins ( the key structural material) in the outer layer of human skin lining the sweat pore. This leads to a superficial closure of the pore that lasts several days.
The key to reducing foot sweating: aluminum chloride
Docters prescribe this stuff for people who really suffer from stinky feet. It is applied before going to sleep and washed off the day after.
Aluminium chloride hexahydrate (ACH), as it’s called as well, makes your feet feel dryer. Already after the first application you will notice the skin on your feet feels different. More smooth.
A small study when used as a topical treatment for hand palm sweating demonstrates that ACH “appeared to be useful in rapid control of palmar hyperhydrosis.”
I have used it myself for my feet and I concur, this stuff really works.
Personally, I did not experience side effects but of the 12 participants in the study 4 developed skin irritation; in three this disappeared after 1 week and they were able to continue with treatment; one withdrew from the study because of the severe irritation.
A solution to the side effects
However effective, aluminum chloride hexahydrate isn’t a really practical solution because of its skin irritation side effects.
Studies show that when combined with salicylic acid gel this topical doesn’t cause (as much) skin irritation.
15% AC in a 2% salicylic acid gel offers patients a new topical option to treat hyperhidrosis. Additionally, this unique hyperhidrosis therapy demonstrates minimal to no irritation.
Are other astringents viable alternatives to aluminum chloride?
This study comparing the effects of tannic acid lotion with iontophoresis found that the daily treatment of of hand palms with tannic acid (20%) lotion did not result in a significant reduction of sweating. Tannic acid has also show to cause yellow-brown skin discoloration.
Black tea soaks are reported by many (Dr. Oz is one of them) to be an effective sweaty feet cure. After trying it myself I concluded that it does not work for me. Its sweat gland blocking properties are probably just not powerful enough.
Formaldehyde induces contact sensitivity, leading to allergic contact dermatitis in 15% to 20% of patients.
The best cure for smelly feet: an antiperspirant with ACH
The following antiperspirant contain the effective ingredient aluminum chloride hexahydrate.
They work by reacting with the electrolytes in sweat thus forming “gel plugs” that block off your sweat ducts.
Since your feet have over 500,000 sweat glands (the highest concentration of sweat glands per inch on your body) blocking these is the key to effectively curing smelly feet.
Added benefit of aluminum chloride is that it has shown to be a proven cure for symptomatic athlete’s foot.
Recommended products
Most over-the-counter antiperspirants are for underarms. Since they contain the same active ingredients you can use them for your feet too.
Roll-on products are often not people’s first choice since it’s harder to apply the solution between the toes.
Although you could get around it by applying plenty and using your fingers to reach in between the toes. Most will find towelettes are more convenient though.
SweatBlock Antiperspirant – As Seen on Rachael Ray
pros
well reviewed
contains 14% aluminum chloride hexahydrate
little to no reviews mentioning skin irritation or other side effects
Our feet are the body parts with the most sweat glands. Bacteria that feed of the sweat are naturally present on our skin.
But fact remains that we are a shoe wearing species. And shoes keep the sweat in.
Therefore it’s crucial to approach the source, the sweat by treating the sweat glands with astringents. Taking off your shoes more often and wearing cotton or wool socks can also help.
Of the several different astringents aluminum chloride is the most effective and safe option. Especially when combined with salicylic gel.
Various commercial products containing these substances exist. Most focus on underarm sweating but they can be used on feet as well.
If this remedy does not work, iontophoresis may be effective. Consulting your doctor may be best in such situations.
Shoe dryers and sanitizers come in different types. The basics behind all these devices is the same.
They reduce moist in your shoes and boots. The technology used may differ. Some models have extra disinfecting features.
Getting rid of moist is important since smell-causing bacteria thrive on moist. After wearing, and thus, sweating the moist needs to be able to evaporate.
Otherwise the bacteria get the chance to set up camp, feast on your feet, and cause the typical cheesy smell.
Boot dryers are very useful after hiking, hunting or fishing, snowboarding and skiing,
Especially parents of young kids playing in the snow, dealing with a seemingly constant supply of wet boots and gloves know that dryers are lifesavers.
People who play a lot of sports are probably aware of this too. (if you were not you may now know how come your feet start smelling almost as soon as you put on your sports shoes).
