6 DIY Foot Odor Remedies

By Steve Graham, Hometalk

Admit it. Sometimes your feet smell. It’s OK. We won’t tell anyone. You don’t even have to be seen buying foot odor products at the drugstore or supermarket. The remedy is probably in your pantry – or maybe the liquor cabinet.

To help you discretely deal with the problem, I put six home foot odor remedies to the test. I tested these remedies on my sweaty feet following a couple hours of hiking, running or biking in sockless shoes. Granted, these simple tricks may not suffice after a week of backpacking or other extreme conditions. But they certainly offered me some relief for everyday odors.

The fastest remedy: Vodka

You shouldn’t look for the answers to all your problems in the bottom of a bottle, but in this case, a little hard liquor can help. Prevention magazine suggested wiping down stinky feet with a vodka-infused washcloth. Rubbing alcohol is fine, too. The alcohol is an antiseptic, and cools and dries the feet as it evaporates. It worked quickly and effectively, and it really cooled my feet down. Also, it’s a great option if you need a quick cleanup and don’t have access to water, but can spare some vodka (we won’t judge).

The “the cure is worse than the disease” remedy: Apple cider vinegar foot bath

The Livestrong folks recommend soaking the feet for 20 minutes in two parts water and one part vinegar. They said the Mayo Clinic swears by this remedy for odor and fungus. Woman’s Day magazine specifically recommends apple cider vinegar, based on the recommendation of a New York City podiatrist.

Sure, my foot odor was gone after the vinegar footbath, but it was replaced by the overwhelming smell of vinegar, which required vigorous rinsing. Moreover, 20 minutes of vinegar wafting up from the feet is less than soothing. The Livestrong folks also warn that the vinegar may dry out the feet too much over time, and cause irritation.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Hailey M.

7:23PM PST on Nov 17, 2011

Wow i never woul have guessed! Im going to try it!

send a green star

Caryn C.

2:49PM PST on Nov 14, 2011

I tried everything. I mean everything. One thing worked - anti-perspirant/deodorant combo. I put it on every morning before my socks and shoes, it only takes seconds to apply, and prevents the problem before it makes my shoes stink, as well. Also, read your ingredients - many harmful chemicals are can be found in many products, I recommend going with more natural products, if possible.

Michelle K.

1:45PM PST on Nov 9, 2011

thanks

Sonny H.

4:02AM PST on Nov 7, 2011

Thanks!

Kate W.

3:26PM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

Thanks for the review :)

Holly L.

11:43AM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

So helpful - Thank YOU!

-Holly