Shoe dryers are more useful than many people think
People commonly think that the benefits of boot and shoe dryers are limited to these groups and uses.
People who tend to drench their shoes during certain activities and need their footwear to be dry for the next time you’ll wear them.
Matter of fact is that shoe dryers are highly useful in case of sweaty feet. Even if you don’t play sports or wear boots. Since everybody’s feet sweat about a half pint to a pint per foot per day (sources differ on the exact amount) it is crucial to thoroughly dry shoes in between wearing them.
You may think they are dry but the shoes interior, the inside of the fabric could be still moist.
Especially if the place your shoes are put to air out, the garage or the hallway doesn’t have an ideal relative humidity (rH) e.g. a high temperature and low humidity, evaporation of water is slow. And thus, bacteria and fungi continue to proliferate and cause smell and possibly other problems such as Athlete’s foot.
These devices remove contaminants like viruses and mold that can cause skin irritation as well as deteriorate the materials your shoe is made of.
In other words, by using a dryer you are ensuring your footwear will be completely dry after a few hours. No matter if it concerns your smelly surfing booties, your safety toe boots for work, or your normal shoes.
Which is helpful in preventing smelly feet because the less chance you give the bacteria to take over your shoes the better. Even if you make a habit out of rotating shoes.
When shoes are stored at home often they don’t get the chance to dry completely.
That’s why these devices are an important factor in combating smelly feet. They utilize heat able to dry garments without causing damage.
Apart from shoes and boots here are some more applications:
helmets,
socks,
(boxing/mma) gloves,
pants,
shinpads and groin guards.
Shoe dryer types available on the market:
Electric shoe dryers that utilize heat, either with a fan that blows the hot air into the shoes for a set period of time or with elements that radiate warmth. They generally emit hot air at about 40C / 99F to up to degrees 80°C/ 180F.
Footwear dryers that use ultraviolet light as an additional method to sanitize shoes. UV light kills off bacteria. Standalone UV shoe sanitizers exist too.
Similarly, some devices feature Ozone technology as a secondary method to rid shoes of microbes. Some models make use of PTC heating materials.
You can also use a mesh shoe sneaker dryer bag to put your shoes in the dryer without them being tumbled and possibly damaging.
Things to consider when buying a shoe dryer
Make sure the device you are considering has a drip tray if you need to dry shoes or boots that are soaking wet.
Auto-shutoff fan(some dryers stiffen up shoes if they overdry)
Portable or not. For example when taking it with you to work or on vacation but also for easily relocating it at home (some people sometimes place it turned off on a vent grid)
Dry with radiant or forced heat. Drying with forced heat (fans) is useful in cold climates or during winter time.
Think about capacity. does it have to be able to dry multiple pairs at a time?
Modest heat level protects your footwear and keeps your electric bill low
Do you need additional sanitation? For instance UV light or Ozone gas to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Some fans make noise, check the reviews to see what buyers say
Some devices make use of a fan to move air through the shoes, which shortens drying time.
The best shoe dryers on the market
In my opinion, the best portable shoe dryer is the PEET Dryer PEET Power Cell. Because it’s not too big but still powerful it is great for when you are traveling or for example when on sports camp.
affordable, high quality and effective
If you want a bigger dryer, one to use regularly at home, go for thePEET Dryer M97-FSB (also referred to as the Peet Original) on which you can dry two pairs simultaneously.
This is a well-reviewed dryer that will thoroughly dry the wettest shoes or boots within half a day or so.
Reasons to get this dryer:
If noise is an issue, go for the Peet Original dryer. It’s completely silent.
According to some reviewers it’s able to dry the toe box really well too (other models less so)
Other pros, it’s very sturdy and stable and affordable.
I’m a fan of the Peet brand because they not only make quality devices but also provide up to 25 year warranty. They don’t get too hot, don’t slurp electricity, and just do what they are supposed to do. Also important, they are relatively affordable too.
Both are available on Amazon. Check out the reviews to see if they fit your needs. (I bet they will)
There’s another ‘best’ shoe dryer
Depending on your needs the following boot dryer is another great choice.
Maxxdry XL boot dryer
fast but less silent
Contrary to the Peet dryer which is a low heat convectiondevice that employs radiant heat, the Maxxdry dryer is a so called forced air dryer. The addition of the fan allows for faster drying than the Peet dryer.
The Maxxdry is relatively silent considering the fans blow lots of air but does make some noise.
The noise is comparable to “the hum of a small room fan” according to one reviewer and similar to a “bathroom exhaust fan” according to another user. It is less stable, more likely to topple over than the Peet Original.
When a little bit of noise isn’t much of a problem
and if short drying times are important to you, (e.g. after washing sneakers in the washing machine)
and if you want to dry a pair of boots and gloves simultaneously *,
the Maxxdry XL may be your best buy.
(* to be able to dry two pairs of boots at the same time you need to purchase a 2nd set of boot extensions at about $15)
More quality shoe dryers
There’s a plethora of dryers available so I won’t list them all. Here are some more well-reviewed dryers utilizing various drying and sanitizing techniques.
Shoefresh shoe dryer
heat and ozone for extra disinfection
If you suffer from nasty fungi that cause toenail infections or Athlete’s foot you may want a machine that offers more than just drying your footwear.
Shoefresh is a shoe dryer that dries with heat and disinfects with ozone.
By employing two techniques, ozone (O3) and fans distributing heat, it promises to be more effective in killing bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungi.
Ozone is a naturally-occurring, potent oxidizing agent used commonly in municipal water and bottled water disinfection.
Studies show ozone gas is effective in sanitizing footwear and is useful as an additional therapy to antifungal medications for toenail fungus (onychomycosis) and Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis).
Another forced-air garment dryer for shoes, boots, gloves, pants, and more. Here are some of its pros and cons.
DryGuy is claimed to dry most garments within the hour.
As one reviewer notes, it is able to dry damp shoes within the 3 hour timer setting. Soaked shoes need longer forcing you to reset the timer since 3 hours is the max.
This device is fairly light. Heavy boots may cause it to fall over.
Prago Hy’n Dry dryer
silent and stable
Just like the Peet Original dryer, this dryer utilizes ceramic heat.
The Hy’n Dry also features a dripping tray collecting water which helps you keep your floor clean. According to users it is stable and silent.
It does not have an on and off switch. You could get around this by putting it on a timer.
What about a dryer with UV?
The Peet Go is a portable boot dryer that utilizes UV light for additional sanitation. It is however not really well reviewed and seems somewhat delicate.
Another UV warmer/dryer is the Sidas Drywarmer however not much user experiences are available. Another model is the DryGuy Circulator, again not very well reviewed.
If you are adamant on UV sanitation of your footwear, go for Sterishoe. Keep in mind that this is not a dryer.
More sanitizing and deodorizing devices that use UV and ozone:
Besides online you can also buy them offline at Costco, Target, and Wallmart to name just a few.
In case you can’t buy a shoe dryer
Maybe you can’t afford it. Perhaps there’s no power outlet available. Or there may be another reason purchasing a boot dryer device isn’t an option for you.
In that case, here are some shoe drying methods that do not work as efficient as dryers but are better than doing nothing about the moist in your footwear.
Store your shoes in a well-ventilated, dry place.
Stuff your squishy sneakers with crumpled up newspaper.
Dry them on the radiator. Downside, drying from the inside out is better and excessive heat may cause damage.
Dry them with a blow dryer. Do this very carefully though since too high temperatures may cause damage to glue and fabric.
Put the shoes on the inside of the dryer door and pull the shoe strings up over the outside of the dryer door. When the door is closed the strings will hold the shoes in place keeping them from tumbling around. Put the dryer on a lower heat setting to prevent deteriorating adhesives and damage to leather.
Some dryers feature a shelf that fits inside the drum made to hold shoes while the dryer drum spins around them.
A DIY shoe sanitizing hack some people use is putting shoes in a plastic bag and run an ozone tube into it for about an hour.
Whether it’s to cope with excessive sweating or unexpected puddles, whether it concerns tennis, golf or running shoes, sneakers or work boots, especially for people who suffer from sweaty (and stinky) feet, these devices can make a huge difference.
In order to combat smelly feet and shoes we have to fight the source.
Both the growth of bacteria and the sweating need to be reduced.
There are several ways to do this. Here’s an overview of the best ways to deal with smelly feet.
Maintaining good foot and shoe hygiene is the best way to prevent smelly feet.
The best way for fresh, non-stinky feet is fivefold:
Proper shoe hygiene
Proper foot hygiene: Fight the bacteria on your feet
Reduce sweating
Clear your shoes of these bacteria
Use odor and sweat absorbing sole inserts and related products
1. Shoe hygiene
Shoes are bad. Not just 10 inch heeled pumps or or non-breathing work boots, all shoes are hurting our feet.
Feet smell and hands don’t because sweat gets trapped in our shoes. Feet also have more sweat glands than hands but the main reason is that by wearing shoes we create an ideal living environment for bacteria that live on our skin.
These bacteria eat our dead skin cells and our sweat. While doing so they produce a foul odor, the typical smelly feet scent.
Some people sweat so profusely that they slip in their shoes. But even if you don’t, even if you don’t really notice you’re sweating in your shoes this causes a problem.
Mankind has been wearing shoes for roughly a thousand years. They change how you walk, cause caluses and skin conditions. As well as the dreaded foot odor. The bane of ‘homo calceus’, shoe wearing man.
Simply put, we’re made for walking barefoot and wearing footwear obviously has its merits but it causes trouble too.
In order to counteract these negative side effects of wearing shoes we need to take some precautions regarding our footwear.
Air out your feet as much as possible
This means take off your shoes a lot. I take them off when at work, when at home, during shopping when at a restaurant I put my feet on top of my shoes, and so on. Every time you let your feet ‘breathe’ you are diminishing the effects bacteria are causing while wearing shoes.
Go barefoot when you can
Not talking about earthing kumbayah and its purported electrical grounding benefits here, just saying that walking without shoes is good for your feet, your posture and helps reduce foot odor.
Let your shoes dry in between wearing
This commonly requires rotating a pair of shoes each other day. Or you can use shoe dryers to hasten the process. The dryer your footwear, the less chance for bacteria to survive.
Wear leather or cotton shoes
Avoid footwear made of synthetic materials at all costs. These don’t allow for any breathability and are a surefire way of making your feet sweat.
Clear your shoes of the bacteria
Common ways to remove odor causing bacteria are with sunlight, heat, cold, ozone, UV, pure alcohol, tea tree oil, chemical. Some of these remedies are more effective than others. Some take more time than others.
The battle against those cheesy bacteria Brevibacteria are naturally part of our skin flora. Excess sweat and dead skin cells will increase their numbers and result in the typical cheese-like smell.
No wonder, since the same bacteria also give cheeses such as Munster their typical aroma.
These bacteria live on our skin but after a while they will reside in your shoes too. That’s why the best remedy is to treat both your feet and shoes.
Get rid of the smell causing bacteria living on your feet
Wash your feet well
Wash your feet with a strong antibacterial soap. Yes, it’s true that in fact all soaps are antibacterial but in order to have an effect normal soaps have to be in contact with skin for about two minutes.
Let’s face it, in our busy lives, most of us don’t have or take the time for this. That’s why a soap that fights the bacteria right away is recommended.
Another reason, often the bacteria not only live on our skin but inside the deeper skin layers as well.
A quick rinse under the shower is far less efficient than taking a 10 minute long foot bath. Your feet are emersed in water instead of merely splashed upon. Add a good foot soak and you are increasing the efficiency of your bacteria-killing effort. From black tea to chlorine, from epsom salt to tea tree oil, soaks can help fight smelly feet.
Dry your feet well
For the same reason you need to keep your feet and shoes dry, you also need to dry your feet thoroughly after washing. This means drying well in between toes too.
3. Reduce how much your feet are sweating
Our feet are the body part with the most sweat glands. About 250,000 on both your feet. There’s an effective way to reduce the amount of sweating though (besides airing out and wearing the right shoes).
Doctors prescribe it to people with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) but it is available over the counter too.
It’s main active ingredient is aluminum chloride. It works by blocking the sweat-producing cells in your feet. This effect is temporary and therefore it should be applied about twice a week.
Many other brands are available but most are rollers which makes them not suitable for application on feet. What’s more, SweatBlock is the best reviewed antiperspirant on Amazon.
Use odor and sweat absorbing insoles
In general inserts that fight foot odor come in two types.
Aromatic deodorants that neutralize the odor by their own smell
Many popular remedies roam the internet. Freezing your shoes overnight, sprinkling with rubbing alcohol or baking soda, and other methods vary in efficacy. They generally work for shoes that haven’t yet reached a mega-stink status.
Don’t forget,
Shoes
Don’t wear the same pair every day
Wear leather, canvas, or suede shoes
Keep them clear of bacteria
Store them light and dry
Socks
Wear cotton (minimal 75%) or wool socks
Change them as often as possible (at least every day)
Shoes were invented to protect the human feet. But due to poor air circulation and prolonged usage, people may develop sweaty feet.
As a result, shoes eventually harbor fungus and bacteria which can cause feet and shoe odor.
Aside from redesigning shoes to promote air circulation inside them, companies have developed specialized insoles that could solve these common problems.
Their sweat and odor-reducing capability usually comes from the additional materials used.
Types of Shoe Insoles That Reduce Sweaty Feet and Foot Odor
Here are the different types of shoe inserts and sandal insoles which have the capacity to reduce feet sweating and odor buildup:
Activated charcoal or carbon insoles
charcoal based insoles for smelly feet and shoes
One of the most popular and highly marketed types is the insole containing activated charcoal particles. If there’s a charcoal sock, there’s also a charcoal insole.
Charcoal has been an ancient deodorizer and filtering material. Activated charcoal is the improved version. The charcoal is temperature treated to expand it and create millions of micro-pockets.
Activated charcoal works like a sponge which can absorb water particles. But aside from absorbing moisture, this special charcoal can absorb gas particles especially the odor-causing components.
Bamboo is an ideal material used in manufacturing activated carbon. Because aside from the finer plant fibers, there are also added benefits claimed like the improvement of blood circulation and metabolism.
Aside from charcoal, some of these insoles also use baking soda still for moisture and odor absorption.
A popular, well-reviewed brand that uses activated charcoal and baking soda are Dr. Scholl’s Odor-X Odor Fighting Insoles. Their SweatMAX® technology layer neutralizes and protects against unpleasant odors.
Ultra absorbent insoles
Summer Soles made from micro-suede fabric absorb moisture
Feet odor is mainly caused by excessive sweating so it’s important to eliminate moisture instantly. There are ultra absorbent insoles which can take care of this task.
The surfaces of these insoles are created by felting tiny cotton fibers similar to the surface of a towel except that it’s done in a micro scale. And similar to towels, you could rely on these insoles to absorb the sweat produced by the feet.
Non-slip absorbent insoles
One of the more well known brands making absorbent insoles that prevent slippery discomfort is Summer Soles. They make Ultra-Absorbent style soles for normal shoes but also for women’s sandals, open toes, slingbacks, pumps and other shoes. Their open shoe liners are made out of soft, non-scratchy Australian wool.
Cedar wood insoles
flexible, wooden insoles
Have you ever imagined using a wooden insole? You should if you want to get rid of sweat and odor. (they are my favorites together with a type of charcoal insoles) Just like charcoal, cedar has long been used as a household deodorizer.
Cedar wood has natural antifungal and antibacterial properties so it’s perfect in inhibiting these odor-causing microorganisms.
The cedar wood used in insoles is extremely thin and flexible making it still comfortable to wear and use.
They are designed to soften and conform to the shoe sole and your feet upon first wear.
Charcoal and other odor eaters have limited absorbtion ability of odors. Cedar insoles don’t. The best reviewed brand is Zederna’s Original Cedarsole Inserts against Foot Odor and Sweaty Feet.
Other well known brands are Briskstep and Nawemo.
Products that utilize cedar wood’s smelly shoes reducing properties are cedar wood shoe trees.
Biocide or treated wool insoles
Peppy feet lambswool insoles keep feet dry and fight odor
These are insoles which are chemically treated to prevent the growth or kill bacteria and fungus which may grow in your insoles or shoes.
The wool material adds up to the absorbent nature of these insoles.
Wool fibers grab each other, thus leaving air spaces that allow air and sweat to pass. This is why wool is used in anti-sweat insoles.
The sweat is guided from your feet into the crevices between the fibres after which it is absorbed in the insole. In order to increase absorbtion compressed fibers are used in firm but thin fabric strips.
Ionized insoles
TruePower ionized insoles
Ionization technology is currently gaining popularity. Perhaps, you have heard about ionized water, filters, air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. This technology is now applied to insoles too.
In laymen’s term, ionization simply means changing the electric charge of an item’s particles or components. Ionization is usually done to clean or make an item behave like a magnet; attract desirable materials, chemicals, etc, or on the other hand, repel and inhibit others.
In the case of ionized insoles, a silver insole lining is ionized to inhibit the growth and proliferation of odor-causing bacteria.
Aromatherapy insoles
Lavender aromatherapy insoles by Peppy Feet
Aroma therapy insoles are simply the all-natural counterparts of biocide insoles.
Instead of chemicals, these insoles are treated or filled with natural deodorizing oils like lavender and tea tree. Tea tree oil is known to have potent antibacterial properties which makes the concept promising.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of using these insoles for smell reduction.
If you do, see if you can get lemon juice essential oil soles because lemon oil is known to help cut nasty odors.
Sockless insoles
washable barefoot insoles by Pedag
Insoles for when you are going sockless have to be really effective since bare feet in shoes sweat a lot.
Shoe inserts specifically made for this purpose do exist. Pedag 196 Washable Summer Pure Cotton Terry Barefoot Insoles for example.
Remember, going sockless in shoes is generally not recommended because it will worsen perspiration and foot odor significantly. So if you have to, the Pedag 196 inserts are highly recommended.
It’s probably a good thing these are washable. (Haven’t tried them myself)
The best shoe insoles for sweaty feet
As we have seen sweat and foot odor reducing insoles for shoes come in different types.
If you ask me, aromatherapy soles, and ionized soles sound interesting but when it comes to effectiveness good old insoles based on charcoal to reduce odor, or soles made out of cedar wood together with ultra-absorbent technology are hard to beat. If you take a look at reviews you will conclude the same.
That’s why I recommend Dr. Scholls and Cedar soles. Personally I have had best results with those.
Something about cotton insoles. Cotton insoles are not recommended by podiatrists. Once they are wet it takes long to dry again creating a fertile ground for bacteria to live in. Apart from that they are known to cause skin ailments.
One more thing, while you’re at it, do yourself a favor and order some On Your Toes Foot Bactericide Powder too. Together with some quality insoles you are almost assured of fresher, dryer feet.
Hibiscrub is a powerful killer of bacteria that cause foot odor
A friend recently asked me if hibiscrub is good for smelly feet. The short answer; yes it is.
All antibacterial soaps, scrubs, and cleansers are helpful when it comes to curing stinky feet.
How does Hibiscrub help me cure my smelly feet?
Sweat alone isn’t the cause of smelly feet. Sweat is just made up of water and salt.
It’s the bacteria feeding on sweat and dead skin cells that produce the stink. It’s their excrements that produce the unwanted odor.
When you wash your feet with such soaps you will literally kill the bacteria and thus minimize the source of the stink.
What about HibiClens and other antibacterial soaps?
Other antibacterial (or antiseptic soaps) are Betadine scrub, and Defense soap.
Hibiclens is practically the same stuff as HibiScrub although cheaper. HibiScrub costs about $30 for 16 oz while roughly the same amount of Hibicleans will set you back $ 15.
According to some sources Hibiclens is a weaker dilution of HibiScrub. However if you take a look at the labels, both contain the same amount of the active ingredient, 4% w/v chlorhexidine gluconate.
So make sure to check the percentage of chlorhexidine gluconate (the antimicrobial agent it’s all about) on the package, and compare prices before you buy.
Additional, inactive ingredients include; fragrance, isopropyl alcohol 4%, purified water, and Red 40.
Most drug stores carry it HibiScrub. It’s basically a surgical scrub, you know, what hospitals use. Surgeons and other medical personnel wash their hands with it to reduce the spread of bacteria, fungi and viruses.
Aren’t all soaps antibacterial?
Yes, in fact they are. But it’s for a reason surgeons use surgical scrub during their work.
Most soaps, also those not advertised as antibacterial contain two antibacterial substances. Those are triclosan and triclocarbon.
The thing is, they need to be in contact with the surface (your feet) for about two minutes in order to kill the bacteria. Since most of us don’t take the time to wash our feet that thoroughly we can benefit from stronger soaps such as HibiScrub.
What’s special about HibiScrub?
HibiScrub is a powerful antiseptic, antimicrobial skin cleanser that kills smell causing bacteria but also can protect the skin for up to 24 hours after the initial application.
On a sunny day, our feet can produce up to a pint of sweat. Often we just don’t have the possibility to take of our shoes, let alone change shoes and socks.
That’s why a potent bacteria killer such as HibiScrub is a necessary tool in fighting foot odor.
How to use HibiScrub on your smelly feet
Wash your feet daily with it. Make sure to thorougly dry your feet afterwards. Remember, the bacteria thrive on dark, moist environments. The reason our hands don’t smell is because the sweat can leave. (the same bacteria live on your hands too)
Some additional advice…
Don’t forget to change shoes and socks regularly, air out your shoes, wear cotton or wool socks, leather, breathing shoes, make use of insoles, powder or UV sanitize your shoes, and use a product that minimizes sweat producing glands and pores. Walking barefoot or on socks at home is helpful too.
Do your feet still smell after showering or washing?
Mine did too. I know how frustrating this is because you can scrub them with soap all you want but they just don’t seem to get really clean and fresh.
If your feet still smell even after washing it’s probably because the bacteria causing the smell are residing on and in the top skin layers of your feet. Chances are they have taken over your shoes too.
Here’s what you can do about it.
First a bit about the why and how. I always find that when I understand why I have to do something, I’m more inclined to do it and to keep doing it. It just motivates me.
If your feet still stink after washing the approach to cure is twofold:
reduce sweating
kill off the bacteria and limit them in their existence by treating your feet as well as your shoes.
The cause of and cure for smelly feet even after washing or showering
Our feet have lots and lots of sweat glands. More than on most other body parts. This has an evolutionary purpose. Because when we started walking upright we had to keep our feet cool and supple.
Another function sweat glands in the hands and feet of mammals is to rub the sweat or scent onto objects in order to mark their territory.
Nowadays, we wear shoes and the need to claim territory has taken other forms (think, grafitti or driving a big car). The sweat glands however, about 3000 per square inch, are still present.
This leads to a sweaty and smelly feet in a lot of people. (Some people, especially teenagers and pregnant women suffer more from sweaty feet because of hormonal changes.)
Since the perspiration is kept inside the shoes and socks (instead of rubbed off against tree bark) bacteria that feed of of the sweat start to thrive. It’s the interaction between those bacteria and the sweat that causes the rotten odor.
Bacteria living on our skin decompose sweat coming from the pores. This process causes the typical smell.
Tip: keep your feet, shoes, and socks dry
When your feet are damp, either because you are sweating or because you haven’t given your shoes the chance to dry up after wearing the bacteria grow.
This is why it’s so important to really dry your feet well after showering or taking a bath.
Even after taking off your shoes the bacteria breed on because they favor a warm, moist and dark environment.
Tip: give your shoes time to air out
That’s why it’s recommended to not wear the same shoes every day. Give them time to air out and limit the bacteria in their growth.
The reason why our feet often stink but our hands are not is because our hands are not enclosed in shoes or socks.
Yet our hands also sweat and have bacteria living on them just like our feet. That’s why it’s so important to let the sweat that your feet produce escape into the air limit odor-causing bacteria feeding on it.
Tip: fight the bacteria that live in your shoes
Store your shoes in a light place, preferably in the sun or use a UV shoe sanitizer to kill them off.
Inserting baking soda and placing the shoes (in a plastic bag) in the freezer may also help.
Another method is treating your shoes with pure alcohol or use an antibacterial shoe spray. Some people use a shoe deodorizer such as 2Toms Stink Free Spray. Do note that in case of serious foot perspiration such a spray alone probably won’t solve your problem.
In case of a serious foot odor problem, I know this from experience, it takes more to combat the foul scent and perspiration.
If your feet still smell after showering there are a few things you do.
How to wash your feet?
Wash them with antibacterial soap. An often recommended bacterial soap to use is Hibiclens Antimicrobial Skin Liquid Soap with antiseptic activity.
I use Betadine solution myself, you know the stuff surgeons use to desinfect their hands.
What’s probably even better is On Your Toes Foot Bactericide Powder. It has helped so many people overcome their foot odor problem. Just take a look at the reviews, I bet this stuff will help you out too.
You can also bath your feet in water with a few drops of tea tree oil. Tea tree oil has a strong antiseptic action. Others say they benefit from taking foot baths with Epsom salt. The main thing here is to keep at it.
If you have a serious foot odor problem you will have to make washing with an antibacterial substance and reducing sweat production a habit. Otherwise the problem will persevere.
Remove dead skin cells
The smell causing bacteria such as the Staphylococcus epidermis and corynebacterium feed on dead skin cells. The more dead skin cells on your feet and between your toes, the worse the smell will be.
By taking away their food you can limit their existence. Removing these dead skin cells can be done by using a purnice or file but this is tedious.
Therefore, peels are often used for this purpose. Other benefits of removing excess dead skin cells are better blood circulation and having cold feet less quickly.
The secret to countering sweat production
Use aluminum hydroxychloride to shrink the pores and prevent excessive sweating. (it seems you can also bath your feet in black tea but this is more time consuming, that’s why I prefer to use aluminum hydroxochloride).
This is a substance you can apply on your feet before going to bed and wash it off the next morning. Even after one application you will already notice your feet feel dryer. Because the pores and sweat glands are minimized you will sweat less.
Other things you can do after washing your feet
Other things that help are wearing cotton or wool socks. (70% cotton or higher). Change shoes and socks at least every day but preferably more often. If you can just change socks and shoes daily.
Use scent removing insoles such as Cedar soles. Here’s more about insoles that help reduce smelly feet.
On one of his TV shows, Dr. Oz said soaking your feet in tea stops sweaty (and thus smelly) feet. Many people say this helps them cure smelly feet.
But is this remedy truly effective?
How does it work?
The method of action when taking tea foot baths is caused by tannins. The tannins present in tea dry, constrict, and shrink the tissue in your feet. Tannins are so called astringents.
astringent, any of a group of substances that cause the contraction or shrinkage of tissues and that dry up secretions (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
my friend bathed his feet in black tea for a few days in a row
When you drink tea you can feel the action of tannins when you get that typical dry mouth feel. You may also recognize this feeling when drinking wine because wine is also rich in tannins.
When you put your feet in tea it can reduce sweating because it shrinks sweat gland openings. The tannins in tea also kill bacteria that produce the smell when your feet sweat.
Depending on how smelly your feet are, you will have to take tea foot baths for a while, each bath at least an hour in order to be succesful.
At least that’s what some sources say. In order to confirm this I put this remedy to the test. I let my friend bathe his feet daily in a black tea bath.
The first thing he noticed that it didn’t have much effect. The dry feeling you get when you use aluminumhydroxide is absent. Even after a few days of sitting in a tea bath for at least 20 minutes this feeling did not occur. Neither did his feet become less sweaty or feel dryer.
Note, on the photo there are two tea bags. On days afterwards he used up to 5 bags per bowl.
Conclusion: tea may help if you have really mildly sweaty feet but we know there are better remedies.
Are there studies done on this topic?
Yes, studies show that topical tannins are able to alter proteins existing on the surface of your skin. At least one study concludes;
topical tannins can reduce the openings of sweat ducts and thus reduce sweating locally.
As a bonus the researchers state that “tannins also have antimicrobial properties that help to reduce odorous bacterial by-products” (van Wyk and Wink 2004).
Is tea the most potent remedy for sweaty feet?
No, if your feet are seriously sweaty, you may want to use another astringent that is more powerful.
After all, who has the time to make liters of strong (preferably black) tea and then bathe their feet in it for half an hour and repeating this regularly.
That’s why aluminum chloride, which is a more powerful astringent, may be a more convenient solution for treating those stinky feet.
Studies show aluminum chloride to be effective and as a bonus, it shows to cure athlete’s foot too.
aluminum chloride showed pronounced astringency and was the only compound to bring about rapid resolution of the signs and symptoms of athlete’s foot in open-ended clinical trials.
So concluding, if you suffer from mildly smelly feet, an ocassional tea soaking treatment may be nice, natural way to improve the situation.
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socks. They have cushioning which provides support and reduces friction and are extra breathable. Some users even say it’s like there’s air conditioning in these socks. Haven’t used them myself.
pros 
pros
. It has helped so many people overcome their foot odor problem. Just take a look at the reviews, I bet this stuff will help you out too.